After 15 years ~ We're back at UCSD ~ Where Hubby and I fell in, then out, then back in Love!

It was very exciting to have our church retreat at UCSD! I remember stepping into the same Muir parking lot as a clueless freshmen 19 years ago around this time! It's wonderful for the whole church (well, 250 of them!) sleeping in the same place and eating at the same cafeteria that hubby and I ate back in 1992!



Many things changed in UCSD. For one thing, the not-so-tasty "Top of the Quad" had changed its name (twice), now it's "The Pines" (or Stewart Commons). It's VERY delicious, like restaurant grade...not dorm food when we had to eat simply for survival.

There were many new buildings added to UCSD too, and pieces of art (that looks kind of funny), but helped bring in revenue for the school as they are the "Stuart Collection" (and you can become a member to support them)! We scavenger hunted with a few familes on Saturday afternoon to the 17 different points of interests, and it was fun to reflect on the good ol' days (scary days, academically...in hubby's words). (Secret: We dated 3.5 yrs, broke up for 2 weeks on my graduation week in June 1996, then got back together again!)

The kids enjoyed living in the apartment that likened my apt (I stayed at the dorm at Muir, and apt at Warren college). Abbie expressed interest in going to UCSD, 'while Caleb says he'll go to UCI (where did he get that idea?). The food is excellent, and if the kids come here, they won't come home to eat my cooking!



We had an inspiring time, and the message recharged and challenged me. God was telling me to not fear but just obey, and share what He has done in my life, esp. during my insomnia & postpartum depression days. I surrendered and told him I am willing, if He wants to use me. 2 hours later at the 'The Pines', Eugenia (the coordinator for Elderly Fellowship at our church) pops out of nowhere and asks if I can share about my encounter with the Lord during my postpartum days.

If you ask me, I'd say God works REALLY fast and in mysterious ways! For 1.5 years I've resisted sharing (public speaking, yikes!) to a crowd of people, because it's too disorienting (and no one talks back and forth with you). But I know that I love Jesus more than my 'face', so I'm preparing now and getting ready for next Thursday's sharing. Pray for me guys!

Soph and UCSD pals (Wendy, Julie, Mark) ate at our house a few days before the retreat! Ju's hubby George
 was my Cerritos high school friend! What a small world! We had a precious get together!

This retreat is one of the most powerful retreats I've gone to in a long time. I'm thankful for this opportunity to know my Heavenly Father and brothers and sisters in a new yet familiar setting! May the Lord continue to guide you all!

Visiting our dear Uncle Davy's Workshop(^_^)

Abbie draws "A Giant Leaf" for Uncle Davy

Last Autumn (2010), our buddy Peter told the AWANA kids (Friday night church camp) and parents that we have a special guest speaker, Uncle Davy Liu, who will share about his life! We were very excited and mesmorized by the amazing life story he shared with us. As a child, he didn't do well in his studies or music, and felt like an outcast among his peers, God had a plan for him that he did not know at the time. In Jr. high, Davy and his teachers noticed that he was surprisingly skilled in drawing.

Caleb at Uncle Davy's workshop ~ Go Uncle Davy!

After being chosen as 1 of the 8 (out of tens of thousands of candidates) to be a Disney Animator at only 19 years of age, he excelled at his animation drawings (such as Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, Aladdin, Lion King, and Atlantis)! But after 10 years, sensing a bigger purpose, he gave up his lucrative income & career to start Kendufilms, a faith-based film industry making  (magnificient & breathtaking ~ in my opinion) animated biblical movies, for God's glory.

Caleb poses for his caricature by Uncle Davy!

After sharing and book signing that night, I prayed for him and his family. He has a big vision, and it takes thousands to pray and support his ministry. I emailed him letting him know that I can help him edit, translate, whatever, if he ever needed the help. And he replied. So we began emailing articles back and forth, translation, editing, any work that needed polishing.

Caleb the Baseball player ~ and daddy Mark in the back!

On the Sunday before Valentine's, we were invited to his home for hot pot. We met his lovely wife Joan, 14 year old daughter Sabrina, big brother Phillip (from Taiwan), and Mary & Helen who help out Davy in his ministry!

Abbie the Mermaid & her friend Flounder!

The kids were super excited when Uncle Davy told them to visit his workshop, and began drawing caricatures of each of them!

The kids loved playing with Davy. He was not only a kind, patient, gentle artist, but he was also a funny and skilled magician too!

Davy's encouraging gift ~ His hand-drawn calendar! Let's keep serving Him, brother! 

We will continue to pray for his family and ministry, and support him in any way we can. God is in control, and we just need to trust, love, and serve Him, one fine day at a time. Later that week, I was asked to join the team as public relations, translation, and editing gal.



When I graduated from college, I was doing 'drug work'....so, from Pharmaceutical, to Parenting (9.5 years ago at the moment of baby Caleb's arrival), and now to Publicity, my life has turned a new leaf. I needed a Giant Leaf of Faith, and I pray that God can help me take that big step of change and transition. Change is always difficult, but I am very excited to be in this ministry of sharing Christ with the world. A few days ago I had heart palpitations all day and night....Perhaps it is unconsious stress, but I realized that I needed to let Go and let God take the rein. This is His ministry, and He loves every person in this world more than I can ever love them, and I only need to do my part.



 Though it is formidable, and the future is unknown, but I know that God is soverign, in control, and will take care of everything. By your prayers, we can move the hand of God, and trust that He will bring those who do not yet know Him ~ to Himself. Thank you for faithfully following and praying for me all these years. The Lord bless you as you live each day for His glory as well!

Happy Chinese New Year 兔 You! (^_^) 2011

Dearest Friends and Family ~(^_^)~

Happy Chinese New Year! I cannot believe how fast time has gone by! Though it's not as festive as it is in Taiwan, we are blessed to have Chinese New Year here in Southern California (as seen by the yummy rice cakes, decorations and new year candies everywhere in 99 Market) ,and in Chinese school too! Today we celebrated with poems, singing, dancing, lion dance, and chinese new year snacks!

We enjoyed watching Abbie and Caleb's chinese classes recite New Year's poems too!

We saw puppet show which reminded me of childhood times when we watched them on TV (and our parents watched them on street corners)! We are blessed for these programs as it gives the kids a glimpse into our childhood and the chinese culture ~

 New Year's Snack!! 

From Chinese New Year Celebration 2011 (^_^)

~Happy Birthday Jesus~ Presentation by our Sweet Little ones!

Merry Christmas my sweeties! (^_^) It is so touching to see how innocent and earnest the little ones are as they sing beautiful praises to our Lord Jesus! Yes, His birth is the reason for the season!



In the first video, you can see the kids came into the chapel (after Uncle Time's introduction) 'while they sang the Chipmunk Christmas song....so cute!

What is even more heartwarming are the angelic smiles of love, anticipation, nervousness, and joy in their parents faces! As I beheld the parents surrounding me, I realized that God also smiles joyfully at us as we worship Him from deep within our hearts and souls!

Each little child you see in these videos.... is flourishing today not haphazardly, but because someone is pouring out days, months, and years of unconditional love, endless labor, unspoken sacrifices, sleepless nights, and daily pains, tears, fears and cares! The moment we became parents, we experienced for the first time what it feels like to wear our hearts....on the OUTside!



Only with God's love and strength are we able to persevere and train our kids up the way he should go, since we are so limited and weak ourselves! (^_^)

(^_^) God bless you, mommies and daddies, as you devote your time, energy, sleep and your ALL to your children! Happy Birthday Jesus, and Merry Christmas everyone!

Here is the photo Album of the singing presentation. (^_^) Enjoy the pictures!

Kids' Christmas Presentation (^_^)

This year, auntie Erinn led the kids (1st - 6th graders) in the Christmas program! Today they had an early Christmas presentation we had fun watching the short skits and also hearing the kids sing! Everyone sang super well!


The first song


Kids getting antsy...


Third song...

By the last song, Abbie apparently had enough of singing (she is 5 yrs old, so shouldn't be in this singing group...but auntie Erinn made a kind exception since she practiced w/big brother Caleb weekly at children's worship)....  ~(^_*)~



Abbie turns back at audience ~ apparently running out of batteries...



She started to do some hilarious things....like looking SUPER annoyed, crossing her arms, tucking her clothes in, and poking Rebecca during the super long presentation. We were there since 9:10am so she was pooped out. It was so fun to watch them!

Super funny last song...

Good job everyone! Merry early Christmas! Happy birthday Jesus!



Vacation Bible School Continues ~ Group Pictures and Monkey Business!

Rainforest VBS 2010

Today Jubee bird decided that she wanted to visit the kids at VBS too! First the kids and camp leaders took group pictures, then split up into little groups like the past 2 days!

The "Good Samaritan Watermelon boy" was a big hit, and it was so cute! So are the heart-shaped cheeses!

The most difficult VBS craft this year was the "Build-A-Monkey" project using (unworn) socks and stuffing! But the kids did a great job!

Jubee attracted lots of forest lookey-loos as they walked past and stopped to chat with her! She enjoyed watching the kids play outdoor activities!

Little kids intrigued by Talking Jubee

VBS Finale!! (^_^) What an Unforgettable Celebration!

Rainforest VBS 2010 ~ Slideshow of the year (Courtesy of Emily)

It is 2 hours after VBS ended..... I'm very happy yet sad that we finally have to part! It reminds me of the chinese proverb: There is no banquet that lasts forever. Hence, after we've gathered and recharged, we are to go out and spread God's Word and love.

Parents joined Praise and Worship time at the end of Day 5 of VBS!

Today we had "dress up like a rainforest animal" day, and the kids were so cute!

We had parents come join us for the final praise and worship, group presentations, and super cool slideshow! Hubby was so touched by the video....tears tears! Here is the very cool Anacondas dance, the cute Jaguar presentation, and finally, the incredible Lizards! Must see!

We had so much fun eating the taiwanese foods....everyone had to buy them with raffle tickets. I went through the "back door" and grabbed food for myself and Abbie!

The kids also played lots of carnival games, thanks to Uncle Peter! He brought lots of games and prizes for the kids to play!

We are very blessed to have so many friends and coworkers who helped make this eternally-impacting event possible. The high schoolers and college students were awesome! The Lord bless them richly!

Thanks to everyone for your help with VBS. The clean-up time was incredible....everyone worked fast and efficiently, and before we knew it, the clean up was done!!!

 

Our Church Vacation Bible School ~ Rainforst 2010!

We had a blast on Day 1 and Day 2 of VBS! It was so fun!! We had so much fun and 50 kids registered, just like we prayed for! The setting up in the week before this was difficult, but thanks to our hardworking VBS crew, the beautiful Rainforest was up and running by Monday!

Everyone helped set up the registration and name-tag table, and in the slideshow below, you will see some "behind-the-scenes" pictures of how everyone pitched in to make this event possible!

Our Faithful Snack Providers!

This is how your VBS shirts are made! With lots of love!

Kids sang praise & worship daily, watched daily dramas of adventures in the rainforest, ate different snacks representing the day's parable (like crushed oreo soil and gummy worms; sheep-shaped crackers), and had outdoor activities like water-relay!

Caleb eats his 'lost sheep popcorn snack', unaware that Pastor Allen is next to him with silly face....

The boys especially loved getting themselves (and others) wet!

In between stations, some groups played fun games!



They also participated in snake-jumping contests, made different crafts like rainmaker instrument and silly masks, and heard different parables in a secluded rainforest tent!

On Day 2, a special guest joined the kids in the rainforest! IT WAS..... Kobee the Senegal Parrot! Brought to you by our coordinator, Ranger Mark! [Ok, it was lugged to and fro the house/minivan by supportive spouse Sophie...but we'll give him the credit anyways....] (^_^)

He immediately got the attention of many forest rangers, and had a blast hanging out with them! Stay tuned for more tomorrow.....and Thursday....and Friday!

A Sneak Preview of our RAINFOREST 2010 VBS!

Hi GV Sweeties!

Happy February! Did we already already finish January of 2010? Wow!

Since Uncle Mark is heading this year's VBS again, we give you a special sneak preview of this year's 2010 VBS Rainforest theme! We opened the box yesterday and 'test viewed' the Praise and Worship DVD after we got home from church! We will also (attempt to) bring 2 special guests from the rainforest....can you guess who they are?

In exactly 6 months from today, VBS will be happening right here at our church! Prepare your hearts and mark your calendar! It's happening on August 2 through August 6, 2010!

Answer: Special guests are Kobee bird and Jubee bird! (African Senegal and Yellow-Naped Amazon, respectively!)

VBS ~ Our Most Memorable Adventure this summer!

This is the first time that I've ever attended VBS event (in my whole life)! Hubby was busy this past two months preparing, planning, and coordinating this year's week-long Summer Vacation Bible School program for our church. This Year's Theme is ~ Rome ~ Paul and the Underground Church.


It was incredible to see how God helped gather the whole church, everyone serving according to their unique talents! We had the Praise &Worship team, who led the 50 kids in singing and dancing each day!





There is also "Family Circle Time" every day, and the group gathers as leaders share about God's love for Paul and every person He loves and came to this earth to die for. This is a special time of sharing, learning about the Word, and prayer!

The drama team had Paul in prison, chained to the prison guard Brutus! It was touching to see them each day, getting to know the Lord through their daily encounter with Paul in prison, and finally witnessing Brutus accepting Jesus as his Savior too! The kids bowed and prayed along with Paul and gave their life to the Lord as well.






In the Underground Church where Christians hid and shared the gospel, the children learned about how dangerous it was for the Christians in Paul's times to believe and follow Jesus.



The kids enjoyed playing several games at VBS each day!






The Marketplace was a fun place where kids learned to make beautiful crafts. They also bought delicious food (provided by our beloved and talented mommies) from "food shops" with Roman coins and ate heartily!



Finally, on the last day of VBS, children invited parents to see presentations they've rehearsed during their adventure here!





The big finale was a festival including lots of delicious chinese food and carnival games! Thank you all for attending, helping, participating and praying!


Hubby and I learned so much in this VBS. Our kids and their friends loved this experience! Please keep praying for the kids who have come to know the Lord. (^_^) We hope to see you next year!!!!