update two

welp, i've been here a week and it's way hard to believe. i know i'm honeymooning right now, but i can't wait to live in a place like this! yes, life has its difficulties, including prolonged periods of felt darkness, but life here is so simply on so many other levels. 

tuesday:
i went with my friend to her language teacher's house. well, my friend has picked up the language so well, she doesn't have lessons any more, but she takes time to study scriptures with her old language teacher. it was an interesting time. we also went to the post office and the tofu lady. that afternoon, i joined her for two of her english classes which are discussion based. all in all, an interesting day.

wednesday:
we went to visit some other bules (slang for multiple white-ies) and p-walked the university campus that they work on. then we went to another, bigger university and p-walked there. although much joy came from such prayer, the warfare we engaged during those minutes was felt. (more stories to come) we had lunch with one of her former students and went grocery shopping afterward. yes, i saw a whole dragon fruit in real life. #bejealous. well, after some time shopping, what better thing to do then get boba? nothing really, so we got some boba and headed home. that evening was pr@yer night. we watched a sermon about the biggness and personal-ness of Father, ate satay, and prayed for each other and the nations. truly, a time i will never forget. (more stories to come)

thursday:
today, i donned my scrubs and we headed to a hospital run by national believers. i was happy to hear that it was known as the nicest hospital in this city. needless to say, i was on cloud nine the entire time i was there. pretty sure they'd hire me in the icu. #yesplease i felt bad for my friend who had translate for five hours and in medical terms. (more stories to come) we came home exhausted and excited (me more excited then she) and just rested for some time. tonight, we'll skype with some other friends and watch Ellen. basically, cannot wait for a chance to laugh that much.


even more, i plead that you pray for Father to continue to move in this people, for endurance and rest for the few workers who are cultivating an abundant harvest, and for national believers to be set on fire for the gospel.


side note:  i played this song while typing and as the call the prayer rang out around me. #encouraged #humbled

never once did we ever walk alone
never once did you leave us on our own
you are faithful
God you are faithful

Update One

good morning!

yes, it's tuesday morning here in southeast asia

and i still can't believe i'm here!

(side note: i'm typing on a pc and my fingers are confused. out of sheer laziness, there may be lots of typos. #getoverit)

truly, it has been a blessing to live life again with one of my dearest friends

and to see how God is using her and changing her more into the likeness of His Son!

so here's a brief update about what's been going on:

i got here friday night, just in time to see the sunset.

it was a beautiful end to a long time traveling solo.

i describe those momemnts as grateful and overwhelmed.

saturday was a chill day.

we slept in a bit, spent some time w/Jesus,

and then went exploring.

pancakes w/cheese, monkey garden w/no monkeys, green, the ocean, meeting people, and a "cream bath." basically, let's just call it amazing.

sunday came 

and i successfully road a motorcycle for longer than 3 minutes!

(yes, as the passanger)

church was humbling, moving, and thoroughly refreshing. 

(more stories on this to come)

then more motorcyle, tasty food, and crashing a mexican fiesta for someone's birthday.

monday we went to a (insert word here that i don't remember).

it's kind of like a slum, but not? 

my friend said that one of the areas was like section 8 housing.

(sorry for the lame explanation)

my friend and new friend read books and sang songs with kids, 

shared w/broken people about Jesus, and shared the joy of Christ.

(more stories from here to come).

ultimately, it has been an eye  opening experience,

reminding me of the lost and God's desire 

to have His name known and worshiped among all peoples.

please continue to pray for the lost here.

they are abundant.

please pray for the workers here, both foreign and national.

their work is abundant.

"Give thanks to the LORD,

call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples,

proclaim that his name is exalted."

Isaiah 12:4

virtual support letter

4 days

2 shifts at work

and a whole lotta loose ends to tie up.

i leave for my first "solo" trip overseas in 4 days.

i'll be visiting one of my best friends

in a place she's lived for almost a year.

i have the privilege of working along side her for 2 weeks.

this is the first time overseas that i haven't sent out support letters

or spread as wide a net to tel people about what's going on.

so, to my blog readers, 

(all three of you)

i ask you to join with me on this journey to southeast asia.

not only to join me as i share updates and funny stories,

but to join me in prayer.

ways you can pray:

• pray that i would get things finished up before i go (including a couple of nights at work)
• pray that God would continue to prepare my heart and mind to serve unconditionally and in ways i cannot expect
• pray that God would continue to prepare those i will serve along side, that He would give them endurance and joy

(and ultimately)

• pray that hearts of the many lost that we encounter will be chipped away, and ultimately broken over the Gospel!

thank you ahead of time for your sacrificial prayer!

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?"

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

story of my life

i've tweeted about it.

i've alluded to it.

still, every time i see this commercial,

i can't help but feel a special connection.

simply put,

story of my life.

muggin'

as i've blogged before, my friend had a mug swap.

and i was anticipating the arrival of my mug.

 one day, i got home and found this on the counter.

 

i was excited to get this much-awaited package.

but then i saw the stamp.

from the U.K.?!?!

 i eagerly opened the package

 and this amazing mug was in there

 um, is this not brilliant?

 annika even included some delicious british goodies.

this really neat postcard was in there too.

welp, here she is in her new home

 

thanks again, annika, for the amazing mug and wonderful pairings!

10 on 10: Margarita Madness edition

welcome to this special edition of 10 on 10.

(thanks for the reminder, kim!)

i love working weekends for three reasons:

-less work

-more pay

-no commute traffic

i mean, do you see that? i could actual drive 

the appropriate speed limit for 280

(which is over 70, of course).

the trees outside our complex are starting to resemble fall.

not sure i'm ready for that.

when i got home, i wanted something special.

what could be more special than hot 

chocolate in a mug all the way from the UK?

after falling asleep on the couch for who knows how long,

i decided to go to my bed.

{sigh}

my special place.

once i got up, i had the chance to check out a new package.

another waffle maker for another happy couple!

my dad is winning an award next week and i have the privileged 

of watching him receive it.

but a fancy award requires fancy attire.

 

well, this is the best he's gonna get.

i had asked my roommates if they wanted to 

go out tonight for some din din.

you see, we live less than half a mile from the 

best mexican resturant in town.

 

ellen and i walked and met jamie there.

that meant it was chaco time.

we enjoy ourselves thoroughly.

 this good time called for some coffee

 

and we pulled out the big guns:

regular.

i got to drive my roommies car.

 super small and super fun.

my sister had bought a new book,

a children's book of course.

jamie enjoyed it

and it made for some good post-dinner fun.

sadly, this day was not without casualties.

i burned myself on my dinner plate.

yea, even after icing it at dinner, it's still gonna leave a mark.

welp, there it is.

margarita madness.

 

i guess it was a little more mad in person.

happy september!

blessings

life has seemed busy.

as hard as i try, i still seemed to get caught up

in the business and muchness of life.

thankfully, my pastor sent a text out about song.

i hope this song blesses you as much as it has me.

But with joy our hearts will say, 

You are faithful