Magic Kingdom & More

I said this post would be about orientation and field ministry, but instead it will be about Disney World, and a life lesson I learned there.

 The Famous Mouse

I’ve been to Disneyland three times, and the last time I was there with my brother and two cousins from Australia. To maximize our three-day pass, we planned each day, strategically obtaining FastPasses and taking turns waiting in line to maximize the number of rides we rode and minimize waiting in line. It was fun, but also a little stressful and VERY tiring. I distinctly remember thinking that Disney is not such a magical and happy place. Everyone else seemed to have a great time, but at the end of every day I was tired and worn out.

Disney World is composed of four different theme parks, and we went to Magic Kingdom on Friday.  All the interns get annual passes, so we took our time through the park. The second year interns kept reminding us that we have all year to enjoy everything in Disney World. To be honest, we barely did anything, by our old standards. It took a couple hours just to get everyone into the park, and we went on three rides. We did take a group picture, eat hot dogs, watch the Festival of Fantasy parade, and I ate Dole Whip for the first time. Then we took a detour at McDonald’s before heading over to Hollywood Studios for the Tower of Terror and Fantasmic, a Disney show that I’m pretty sure is exactly the same as the one in Disneyland.

On to a Magical Year

This experience of Disney World was SO different. We almost just wandered through the park, taking it in slowly and soaked up all the details of Disney. Each section of the park was uniquely decorated for a certain theme, and even the background music matched the mood immersing you in the world of Disney. Every detail is so intricately put together to give people a very enjoyable experience. Plus, it helped that many of the interns LOVE Disney.

It reminded me of life. I’ve been reading a book called “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” by by Peter Scazzero, and it constantly reminds me that life is not meant to be a rat race. God created life and emotions, which are to be felt and enjoyed. It’s not necessarily about how much we can do for got, how we can serve Him each day, but being in His presence and being in fellowship with Him. But if I’m so busy getting through all the STUFF that He wants me to do, when will I ever stop and notice all the beautiful things He has created and orchestrated for me to know Him and love Him more? Food for thought.

On Saturday, I went to an Asian market 40 minutes away with two other interns. It was so far, but so satisfying. This had happened to me once before in Australia, but I was reminded how Asian I am haha.

$300+ of Food

On the way back, Song (one of the interns. He’s an international student from Beijing) was playing “One Day” by Amy Sands. I never thought that I would need to hear the lyrics, but the combination of the Asian market and Chinese worship songs had a some impact on me, that God knows me. Of course He does, but it was very touching in the moment.

"有一天， 你若感覺沒人愛你

有一天， 好像走到谷底。

那一天， 不要忘記有人愛你

那一天， 不要輕易說放棄。

這個世界真有一位上帝

祂愛你， 他願意幫助你。

茫茫人海雖然寂寞，

祂愛能溫暖一切冷漠。"

I visited First Orlando Church this weekend with Logan and Josh, and we all really loved the production and worship service. It reminded me a little bit of Venture Church in Los Gatos – after all, both are American megachurches. The really special part of the service was that the pastor met us: shook our hands at the start of service and asked where we were from and what we were doing in Orlando (Cru internship).  Little did we know that he would call us out during the sermon, which was about evangelism and the community. What a cool experience, so personal and intimate, even though the church is giant!

And then we made pineapple fried rice for Song’s housemates! Shhh, don’t tell the other interns. They’ll get good homemade Asian food soon :) 

Technically Thai Food

That's all for now. I'll be sharing my 5H's on Wednesday and posting the contents of that soon after. Until then~