New Life

It's the third day into 2014 and so begins a new season!
I'm back in my room at Columbia, looking out onto the campus from my fourth floor window. The fact that the grounds are green and free of snow makes it feel like nothing has changed since Dec. 12 when I left for the holiday. But like I said, it's a new season.
New life. 
The Fall semester was really good and I learned a lot. I came back from 11 months in Indonesia to the final year of my BA, as a returning Intercultual studies intern and student leader. There was a lot to mentally deal with, namely (reverse) culture shock, picking up relationships that were put on long-distance mode for a while, and getting back into an academic mindset. It was a blessing to connect with my family and friends and physically take part in their lives again. My classes at CBC were all beneficial. The biggest things I learned were the covenant faithfulness of God, the nature of the kingdom of God, how my theology requires a response of faith, how I can use my experience overseas after my return, and the role of spiritual discernment and giftedness as I look ahead to the future. I was able to further develop friendships and I met a lot of great people. CBC is such a good place to find community and to mutually be challenged in a life of discipleship. Under one God and with one Spirit.
New life.

Senior Housing!

Beautiful Fall weather

International and Multicultural Students Club

This Christmas holiday was interesting and busy. For the first time, my sisters and I were travelling around to see our parents in different cities. I'm glad to have had some time in Kamloops to see friends and spend time at church. I did enjoy all the family visits, taking opportunities to explore outside, play in the snow, play games and to rest. I love being by the ocean around Courtenay and loved being on the ski hill after skipping a snowy winter last year! Christmas was different too, with family being all spread out and things like presents being opened on Christmas Day instead of Christmas Eve. Changes are good and I am constantly refining my skill of adaptability. PLUS, we received the best news of a baby coming in June!! Alex and Tim are finally expecting a baby and I am finally going to be an auntie :) :) It's still strange to think of Alex as a mother and my parents being an Oma and Opa! Our family has been going through constant changes for the past few years and they never stop coming. But I praise God for his continued healing hands in the process and his promises of restoration.
New life.

Kin Beach, the Island

Christmas in Courtenay

Christmas in Kelowna. THERE'S A BABY!!

Skiing at Big White

Beautiful sunset

This past week I've been reflecting on the past year and thinking ahead to the next. 2013 was full of goodness, excitement, blessings and challenges. A year ago, I was weakly celebrating the New Year alone in Jogja (getting over the flu...) and a year to the date, I was travelling on my first family road trip to East Java. Since then, I fully immersed myself in Indonesian culture - to the best of my ability and energy levels. I became part of many new families, learned a few languages, decreased my ability to speak others, hiked 2 major volcanoes, went scuba diving, bartered like a local, was mistaken as a local's wife, ate the most intriguing foods, traveled around Jogja by bicycle and bus with no trouble, had the worst domestic flight experience here, said goodbye to some family friends as they went to be with God, took challenging theology courses, advanced my GPA and the list goes on! It was a good year. Indonesia almost feels like a dream, as I think about all the things I was blessed to do and see. I constantly think about my time there and often wish I could return. I miss family terribly over there... One day, God willing, I will see them again!

The beauty of where I was a year ago... <3

2013 ended with a lot of brokenness around the world, evident as I've been looking at the news and praying through it. We continue to fall into deeper and more desperate need of a Savior. We also continue to gain more skill and resources to help those around us and shine as bearers of the image of Yahweh. So I am challenged in my own life, family and circumstance to bear that glorious image - even in my falling short of the true glory of God. I am working on being open to the opportunities that come before me. I am graduating in April and the world lies before me as a field, ready to be planted and also ripe for the harvest. I am nervous when I think ahead and also so excited!
New life.
I wish everyone a blessed year 2014. May we continue surrendering to God, seeking his will first. There is so much that is meaningless in this life that contends for our devotion and time. May we, with discernment, work for his service and continue to build shalom and unity in this world. There is so much we can do and it all starts within us, letting God's kingdom become meaningful and overpoweringly strong in our lives.
New Life
This is what we are promised in relationship with God. That is a promise I owe everything to! Amen :)  

The beauty of where I am today...

Lisi