Sad reality but this week is the beginning of the end of my time at uni as a student! In a way there is a sense of relief for it to finally be over but at the same time it's a little sad that it's coming to an end. Time has really flown by, it feels like it was just yesterday that I started uni, or that I was able to go on exchange to Korea in my third year! (It was my dream to go since the end of high school hehe.)
Anyway, O'Week starts today and we will have the stall for the next three days. We had pre-season training yesterday as well and I led the phone calling session! It was a good day of vision casting, doing a prayer walk on campus and getting prepared for O'Week. I'm excited for what will happen over the next three days and for the people that we will meet. I'm praying and trusting that God will do amazing things and allow us to encounter really awesome people who are either interested in finding out about God, or who are on fire for God or who we can encourage in their walk with God.
Please pray for us at Monash, as well as all the other uni's with Christian groups that have O'Week stuff this week.
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Lunar New Year update :)
It's been a month since I got back from Korea. Over the past month I've been able to catch up with friends and share with supporters/church members about my experience in Japan and get back into preparation for what Student Life will be doing at Monash this year.
Last week I gave out copies of the Mission Megumi newsletter and in a few of my supporters thank you notes I mentioned that I am considering a year STINT in Japan after graduating. I was meant to tell my parents about it on that day I gave out the newsletters too but didn't end up mentioning it to them. Then the next day I spent the day at Mike and Aimee's for Student Life preparation and when I got back my mum asked me about Japan because an aunty at church had mentioned it to her over the phone that day. My parents are not so supportive of the idea of STINTing in Japan yet because they've always been telling me to just stay here and get a job to make money first. I understand where they are coming from but they have said some other things too which have been a little disheartening. I know I'm not a perfect person but to have them say some things to judge me sort of hurt...
But anyway, I realise there are many areas I still need to work on and need God to change. It feels like in my parents' eyes I still need to prove to them my worth or somehow gain their full trust, but at the same time I know I just can't prove to them that I will ever be a person "worthy" to be a missionary/do God's work. Something I remember that Connie always said though was that God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. It reminds me to focus on Him and not me. But I also know that while I need to keep my focus on Him, I can't just ignore the things that I do that are wrong or displeasing to Him. I guess in my mind I have actually only been thinking about pleasing my parents (and keeping myself comfortable) even though I thought I had been focusing on God's call for me in the Great Commission.
It's weird though...I don't know how I'm going to get through all of this and can only pray that God will work in my parents' hearts and that He will also change me. It has only been one week, so I really trust that God will work over time. I haven't taken the hurtful things my parents said too much to heart because it was within the first few days of them finding out and figured that they probably hadn't thought through the situation that much yet. And I know that what they did say would have been out of concern and love for me rather than to intentionally hurt me. They probably find it hard to express that in the way they speak :( because it's always mainly about money -__-
Ironically, today at church someone placed in the offering $300 for me! I was surprised because although I had mentioned to a few people about my plan to go to Japan again, I only asked them to pray for me and not for money. The envelope only had my name on it and I was wondering whether or not to tell my parents. But of course I did and for a second I did worry that my dad would say or want me to return it to the person. However, he couldn't recognise the writing so he didn't say anything about it. I'm so thankful to this person and for God's provision even though things haven't been so good since my parents found out. I'm nervous but excited for how things will unfold in the coming year.
Lastly, HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!!! (it's my birthday today according to the lunar calendar ^___________^)
Happy birthday to meeeeee~! and Happy Valentine's day too! :)
Last week I gave out copies of the Mission Megumi newsletter and in a few of my supporters thank you notes I mentioned that I am considering a year STINT in Japan after graduating. I was meant to tell my parents about it on that day I gave out the newsletters too but didn't end up mentioning it to them. Then the next day I spent the day at Mike and Aimee's for Student Life preparation and when I got back my mum asked me about Japan because an aunty at church had mentioned it to her over the phone that day. My parents are not so supportive of the idea of STINTing in Japan yet because they've always been telling me to just stay here and get a job to make money first. I understand where they are coming from but they have said some other things too which have been a little disheartening. I know I'm not a perfect person but to have them say some things to judge me sort of hurt...
But anyway, I realise there are many areas I still need to work on and need God to change. It feels like in my parents' eyes I still need to prove to them my worth or somehow gain their full trust, but at the same time I know I just can't prove to them that I will ever be a person "worthy" to be a missionary/do God's work. Something I remember that Connie always said though was that God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called. It reminds me to focus on Him and not me. But I also know that while I need to keep my focus on Him, I can't just ignore the things that I do that are wrong or displeasing to Him. I guess in my mind I have actually only been thinking about pleasing my parents (and keeping myself comfortable) even though I thought I had been focusing on God's call for me in the Great Commission.
It's weird though...I don't know how I'm going to get through all of this and can only pray that God will work in my parents' hearts and that He will also change me. It has only been one week, so I really trust that God will work over time. I haven't taken the hurtful things my parents said too much to heart because it was within the first few days of them finding out and figured that they probably hadn't thought through the situation that much yet. And I know that what they did say would have been out of concern and love for me rather than to intentionally hurt me. They probably find it hard to express that in the way they speak :( because it's always mainly about money -__-
Ironically, today at church someone placed in the offering $300 for me! I was surprised because although I had mentioned to a few people about my plan to go to Japan again, I only asked them to pray for me and not for money. The envelope only had my name on it and I was wondering whether or not to tell my parents. But of course I did and for a second I did worry that my dad would say or want me to return it to the person. However, he couldn't recognise the writing so he didn't say anything about it. I'm so thankful to this person and for God's provision even though things haven't been so good since my parents found out. I'm nervous but excited for how things will unfold in the coming year.
Lastly, HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!!! (it's my birthday today according to the lunar calendar ^___________^)
Happy birthday to meeeeee~! and Happy Valentine's day too! :)
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