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.
