I'm very excited for this week! I will be visiting my good friend Alex in Sonoma County and hanging out for the weekend, before going to be a counselor at the Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp! Fun week of getting outdoors, enjoying nature, and loving on God's children.

This weekend!

I had a really fun weekend! On Friday, I went to Santa Cruz with my friend Justin to write a report for my Sign Language class. It took a while and we had a lot of adventures and detours. Then on Saturday, I went shopping at JC Penney, and got some really good sales! Pretty much added a little of everything to my wardrobe--shirts, shorts, new pair of running shoes (my old ones were giving me blisters). After that, I went to a BBQ hosted by the Muscular Dystrophy Association at the Foster City Fire Department, and met my camper, who I'll be working with at the MDA camp later this month. Then, I went with my family to San Francisco to pick up my sister from her internship, and then we chilled at Fisherman's Wharf for a couple hours, before driving over to Pleasanton to watch "Two Gentlemen of Verona," put on by Shakespeare in the Park. It was a complete surprise when I ran into my good friend Ishika at the same place!

Then on Sunday, I had to work on a bunch of reports for Sign Language and Theater. Got to get the work done too!

(Belated) Father's Day

I celebrated Father's Day with my family tonight! We're 16 days late, but I'm glad I had the chance to appreciate my dad for the amazing person that he is. On the actual Father's Day, I was still in Southern California going to Camp Kesem, and one of my sisters had a softball tournament that lasted the whole day. One of the things that really stuck out to me today was how much my dad supports me in everything I do. Even though I was initially admitted to UC San Diego as a Winter Quarter Admit and a Cognitive Science/Human Development major, my dad did everything he could to support me in switching my admission to Fall Quarter and, most recently, to a Human Biology major. He helps me pay for my tuition and room and board, so I can focus on being a good student and having fun in college. When I called my dad excited to tell him that Camp Kesem raised its full budget and that I was going as a counselor, he didn't even mention that I wasn't going to be home for Father's Day. And when I applied for InterVarsity leadership and got rejected, he listened to my heart broken cries and pain.

My dad isn't the "Number 1 Dad" or "Best Dad in the World." No one is. I love my dad for who he is, for his weaknesses and strengths.

What's your major? Human Biology :)

I previously wasn't a Biology major at UCSD because of limited enrollment. Even though I hadn't fulfilled all the requirements yet, my dad encouraged me to submit an application for admission into Biology a couple weeks ago. I sent it in, assuming that I would be rejected or accepted on accident. Last night, I was preparing to have a long conversation with my dad and to have a time of worship, prayer, and discernment with God on whether to go down to San Diego for Summer Session II because of my Biology application. Just in time, I got an email saying that my major change was approved, so I'm now an official Human Biology major! There is such a long list of blessings that comes with being declared a biology major. All of the credit goes to God--He provides, and is able to redeem any mistake we have made in the past.

Home for the summer

I just came home for the summer from college two days ago! After finals, I spent a week in Los Angeles and another week at Camp Kesem, before making a 12 hour road trip home. I'm taking four classes at De Anza College right now: Communication, Sign Language, Theater/Acting, and Spanish for Health Professionals. I might have to drop a class though, taking 15 units in a 6 week quarter is a little too much. It's good to be back home! A lot of things have changed: new refrigerator, new used car, my dog is better behaved, and I think I've grown a lot. As of now though, there's the possibility I have to go back to San Diego to take Physics 1C over the summer if the waitlist for Fall Quarter doesn't get any shorter.

Camp Kesem is finally here!

I'm really excited to be counseling at Camp Kesem tomorrow! I've been training and fundraising for this camp for the past two quarters with a great group of other counselors. We're meeting the campers tomorrow on campus and being bused up to Camp Ronald McDonald, where we're going to be spending a week with the kids getting to know them and having fun. I'll only check my email and phone once a day for urgent messages, so it's nice to get away from modern technology too. See everyone in a week!

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Muir

The last official meeting of my InterVarsity small group was tonight at La Jolla Crossroads.

Ridiculously, I was contemplating going late or not going at all, because I needed to make more progress on my Muir 50 essay.

But by 4:30pm, I made the choice to prioritize people and community over work. Because there was always going to be work. And my community is always going to be there, but God was calling us to different places already and the dynamic was going to change.

After weeks of struggling with identity and worth and whether I could really call InterVarsity my home anymore in the midst of the leadership rejection and all the hype going around, I felt that I belonged again, that this was the community God placed me in and that it would be ridiculous to leave because of a single rejection.

The games were fun, we played Mafia in the hot tub. The food was good, we had Korean barbecue. I got thrown into the pool in my jeans and t-shirt.

The highlight of the evening was the event I was initially dreading the most. Affirmations.

So I try to make it a point to affirm people when they need it, but I usually do it as it comes. Tonight, we were going to sit around in a circle and affirm each other.

I was most afraid of getting "pity affirmations." You know, the ones where people affirm you for some minor thing that you did, but their heart is not really behind it or they're not being sincere. I was also afraid of not having substantial affirmations to give other people.

As our circle is beginning, I know I'm about to cry. "Goodbyes" are always difficult for me, and honestly, I could spend the rest of my life being a freshman with the same Bible study. But I knew God was calling each of us into new seasons of our lives, and for me, it is scary and unclear and lonely and confusing. And good. I know, but don't feel, that God's future for me is good.

Affirmations begin, and I'm sitting in the circle with my previously discussed fears. Hana Lee starts off with an affirmation for me, and the most genuine, beautiful people in my life God has blessed me with go on about why God has made me worthy and not ugly. I broke down, from the collision between godly encouragement and the lies of Satan I was struggling with the past couple of weeks. I cried, because I didn't want this to change or end, but I knew it had to. I cried, because in high school I was depressed and I had asked God to change me into someone who was cheerful. I cried, because I didn't deserved any of this--the community, the affirmations, the love.

A lot of the times, I try to act as if I don't need to be affirmed. I can give it away to others easily, but when it comes to receiving it, I pretend I don't need affirmation. I'll accept whatever the other person is saying, but I'm afraid to show that I need affirmation.

The truth is that it was refreshing, and just inspires me to continue to grow more in the areas I was affirmed in.

I also got the chance to give a public affirmations on other people in my small group whose words and actions and presence have been used by God to bless my life when I needed it most.

I like writing, but I know there are no words in the English language that can express how much this community means to me.

It's more than I can ask for, it's more than I deserve. God is the giver of good things, and without a doubt this is a good thing from Him.

So, if you're in Muir Small Group, whether or not you were present tonight, could you listen with your heart when I say that you have had a larger impact in my life than you will ever know. There are no words sufficient enough, so could you listen with your heart when I say that our friendship means everything to me.

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

If you ever feel insignificant, don't.

Because to me, you mean the world.

Treasure Hunting

Today, for our men's group, Alex, Jesse, and I went treasure hunting at UTC Mall in San Diego. Basically, we prayed for God to give us "clues" describing people He wanted to bless today. I prayed in my prayer language/in tongues before asking God for clues, because I was learning about how praying in the Spirit can help us be more sensitive/discern what God is saying. I got "couple in Sears walking with a stroller and a baby", "single man with a bright white t-shirt and a dark striped/checkered blue/black shirt", "parent with lots of kids", and "woman holding Starbucks and a handbag, who smiles when you look at her but is broken inside". We went all around Sears, but no one really stood out to us, and I was getting frustrated. After already passing a woman with a Starbucks cup, Alex and I ran into a second one. We looked hesitantly at each other for a while, before Alex ran after her and I had to follow. Alex introduced us to the woman, named Sarah, and asked if there was anything we could pray for her for. It turns out that her dog had died the night before, and I got the chance to pray for her that God would provide and be her comfort during her time of need. I really hope she was blessed, because I was super blessed to have prayed for her.

Friends

When I was in high school, I remember ranting to God "if you would bless me with fruitful friendships, I could deal with [this]"--whatever I was struggling with at the moment. I thought, "yeah, you're going through a lot, but at least you have friends to support you."

I have the best friends anyone could ever ask for through InterVarsity--in my dorm team leaders, the freshmen in my small group, the freshmen in other colleges. And even though my bubble has been burst, and the one thing I wanted, to serve God as a dorm team leader, is probably not going to happen next year, I know I'm going to be okay.

Because I have God, family, and an incredible community.

Medical missions trip to Mexico with InterVarsity and Mexico Medical Ministries

Background

I went to San Vicente, Mexico over the weekend with thePulse (InterVarsity's pre-health ministry). The mission was coordinated through Mexico Medical Ministries. Dr. David Levy, an amazing, humble neurosurgeon who is truly a man of God, accompanied us. We stayed for two nights at the mission base, and operated three half-day clinics.

Friday, October 23, 2009


I woke up at 8am to get ready and pack for the trip. All the hot water in the Muir residence halls that morning wasn't working. It's ironic, because I had hot water showers in Mexico but not in San Diego. I turned in a draft of my essay that morning, and then went to Sun God lawn to wait for the cars. We left a little late, around 10:30am, in order to get all the packing and car maintenance things taken care of. I was in the van with Connie, Jesus, Natalie, and Abby. It was a really cool ride and we shared about our life stories and other stuff. About half way through the trip, we made a pit stop at a taco stand for real, authentic Mexican tacos that are cooked in front of you. It's really unique, because you order the tacos and finish eating them, then just pay for what you ordered based on the honor system. Their carne asada tacos were pretty tasty, and their pork ones were okay, but a little spicy. We got back into the cars and continued our journey down to the mission base. Along the way, we passed by a plot of land owned by one of the big blockbuster film companies, and saw the ship that was used in Pirates of the Caribbean. We arrived at like 3pm, a little behind schedule, and were welcomed by the base missionaries, Dave and Lynne, a wonderful, elderly couple. After dropping off our bags and freshening up, we went back into our cars and followed Dave and Lynne's pickup truck, along with a local pastor, to a small migrant camp about 20 minutes away from the base. After arriving at the camp, the kids living there all poured out and were just excited for all the attention. The kids there would just run up to you and ask you to pick them up, or swing them around. They were so precious, willing to put their trust into a group of strangers who arrived in American cars. I covered the vitals station and took their blood pressure, heart rate, and glucose levels. There weren't many patients (approx. 20), so almost all of them had the chance to talk to Dr. Levy personally about their health problems. We had VBS-style activities for the kids there like coloring designs and Spanish translated versions of popular Christian kids' songs (Jesus Loves Me, etc.). At around 6:30pm, the sun was setting, and we packed up and drove along the bumpy road towards camp. That night, we had chili dogs for dinner and shared about our day. We finished up with devotions and a little bit of worship, and then headed off to bed.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

We started off the morning with breakfast (cereal, yogurt, fruit) and used the compound at the mission base as our morning clinic. We had one patient (yes, only one), but had the chance to practice taking blood pressure on each other. We mainly just talked and hung around the compound. When the clinic closed at 12pm, we make sandwiches and headed off to another migrant camp to work in their clinic. This camp was much larger than the first one, and had an actual building we could use as a clinic (instead of setting up a table as the vitals station.) We only had four patients that day. All of them had the chance to talk with Dr. Levy and had their blood pressure, heart rate, and glucose levels checked. I shadowed Dr. Levy with one of her patients. She was having back pain, and flinched when Dr. Levy touched a particularly painful spot. There was some discomfort with her eye as well, which Dr. Levy did a quick examination on with ophthalmoscope. Then, he had the lady stand up, and told me to place my hand on the spot with pain. I thought I was just feeling the physical properties, but then Dr. Levy had me pray for her healing, and after our prayer, her pain was down to zero. Dr. Levy then led her through a forgiveness prayer, and she mentioned the name of one woman she held bitterness against. I was totally smiling the whole time seeing her healed and just praying for the Holy Spirit to touch her. After praying, she shared that she felt warmth on her hands and a wave of peace coming over her. The patients that day ranged from a variety of temperaments: from being extremely open about their lives and struggles to being defensive and vague about the sins God wanted them to specifically confess. Since there weren't that many patients, we had the time to play with some of the kids in that community, which was really a blessing as well. Children are so precious. We went back to the base and cooked pasta and salad for dinner, and shared about the experiences we had with Dr. Levy seeing patients. To finish up the night, we had worship and some late night conversation.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Bright and early, we woke up and did some housekeeping on the base before leaving. Dave (the host) shared that in ministry, it's not the number of patients we see, but how we impact lives. Humanitarian work is about productivity, but not ministry. We packed up and headed for the border. There was a line to get to the border patrol, and we bought snacks and other goods from the vendors lining up between the cars. When we arrived at the border, Abby had forgotten her permanent resident's card in her dorm room. We were moved into the secondary inspection zone. I got out with her and waited in the Border Patrol office while everyone else drove back to UCSD, picked up her documents, and came back to pick us up. It wasn't much of a delay, and we got back to UCSD around 3pm.

Notes

More importantly than the medicine we performed were the lives we touched and what we learned about God. It was a bubbly, joyous feeling to be able to help plant seeds and further the kingdom of God. I learned so much about healing through prayer and incorporating faith with medicine through Dr. Levy's example, testimonies, and lifestyle. The people in involved in thePulse are selfless, extraordinary people with a heart for serving God and people. Being around them just changes the atmosphere and my attitude.