Thank you..

I wrote this on January 28 but didn’t have a chance to post until now. I actually have more recent things to post about, things that God’s been teaching me lately that’s been very encouraging and eye-opening but I guess it’ll have to wait for another time when I have the opportunity to type it up/post it.

Thank you for your prayers-- I can really feel the power of your prayers as I've been feeling much more refreshed and encouraged these past couple of weeks. I can’t express how encouraging it is to know that people are praying for me and walking with me even when I’m so far away.  Not sure what it was at the time but I was feeling pretty discouraged about ministry and my own personal walk with God.

Life has been much better lately. Mei and I are teaching super cute 8th graders (around 13-14 years old). Two of them heard the gospel last weekend and wanted to make the decision to believe. PTL! When I was having a text message exchange with one of them, she asked me when I would return to America. I told her I wasn't sure but I'd be here for at least one year (thinking that that's "good news"). She replied "ohh!! :( one year is very hurry. If you go, I'll miss you :(." In some ways, its true. In 1 year, she'll only be in 9th grade. But where will I be? Even if I stay for 5 years, until she graduates and goes to college, will it be "enough"?

Lately, I've been realizing how much I lack godly wisdom and how important it is for me to pray continually for God's guidance in all areas of my life.

As the new semester approaches, I can't believe it’s already been 1 year since moving to UB. At the same time, I can't believe it's only been a year (feels like much longer). So much has happened and I can only wonder what life will be like 1 year from now. One thing that I'm convinced of-- I'm in good hands. :)

Can you pray for me?

Not sure who reads this :P, well, I know at least a couple people do, but I just need a place to share.  I don't usually share too "personal" prayer requests in my general updates/emails to people back home, but definitely needing a lot of prayer these days. It's been a really rough past week--I've been having frequent headaches (possibly due to stress and fatigue).  Not sure exactly what's causing all the stress, besides feeling a lot of pressure in teaching our Advanced students by myself (I've done it before and yet this time feeling more pressure than previous times).  Also feeling this weight of feeling like "I can't do this" (in terms of being this "successful missionary").  In some senses, it's a good place to be, feeling like I can't do anything, I'm so incompetent in trying to share God's love to others.  It forces me to remember why I must be fully dependent on Jesus as my Vine.

But it's still hard.  So, if you happen to read this, please pray for me.

In other news, I think I'm starting to feel the difference from being overseas the first two years and now being away from the States for the third year.  The first two years I could feel much support from people back home, but perhaps this is the beginning of the natural fade.  I think most missionaries feel this, as the years go by, it's easy to be forgotten.  However, I'm so thankful to God for the few people who email me and tell me that they're still praying for us and the work going on out here (and I'm thankful for those who don't have a chance to email but are still faithfully praying).  I have to admit, I was a bit discouraged when I sent an email to people back home and the only response I received was from someone asking me to remove them from the email list (clarification: I'm totally okay with her request because I understand that people also committed to praying for other things and it's overwhelming to try to keep up with everything).  But God is good, He reminds me that we're not alone out here. :)

Merry Christmas!

Sukhbaatar Square

Walking around UB, the songs "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas", "Winter Wonderland", "White Christmas" all seem pretty appropriate. I used to think the concept of Broomball (walking with your street shoes on ice) was pretty fun and cool--little did I know that I'd be walking on ice everyday!  Sometimes it's fun but sometimes it's just dangerous. Our Mongolian friends told us that it's a "common thing" for people to break an arm or a leg. That combined with the very aggressive drivers around UB; hehe, you have to be careful.

We've been really busy preparing for the Christmas party (we have one for high schoolers and one for university students). It was quite a success in some senses--over 90 people showed for our high school Christmas party! in other ways, it was pretty difficult trying to pull off such a big party with our limited resources and all the rush.  Somehow we managed to pull it off though--so thankful for God's grace through the whole process.  Nevertheless, I was exhausted this past weekend.

Apparently, Saturday was the beginning of the "really cold" winter weather.  Sounds strange since we've already been trying to survive -20 some degrees, but now we're moving into the -30s and and even inching toward -40. Scary.  If you're reading this, please pray for my teammate, Chloe. She's been sick almost the whole winter (starting around Novemeber).

Anyway, just wanted to send out a random update. Hope you're all doing well this Christmas season!

When the going gets tough...

...the tough get going?

Honestly, this week has been one of the toughest out here in Mongolia, perhaps just due to physical exhaustion.  The days have been so busy with our teaching program (usually we teach in pairs but since we only have 4 teachers, I taught a class of 15-20 by myself).  It shouldn't seem too bad but I happened to get sick this week so it was a rough 3 hours each day, trying to engage the students, be funny/interesting, and teach good lessons.  I really praise God for how He sustained me as well as my teammates (Taurus, Chloe and Mei--Lorin was on a trip to Lanzhou).  This week was definitely a stretch physically, mentally and spiritually.  In order to establish better relationships with the students, we hung out with them directly after our lessons until late into the afternoon, which meant we skipped lunch for the past few days.  With all the nonstop interacting, the never-ending vacuuming/mopping/washing cups after the kids leave, and also being in full-swing of our college ministry, life has been crazy.

On top of it all, this week the temperature got pretty brutally cold (lows of -25 degrees Celsius (-13 Fahrenheit)), to the point where I didn't want to go outside anymore (partially because I was sick).  Despite the difficulties of the week, it definitely drew our team closer and brought us to our knees in prayer.  Not only did a handful of children pray to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but we were able to grow closer to these School 50 students and try to shower them with as much love and affection of Christ as possible.  All in all, I'm very thankful for this rough week-- the Lord be praised!!

A Church Hike

Some pictures from our recent hike:

Youtube Video: Hiking with UB ICA

Family Portrait

A blurry pic taken from my phone.  I really love this picture and I'm glad i brought it to Mongolia haha. It's my one-month old birthday!  The best part is, my mom is 27 in this picture, which pretty much how old I am now.  Crazy to think that at this point in my mom's life she had two kids! This picture reminds me to pray for my family and to thank God for His blessings.

Hot Water

So I heard from various friends that they recently discovered that I've actually been updating my blog! PTL  ppl are actually reading this! :P I'm not really good at writing really deep, inspiring things but I just wanted to share random tidbits of daily life here in Mongolia.

Our hot water cut out about a week ago, which is not surprising because that usually happens every summer during VSET. We took bucket showers in Lanzhou, China last summer on vset bc the hot water for the shower was broken, but that was still doable because we had buckets, hot water boilers and a scooping thing. However, on VSET in Mongolia we usually have none of the above so taking a shower in the ice-cold water is almost unthinkable. There are other inconveniences to ice-cold water too: for example, its really hard to wash raw chicken goo off your hands hehe. I think every one of these experiences makes me appreciate accessible hot water more though, especially the "instant" kind that just comes out when you turn the handle to the left (in Beijing the fire had to light and then heat the water before it would come out hot).

We have many friends who live in gers and they don't have hot water (unless they boil it). I asked my friend how they shower and she said they have to pay money at a public shower or they go to a relative's who has an apartment. That's pretty crazy but knowing that that's many ppl's life makes me think twice every time I take a hot shower.

Btw, the hot water came back faster than expected-yay! We heard one summer it was out for two months *gulp*. Also, weather update, it snowed/hailed again yesterday! Its almost June and its still sporadically snowing... Amazing!

Pickpockets

Lessons in Surrender..

Especially since last summer, I've been increasingly cautious and almost paranoid of pickpockets in UB. I've tried to think of various inventive ways to get them off my back, literally. When I walk through the streets of UB, I check over my shoulder almost every 5 minutes and I look at every window I pass to catch a reflective glance of what's going on behind me. I've learned the beauty of a inner pocket where I can pretty safely listen to my mp3 player and hold any above-norm amts of cash. I even got a backpack by pacsafe that has various "anti-theft techonolgy" components like special slash-resistant material (not as common in UB for theives to use knives but still happens once in a while) and zipper clips to prevent the all-too-common zipper pull and swipe.

In one moment of stupidity I fell victim to a pickpocketer in the summer, but since then by God's grace, there have only been attempts. It's annoying though-just this morning on the way to school, someone tried to pickpocket me, and then less than 5 minutes later, another pair tried. I wonder if the extra security on my backpack makes them feel even more inclined/challenged to try to open my bag. Each time the tug of their attempt to unclip the zipper was very noticable. As I whirl around to confront them, they always whirl equally quickly away as if nothing happened. I must admit, each time I have to remember to forgive them and pray for them. Otherwise it's easy for me to get angry and be unloving.

Usually pickpockets are harmless in UB. They're not looking for any trouble and they don't want to get violent. However, every so often I hear of cases where people get mugged; some big guys walk up and forcibly take someone's phone or money. (I guess this is better than just being jumped by several guys, which has happened to my students before :-/) Hopefully that will never happen but if the time comes, I hope I won't be surprised and I can freely surrender my stuff. After all, "those who buy something [should live] as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away" (2 Corinthians 7:30b-31)and "life does no consist in an abundance of possessions" (Luke 12:15). I'm still in the process of learning this though. I'm in a great place to learn! :D

Yay, mail from America! :D

This totally made my day. I went to the local internet bar to print out a handout I had made for my students to teach tomorrow and to my dismay my flash drive totally didn't work anymore and had random folders with shady names. How embarassing! Lol. I'm used to viruses on my flash drive since I have to go to a net bar for internet but it never did this to my flash drive before... Anyway I had to go home to retreive the file and possibly reformat the drive.

As I waited for my computer to disinfect the drive, I heard a knock on the door. It was the mail lady! She's very old and nice. There are no mailboxes here prbly since sending things by mail is not very common. She had a small packaged envelope with my name on it. My first letter I've received in Mongolia! It's from my middle school friend Vy. I thoroughly enjoyed the snail mail, hand-written letter, and surprise! It came with a beautiful journal (my current one is just about to finish! :)) and two stunning pictures, one of the beach that I never get to see anymore. Needless to say, this totally made my day :D. Thanks, Vy!!

A short video I made on Thursday after it snowed :D

Pictures

I thought the brothers in the first picture were really cute, wearing matching green and yellow clothes and holding hands.  Next two pictures are of the sidewalk getting torn up. PTL, the sidewalk was so uneven, making it really hard to walk on, especially on rainy days :D.  It's funny because as they are tearing up the sidewalk, pedestrians are just walking all over the dirt.  Last pictures are an exhibit of really cool structures that the architecture majors at SHUTIS (Science and Tech University) created.  Aren't they awesome?? I thought it was cool :D.

Pictures

A view from outside our kitchen and some of our daily life :)

Work Visas

PTL! Chloe and my work visa are well underway and should be ready for the “next step” by Thursday. The “next step” is that we both need to exit the country and get our visa in a Mongolian embassy. This takes us halfway through the process. Then after further paperwork processing, we will finally receive our work permit and residence card. Lorin and Taurus are already on the last stage. However, the visa that we receive is a single-entry (which means once you enter the country, you cannot leave and come back in). This is a problem because we often need to exit the country, whether for our summer VSET program or whatever other trip we need to make (usually to China). As of right now, we’re not sure if Taurus and Chloe (the non-Americans) will be able to change their visa to multiple-entry but it seems that Americans are able to do so. Please continue to pray for this process as it is very confusing, complicated, and time-consuming.

Mei’s visa also has issues because she also needs to exit the country to get her visa in a Mongolian embassy but our closest and least expensive country to travel to would be China. She cannot enter China because she was escorted out of the country in 2008 for sharing the good news on a university campus. We are in the process of trying to see if we can secure a visa into China for the express purpose of her getting her Mongolia visa (confusing, huh?). Anyway, every step of the way is uncertain so please pray that somehow the doors would open and Mei would be able to enter into China to get her Mongolian visa.

Thanks for all your prayers thus far! Mei, Lorin and Taurus already started their first week of teaching at School 23 and Chloe and I will be teaching at School 50 sometime this week. It’s exciting to see God opening the doors for us to meet all these high schoolers! We are still praying and hoping for a strong ministry among the high schoolers so this is just the beginning.

My 'Hood

random pictures near my 'hood haha. The last picture is High School 50, the school I will be doing part-time teaching at starting mid-April. It's a 5 minute walk from our place.

Photo Update!

<- University fellowship (left) || Sunday Church (below)

Celebrating Tsagaan Sar; Cooking with the Team; The key growing sisters in our church!

Travels with Steph: His Love is Better than Life

Reference to John Steinbeck's Travels with Charlie, which I really, really didn't like hehe. Anyway, this weekend was quite a packed one. Thankful for an opportunity to drive all over Southern California J-- LA to Irvine to Corona to LAX to USC to UCLA to K-Town back to UCLA to San Diego back to UCLA. God, in His providence, gave two opportunities to share about my upcoming missions trip with fellow brothers and sisters. They were both very different experiences.

First was to Ezra's youth group at Saenuri Korean Church: a group of roughly 30 Korean-Americans ranging from middle school to college. Becky and I made a PowerPoint, mainly sharing about how Christianity is so much more than just an activity or social construct in our lives. God has created us for eternity and He's inviting us into His eternal work! We shared about our experiences in Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia and (hopefully) exposed them to some cultural differences.

Next was Amy Lin's home church, San Diego Taiwanese Presbyterian Church (SDTPC). I first shared at the English ministry, and then the Taiwanese ministry. It was such a blessing—especially the Taiwanese side whom are comprised mostly of older Taiwanese people. It was my first time worshipping and praying with "my people" :D and it made me tear up a little bit to think about what a sight it would be to see my parents worshipping God in a congregation such as this one. Anyway, by God's grace in providing an excellent translator, I shared about how God changed my life and how He's led me to move overseas. I shared a bit about the missions field and it was so encouraging that throughout my presentation there were some people nodding and smiling in agreement. Afterwards, many people came to ask questions or to just thank me for sharing. One parent even shared Joshua 1:6-9 with me and prayed for me! Amy Lin's mom was super-supportive, too; handing out my letters to people and helping me.

All in all, I feel very blessed to have those opportunities to share—I'm not big on public speaking, but God definitely opened those doors and I'm glad for His grace to respond and share. On top of those great times, I was able to have lunch with Anne Yi on Saturday and brunch with Lei H Yap I on Sunday. Thankful for sovereign openings in schedules to catch up with those sisters and to just recall how good He has been to me to bring such great people into my life.

As I shared at Amy's church, it occurred to me that the simplest way to explain why I'm leaving is because God has continued to reveal Himself as the God whose love is better than life. There's nothing better than His love, and so I follow Him, considering my life worth nothing because really, He's given me so much better. Praise the Lord!

Goodbye, WHEC

I have very few weeks left at White Harvest Evangelical Church. I will possibly be there the week of the 23^nd, and maybe graduation weekend (13^th)/send-off (20^th). But they're all maybes. I'm a naturally sentimental person; I like to try to cherish the "last" moments of anything. Like the last night of V-SET '07 in Hong Kong. I was trying to keep Kim Jung up because it was our last night together as a team—but she told me to go to sleep :D.

Anyway, as a small tribute to my time at WHEC, I just wanted to express to God my thanks for bringing me to a church that has its quirks, ups and downs, and blessings. I remember going to WHEC in Nate's extremely small red car, sitting in the backseat with Nate and Lorin in the front. Occasionally we'd stuff another really tall guy in the car, too. I remember back in the day when there were barely 15 of us and I was the only consistent girl.

I remember the Taiwanese USC girls who were doing the teaching program, our "humble Korean lunch" (so good!!), Jeff trying to talk to the congregation after the message but no one listening to him, Daniel Yap coming to Christ and sharing the next Sunday, Yuji catching fire for the Lord (always with new testimonies and stories), my girls starting to go to the church, Ed, then Faith, then Erick, and now occasionally Taurus doing the closing song (All Creatures of our God and King…), Mei making popsicle sticks of the sisters' names so we don't have to choose who goes first in small group (back when there were only so many sisters so there was only one sisters' small group :D)…

I remember all of Pastor Min's nieces hitting all the USC staff brothers and calling me "V-SET girl" because they saw me wearing the '05 V-SET shirt often (only twice!!!); they called Ben Wu "Little Foot" (I think because Nate or Mike was "Big Foot"). I remember playing on the kids toys and getting static shock. And it goes on and on.

Anyway, I wanted to just thank God for this church that I've grown up with. From 4 (Pastor Min +3) to around 70 each week? Wow! That means that by the time I come back (to visit or stay), the church will be significantly different. Hopefully not at 'SC anymore :P. Excited for all God has in store for WHEC, thank you to all who were part of those good times!

Answered prayers on the field

One huge blessing and challenge after leaving my job at Warner has been the abundance of time I have to go share the gospel with people on campus. My first year staffing (two years ago) was miserable-- I'd EV by myself for three hours at a time and I was so scared, as well as so guilt-ridden for any time that I passed someone by in fear or dread. Last year, I became busier and I didn't evangelize as much, but it was growing on me and I became more comfortable sharing with people on campus. This year, I didn't get opportunities to EV at all (besides STP/ETP) because I was barely on campus anyway.

That brings us to now. It's been still challenging each time I go out, and I think it takes me an average of 20 minutes to work up the courage to approach someone. Am I just not used to it anymore? Or am I just a coward in desperate need of God's grace? Perhaps both hehe. But every time God gives me the courage to talk to someone, it's a huge blessing.

So today, as I'm walking toward "the field", I lift up a prayer to God. "God, I pray that I'll meet someone who's open to talking about Jesus. God, I pray that I'll meet someone that wants to hear the gospel via the bridge illustration. In Jesus' name, Amen." I walk up to this girl next to the inverted fountain, ask her about her beliefs, and she responds, "I'm not comfortable sharing about this with people. Thanks, though." Rejection. I think I was more on a roll though because I walked up the stairs toward Schoenberg, asked the next girl on a bench, and voila! Praise the Lord, both prayers answered!! 3rd year, Japanese music major who is totally open to talking, really willing to listen to the bridge, really thankful that I shared with her, oh my, God is so good!! She was totally ripe for hearing the gospel and it was all by God's grace. It was such a blessing walking away from that conversation, knowing that my God is watching over me even as I cower in strange fear. I'm not alone out there. :) I encourage you all to join me in asking of the Lord because when He answers, we really do feel His love. He cares for me!

I stand amazed...

God is... amazing. Slightly rebuking, too? But more just amazing, gracious, patient, kind, loving, generous... I know He's getting a kick out of the fact that my last post was about lacking money. All I can do is shake my head and try to understand grace. Within the past week, I've received one anonymous cash donation, two via check, and two monthly pledges, all adding up to a big WOW. I could be a pessimist and say that I still have ~80% to go but it's hard to be a pessimist when you worship such a great God.

Testimonies:

I saw someone on campus that I hadn't seen in a while and I stopped to talk/catch up with what was going on in his life. It was brief, maybe 15-20 minutes, somehow getting on the topic of my moving overseas. Then, very unexpectedly, when he got up to leave, he gave me a check saying, "It's not much but please take this." What?? Only in God's family, in His kingdom. I barely know the guy, perhaps talking with him only a handful of times before this. Incomprehensible.

I found this in my backpack yesterday:

This picture makes me look like a drug dealer. :D sorry. But seriously, I don't even know what to say. Which is why this post is so scattered and disjointed but I figured I have to proclaim His praises.

All I could do every time financial support would come was pray and thank God. I feel so undeserving of people's money. I know, as King David says, all that we have is God's and when we give to Him, we just give back what He first gave us. But the selflessness of people's hearts to want to give of their hard-earned money with the faith that God will provide for them moves me. God bless them.

I also feel affirmed by God. I've been going through doubts as to whether God really wants me to go overseas, but if hearts are being moved to support me in prayer and finances, that must say something. I know that I don't have any "power" nor do I want to have any persuasive role in people's support of me. So yes, I praise God for showing me once again that He can do it and He will. I thank Him because I don't know what I'm doing and everyday it feels crazier that I'd move out of my comfort zone, especially feeling like I lack the gifts/skills to be successful out there-- but He's letting me know that He's leading me, and that's enough.

Sorry again that this post is so disjointed. Thank you for your prayers (ecce, God answers! What joy to know our Heavenly Father hears and answers!). I hope this post brings you to praise God and see Him at work in your own life. Down with our disbelief! :) 3 Cheers for the King!

Money, money, money... (money!)

Thinking about that song on that one show. Very helpful, I know. Anyway, latest prayer update: it could be a possibility that I'll stay in the States longer (instead of going with V-SET, the summer short-term missions trip in late June) if I can't raise at least $20,000 of the 28,000 that I'm hoping for. I guess it makes sense that I'd have to stay in the States if I haven't raised the money, but I' m hoping that I won't have to consider this as an option as it would make logistics much more complicated. (How would I pay for rent? I just left my job, too. What about my parents who are coming from Taiwan to send me off? etc.)

One of God's special ways of revealing Himself to me has always been as a God of provision though. Linda, when we lived together '07-'08 (yay Linda!) brought that to my attention and I realized that from backpack to watch, money for rent to auto insurance, God has always done crazy things.

And my God will meet all your needs according His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

Lastly the awesome comfort of knowing that God is well-known for answering seemingly impossible problems with seemingly impossible solutions (see II Kings 3:16-20 on a super cool story on how God made water come from nowhere... He's so cool!). Thankful for this challenge of faith, but need prayer to stay trusting and not become frantic.