Meet my new friend!

在回North Carolina 的那一天，也顺便接同样来自我们奖学金底下的学生，Dinah Murekatete，

之前就已经在email 中大约聊过，虽然刚下机很累，但是还是很兴奋能够见面！

期望她在这里能够被好好的栽培与装备，成为神所重用的器皿！

Recorded on 16th Aug 2017

Time to go back...

Another airport sleepover experience....

Technically, I didn't sleep the whole night, just update my blog, writing down my thoughts and thankful list, 

too much stories to share, too much things to be thankful for. First unplanned trip was full of challenges yet 

because of obedience and faith, I received unbelievable blessings and overwhelming joy and peace. Met lot of new 

lovely friends, shared stories and testimonies, faced all kinds of last min decisions, blessed by many people more than 

I could ever imagine. I'm so thankful for every single angle that helped me and blessed me throughout this 

journey. First unplanned trip was like sitting in roller coaster, crazy and full of excitement yet this journey of faith 

was a priceless blast in return!

另一个在机场过夜的经历......

基本上，我整晚都没有睡，都只在更新我的部落格，写下满脑子的想法和感恩的事情，有太多的故事想要分享，

有太多的事情需要感恩。第一次无计划的旅程中有很多的挑战但却也有许多不可思议的经历，因着顺服与相

信而经历恩典满溢以及无比的平安与喜乐。在路途上遇到许多和蔼可亲的新朋友，与人分享我的经历和见证，面

对许多次临时的抉择，收到超乎我所能想象的祝福和礼物。满心感谢在路途上每一个天使的接待与帮助，谢谢你们！

第一次无计划的旅程犹如乘坐过山车一样，真的很疯狂又刺激，但是这信心的操练是无价的。

San Diego ---> North Carolina

Finding accommodation in San Diego was another faith challenge for me, 

 the only friend I know is Jenny and Nini whom we met from San Francisco Lifegame.

However, when I contacted them, they were in Taiwan for summer holiday,

and they just moved to a new house, so everything is in a mess in their house.

Well, I was planing to stay in the hotel, but their father, Pastor Liu(who is one of the famous pastor from Taiwan), 

he contacted a church member Wei Ma Ma to help me with my accommodation.

So, in the end, I stayed in her house for a night, stayed in a room that's bigger than my dorm.

Wei Ma Ma told me they are going to a study group in the morning, asked me whether do I want to join them.

Without hesitate, I said yes.

It was a talk from Pastor Liu about how Martin Luther affect US nowadays, surprisingly it was great, and lot of thoughts and ideas leave to bring back.

Pastor Liu told me that he can send me to the airport, so just put my luggage in his car. 

Went to his new house (it was really a mess like after war), met Nini who just came back from Taiwan!

We chatted a lot, shared our mission trip stories and experiences, truly enjoyed that time!

She drove me to the mall nearby to get some food, planned to shop, but in the end, we were just walking and chatting, too much stories to tell....

So glad that we were able to meet even just few hours, encouraged and blessed each others, say good bye until the day we meet again.

I get on her parents car, thought they are sending me to the airport, who knows......

they brought me to the lake, the beach, and try In-and-Out burger and fries!!!!!!

Wow.... never thought that would happen, and never thought that I would have the opportunity to talk to Pastor Liu and share some of the ministry we are currently doing. 

Joyful moment with them, couldn't thank them enough for their time and care.

Go to the airport, is time to go back!

Los Angeles(San Bernardino) ---> San Diego

Met this sweet couple that ended up become my Godparents, it was unexpected to meet them, 

both of them full of knowledge, wisdom, life experience, never get board talking to them.

They both work under CRU (Campus Crusade) under International Bridges for over 39 years,

unbelievable!!!! 

I was so blessed to meet them, their love and kindness just overwhelmed me and reminded me the love of God.

Godma even drove me to San Diego, brought me to Sea World for half day trip!

Watched killer whale, dolphins, pets show, animal rescue documentary, and sat on cable car to enjoy the view.

Love all the conversation we had, enjoy the time we spent together, they treated me like their daughter, asked me come back visit them during holidays.

Received overflowing love from them, so grateful!!! Can't wait to go back visit them!!!

Los Angeles (Oak Glen) ---> Loa Angeles (San Bernardino)

Moved straight to San Bernardino, a small town in east of Los Angeles right after I came back from camp. 

One of the lesson that I learned from this journey of faith is never doubt God's plan even though it seems no way.

Met Sabahan here! Glad to meet her, she welcomed me and took me to their house to stay although I dunno how many days will I stay here. 

She took me to visit around, be my tour guide, not only that, she helped me connect to another couple that I was planned to meet. 

Glad to chat and share our stories with each others, I get to know her more and it was valuable! 

Thank you, Elizabeth!

Los Angeles ---> Los Angeles (Oak Glen)

Yes, I joined the church youth camp last minutes, unbelievable!!! 

I was planned to go visit San Francisco that week, planned accommodation, transportation, money that might needed on that trip.

Yet my there was a voice that putted a "break" on that trip, pursued me to go for something that's more valuable than this.

So decided to cancelled my trip including the accommodation that was booked, and I was asked to pay for the cancellation fees, 

Unexpectedly, there was grace and I received a letter telling me that I doesn't need to pay a single penny for the cancellation, 

What!??! This is crazy! Thanks to this, I can fully stayed focus throughout the camp without worrying anything.

Truly enjoy the presence of God, the community fellowship that I longed for.

God reminded me again the purpose of my life through this camp, even though I knew these, but it's always good to 

have some some reminder. Met these new friends who treated me as their family, met a group that bond so quickly, 

met young potential leaders who loves God. This 5 days unexpected camp was overwhelming, witnessed the glory 

of God, stunning testimonies from young leaders, friendship that's sweet and warmed heart, love and care from the pastor.

Never regret this last minutes decision, but truly thankful!

I will definitely stop by and visit this church again next time whenever I come back, the fellowship that reminded me the love of God.

在LA这段时间，有一个空挡，计算着自己的时间，钱，行程，打算来个独自旅行。

安排了住宿的地方，安排了行程，交通等等。其实在当中不断与神对话，到底自己应不应该去，还是应该留下，但是留下来要住哪里，去哪里？

也在当中不断检讨自己的心，到底自己去独自旅行的目的是什么。心里有一个声音要我为这次的旅程踏上“刹车”，选择更有意义的事。

后来这个突然飞来的营会就这样决定了，但之前预定的住宿需要取消，上网取消原本预定了的住宿，其中一个住宿成功取消，不用付赔偿金，

另一个住宿需要赔美金65，惨了，但想说：如果这是神的计划，那赔这一些钱，也是甘愿的。当然也告诉它们我当下的状况，当确认取消住

宿时，收到另一封邮件，上面写说：我们在这里让您知道我们接受您的恳求，我们旅馆决定让你的案件得到额外的开恩，对于取消这次的住宿，

您不需要付任何的赔偿金。这是真的吗？心里狂欢，不禁感谢神！

真实的享受神的同在以及内心一直渴慕的团契关系。

在这营会当中，神一直提醒我的人生目标，尽管我知道人生的目标，但还是很感恩祂不断地提醒我。在这里遇到对待我犹如家人的朋友，一个很快

就建立好密切关系的小组，很多有潜质的年轻爱神的领袖。这五天的不在我计划之内的营会实在是一个充电的地方，见证了神的荣耀，年轻领袖的

生命见证，暖心的友情，从牧者那里来的关怀与爱。

对于这次那么临时的决定没有任何一丝的遗憾或后悔，相反的，却是无比的感恩！

以后经过或是再过来这地区一定会再来探望这教会，这提醒我神爱的团契的教会。

People from my team: Joshua, Rommel, Bryan, Jared, Ralph, Gigi, Kiarah, Hannah

Natalie                                                                  Emily                                                             Natalie

Joshua & Bryan                                                       Rommel                                                        Greg

Kiarah                                                                  Hannah                                                          Gigi

Savannah                                                         Matt

Thankful for all of them, pray that God continues to guide them and be with them, guard their heart in this world, 

I'm excited to see how God is going to use them for His great work!

Los Angeles ---> Los Angeles(Ontario)

Met Savannah from summer mission trip, found out that we both will be in LA, so decided to meet up
and update each other. We were roommate while we were in East Asia for Summer mission, we shared
our faith, challenges, and joy together every day. It was a really great experience! Well, after coming
back, it will not be the same anymore, but we still have the opportunity to get together, update our status,
recall all the memories, and look through my journal from Summer mission.

So glad that we met, and get to know her younger sister, Tabitha. Guess what! I went to her Bible
study on that Wednesday! It was another great and unexpected experience, to be able to find
the Christian community in the midst of traveling is a big joy to me. This church named Charisma Life
Church in Pomona, CA. I met a lot of new friends and become friends with them just one night
in Bible Study. Was planning to go to their church service that Sunday, but they are going to church camp.
The Holy Spirit in my heart urged me to ask the youth pastor to see if I can go with them. This sounds
super awkward and crazy because the camp happens in 4 days, what if there is no more space for me?

                         When God works, there is no way to run away from Him.

While I was still struggling whether shall I ask the pastor about the camp, the pastor looked at me and asked:
Do you want to go to church camp? 
What?!
Of course, I say yes! hahah.... So, in the end, he didn't even ask me to fill up the form, just go and gather
at the church on Sunday morning. He counted me into their participant's list. Wow~~~~~ Isn't that crazy!?

New Jersey--->Los Angeles(West Covina)

"I will keep my promise, no matter how long it takes to fulfill because you have my words."

Decided to spend the rest of my summer in California not just because I want to travel around there,

but because I promised to visit my friend, Jojo 5 years ago, and I keep my promise.

We knew each other for almost 12 years, ever since I moved to Tawau, Sabah. 

We attend Boys Brigade(BB) together, for those of you who never heard BB before....

Boys Brigade is the largest Christian uniformed youth organization in UK and Ireland.

We trained like boys, learned how to survive in the jungle, learned the drill, attended leadership training, 

took first aid test, swimming test, and other tests. (So, now you know why sometimes I act like boy, hahaha)

After I moved to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Jo moved to Hong Kong with her parents. 

We still keep in touch, write letters, and she will come stay at my house when she visits Malaysia.

A few years later, she further studies in the California State University of Long Beach, I promised one day I will go visit her.

I had the opportunity to work in summer camp in South Dakota, planned to visit her, but that didn't work out because of the fixed schedule. 

A few years later, here I am...!  

I stayed at her place, she has to work, and I have some project to work on, so normally we hang out during the weekend.

So far, we visited Universal Studio, Griffith Observatory from the movie "La La Land", Little Tokyo, Hillsong Church, Seal Beach and so on.... 

Not sure how long more I will stay here, but cherish every moment we get to hang out together. 

And I get to meet her boyfriend Tam and her friends here! Wohoo~~~~

They are fun people to hang out with! 

Jo always brings me to place for great food!!! Famous Korean BBQ, Taiwanese hot pot, Japanese sushi, Hong Kong dim sum, and more~~~

She is like an angel to me, so blessed and grateful!!! 

And thanks to her, I experienced my first "Yatch Party" wohooo!!! 

It was the celebration for her boyfriend's birthday surprise party, and I get to involve in that!

Met lot of her x-classmates, most of them designers now, fun and great people.

Besides that, I saw dolphin group when we sailed off the shores!!!! First dolphins watch! It was exciting and I really love it! 

Thanks Jo, couldn't thank you enough for your warm hospitality, everything that you did for me was a blast!

Really wish that we will meet again, until the day we meet, take care!