"Dare you to Move...Where do you run to escape from Yourself?" ~ Switchfoot

Signs. They help to indicate where something is, when and where to perform certain activities or functions. They also sometimes help to warn, to acknowledge something or to confuse. I wish that sometimes, God would just give clear cut answers to prayers or questions like the picture I took at the Ford Museum in Chicago a couple of weeks back. This summer has been a challenging yet promising time in my life; in my spiritual walk and in my relationship with others. Being away from life in Toronto for most of the year, it's hard to maintain and keep those relationships going back home. In particular, I'm not very good with keeping in touch with people, and so these friendships suffer because I don't do my part to keep them going. That's why it's been so nice to be able to spend a complete summer in Toronto (well... for the first time since my last year in high school). It's such a blessing to be able to re-establish and to develop relationships with my brothers and sisters in church. It's such a blessing to be able to go to retreat for the first time since I've gone off to Queen's. Crazy to say, it's even been a blessing to be able to work at Cruise Holidays (although I HAVE to say that the working hours are INSANO, and there are those times when.... the customers just annoy the HECK outta me). I guess since I haven't updated since the last month of school... I'll give a quick cap of the summer.

May was the month of the annual family vacation. This year, we decided to go to Northern Europe for 13 days. We stopped by London, England prior to heading North to Denmark. It was lovalee to meet up with a couple of my friends in London=) Enroute, we also stopped in the cities of Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Gdansk, Tallinn, and Oslo. The picture underneath is one of my favourites from the whole trip.

It was taken in Gdansk, Poland... a beautiful little city (or rather touristy) amidst its impoverished surroundings. The overall impression given off by Northern European countries are so much different from those in Western Europe. The people seem more conservative, more serious and at times, it can even be described as repressed. One thing that impressed upon me was the number of Orthodox churches and Calvinist churches in these countries. I guess that religion and Christianity are big factors in their countries, and yet , where is the joy in knowing the Lord ?

June : Back in Toronto, I started work late in May at Cruise Holidays. Located at the intersection of Bayview and Major Mackenzie, it's a Chinese branch of a "Gwai-Lo" franchise. I was so thankful for this job, cause I was so desperately looking for a summer job. I remember telling God that I was willing to do experience anything this summer, even if it meant laborious or tough work. God is funny like that . He answered me in a most unexpected way by placing me in a job setting where I have to deal with a lot of "mah fan" people. I've had the oppurtunity to learn SO much about being patient with people, how to deal with stressful situations in the workplace under intense pressure. It's so hard to be an "ambassador" for the Lord in this particular workplace. Especially in an environment where colleagues usually express their frustration with swearing and/or very "Cantonese" reactions (high volume, pitch speaking/shouting at each other.....but not really meaning to be rude). If any of you guys want to know more about stories from my job... feel free to approach me anytime to ask me.... I have MANY to tell...(the adventures of the CRUISE AGENT); even one involving the name BERWIN.... haha

July: I feel the effects of working full time... hardly any time for friends outside of work. Since I work 10:30- 7:30/8:00 everyday from monday to Friday, it made it even more difficult to meet up with people afterwards. As well, 1/2 of my JLC girls are abroad...while the other half are busy working. That's why when Church retreat came along, it was much needed...just a time to be away from the hectic work life, and to concentrate on other more important aspects in life. I'm so glad I went this year, because God definitely spoke to me through the workshops about caring/friendship/ and deepening relationships with others in our church community. God provides a community for a reason. It should be a place where we can spur each other to grow, a place where we can share our struggles and victories with each other without having to be afraid of being judged by others. I've experienced that two years ago at 180 fellowship while in Hong Kong for the summer, and I also sincerely pray that our church will also develop to be such a haven. God did not mean for us to go through our walk with Him alone, we were meant to fellowship and to experience Him with others around us too.

Other summer memories worth mentioning: Chicago with the fam/ MiniClaude Reunion/Madison Avenue Pub with the ClaudieGirls/$1.99 breakfasts with May and Jo and Ikea/Lounge-chilling with Jo and Jin and Char/Darren's Farewell party =(/Piano Geeks Party (*snortsnort...haha)/retreat practice/chinese dessert with the "twin" (Samango...tee hee) and friends...more to come...

What Am I listening to ?: Coldplay-Castles (album)

Take Care & Cheers, -v