Grateful

When my birthday is around the corner, it means that Thanksgiving is almost here! If Christmas music and Jesus weren’t things, Thanksgiving would actually be my favourite holiday.

Thankful

I get to go home home soon, and I am so excited to be with my family, see my friends, and eat GOOD food (brisket and corn bread can be good, but it’s always the same. I like variety.). But wow, I have been in Orlando for… almost 4 months? Here are a few things I am thankful for. In no particular order:

My roommates. Keren and Jennifer are a delight to live with. It was definitely slow going in the beginning, but both of them are so sweet and lovely. It’s been fun having mattress chats, going on shopping excursions, and having discussions about apartment décor. Keren introduced me to “Your Lie in April,” which is a fantastic anime about piano and classical music. It's so good! We were also in the same group at Preview Weekend in February, and God just knew that putting us in the same apartment would make transition a little easier. And Jennifer is so kind and welcoming as a second year intern! She was so gracious to drive me before my car came in, and having someone with more knowledge about Orlando and Cru helped make adjusting easier. Love them 😊

Roomies

Transition and change. Moving across the country was not easy. I cried a lot more than I thought I was capable of, and I miss a lot of things about the Bay Area (but not the drought or traffic). But in the midst of this move, God revealed, and continues to reveal, the many things He wants me to surrender, change, and grow in. Challenges are hard, but the following passage has been a theme for many people, and it shows that God shakes our world so that we hold firmly on Him and focus on His kingdom.

“At that time his voice shook the earth, 

but now he has promised, 

“Yet once more I will shake not only 

the earth but also the heavens.” 

This phrase, “Yet once more,” 

indicates the removal of things that are shaken — 

that is, things that have been made — 

in order that the things 

that cannot be shaken may remain. 

Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving 

a kingdom that cannot be shaken, 

and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, 

with reverence and awe, 

for our God is a consuming fire.” 

– Hebrews 12: 26-29

The intern community. I will say up front that it is far from perfect, but the 16 other interns I get to do life with has been such a blessing. It has shown me how much I was not in community toward the end of college. Doing life with all these different people has been a lot of forming, storming, norming, and performing, but I love being a part of all.

Music! Well, I no longer play classical music or have access to beautiful Steinway grand pianos, but I have the opportunity to serve on Nona Church’s worship team, and it has been an absolute joy to use this specific gift and skill here in Orlando. Also, Keren helps me get my classical music fixes. It has also been really fun hosting worship nights with the interns (we're having one on my birthday!!) too, and I'm learning new Christians songs like “Psalm 34,” “Mighty God, Father, Friend,” and of course “Way Maker.”

Worship

Walt Disney World. Wow, never in a million years would I have thought that I would go to Disney every week, much less do ministry there. I am thankful for the many new relationships I have made through Disney ministry. I pray that God will continue to move in our interactions, and we will be able to lead them to take their next step toward Jesus. And of course, what a privilege it is to just casually hang out at Disney after work or over the weekend. Strange, but that is my life now.

My team. This refers to the five-person marketing team I am on (which has changed, but more details to come later). Ryan, Leah, Kelsey, and Christina make teamwork so easy and enjoyable! And I've raved about my supervisor before, but the more I work with him, the more I experience his professional management and personal care for me and the rest of the team. I'm so grateful for this team and the kingdom work we get to do together 💖

Beautiful skies. One of my teammates moved from Orlando to San Diego, and I told her that one of the things I love about Orlando is the sky and ever-changing clouds. And because there are no skyscrapers or mountains (for better or for worse), I can see so much more sky here than at home. There's also so much water and naturally green grass (that is not watered with tuition money @SCU)

(Almost) Eternally Blue

You. Even though I am not with you physically, I love seeing your faces and messages on screen. Those moments make being in Orlando a little bit easier. Thank you for your prayers, love, and support, from more than 2400 miles away. 

That is it for now. There is so much I could be writing about but I want to be thankful first. What are you thankful for?

"Give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

- 1 Thessalonians 5:18