Year in Review 2013 (with pictures!)

I can honestly say 2013 has definitely been one of the more memorable years for me. I graduated in December, passed my RD license exam and turned 23 in February.

Celebrating my birthday with family and friends

I took an extended vacation after graduation to Travel. First, I took a spontaneous trip to NY/NJ with friends in January to learn about the finance industry and to visit relatives and friends. Then, I visited my mom and relatives in Taiwan in March, and even got to hang-out with old-friends in South Korea. During my first week in Taiwan, I got to participate in two very unique ministries with my mom. The first ministry, based in TaiChung, reached out to Vietnamese workers. The second ministry was through a local church near TaiDung in an aboriginal community among the Bunun people group. Being able to worship the Lord with these new brothers and sisters was such a reminder that God is truly loving and faithful and SOOOO much bigger than me. I went to Taiwan with the intention to visit and spend time with my mom. I did, but I also go to see and learn about His great work in Taiwan.

NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY:

Eating Soup Dumplins and Beef Noodle Soup with the Lins

All dressed up for the WFG (World Financial Group) Business Conference

 TAIWAN:

Relaxing at a Aborigines Resort in Central Taiwan

Doing morning exercises with local Grandmas

Beautiful Sun Moon Lake, my mother's hometown

Eating dinner with my cousins from my mom's side

SOUTH KOREA:

A new friend I met on a tour of a King's Palace

Visiting Christine Wang in Daegu

My amazing host and friend, Hyun Seo Yang!

This SUMMER was also filled with MANY blessings! I dedicated much of my time growing as a dancer this summer through auditioning for Hip Hop ConnXion and training with BoomCrack Dance Company's summer intensive in Chicago. I haven't had too many opportunities before where I could invest a significant amount of time focused on dance, but I'm so grateful for that season because it allowed me to learn from such talented dancers (more importantly great people) that encourage me to work harder on my craft and mature as a person. Other highlights include my last year as a PD at TAF, hosting an epic graduation party, playing in a women's basketball  league, and attending 4 weddings!

BoomCrack Summer Intensive 2013

HipHop ConnXion rehearsal

Daddy cooked up a feast at my graduation party

Congrats to Karen&SamBrown, Belinda&JackKou, Steph&JohnnyJones, and Betsy&RichardJuarez

TAFers at the Brown Wedding in Ohio

It was my honor and privilege to serve alongside this fantastically silly bunch of Juniors sTAFfers

Alongside all the fun I had, I was also undergoing the grueling process of Job Searching. The process was not fun, but many lessons were learned along the way. Mainly... "Charis," which means grace in Greek or "unmerited favor."

My first job after I graduated was as a line cook part-time at the Green Tomato Cafe (GTC), which is part of Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC). I interned at LCHC and volunteered at the GTC when it just opened in November 2012. I knew I wanted to work there right away because it had every component of my dream cafe. I really had a blast working at the GTC! I especially enjoyed getting to know my co-workers. We attended each other's birthday parties, graduation parties, weddings, etc. In the few months that we knew each other, we became like family.

GTC Crew representing at the Juarez wedding 

In the meantime, however, I was looking for a full-time position in nutrition at other hospitals or clinics with no luck. After 6 months, I was getting antsy. I sent out dozens of applications and had several in-person interviews but no offers. While I was having the time of my life working part-time, dancing, meeting new people, and hanging out with friends, I was getting anxious because I wasn't advancing in the career I wanted.

Fall 2013 Sermon Series

During that time, my church was going through a Sunday Sermon Series called "The Gospel According to Joseph," where we discussed the sovereignty of God when our life seems to be put on hold. Like Joseph, I had great ambitions to make a difference in the world. Here is an excerpt from my journal of a prayer I wrote during one of the sermons:

Reflection: In so many ways I feel like Joseph. I desire to be great, to be known and recognized. Lord, change my desires for you, for YOU to be greatly known and recognized. This waiting period with jobs has been like Joseph's season in jail. Break me again, so that I may depend on the Lord and know that You are the good provider. Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." 9/8/13

As the series closed out, and I was denied yet another position, I lifted up this prayer:

God, I know you have other opportunities in stored for me that I don't know about. Let my confidence be in you and not on myself. I don't have to feel bad about myself because people are not hiring me. I've never been the "last picked" kind of girl, but it's very humbling indeed... I know you have something great in stored for me like Joseph. But right now, you want to prepare me and shape my character into someone who will make much of you and others, and less of me. It's a hard process, but I choose to trust in you. Let me not be anxious. Let your joy and peace carry me day by day. "Step by step you lead me, and I will follow you all of my days." 9/17/13

Thanks to these reminders and the prayers and encouragement of those around me, I really sensed God's peace and sovereignty in my life. I was then able to enjoy that season of waiting.

Breakthrough.org

Before Thanksgiving, while I was on my way home from an interview that had gone terribly, I received a call from Breakthrough Urban Ministries. Breakthrough is a Christian, non-profit organization I had volunteered with through my church in college, and I had applied for their Foodservice Director position a few months ago. However, the position was filled by the guy who was calling me now. He informed me that they had created an assistant position and would like to interview me right away. I went through three rounds of interviews within a week's span.

My second interview with the program directors was the most intense and honest interview I had ever endured. Here were the paraphrased questions asked of me:
1. Given that one of Breakthrough's core value is racial justice, what are your thoughts on the topic?
2..... You are clearly Asian American, what makes you want to work in a community that's predominantly African American?
3. How to you approach the issue of homelessness? (One of Breakthrough's main ministry is homeless intervention)
4. What do you turn to when nothing seems to be going your way?

Man...I was SO not ready to answer those questions. Not that I haven't thought of those topics before, but I just hadn't practiced like THAT for any of my interviews. Somehow by God's grace, I was able to collect my thoughts into cohesive sentences. Here's the gist of what I recall from my responses:
1. When I think of racial justice, I think of reconciliation and the need for understanding of people's different backgrounds, experiences, and cultures. We can begin to understand one another better when we come together to share stories, find commonalities, form memories and connections with different types of people. That is why I love food because food brings people together, and so much potential can come from people coming together.
2. I have no idea why but I've always loved being around Black people. Ever since I was in high school, I was the only Asian in the Step Team. In College, I loved to dance hip hop and God gave me a heart for communities in the West and South Side of Chicago. I can't explain it. It's just the way God made me, to have a heart for African American communities.
3. My first interaction with a homeless person was in high school. My youth group pastor gave each of us $5 to buy food or a drink for a homeless person in Chicago, talk and pray for them afterwords. It was an uncomfortable yet eye-opening experience. I've done similar things several times since then, and one thing I learned was that there's no difference between me and that person begging on the street, we are all broken and in need of Christ. It's a matter of whether we know it or not. Every time I ask a homeless man or woman if they would like prayer, they say YES! When I ask my small group members if they need prayer, they say no I'm good. That's the difference.
My second interaction with homelessness was as a volunteer at Breakthrough. At first, I thought I was so great because I was sacrificing my time and my money to serve the "poor." But man was I humbled. I witnessed men and women give when they had very little to give. They taught me what it really meant to serve and sacrifice. They taught me what it really meant to have faith when you have nothing else to depend on. There are so many reasons a person can be homeless, it's not for me to judge. So, for now, I approach homelessness as a learner.
4. When nothing goes my way... it has to be Jesus.

I received the position two days after the final interview. Full-time with benefits (and health insurance). Praise be to God.

Me with Gretchen (right) and a volunteer at the annual Breakthrough Christmas Store

Many other things happened within that week where I was offered a total of 3 job positions. But all this waiting was for God to show me "charis," the unmerited, undeserved favor He has on me. Realizing this brought me to tears. I am so thankful God brought me through this journey, and I know He is trustworthy through whatever trials and joys 2014 may bring.

Inspired by Psalms

Praise the Lord, O my soul. Praise His holy name.
Praise my God, whose promises are sure. Indeed Christ will surely come.
He will fully reveal His glory. He will bring upon perfect justice. He will show unfathomable grace.
Love will overflow.
He brings glory. He upholds justice. He shows grace. His love overflows.
Praise to my Father who gives the best gifts.
He has already made in us everything we are ever meant to be.
In time, he will reveal us to ourselves, like a child unwrapping her presents.
I'll leave you to do the surprising. You are best at it.

History of North Lawndale, a brief summary

North Lawndale was a prosperous neighborhood in the early 1900s established by the Czechs. Many large companies such as Western Electronic and Sears Roebuck established their manufactures there during those times. In the 1920s, the Czechs left and the Jewish immigrants settled in. By the 1940s, half of the population were immigrant Jews. In the 1950s, many Blacks from the South were pushed upward due to urban renewal projects. Meanwhile, straight up racist laws that legally protected racial-segregation real estate practices such as "blockbusting" scared the majority of the White population out of North Lawndale (many Jews moved north to areas like Albany Park and Rogers Park). In ten years, the white population dropped from 99% to 9%. Additionally, After MLK's assassination in 1968, a riot broke out in Lawndale, damaging numerous businesses along Roosevelt. The long term effect was the escape of large industries such as International Harvesters, and Sears in 1974, into the downtown locations. They were followed by Zenith and Sunbeam and Western Electronics in the 1980s. North Lawndale experienced a 70% decrease in population. More info on Wiki.

NY/NJ Trip Part 1

God revealed the Pharisee in me (again) these past few week… I recently attended a business training conference in New Jersey where I met and listened to the stories of many successful people in the financial industry. To my surprise, many of these millionaires were much more humble, disciplined, passionate, and lived with so much more conviction than most Christians I know including myself. Two thoughts came to mind:
a. What is the difference between Christians and non-Christians? These non-Christians seem to be producing very good fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). Their marriages are strong and they live with a mission to serve others. As I was wrestling with this question and even comparing my own life with theirs, God reminded me of a passage we discussed during Sunday school, the riddle in Psalm 49. “But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them… But God will redeem my life from the grave. Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will descend with him… A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” Wow… This pretty much goes to say those Christians trust in God and non-Christians trust in themselves (or was that more from Psalm 73?) The only difference if that Christ redeems the lives of those who place their trust in him instead of what they build up on this earth. Then I thought… 
b. These people are so worldly, living and chasing after success in this world even though it will not last. They appear satisfied, content, claiming to experience “true” freedom and joy in life…. I shouldn’t follow them, they chase after things of this world while I have kingdom work that can last for all eternity. I better not get into business with these guys…. While these statements may be true, my real thought was, “I don’t want to be associated with these sinners.” That night God pointed me to the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee prayed about himself saying “God, I thank you that I am not like other men- robbers, evildoers, adulterers- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” The tax collector simply says, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” He didn’t compare himself with anyone else like the Pharisee did. He simply saw himself as a sinner before God and nothing else mattered. Because of that, God exalts him. Too often I miss out on God because I’m too busy comparing myself with others, whether in dance abilities, serving in the church, the way I dress, etc. I lose out on giving thanks to God and worshiping Him. I’m thankful for the weekly reminders from FAP to pray with thanksgiving and with the understanding that we desperately need his mercy every day. 
c. There is a third thought that I am quite ashamed to share about. But I will share because I know God wants to uproot this sin and redeem this area of my life. 70% of the associates at the business convention were middle-aged Chinese immigrants. In the middle of the conference, I felt super uncomfortable and thought “I can’t believe I have to learn and get advice in this business from a bunch of Chinese people.” In that thought, God revealed a deep prejudice I had against the Chinese. Growing up, I often heard comments like “products made in China are bad” or “Chinese tourists are polluting our beautiful island” or “Chinese people are so loud and rude.” Sly comments like these, repeated over the years, implanted the thought that Taiwanese is better than Chinese. Straight up telling the truth here. It was much easier to hide this prejudice while growing up in a Chinese immigrant church because we were called to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. However, outside the church is really where that love gets tested. I failed, but God is addressing this issue by bringing more Chinese friends into my life. For that I am thankful. 
As God continues to expose my pride, I'm learning to look to Christ, as the ultimate demonstration of humility, "who being in very nature God did not consider himself equality with God something to be grasped. But made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a serving, being made in human likeness. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a Cross!" (Philippians 2) Thank you for your great example, Lord. 

ESV Study Bible

I received an ESV Study Bible this year as a graduation gift from a close family friend. So far, I've been putting it to good use by utilizing the commentaries, the online features, and following their Bible reading plan. I especially enjoy the "Listen" feature, where a man reads the passages aloud. Listening to his voice is so much more interesting that listening to my own. Plus, he can actually pronounce the names correctly!

Today's readings on Genesis 3, Psalm 2, and Luke 1:57-80 gave me another picture of God's faithfulness throughout history. In Genesis, he promised that he would send someone to take down Satan (3:15) despite the fall of humanity and the punishments for their sins. In Psalm 2, the king, in which God has appointed over Israel, affirms the degree or covenant God made with David and Zachariah's hymn in Luke's passage is a praise to God for bringing the fulfillment of his promises through the coming of the Savior, Christ.

Other interesting topics include the various responses the characters have toward God and even people's response to sin. I will reflect more on these issues to understand how I ought to rightfully respond to God's promises by following the "way of the righteous" through faithful obedience.

Zechariah's Prophecy (Luke 1:67-79)68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 

67 And his father Zechariah ewas filled with the Holy Spirit and fprophesied, saying,

g“Blessed be the Lord hGod of Israel,

for he has ivisited and jredeemed his people

and khas raised up la horn of salvation for us

min the house of his servant David,

nas ohe spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

pthat we should be saved from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us;

qto show the mercy promised to our fathers

and rto remember his holy scovenant,

tthe oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

might serve him uwithout fear,

vin holiness and righteousness before him wall our days.

And you, child, will be called xthe prophet of ythe Most High;

for zyou will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to his people

ain the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the btender mercy of our God,

whereby cthe sunrise shall dvisit us1 efrom on high

to fgive light to gthose who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into hthe way of ipeace.”