this is my "OMG i can't believe it's over" blog.
It's been a while since I've gotten back from the trip. One week to be exact. However, it feels as if I've been separated from my team members for about a month or more already. The first night I got back, I felt soo lonely...because I had no one to brush my teeth with in the bathroom and no one to giggle with before going to bed. Haha, it might sound funny, but it's true.These people have been amazing witnesses to me throughout this trip. I know for a fact that they have shaped me in various ways, whether it's how I take care of myself and personal hygiene (plucking armpit hair HAHAHA T.M.I.), or how I spend time with God. Just being around normal people who have a zeal for God has shaped how I look at this life of mine and my relationship with Him.
I learned so much during our hardest times as a team, where we shared many frustrations. Seeing how each person responded was, in itself, a new lesson to me. From one of the older girls I learned the importance of holding my tongue and thinking before I speak. From another, I learned how to put down pride and personal interests for the sake of the ministry and team.
Initially, when I got back, all I could think about was how this trip was over and how sad I was about my team members dispersing throughout this state. Some going up north, some going south, some going wherever. I came to realize that I had no and still have no reason to be upset about our team splitting up and going our own ways. In a way, this is a good thing - it's like a whole new missions trip of our own - or actually, resuming the one we left prior to going on Music Ministry. I was reminded (with some time and a lot of God's help) that God has a lot planned for our each one of us, individually, so we have nothing to worry about.
This whole summative blog seems to be mostly focused upon my team members, and that's because I feel that God has shown himself to me most prevalently through the lives of my team members throughout this trip. I mean, I could talk a lot about other things - the stresses of performances, the struggles for unity, the lessons I learned and such, but yeah, I just wanted to conclude this by focusing on one thing and that's how God worked through the people in my team...haha
well in conclusion I suppose (I hate using that transition but hey, it works!), I wanted to thank all of those who prayed for us and the people who we were ministering to, all of those who supported us financially, and all of those who came out to see us. And lastly, thank you Jesus, for allowing us to go on this music ministry trip this summer, and for working through us.
alrighty, that's it. see y'all (haha) later!
love,
joan
p.s. I know this was pretty brief, to some extent and that it was vague as well. I'd love to share more if you ask me, so feel free to! =)
08/08/2006
wow!
I haven't really taken the chance to update this, so I apologize to everyone who has been trying to stay updated through this.anyhow, much has happened since my last blog which was towards the beginning of the trip. I would like to recap all of it, but it would take too much of your time as well as mine.
we've gone to Texas, Arizona, and Northern California. At each stop, God's been working in the people there and in our own team members. At one single stop in Arizona (i think it was), four people accepted Christ. At another stop, many people renewed their relationships with Him. It was extremely encouraging just to see how God was using our group even despite our shortcomings in a variety of aspects.
Today our team went to the United Live Concert as a team activity during our day-long break. We waited outside of the building for 6 hours but it was well worth it. =) In a way, we're doing something that is similar to their ministry...or somewhat to that effect.
Something that has stuck to me and I was reminded of was how universal our great God is. In Arizona, we spent one night at an Indian Bible College (IBC), and another night in the Navajo Indian Reservation in a secluded area in the state. During that time, we had worship with a Hispanic missions team from all over Mexico and Latin America as well as a Laosian music team from Long Beach. We had worship in mainly two different languages - spanish and english but it was really neat seeing how our God was and is the same God that other people all over the world worship. Tonight, I was reminded of this through the United Live Concert when the pastor brought up that our God is the same God in Australia and the same God all over the United States. Man...it's mind boggling! hehe...dang! How awesome is that?
Well, to close off this long blog, I'll just update you all with what we'll be doing in the last bit of our tour. We're going to have practice tomorrow before heading off to SD. Our last performance will be at The Church of His Kingdom in that area on Friday...so yes. And to really finish off this blog, here is a way for you to support us - by PRAYING! =)
prayer requests:
-Please pray for our team as we head down to San Diego tomorrow night.
-Pray that our team becomes more united with God's help and that we'll be able to make the most of these few days left of our tour.
-Pray that I don't get distracted by college stuff and worrying and that I'll be able to concentrate on God for this last leg of our trip.
07/10/2006
Excitement & Anticipation
the countdown begins!
with a day and hours left before we leave, i'm beginning to get the jitters.
i feel so scatterbrained at this minute. man oh man, we're leaviinngg. OH MY, we're leaving! EEEEKSSS!
andd...I still have no idea what to pack!!!
perhaps i'll just pack the necessities - you know, pillow, bible, chocolate. hehe
on a more serious note, pray for us please - for a safe trip on the road to Texas and that I don't forget anything while packing. Also, I have to finish up some work before we take off, so pray that I don't forget to do those things as well - I tend to forget a lot of things. anyhow, EEEEEKKSS! (Pardon me while i continue to fuss).
06/28/2006
wow, God has been so faithful. We've been praying about finances for the trip the past couple of days, and within the past few days, I've gotten to the point where I am just 20 dollars short of going on the trip. YAYYY! I just have to figure out some of the technical stuff like getting new checks before I turn it in and stuff but yesss! Thanks for all your support guys!
Practices are going well. I think I'm starting to feel more connected to my teammembers and things are picking up a bit.
I'm looking forward to this trip soo much - I can't wait to see what else God has planned for us!
Joan Chen
at a glance
- Home church
- EFC Los Angeles
- Instruments
- guitar and vocal
- School
- Senior at Arcadia High School
- Hometown
- Arcadia, CA
- Hobbies
- baking, sailing, crocheting, and knitting and crafts, tennis, reading, writing, playing various instruments, buying colorful markers, taking pictures
- Bible verse
- Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23
- Movies
- The Incredibles, The Last Samurai
- Favorite Quote
- "Build a bridge and get over it."
my story
Hi! I’m Joan of Arcadia. I have a mom, a dad, and three pets – one named Eliott, one named Jeremy, and one named Brownie. Brownie is the only one that lives in the backyard, Eliott lives at UCLA, and Jeremy lives next door to me. Brownie is the cutest of the three – he has a purple tongue and triangular ears. He is fuzzy, adorable, and loveable. I am the only middle child in my odd family- if that makes any sense.
I’m most “in tune” with God when I am alone. I tend to tune in (haha) better when I hide in my closet to spend Q.T.s with him. It helps me get away from the daily pressures of school and family. Sometimes, what really helps me is a walk alone in the morning where everything feels so clean, clear, and happy. It really helps me appreciate the beauty of what God has created in nature and the wonderfulness of God.
LASSTTLLYY, I am going on music ministry to learn how to worship God with my whole ENTIRE life. I want to grow through this experience, spiritually and musically speaking.
If you have noticed, I enjoy speaking in incoherent and jumbled language.
i confess...
- I talk A LOT when I get really nervous.
- I've frozen up on stage.
- I'm afraid of the dark. (I can't sleep without a nightlight)
- I've cracked my voice when singing.
- I can't sleep in a room if the closet door is open.
- I've run away from home. (to the end of my street)
- I open up to others easily.
- I don't read my Bible everyday.
- There are times when I tune out from God.
- I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.
- I've hugged a stranger.
- I've cried in public.
- I believe in true love.
- I've fallen asleep during sermons.
- I forget to pray before I eat.
- Sometimes I choose other things over quiet times.
- I peek during prayer sometimes.
- I have to pee before performing.
- I've tripped on stage.