Burning Injustice

These past few days, or more like weeks (since I've been pondering on these issues so often lately it feels as if everything occurred yesterday), I've been exposed to many injustices. I always felt human and rights came together like peanut butter and jelly, but maybe perhaps only in a utopian world, or I'm just too oblivious to care about the lack of human rights in the rest of the world living in a privileged country like Canada. Realistically, this is not the case, and though I acknowledge the unethical (and sinful) practices of the world, I never felt that injustices could hit so close to home.

Recently, I found out that my friend's dad is falsely placed in jail for advocating for democracy in China. He's been in jail for 10 years now and despite the appeal of the Canadian, US and European governments, the United Nations, and Amnesty International, China will not permit his release. To fast forward this complex, yet compelling story (you can learn more here), I was in awe of my friend's courage, strength, and pro activeness towards her dad's situation over this past decade. Her actions have led to travels to increase awareness, a book inspired about her courageous acts (read an article about it here), and this petition she started for her dad (which can be found here) are just a glimpse of everything she has contributed towards the release of her dad.

All this was revealed to me within one day and I was sitting on the edge of my couch wanting to know more, learn more, and do more. I never thought I would have a friend going through this so close to me. To think that her father is one of many falsely placed in jail is absurd to me. It makes me furious on how the law and judgement of this secular world is lacking immensely compared to God's judgement. I pray and hope that good will come through for my friend, her family, and most of all her father. I feel as if this is a personal matter to me and I really encourage you to sign the petition. Every step counts.

Another burning issue that happen occurred just yesterday. My friend had invited me to go to Beulah Alliance Church to watch a documentary screening about poverty and prostitution. Once I heard it, I just felt a huge surge of interest to go and I didn't ponder on alternatives that I could've been doing or going to on a Friday night. Arriving and seeing the screening poster at Beulah left me jaw dropped.  I like to call these events divine set ups because there's honestly no better term to describe it then that. Reason being is, when I was in Korea, I recall hearing about Nefarious and how amazing and "must watch" it was. Walking up to the door to see the poster clearer, it took me a moment before my memory wired in and pulled up the familiar name, and then I was in absolute disbelief that I was going to be watching this. I had totally forgotten to look into it during and upon my return from Korea, but God had never forgotten.

Watching Nefarious:Merchants of Souls was a whole other story. When I first heard about, I recall it relating to injustice, faith, God, and poverty, but the detail and extent of the story is uncapturable  just by my sharing, it truly is a must watch. It tugged on my heart strings, infuriated my senses,  and had me sharing in the emotional outpour of the victims on the screen. Stemming from one guy's passion in human trafficking led him to take on a project to four continents directing and unveiling the hidden stories behind prostitutes, to put it bluntly, a derogatory term surrounding the gender of women, females, teenagers, and young girls who some have been forced into selling their bodies, where others, the choice was already made for them.

I started watching the movie in rage and I couldn't imagine what it was like to be in her shoes. Maybe I had taken a feminist's extreme, but I found myself piling a mound of anger toward those "johns" aka men that buy sex and view the females as a commodity. In almost an instant of those thoughts, I was reminded about a sharing from a pastor in Korea, she had said something along the lines of,  

"It's easy to feel for the victims, its easy to side with them, its easy to love on them, but can you love the men who do these things to them just the same? Can you love unconditionally like Jesus did to those who don't deserve it?"

The rage turned to care, then to sadness, and to a question I posed to myself, why am I complaining about my life? Honestly, there's so much more to the world then my life. I'm one in seven billion and God listens and loves me, but at the same time, He listens and loves all of them out there too. I found my heart burning against these social injustices and I want to do more then just sit and read the newspaper daily and become desensitize to these issues that God has put on our hearts. I really encourage you to watch this documentary, but I want to warn you that the content isn't family friendly as it isn't rated yet, but I know it will change your perspective and educate you beyond the surface level understanding of prostitution and sex trafficking.

I never forgot the screening of Jaeson Ma's 1040, and I know I won't ever forget Nefarious.

Don't take your rights for granted.

The rights of one should be the rights of another, but the rights of none, shouldn't be the rights of one.

I'll leave you with this.




What does your heart BURN for?

The Last

Last week of classes.

 I don't even know what to think of it. It's been a journey of highs and lows, smiles and break downs. A part of me just wants this week to be fast forward along with my two final finals later this month, either throwing in an early towel and calling it what it is, or doing my best in my last few assignments due by the end of this week.

Four years of books, lectures, projects, papers, and more.

I will be needing a lengthy blog post to reflect on all this once this is actually over.  My lack of blogging signifies how much there is to be updated on these days. I can't wait.

The final countdown begins now. 

Public Losses

Every year I seem to never learn my lesson. I remind myself time and time again, but it so happens to be an unfortunate occurrence that I must face…annually. In the months of winter (which seems to be half of the year here) when toques, mitts, scarves and related accessories Edmonton’s deep freeze calls for, something will go missing from me.

& this is how this lost and never found story goes…

When I plop myself down on my usual bus routes to school, I tend to take my mitts off and place them on my lap so I can religiously go about reading my copy of the Metro each morning. I kill my commute reading, and at the same time, I'm informed on up-to-date local and across the world headlines. I must comment that whoever started this free newspaper is just fabulous. However, I get so caught up in the stories, news, gossip, recipes, entertainment that when I arrive at the stop where I need to get off, I fold my Metro up, put my arms through my backpack and prepare myself to get off the bus. In the midst of this morning routine though, I FORGET about my mittens or gloves I had placed on my lap! As a result, I get up, they fall to the dirty (and sometimes muddy) ETS floors, and I don’t realize this until I’m off the bus. 

AHHHHHHHHH! UGGGGGGGH! If you don’t sense my frustration, you do NOOOOOOOWWW as I watch the bus drive away and visualize myself chasing after it =(

Earlier this year I had left my beloved black beanie on the ETS, and after multiple phone calls and messages left on an annoying answering machine, I had to assume someone probably took it as there was no reply from my missing beanie. Neither did I get a reply from anything else I’ve lost before.

Just last week, my knitted grey gloves faced the same fate as I abruptly got off the bus. This tipped off my anger cap as prior to this year, I had lost a pair of gloves (which were only a week new!), and the year before, another pair of finger mittens with coverings over them. I thought I learned my lesson from the previous incidents and I always make a conscious effort to put what I take off into my backpack, but why oh why did this have to happen infamously AGAIN?!?! 

I’m not even going to bother with searching anymore. I might as well do what elementary school kids do and sew a string that attaches my gloves/mittens to my jacket… and maybe even a string for my beanie to my hood.

How ridiculous of me.

Any brainy suggestions?

Marching into you

Greetings March,

You've definitely were sneaky about your arrival. How in the world did you kick February out of the way so soon?

Springing forward (let's hope I get it right this time), puddles, potholes, and warmer temperatures, I'm taken by surprise, but full of sunny anticipation that you are here.

It's the final countdown to my term, and in the midst of all the crazy-ness that is to come, I hope I set aside time to appreciate you. February came and left so soon not because of your selfishness to be at the forefront, but because of the blinding truth of my schedule as I spoke of earlier on.

I can't guarantee anything, but may I be able to cherish those precious life moments you will be delivering this month.

Now let's kick it off and embrace each other!

One Anniverseoulry

Exactly one year ago, I had landed in Seoul, South Korea. I was on the edge of starting my time abroad as an exchange student and I still remember that day as if my flashback had come alive just now.

Being picked up by an unni (term for older sister) at the airport, taking the shuttle bus into the city, getting lost on the day the temperature dropped the lowest while freezing in Spring-like-not-anywhere-near-warm-enough clothes trying to find our hidden hostel and lugging two luggage each with our frozen fingers, it was the start of an unforeseen adventure. On the positive side, I had warmed up to my very first authentic Korean meal and heartfelt conversation well spent with my lovely friend whom I was divinely destined to meet two years ago in Edmonton. She went out of her way to make me feel welcomed and catered to and I couldn't have felt more blessed by her efforts and sweet presence.

Emotions ranged from being confused and dazed, to excitement and outrageously over the top about everything and anything I saw, tasted, and heard.

It was like I had discovered a new found world.

Putting my nostalgia on pause, I've realize how different of a place I am in compared to that day. It so happens to be Family Day today and I have such a strong desire to re-experience everything that started on this day last year. If only I could drown myself in Inception and dream up this joyous memory on repeat.


Happy Seoul Family Anniversary to me.

Catching Up to Myself

Every week has honestly been a whirlwind since the start of this year. There always seems to be something to do, people to see, meetings, school work, Edmonton buzzes and the like. I feel like I've been constantly running on a rusty old engine in need of a tune up any moment no.

I'm enjoying everything I am involved with and partaking in, but I am stretching myself and I know it. Maybe its because its my last term in school that I have partly over committed in multiple areas, or perhaps I just can't say No? No, that's not it. It's rare that someone embraces their busyness and is passionate about what they are doing from school to extracurriculars, and even work. However, I am pushing it and I find myself having to make room for this limited means of time and secretly seeking innovative ways to multitask.

Now that I'm going head first into my final reading week ever, I'm starting to realize how fast school is moving along, how quickly certain events are coming, and how in disbelief I am that this time next year, I WON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL BE DOING!

To say I'm unsure of my future is a definite understatement. At the same time, there's an unspeakable joy bubbling inside of me for that next stage.

To think about what was going on this time last year... makes me question what in the world am I still doing here?


Dear Self, please enlighten me.

Desperate

I've never been so desperate for something. So desperate to the point of wanting to trade in my life for it. I don't even know how to explain this without sharing the details, but all I can say is I can only put my faith in God. I have no other place to turn to but into His endless love, His never ending hope, and His timely plans and promises.

Have you ever felt like you were trapped in a corner with no way out?

That's me right now.

There's nothing to do but trust, hold on to that silver lining, and contend for unforeseen circumstances to occur from the Almighty creator of the universe. To be healed by His words and not lied to by the enemy who comes to steal, kill and destroy. 

Please contend with me for instant healing and change of hearts. Only He can do what is thought to be impossible in the eyes of doubtfuls.

Jesus has, can, and will reign through this. I claim it in His holy and miraculous powers.

Pray Big&Bold.