We're Here!

A quick recap of the past few months...

On June 3rd, Mike asked me to marry him; I said 'yes' :) <3

On July 21st, Mike and I said 'goodbye' to our family and friends and took off to Vancouver

On July 24th, Mike and I left our mini vacation in Vancouver to Hong Kong

We are now in Hong Kong and I will soon be in Macao. We are both in East Asia because for the past 3-4 years we have felt God's calling for us to be here...and now we're here!

I am so thankful that God has placed in my life a true man of God and the awesome opportunity for the both of us to start our lives together in a new city which we absolutely love.

We feel a bit like Abraham in Genesis 12 when the LORD told him to leave all things behind and in faith walk out into a new land that was still unknown to him. Abraham in full trust in God and obedience to His call - left his home, went to a new land and subsequently became the father of all nations.

So as we begin our lives in a somewhat new land, we are praying for the faith and obedience of Abraham!

Here's to new beginnings in our new chapter...

'tis so sweet

I'm on the brink of so much in life...

The brink of graduating
The brink of finding a job
The brink of a possible move
The brink of something beautiful and exciting...

I feel as if I'm on the edge of a cliff ready to jump off head and heart first.. It's an exciting feeling but also mixed with anxiousness. What if what is beyond the brink is something that I was not expecting, something I don't like, something totally uncomfortable?

On Sunday, during worship, we sang an old hymn that I love so much. I love hymns because there is sooo much depth to them. This song really steadied me and filled my heart with so much hope and peace. So whatever is beyond that 'brink', I'll be ready because I trust that this cliff I jump off of is really a passage way to a new chapter in my life that Jesus has already prepared :)

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, "Thus says the Lord!"

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Don't Slow Down

"In commerce, in study, in war, it is so often said: there is no safety but in advance. To stand still is to go back. To cease effort is to lose ground. To slacken the pace, before the goal is reached, is to lose the race. The only sure mark of our being true Christians, of our really loving Christ, is the deep longing and the steady effort to know more of Him"

- Andrew Murray in the Holiest of All

It Is For Freedom

"Justice at its best is love correcting all that stands against Love."
- Martin Luther King Jr.

I attended an annual teacher's conference at my university today and choose to go to an Equity and Social Justice workshop. The speaker spent an hour and a half going over hundreds of great resources to start discussions in the classroom revolving around equity, diversity and social justice.

One book caught my attention and I ended up buying it after that workshop. It's called The Carpet Boy's Gift by Pegi Deitz Shea. It's the story about a boy working in a rug factory as a bonded slave in Pakistan. One day, he hears voices in the street of children saying,

"We are free!"

The voices approach this little boys factory and he meets Iqbal Masih, who was once a bonded child slave working in a carpet factory. He had escaped after 6 years of child labor and soon found out that a law had been passed in his country that banned child workers! He then became a huge advocate for other child laborers and brought international attention to their situation. At such a young age - he educated other children who were in a similar situation as he. He told them that they indeed could be free.

After visiting different parts of the world, he returned home. And on one unfortunate day, as he was riding his bicycle in his hometown, he was shot. At just 12 years old, the young children's rights fighter was killed.

But his story goes on in the lives of those who responded and reacted to the harsh realities of child slavery around the world. One of those who responded was Craig Kielburger, a young junior high at that time. Through the story of Iqbal, Craig has, since then, dedicated his life to fighting for a child's right for education through Free the Children. (See previous post)

These stories really stir up something in me. In fact, this whole school year thus far, has really created in me a huge longing to do something about all that's wrong in this world for the sake of our children. Maybe it's because my professors and my host school this year are so passionate about the 'underdogs' in our society. Maybe it's because I'm graduating soon and I'm really starting to see where I want to dedicate my life to. Maybe it's because I'm also starting to define what I really believe in and what I want to be a part of. I just don't want my life to be 'ordinary' in any way. I want it to count for what matters most. Just gotta wait and see what will unfold out of this...I trust Him :)

It is for freedom He sets us free...

The Kielburger Brothers and I

Yes, yes I am a groupie. But it's only because I love where they come from and what they're doing! Craig signed my book saying 'Kat, Be the change. -Craig' I re-read the short inscription as I drank from my 'Be the change you wish to see in the world (Gandhi)' mug. Hopefully in the coming weeks and months I'll see more of that picture unfold. It's all in His hands :)

In the meantime, check out their website at Free The Children.