STM @HK

Dearest readers,

I'm happy to tell you that I will be helping in a English teaching program, which is held by a missionary organization, OMF, from July 18th to Aug 3rd, in HK. I know this is a very short notice and God's arrangement surprised me too. But anyways, I'm so excited about it and amazed by the power of prayer.
After JMC, I realized that it is such a waste if I'm going to spend the whole two months just in shopping and having fun. So, I prayed that God may use me in something when I got back to HK; and a STM experience will be perfect for me. However, I don't even have any budget and well training/ preparation for missionary. I thought it's sort of impossible to find such thing in short period of time. Anyhow,I shared my STM vision with my brothers and sisters and asked them to pray for me. I didn't research or approach any particular organizations. All I did was pray and wait. And one day, I shared this with a sister in HK. She told me about this opportunity. This program is held by OMF, in partnershiping with local HK churches. Their vision is to share the Gospel with Hong Kong youth via teachign conversational English and friendship evangelism. Then, I quickly responsed to the pastor who is responsible for this program. And we worked out things in the last few days. Everything is set now. All I need is to fly to HK. I am so amazed by the power of prayer. This is so perfect for me because the cost is only $200 HKD and evangelism training is not required. This is really too awesome to be true.
Though I'm very excited, since this is my first STM experience, I am nevous and worried about many thigns as well. Thereby, I definitely need your prayer. And, I really hope that my experience will encourage other brothers and sisters in church to commit themselves in STM later as well. The followings are my prayer items:
1) Adjusting with jet lag and weather. I will arrive to HK on July 16th and I will be meeting the team for lunch the 17th and the program offically starts on 18th. I'm worried about my adjustments. Please pray for my health and physical strength, both in teaching and preparation for teaching materials.
2) Working with teammates and youths. Each class has two helpers and 10-15 students. Please pray for my interpersonal skills to build friendships with them.
3) For the program. May the Holy spirit work among our team and protect us from the Satan; so, we will be able to bring youths to Christ. In addition, more helpers and teachers are needed.
Thank you for your prayers and cares. I will update you the further details later.

W/ much love and blessings,
Karen

What not to wear; why does it matter??

Today, I rented a magazine, which used to be my favourite one, to read at work and found dat there is nothing interesting to read. I'm quite disappointed. I used to love this magazine. I used to read every single page of it. But now, it's not fulfilling at all. I skipped pages of make up and fashion sections.
Unlike before, I'm no longer osbessed with magazine's advises about my make up, out fit, hair and diet. Becoz I know how to look good - joyful eyes and smiles. Moreover, sections of diet products and tips are pointless. I don't get what's wrong with fat. Some ppl are short; some are tall; some are dark; some are boney - why does it matter?! My dearest friends and family like me is not becoz I'm wearing the right dress or make up; indeed, they like me becoz I carry God's fragrance.

Farewell, Daniel.

My Daniel years have finally came to an end. Time flies; 3 years passed in a blink. The first day of going to Daniel is still fresh in my memory. But anyways, yah, it ends here now. There are lots of emotions and feelings when saying good bye to my fellowship.
I feel lonely becoz I feel like I'm not belong to anywhere now. Daniel is my comfort zone; so, completely getting out of it is not easy. And now, I'm regret about not going to fellowship regularly last year. As the old saying says, "you learn to treasure something when you have lost it". Sigh~
I also feel uncertain becoz I'm moving to an unfamiliar fellowship. Although I know many ppl in Elisha, I only like their names, just like they all know my name only too. Plus, when I was in Daniel, some ppl see me as a big sister. But now, in Elisha, everyone sees me as a little girl. Thereby, adding everything up together, it's actually a big shift in my identity. I'm feeling lost.
However, I also realize how blessed I am to grow up in Daniel. Counsellors and sisters and brothers gave me great supports and love. I will miss the days in Daniel.

2pm

2pm is the hour that I look forward everyday. It's the time when the pool in my apartment re-opens after cleaning. No one will be at the pool at that time. So I gotta swim all by myself during that hour. It feels sooooooooo good. It's quiet - there was only water sound and my breathing sound. It's absolutely relaxing.
No matter what a terrible night/morning I had, all bad feelings will just cast away. Becoz when I swim, I will be so thankful. By counting His endless blessings on me and my family, nothing/no one else will longer make me mad and frustrate. And reading His words after shower makes me feel even better. And then I'll carry on with joy for the rest of my day.

Old, Friends.

Although it's almost 4, I wanna write a post b4 going 2 bed. I've just finished on phone w/ a bro, K. And after the talk, I'm so thankful to have a brother like him. He is so passionate in Christ, in fellowship, in serving, in family... He's passionate about everything. *Well, it's something dat I used to have when I was his age too. hahaaa.*
Anyways, we were talking about friendship. Everyone knows that friendship requires maintainance. Yet, ppl just don't do so becoz it demands so much effort, time & energy. At the same time, it needs other parties to be on your line.
K was saying dat we should do something to strengthen pof's bonding. He said, "Yes, we are already very good. But we can be better." It's very sweet. And I am thankful to have a younger brother becoz he always light me up.
K, I'm sorry. I'm becoming an old dude now. What I am thinking is that I'm so blessed to have great sisterhood & brotherhood. How could I ask God for "better friendships" when
I already have good ones?! You know, the older you get, the fewer friends you have and the fewer friends will understand you. And now, I already have many good friends, how can I ask for more?!
But I find that this thinking has kept me forgetting to maintain the freindships that I have now. So, my dear friends, if you feel dat I'm off track in your lives, I would like to apologize to you here. Please forgive this old gal. You know, the older you get, the smaller world you live in. You forget about chilling & updating w/ friends. You wanna be w/ your blanket & Baley all night, watching food channel. This is exactly what old gals do.
Lastly, I would like to thank K for reminding me about strengthening our friendships. And I'm sorry that I'm acting old when I'm not. hahhaaa. It's obviously influenced by D. :P