California, California, and more California

Two weekends ago, I got to fly back to California to celebrate my sister's wedding! It was such a short trip, but exceeded all my expectations! I arrived at 11pm and we headed over to the house where all the girls stayed. Ended up sleeping around 3am and woke up around 4am to get ready for the day. The ceremony was amazing and PTL that I didn't faint after standing up there for what seemed like forever! :) We then had a reception at church, tea pouring ceremony, and then banquet. We finished up around 10pm and were exhausted but really, it was just a huge family reunion with people coming back from DC, Dubai, Minnesota, Canada, and more! Had a great time with my family and friends and being able to celebrate in my little sister begin this new chapter of her life. Dave and Jenn, I love you both and am praying that as you embark on this new journey together, you would continue to grow in your love for Jesus and that He would guide you and lead you in your marriage! Thanks for letting me a part of your big day and celebrating with you both!!! <3

This weekend, I flew back to California again for our Staff Regional Retreat. Again, I had an amazing time and was something that ended up to be so good and so refreshing! JP Jones was our speaker this weekend and in every session, I was reminded of just who God is! Our theme verse came out of 1 Corinthians 15;58 "Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work is not in vain in the Lord." Here are just a few of my takeaways:
   1) Knowing Christ personally - there is so much power in us knowing God and our relationship
      with Christ needs to be seen as a daily pursuit, I need to just get up and keep pursuing God
      even when I continue to fall short and fail
   2) Seeing Christ Theologically - the truest thing about me is what God says about me
   3) Abide in Jesus Exclusively - abiding in Jesus involves a dependence on and commitment in the
     Word and prayer, the GREATEST spiritual habit is being in the Word everyday (reading,
     studying, and memorizing)
It was also just an amazing time connecting with other staff friends and family! Meeting new people and seeing their hearts to reach the world with the gospel for Christ! So needed as we finish up this school year and a refreshing reminder of what I am doing what I do even when it gets tiring or hard...

Finally, the third California comes in about 3 weeks when I fly back for our briefing before heading over to Japan for 5 weeks. Thank you for your continual support and prayers thus far. It hadn't really hit me until last week that I am leaving for Tokyo soon... my heart is filled with mixed emotions of fear, anxiety, and excitement. I believe that this is where the Lord is calling me this summer and to be co-leading a team of 10 definitely puts me in a place of total dependence on God. I so desire to be used by Him this summer and want nothing from myself or others to take away from that. I want Him to lead and all I want to do is fully rely and trust in and on Him!

Final words for this entry: 
"There's NO PLACE I'd rather be : there's NO PLACE I'd rather be : there's NO PLACE I'd rather be : Than here in your love, here in your love : set a fire down in my soul : that I can't contain that I can't control : I want more of you God, I want more of you God" ~ Set a Fire by United Pursuit Band