right, left, then right again

There are actions and reactions we all learn as we grow up. Obviously those lessons are relative to your family structure growing up and your culture. One of the first lessons i learned growing up was to look both ways before crossing the street. As I would sprint towards the door to go outside, even before my hand could turn the door knob, my parents were gently reminding me of this. At first the application only happened through a conscious effort. As my toes paralleled the edge of the sidewalk, I would stop, look right, left, then right again; and if the coast was clear, make my way across the road. Eventually, I began to chime in as my parents repeated this lesson; not only hearing the lesson over again, but echoing it aloud as well. It began to happen naturally. It was most certainly ingrained in my mind. I heard, I was reminded, I echoed, I learned, and I acted. Lessons learned have all seemed to eventually play out this way. But as my toes parallel a new sidewalk on a new latitude and longitude, I feel as though this lesson has applied itself in a fresh and deeper sense. The sight of this great city and all it entails finds me running towards the door eager to experience what is just beyond the door frame. The lessons I've learned echo through mind, and I find myself repeating them aloud as my hand stretches for the door. But before I act, I draw back to what I know to be true. And today and in this season, I find that I am functioning out of a foundation that has been built over years preparing me for these very days. I've had time to evaluate my roots. Light had been shed on the things I need to purge from my life and things that stir my heart. I have heard the Lord's voice so clearly, and as I continue to learn, I want my life to be in sync with those words that give me life. I elaborate all this to say, that I desperately don't want to learn how to live and forget why I'm living. For if I lose sight of why, I have lost the heart behind my living and my living will amount to nothing more than a robotic skit played out to imitate what I am truly created for. As my hand turns the door knob opening up my heart to something so new, Isaiah 30:21 turns itself over in my mind: 'Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it."

humbled

by no deserving measure of my own, i get to adventure around hong kong with these lovely ladies. each bringing to the table unique perspective and experiences, the scope of compassion and knowledge to be gained from these friendships is immense. i cherish time spent with them and look forward to conversations to be had over coffee or on the mtr just processing through life here and what it means to live a life spent for the sake of the gospel; loving our neighbors all along the way.

143 million

things that keep me up at night...

approximately 143 million children in the developing world are orphans.

James 1:27.

to my dear friend christi

parking spaces are pricey around here.

but no worries i found yours.

typhoon koppu

I do love the rain. But I feel as though I was pretty clueless to what a typhoon was until Koppu decided to grace us with it's presence this week. The city did such an efficient job of educating everyone on it's approach. I felt very aware of what time I needed to be on the MTR and what level the rating of the typhoon was at. It did not hit Hong Kong directly, but we knew we would be catching a lot of rain and wind. So, all things considered I packed my umbrella in my bag every morning just in case, I was prepared. False.

Tuesday night I headed towards Mong Kok to Our Restaurant, a Turkish place that Orme found and a few of us decided to tag along each Tuesday night to enjoy some of the most amazing people and some of the best food here. I made my way to the station's exit and saw that the bottom of the looming clouds had broken open and it was time to use my umbrella. As I approached the exit, I zipped up my bag feeling so appreciative of my umbrella and priding myself my remembrance of such a helpful device. I began to open my umbrella and the little latch wouldn't catch to keep it open. I was getting very close to the exit and a more nervous with each step. As I examined my umbrella I realized that two of the branch-like structures [I'm sure there is a more technical name for this] that keep your umbrella opened nicely above your head were unfolding 3 different directions, one of those including the opposite direction that it should be- up. In this moment, I was flustered. Thousands of people, small sidewalks, thousands of working umbrellas, rain, humidity, an umbrella that was half collapsed on my head and did I mention lots of people? It was a "bless her heart" moment for sure. Finally I gave up trying to let it function on it's own and kept it open by holding the latch together. I made my way to the restaurant, trying to predict which height people would lift or lower their umbrella as they approached because we were most certainly not both going to fit side by side with their normal umbrella and my origami umbrella. I made it there mostly dry, and with a new little piece of wisdom: to check your umbrella's opening capability before stepping out into a typhoon. Typhoon Koppu, I appreciate the rain and the slightly cooler weather you brought. But I have to admit that I enjoyed waking up to this view being absent from out of my window in the morning.

thinking outside the cup

I fear that some days I have restricted experiencing the Lord to the time it takes me to finish two cups of coffee.

He is not bound by time, nor the time I've allotted to be still for that matter.

He desires to speak to his children.

He has a future and a hope for me.

He loves his children with a love that is infinitely wider and deeper than my mind can fathom.

He has grace that abounds beyond my capacity for understanding.

His word is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart [Hebrews 4:12].

As his word is teaching me and changing me, I hope to have eyes that see and ears that hear what he is doing right in front of me.

My heart's desire is to be a woman who is constantly engaging in who He is.

memory

A few days ago we were listening to Ravi Zacharias speak and he raised a question in reference to worship. That question being: "What kind of memories are you building with your life?", and as answers begin to flood through your mind, do those memories prompt you to worship?

the past few days through my favorite side of the lens

all the boxes checked

Yesterday we returned to our apartment with all the boxes on our to-do list checked off. As we are still transitioning into daily life in Hong Kong, it is a rare occasion that we get everything done that we set out to do at the beginning of the day. Granted, most of the things we want to do are not absolutely pertinent, but they don't need to be neglected either. I'm starting to learn the careful balance of structure and flexibility here. I have found that the day goes much smoother if you can embrace the unexpected, enjoy the moments that extend beyond your schedule and in the same thought, enjoy when there is a surprise catalyst set into lengthy processes.

Among the many things we did yesterday was getting haircuts. Because I have the world's best beautician as my mom this was most certainly a different experience. I have been spoiled in this arena because my wonderful mom always let me be too picky and fidgety when she cut my hair. At 'Salon Red Hair' I had to sit still and trust that the girl cutting my hair was able to translate my hand motions that I tried to produce for my lack of Cantonese. The shampoo before the hair cut was worth the visit in itself. They took 20 minutes to wash our hair, aka: massage our head. It was lovely, slightly weird at some points, like when the guy started tapping my forehead, but overall lovely. Following the wash, I was led to the chair and with my picture in hand I tried again to explain as simply as I could what I wanted. She nodded and I hoped for the best. She took a while to cut my hair. Carefully sectioning off different layers eight or ten times throughout the whole cut. I kept trying to peek up through the front of my hair that was swept in front of my eyes. But as soon as I would even slightly lift my head up higher or tilt it farther than she wanted she would gently use both hands to correct it's positioning. Taking deep breaths, I just closed my eyes and sat patiently till she started to cut the front. Just when I thought

she was about to be finished she started lifting different parts of my hair and running the scissors down both sides. I guess that is the replacement for thinning shears here in Hong Kong. All I could see was thick layers of hair falling all around the chair. Again, deep breaths. She blow dried it for me and after she was finished she asked what I thought, this is what I found in the reflection...

It's different, definitely shorter and thinner than ever, but I'm getting used to it. I was nervous because last time I had really short hair was in my early years of high school and I looked like I had a pumpkin for a face and no one intervened to tell me until WAY later. Years later.

Today has started out great as well. Took my first adventure alone to run some errands and made it back safely with most of the things I was looking for. Now I'm off to the pool with two of my favorite girls, Miss Katie and Mrs Catherine. Looking forward to family dinner tonight at the Deans!

[mom: thank you for always being so patient with me when i was wiggling around and being so particular when you cut my hair. you are SO talented at what you do. know that you are loved and appreciated. wish you could have experienced my haircut adventure with me]