Hospitable You

I left Singapore astounded at how much God provided, blessed, and opened my eyes to. I realized how much He had prepared in advance for me and how much I don't deserve, yet am freely given. Since praying for this trip back in September, I'm noting how much has already been answered and I don't doubt what God can do and will answer in the days, weeks, and months to come.

Hospitality really stood out for me in Singapore. Friendly city, western style of living, and most of all, hospitable people. I knew Singapore would be comfortable for me from the start as it's not only an technologically advanced country, but I have an exchange friend there, so having a break from hostels and self introductions would be nice after going for an extended amount of time doing so. What was unexpected was being treated so well and catered to by the like of so many others.

Upon arrival, my friend's boyfriend drove to the airport to pick me up and treated me to my very first Singaporean dinner. He basically treated me a lot throughout the whole time I was in Singapore and wouldn't let me pay him back and the same goes for others as well. As wonderful as it was, this made me feel bad and in an awkward position in not knowing how to return all of their kind gestures, but to tell them they must come to Canada one day so I can treat them back.

Knowing I wanted to spend Easter in Singapore, I got to meet my friend's small group and I never felt more welcomed or so loved either. Her leader had asked if it was okay to take me out for dinner despite his busy schedule as a church leader, young father and having a full time job. Yet another small group member kindly gave me a tour of the city after church, while others joined to keep me company as my friend had to study for her final paper that day. I'm literally a stranger to them so initially I felt this was very strange because their  kindness was above and beyond even the expected welcoming etiquette. At the same time though, it felt so awesome to be treated this way, not only as my friend's friend, but as a guest and like their own friend as well.

It's also such a tremendous blessing as initially I had budgeted more for Singapore knowing it had a higher cost to it compared to other Southeast Asian countries. Ironically it turns out I became under budget due to all these unexpected gestures of kindness.

I really came to appreciate not only the acts but the people as well. I even asked one person if they treat new people often and why, in which they replied in agreement because it makes that new comer feel welcomed, and I couldn't concur more. It's not like my friend or any of them are generous because they have plenty to spare, in fact, my friend and her boyfriend are actually going on a grad trip to Europe soon so I didn't want nor expect them to pay for me as I know the need to save when planning for an extended holiday. However, my time in Singapore retaught me the importance of being generous, doing good deeds, and how wonderfully significant treating someone is. I feel the whole 'Going Dutch' (paying separately) style of paying in the western world has water downed down the want to pay for someone else, let alone someone you barely know. It also made me rethink my perspective on how many people including myself use the excuse "I'm broke" to opt out of doing something or going out when we literally aren't just to save money.

I also find it interesting how giving and being generous can create a domino effect. Just think of the buzz of people who pay for the order behind them in a Tim Horton's drive thru or positive messages left randomly on campus, or those heard of that tip an extraordinary amount to help that waiter or waitress pay for their bills/tuition. There's definitely good in the world, but it shouldn't be just a trend or phase people go through, rather a lifestyle as I've experienced.

Thank You so much Singapore! 

On Beauty

This is going to be one honest post. Not saying my other posts aren't, but there's always something new to be revealed about someone, especially when that someone is yourself.

Since the start of this trip and going as minimalistic as possible, I've  realized what a huge learning experience it has been in the extent of attempting to be as low maintanence as possible. I use to be and still am very focus on outwardedly beauty. I think since becoming an adolescent and being exposed to the world of makeup, magazines, and what the media tells you to look likes makes every teenage girl strive to look good, look pretty, and look beautiful rather be-YOU-tiful. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I have come to acknowledge that beauty is in the eye of everyone. You shouldn't be less beautiful just because someone doesn't think you are beautiful and neither should you feel ugly because you don't meet standards that are set by another perspective. How odd is it that how we value our own's worth is base on what others think because it shouldn't be that way.

We've all heard that God made us all in His image, and thus we are all made beautiful and good, but how many of us actually believe that whole heartedly? I know for one, this was hard for me to grasp because I never felt good enough and my outwardly self image of myself definitely impacted my confidence and who I am on the inside. I've struggled for outwardly attention in the past, place my identity on other things than God's precious daughter not realizing the amount of how time and effort I spend on myself could've be used elsewhere. Now I'm not saying to look like a bum and not care how you look at all (how ironic this is coming from a textile and clothing graduate), but I feel for girls (and guys) it's important to not prioritize it as the end of the world if you're makeup or hair is not perfect.

A while back I posted on my tumbr about this article here. Though it's quite an interesting take on a female traveller's lifestyle, I know the first point really jumped out at me because I would make sure that my hair looks right or that tan lines are out of the question because I would've always had sunscreen on. What's interesting is that now I'm in her shoes, I actually find myself gradually caring less and respectively putting less time into myself. I notice I'm more confident in my looks and I feel traveling has brought forth a stronger character out of me. Maybe it's the epiphany that most travellers don't even bother with looking good or that it's averaging 30C here in SouthEast Asia that what you have on your face will end up melting, but regardless I'm thankful to see the beauty in myself and others through God's eyes and know that what He thinks is above all.

God is Speaking

One reason I came back to Korea was to find answers. I had feelings that God would speak to me back in a place where I had unforgettable memories that kept me questioning for more these past few months. I had my hesitations, and I had my expectations, but it wasn't made clear to me until a sermon yesterday that it doesn't matter where I am or where I go, because it won't solve my problems now or my questions for the future. Instead, what matters most is what's in my soul, what my intentions are, and how my plans are Heaven oriented instead of (Earthly) destination oriented.

I think I've been prioritizing where I am to "settle" more than what I am to do when I am in wherever God places. Since officially completing all the requirements of my studies, I've been asked what my plans are, what's next, and it makes sense as that tends to be the natural course of our life. I mean, we didn't ust go to school for at least seventeen plus years just to be educated. Ultimately, it's to find a relatively decent job, be financially stable, and be able to maintain one's life style and eventually a family if this ideal plays out.

Though, my responses and thoughts have been full of uncertainty. What's certain is that I'm a curious and greedy one. Curiosity that keeps me going and discontent with the fact of "settling," and greedy in the sense that I want to be everywhere at any point of time and hoping that I can do much with little. I honestly have no clue where to start, but I also know planting seeds here and there won't bear any fruit. Instead, I really need to concentrate and focus my time and resources into one area, allow it to come to fruition, AND THEN branch out. I don't regret where I've gone or what I've done as I wouldn't be where or who I am if it wasn't for the past, but I feel my mind is being transformed and molded closer to who and what God wants me to be doing.

I'm travelling to find answers and I know God is speaking because He already has. I no longer see or feel the pressure to eventually return "home" and have everything put together. Neither do I see returning back to Korea a solution to my uncertainty, but I do know that this trip was planned for a purpose beyond me and where I am to go, what I am to see, and who I am to meet has all been orchestrated by our God Almighty.

If you want to listen to the sermon I mentioned earlier, it is here.  

An Unwritten Friendship

In my last post, I mentioned about preparing for a trip and here I am writing from my aisle seat abroad United Airlines-which for the record hasn't been as bad as people told me...except for the fact that I don't get my own movie screen, but that just justifies my cheap ticket. I still got to watch Frozen though and finally understood all the hype and references that's been all over my Facebook news feed.

So where and why am I headed?

I'm going back to Korea and down to Southeast Asia to visit my exchange friends and church family there. I've been nostalgic and holding onto memories for as long as I've left and this trip will be partly discovering if there's anything more in store for me in Korea besides partly being a vacation and reflection of what's to come. I probably won't be blogging here as often, but my travel blog (Phollow Me There) will definitely be updated with adventures and stories to tell as I go.

As sappy as I am to leave for an extended period of time (as always), I couldn't have felt more confirmation about embarking on this trip. I've been praying for God to fill this trip up with divine appointments and boy did He blow me away this early morning.

On board my first flight from YEG to SFO (San Fran, a young mom and her two year old sat beside me in the window seat. She looked friendly enough for me to start a conversation so I asked her where she was off to. This led to her telling me about how her husband just came back from a mission trip to Africa from Redding, California where they currently reside and she had decided to visit home in Edmonton with her daughter while he was away. I wanted to be sure so I asked if she was a Christian and she confirmed my suspicions as I shared with her that we had the same faith. I could tell she lit up as I did at the fact of our mutual foundation.

I'm so glad I broke the ice (though I'm sure if I didn't she would've) because the more we conversed, the more I realized how uncoincidental our meet up was. Her husband is actually studying at Bethel theology school in Redding and they had moved here on a student visa. They're home church happens to be Sherwood Park Alliance-how neat is that? The Alliance world sure is small. I told her a brief background about my newly graduate self, and shared with her my travel plans in exploring what is next for me. It felt so comfortable to talk with her as if we were friends from the start.

We stopped conversing as she was hoping her daughter would fall asleep and I had the same hope for myself knowing that a long day of air cruising would drain me. Towards the last leg of the flight, I decided to write in my journal to document this divine appointment. I felt embarassed because from my peripheral I saw her glance over and I kept trying to manoeuvre my writing in a sly way so she wouldn't know I was writing about her. I guess there'e not much you can hide when you're right next to each other. Anyhow, shortly after I finished wriiting she brought up the topic of me being in fashion and how she realized what a "light" I could be in an industry that can be quite the other way around. She asked if she could pray for me and laid her hands on my shoulder to do so. She mentioned how divine this moment was and I knew she definitely had looked at my journal because my title was "Divine Appointment #1".

I don't recall everything she said, but her prayer moved me to tears. I realized how amazing God is and how much He was looking out for me despite my worries deep down. I felt she was very on the ball about me in her prayers and I even think she's gifted prophetically. Before we departed on our separate journeys, we exchanged contact information and she even extended a welcome to me to stay with her family if I ever wanted to visit Bethel and Redding.

This has got to be the best in flight conversation with a stranger  sister ever! God melts my heart. Here's to many more of these divine moments.

P.S. She told me she was very thankful because she had been praying for someone nice to sit beside her and her daughter-in her twos, but not a bit terrible.