★ A Breath of Life

The other day I went to some of the religious groups on campus and passed out some of my prop 8 signs along with some handouts from church and some articles I printed up about prop 8. I was feeling super discouraged last week in my efforts to somehow let people know the yes side of prop 8.

SO, super encouraging. I was talking to Julie about how I haven’t seen anyone standing up for the yes side of prop 8 and how people would react if we wore yes on 8 shirts when all of the sudden litteraly from behind me this relatively old man walks past our table wearing a yes on 8 shirt and holding a sign. WOW, hah, nevermind! So Julie and I went to talk to him. His name is Doug. He’s not like those other older men who come with large signs that yell hate into our ears and don’t listen to a word we say, since you know, we’re all immature college students who have no respect for God. Doug is an average man like you or me who knows what he believes in and stands up for it. He carried a small sign, a little offensive, but yet it spoke truth. We told him we were for yes on 8 and we really appreciated him standing up for it. He told us how he goes around to campuses and tries to talk to people about the issue and God (if it leads to it). In no way is he unapproachable or mean. I told him how i had been wanting to pass out prop 8 information on bruin walk, but have been too afraid to do so and how discouraged I’ve felt because a lot of the time it felt like I was the only one standing for it. He told me something, so simple, yet so moving.

“Just because you’re a minority, it doesn’t mean that you’re wrong. As he hung on that cross, Jesus was a minority of one, but that didn’t make him anyless right.”

My heart breaks for what the world has become, for what America has become. We are no longer that Christian country built on morals and values holy and pleasing to you. But I just pray in all earnestness for the hearts of the Christians throughout the country, that you would keep them strong and steadfast in their faith and values. Though we may feel like we’ve become the minority, that it’s suddenly become the unpopular to uphold our morals and beliefs, I pray that we may persevere knowing that we stand for what is true and right. I pray that with these up coming elections that Your perfect and pleasing will shall be done. Even if it does not align with what we have imagined for your country Lord, we know that it is in your plan and I pray that through it your kingdom will grow and be strengthened. Let your people come together and encourage each other more and more as we are persecuted for you.

Saturday morning I scrabbled around the house packing up my last few essentials, toothbrush, hairbrush, etc.
11:30am, the bus took off, my first experience riding on a Greyhound bus, alone, 8hrs.
Even though no one else from So Cal came with me to Berkeley (ahem), I’m so SO glad I went. After visiting UC Berkeley, I don’t understand at ALL why people say the campus is ugly, and I almost ALMOST regret not at least applying to the place. In MY opinion, the campus is gorgeous! Everywhere you look there’s green. The buildings have that old collegiate feel to them. The mornings are frosty and the nights have a slight chill. The afternoons are filled with a clear blue sky. Gorgeous! I love nor cal weather
Anyway, once again, a simple breakdown:

On Saturday I met the in-famous Peter and got to see Nily (Nicolette and Lily) and Christine’s apartments
I also got a night time tour of the UC Berkeley campus, ooOoooh
I also got to meet Junior!! She’s super cute :3

On Sunday I got to go to East Bay Baptist Church! People there are great! I met so many friends and brothers and sisters of people from LA.
I also got treated out to lunch by SAC
I also got to see Melody for the first time since High School
I also got to go to an Artsy Fartsy Party good times

On Monday I got to take myself on a day time tour of the UC Berkeley campus
I also got to go to 2 of Lily’s cool classes!
I also got to eat delicious sushi (mmm… Oakland roll) and the best frozen yogurt ever (mmm… Yogurt Park)
I also watched Tropic Thunder (interesting movie)
I also got to meet the in-famous Zahin

On Tuesday I got to sleep in Christine’s cool MCB class!
I also got to see Winnie for the first time since High School!!!! (and eat at the Berkeley crossroads, yay!!)
I also got to go up the clock tower (whose name I constantly fail to remember)
I also got to see the free part of the art museum
I also got to go to Moe’s book store (four stories high! I only went on one floor though… cost me ’bout $30)
I also got to see Richard’s aparment (One of the nicest guys apartments I’ve seen… and soooOOoo… COOL! Dude, had a piano, Xbox 360, a Wii, a PS2, and they have PSPs…. Daaang)
I also got to meet the people in Lily’s small group from IV!

On Wednesday I got to spend my morning with my lovely Nicolette
I also got to go to Noah’s bagel shop, mmmmm
I also got to walk down …. Schattening? Something like that :T
I also got to meet Fred
I also got to take a nice 8hr ride on the Greyhound home

Ahhh.. what a good time

What I got from Ensenada.

I got 4 book marks to help support a family of Mexican missionaries.
I got 5 mosquito bites and little bubbles of pus to go with them.
I got a bunch of silver paint forever in my hair and on my shoes.
I got a CD of Marine’s music.
I got to practice and learn a bunch of Spanish.
I got… well, a bushel of life lessons
And I got poor English skillz.

Ensenada was definately an amazing experience, though not a once in a lifetime, since I hope to go back and experience it again
I won’t bore the world with the small details of what we did, but instead with the small things that I learned, the bushel of life lessons that I got, and some not life lessons, but rather just stuff I learned.

On Sunday I learned that nerf guns are really awsome and that I want one.
On Monday I found out that Manzana Lift is a type of soda only sold in Mexico that is the deliciousness of sparkling apple cider bottled like a… bottle of coke and sold for a very decent price (like 80 cents!)
On Tuesday I learned that we really are nothing and that God really doesn’t need us to bring people to him, he can bring them himself. What a blessing it is that he lets us in on it. When we held VBS for the kids around the Shalom church, we simply asked kids 15 minutes before to come, talking only to about three. All of us thought that we’d have to hold VBS for the pastor’s daughter and no one else would come, literally all of us. Suddenly kids started flowing in with timid, but excited faces. By the end of it, a turn out of I’d say about 20 kids. This happened every day.
On Tuesday I also learned that paint eats through plasic disposable cups.
On Wednesday I learned that fences take forever and a day to paint, it’s ridiculous!
On Thursday I learned that Mexico has some crazy bugs hiding under rocks.
On Thursday I also learned what a blessing the churches are in Mexico and how much love for the people of the church and community the pastors have.
On Thursday I also learned that the pastors in Mexico are just as well equipped, if not better equipped to teach Gods word as our pastors here.
On Friday I learned that cement needs to be mixed with sand to work and that we actually have to buy that sand.
On Friday I also learned that Pastor Martin likes to pull pranks.
On Friday I also learned that Pastor Martin, Marine, and Camilo are very good at pulling pranks and like to scare girls.
On Friday Camilo learned that AACF UCLAers are also pretty good at pulling pranks.
On Saturday I learned how to say “God bless you” in Spanish.
On Saturday I also learned that Bernice likes me so much, she doesn’t get mad at me even if I get her in trouble with her parents.
On Saturday I also learned what a joy it is to be able to share the gospel with someone else, even if I cannot speak their language and all I can do is give them a book. I was able to share with a little boy a book about how a story of a boy who cares about his pet ants parallels the wonderful and true story of God who cares about us.
On Sunday I learned that my immune system breaks down after the hype.
On Sunday I also learned that getting car sick while already being neaseous with a fever really REALLY sucks.
On Sunday I also learned that El Monte is only 15 minutes from Walnut.

And every day I learned more and more about how selfish I really am and how selfless I hope to be.

Yes, incase you happen upon this post and do not know, today is my birthday.

So yes, an annual thanks to all the people that made my day extra bright, whether they know of this blog, read this blog, or no nothing of this blog or post.

Thank you…

Elliot, dude, firefly, can’t wait to watch it
Amy, hahaha, I knew it but it still makes me happy, I love how my collection is growing
Nico, my mysterious <3 it makes a gift double exciting when it’s left on the doorstep
Emmeline, thanks, I know I’m not REALLY 19 (I’m actually more like 9)
Jeff, … well it was almost surprising, but not quite, gotta check for windows next time thanks though
David, haha, thanks for dinner even though I think that fly liked it more than I did haha
and to all those who use facebook and look at that wonderful side bar that tells you it’s my birthday and to all those who use facebook and had the wonderful chance of double checking it’s my birthday

An autobiography of a man who has been called on of the four or five most influential missionaries in China. Well, that’s what the back of the book says and I believe it. I’ve always heard of Hudson Taylor, little bits here and there, but never really thought about what his story really was. Amazing. He has an amazing story. Anyone who gets a chance to , it’s really an easy read, only 155 pages (that’s with the ending poem and epilogue) and I was able to finish it in less than 3 hrs.

Here are just some parts I especially liked from the book, I guess it’s my way of doing dialectical journals now that we don’t have to… I have to say, they are useful for looking back at useful/important/rememberable parts of books

“I remember that I dedicated myself without holding anything back. I put myself, my life, my friends, everything on the alter. A deep, solemn feeling came over me. With it came assurance. I knew God had accepted my offering. His presence became real and blessed. I was an only child - fifteen - but I remember stretching myself on the ground and lying there, silent, before him. I felt indescribable awe and joy. I didn’t know what kind of service he accepted me for, but a deep sense of awareness came over me. I didn’t belong to myself any more.” p.12

“This hope had a completely practical effect on me. It led me to look carefully through my little library to see if I had any books I didn’t need any more. I also went through my small closet. I wanted to be absolutely sure that if the Master came right away, I wouldn’t be sorry about anything I had. My library shrank considerably, to the benefit of some poor neighbors - and to my own soul’s greater benefit.” p.16

“One day we met a Cantonese merchant. he was a relative of the highest official in town. Mr. Burns started talking to him in Cantonese. The man was so pleased to hear a foreigner speak his language that he became our friend and got us a place to live.” p.87

“I remembered that I had not prayed for a place to stay last night. I also felt condemned that I had worried so much about my few things, when all around me were precious souls I hadn’t cared about. I came as a sinner and claimed Jesus’ blood, realizing I was accepted in him. I was forgiven, cleaned up and made pure. How great Jesus’ love was! More than I had ever realized it before, I knew what it was like to be despised and rejected, and to have nowhere to lay my head. More than ever, I felt how great his love must have been for him to leave his home in glory and suffer like he did for me. In fact, he had even given up his life on the cross!” p.102

“Is it that hardhearted and wicked to neglect saving the body? How much punishment will the person get who leaves the sould to perish? Who say, like cain did, ‘Am i my brother’s keeper?’. The Lord Jesus commands me, commands you - to ‘go into all the world, and preach the good news to all creation’. Will we tell him it’s not convenient? Will we tell him we’re busy fishing and can’t go? That we’ve five yoke of oxen, or have married, or are busy doing more interesting things, and can’t go?” p.112

“…’I have searched for the truth a long time,’ he said earnestly,’as my father did before me. But I never found it. I have traveled far and near, but without getting it. I have found no rest in Confucianism, Buddhism or Taoism. But I do find rest in what I have heard here tonight. From now on, I am a believer in Jesus.’…’What!’ He said, amazed. ‘Is it possible that for hundreds of years you have known this good news and only now you come to preach it to us? My father looked for the truth for more than twenty years and died without finding it. Oh, why didn’t you come sooner?’” p.120

“I wanted them to ask God what he wanted them to do…’I think a collection tends to leave the impression that the only important thing is money… in fact, no amount of money can convert a sould. What is needed is for men and women filled with the Holy Sprirt to give themselves to the work. There will never be a lack of funds for the support of people like that.” p.144

What if I were to become a long term missionary? Am I ready to make that prayer and KNOW that I don’t belong to myself?

Haha, you might be thinking from my previous post… wait… they didn’t make this into a movie…? That’s right, they didn’t… at least not yet.

After watching the new Prince Caspian movie, I decided to go back and start rereading the books for … I’m not sure, the third or fourth time. I love those books so much, and yet I can’t remember them. So, I started at book 1, the Magician’s Nephew. And WOW, my love for the books has been restored. It’s such an easy read and so captivating that I finished it in a couple hours. Reading it on my own with a new perspective on life and a new understanding of all the allegories involved, it really meant something different. It’s true what the reviews about these books say, everyone should read the series at least 3 times in their life; as a child (oh what a wonderful adventure story to read to your kids), as a young adult (or teen or whatever, you know, that age when you’ve learned to ‘close read’ books), and as an adult (when you’ve started to forget all those childhood fantasies and faiths).

Anyway, rereading the first book, I vaguely remembered the kids jumping into pools with the rings, freeing the witch, the creation of Narnia, and the one apple that would create the portal from our world to theirs. Of course, I only remember those as adventure and fantasy that kept me captivated and daydreaming about my own adventure. This time through I saw how true it was to the story of man, of how we brought sin into the perfect world that God made for us, and how horrible that really is; how even though sin is horrendous, God gives us the chance to be forgiven. Anyway, I’m not an English major, far from it, so my writing is horrible (I totally admit to that) so I’m not going to try to write the gorgeous eloquent review that this book deserves. Just go read it. It’s good. I promise. And if you don’t think it’s good, well then, you’re just like Uncle Andrew.

I was wondering if the names of the characters had any significance. I thought about it long and hard. I can’t figure it out… is there a significance?

Yay! Yesterday I went with my family and some people from church to go watch the new Narnia movie, Prince Caspian. I have to say, I was already really excited to go see the movie. I’ve already read the entire Narnia series at least twice over, but somehow I can’t seem to remember all of it sad.

Anyway, I was very impressed with the movie. I must say, I think it was a lot better than the first, well done. The music from the movie is gorgeous (how can I not say so, there are so many heroic horn parts!) and sent chills up my spine it’s a good feeling. I really like how they kept to the morals and lessons from the original books and made sure to hit the key points. For a Christian watching the film, you can totally see all the hints to the struggles of temptation by Satan (the White Witch) and the power of God (Aslan!!). I also liked how they threw in the lines and convos between Lucy and her siblings, why they couldn’t see Aslan, why he didn’t come to the rescue like the last time. I give it two thumbs up!

Haha, as a side note, I don’t know who else noticed when they watched the movie, I liked how in the beginning as the Narnians charged to battle, Peter yelled out “For Narnia!” and they lost. In the end battle, he called “For Aslan!” and they won. How true is that to our lives

Haha, while I was reading up on Elliot’s notes on facebook I came across this meme that he did. Cool, I’ve been tagged for something

When doing this I realized… dang, this is really hard… what is interesting about me?

“The meme asks me to give a link to the person who meme’d me, to tell 7 interesting things about me, and to then pass the meme on. I interpreted the meme to mean that I should tell things that you’re not likely to guess. Here goes:”

1. I tend to find ways to relate everything to food (i.e. homework… mmmm yummy!, that game is delicious, I ate it…)

2. I really really love music (instrumental music) to the point that I was seriously thinking of majoring in music A part of the reason why I wanted to get jaw surgery was because after freshman year it became increasingly hard to play the flute and this year it because extremely difficult to play my french horn. (yay! I’ll be able to play again in about2 weeks!)

3. I like to talk with/through facial expressions and eyebrows

4. I love socks, they’re just so comfy and soft. I’ve never worn sandals at school. (including the UCLA campus, but not including my room)

5. I have a pretty strong sweet tooth, love desserts but I think chocolate is too sweet

6. A dream of mine is to open up a bakery. I probably never will.

7. I used to be able to touch my nose with my tongue, but I haven’t tried it since my surgery

If anyone ever did read this and happen to see my tag of them, I would tag Christine, Phoebe, and Nicolette :T

http://www.youtube.com/user/docjazz4

Wow… just… WOW.

I really liked the sound of the ocarina after playing OoT (Ocarina of Time), but now I really love it. It’s absolutely gorgeous! I have to admit that in all my ridiculousness, after playing OoT I went ahead and bought the cheapest ocarina I could find… sad mistake. I should have known better. Paying only $3 for a plastic ocarina wasn’t going to get me much, but it was fun for a while, till the weird airy sound started to get annoying (which by the way isn’t me, it’s the ocarina… I googled it). But really, the ocarina is a bit of an obscure instrument, not many people have heard of it, especially before OoT came out (I’m sure they’re a lot more famous now because of OoT). But it’s still lovely as ever. Adding that to my wishlist for sure (though I’ll probably end up buying it myself like I tend to do…)

Fun Fact: There’s a part written for the ocarina in the orchestral score for the Tiny Tunes theme song (I know, I’ve played it)