....

no dramatic post this time
I haven't got it all figured out after all
today I wasn't feeling too great
was praying when God broke through
"I care about you and what you struggle with" he said
"to me you are not just one person out of 5,000,000,000 (thats the population of the world I think)"
how could I have ever doubted it?
Awesome that the God who marked out the heavens with the breadth of his hands would care about the everyday thoughts of a 20 something girl in one of the thousands of cities on that small lil sphere called earth.

from another angle...

yesterday I went to the gym, and 2 of the personal trainers chatted with me (one guy and one girl - I'll call them P & P), trying to get me to join these training programs. They told me what I was doing wrong, how I could improve, etc.

A thought struck me as I was on the MTR. Normally, people tend to judge another person by his appearance. I would have expected P & P to be the same or even worse, since they are in the industry. But my expectations were wrong. They said matter-of-factly, you could improve this if you do this, you need to work on this. I guess its because they know that a person's appearance is only a matter of getting the right training - it is easy to do, and it does not change the person inside.

I guess thats the way God is too. Appearance or wealth don't matter to him, cause he knows that those things don't change the person that we are inside. He can just send down a thunderbolt and change the things I don't like about myself (like P & P who sketched out a 6 month plan to a perfect Jane). But he couldn't force me to put my hope in him, he couldn't force me to be kind to someone in need. These are the things that we can freely choose to do or not to do.

Grateful...

I luv this group! After coming back to Hong Kong I've been catching up with these guys, one by one. And each one has something amazing to share. Through the way they live, they encouraged me this week to live life for an audience of One (Jesus) and to be more deliberate about it. Dunno how to say it, but I'm so grateful for you guys. you keep me in check and you inspire me. ok I'm getting mushy here. better stop.
back to studying!

vienna

I just got back from Vienna. When I joined the mooting team I never thought that it would be so rewarding and so fun. I didn't think that would have to work so intensely, and never thought that I would enjoy working in a team so much! I really enjoyed being with you guys whether it was preparing for the moot or going out for gelato. Vienna is so beautiful, its hard to believe that I was there just this morning, having apple crumble with Gill in the sun. Definitely the highlight of my PCLL year. Thanks Elica, Gill, Cynthia, Helen, Eunice, Jon, Eric, Alfred, Ervin, Alan, for such a great time. I'll miss you all!

Phil 3:12

did you come that we could just survive
did you come so we could just get by
did you walk among us so we might merely limp along beside
I was bound
I have been set free
but I have settled for apathy
did you come to make me new
and know I'd crawl right back into the skin you found me in
its where I am not where I've been

You make me wanna live
you make me wanna live
you came to shake us
and to wake us up to something more
than we always settle for
you make me wanna live

we've all been up on the mountain top
a golden glow that's bound to soon wear off
then its back to the mundane
telling tales of glory days
when we were hopeful than this change was here to stay

so why would a young man live
live in a waste land
when the castle of his dreams is standing by
why would a princess
put on an old dress
to dance with her beloved and a chance to catch his eye?

Just stumbled onto this song today at the back of a CD.
Why don't I live fully for Jesus? Why am I so torn? Why don't put my trust fully in him? Feel like I'm limping along... buying into the lies of this world, and its such a struggle to hold onto God's truth. Thanks to my sisters who pray with me. Thanks to those who are on this journey with me. Thanks cuz I know I'm not alone. I won't give up. Jesus died to give us abundant life and I'm gonna take hold of it.

candy wrapper printing machine

My moot (legal debate) is coming up on March 27 - April 2. (The website is here in case you're interested: http://www.cisg.law.pace.edu/vis.html) This week we really started practicing, and that means 3 nights of the week I have to stay at school until about 1030.

So this is the moot problem that I'm thinking about this week: A company called Oceania Printers bought a printer from another company, McHinery Equipment, in order to print designs on candy wrappers for a third company. Before buying the machine, Oceania had told McHinery that the printer needed to be able to print on really thin candy wrapper foil. But when the machine arrived, it couldn't print on the wrappers. So Oceania is bringing a claim in arbitration (ie not in court) against McHinery.

Its really fun and I really like my teammates. The coaches are really smart and talented too but it can be scary when you are put on the spot and don't have anything intelligent to say. Its been really intense in the past couple of days.

This means eating many of my dinners at the Maxims fast food or Starbucks at school, but I think its worth it cause I'm learning lots. Please don't forget me if I start to "disappear" for the month of March, I'll reappear soon.

H2O ~~> OH

Today was quite a day. I was having some friends over to make sushi in the evening, so this morning I thought I should prepare the rice, so that I could have it ready this evening when I came home after classes. But there was no more rice at home. Grrr. Got worried because that means that I will be more rushed when I get home. Then the story of Jesus turning the water into wine came into my mind. That wedding party in Cana was almost a disaster, but Jesus saved it by turning the water into wine. God is watching over the dinner tonight and I prayed that even if things weren't perfect, people could have a good time.
After classes I went shopping with Winnie. Salmon sashimi (check), sushi seaweed (check), Japanese rice (check), wasabi (check), great - looks like I've got everything. Whoops. Where are my keys? Grrrrr....
I left my keys at home, but after a call to my wonderful parents (who were on their way to their Valentine's day dinner), they drove back to deliver the keys to me and my friends, who were waiting in the Macdonalds near my place. Lifted up the evening to God, remembering again what Jesus did in Cana. He cares about people having a good time. I'm glad I never have to do things on my own wisdom and strength, but can always rely on God. The evening turned out great, I really enjoyed myself.
Thanks to everyone who left comments! When will you come back to visit, Jacqui? Thanks for signing up just to read my blog, Mel! Pearl, Dawn, Joyce, Gordo, thanks!
Happy Valentine's Day! Next year, I'll be able to make sushi for the lucky guy.