Homesick

       My building's wifi has been down for a few days now so I've been coming to starbucks which is the closet cafe to me with free wifi. At first I was super excited and told myself I would go if I was homesick to cheer me up, but after sitting here for a few hours just doing my usual internet browsing/catch up, I looked up and I felt like I was back home and then realized once I walk out I'm actually in London. So pretty much..I'm going to try and not come to starbucks because that was a horrible feeling.

P.S. isn't my phone cute? hehe. takes forever to text though! oh, smart phone..

Lost in Translation

     I've been here for few days since I've been here and the weekend is already gone! Tomorrow is a Bank Holiday (which is something like Labor day) so classes for us start on Tuesday. It feels like I've been here for a long time though! I don't know if that's good or bad, but I still have another 4 months to go so I need to hang tight. The first 3 days consisted of our UC EAP's orientation which we basically went over what will happen in the next 4 months and going around on tours to get familiar with Central London. It hasn't even been a full week yet, but I definitely already faced a little bit of struggle. I wouldn't say I'm homesick yet, but what I do miss is GCEM and my koinonia and basically being around friends who know me and are somewhat similar to me. This is obviously something everyone here is struggling with. We're all trying to get to know each other, enjoy London to it's fullest, and just really learn to be out of comfort zones. I've always been SUPER blessed with the people God placed to be in my life as roommates/suite mates in terms of being somewhat alike and having similar interests, but I think God is blessing me in a different way (HAHA) with the girls I live with. Because drinking/clubbing here is pretty much legal for everyone on the program, that's been kind of the main focus/plans once it gets dark. I know that going to pubs/drinking is completely normal here and something you do to just socialize with one another but, for those who know me...well..it's not my thing. The second night I stayed back in my room all alone because pretty much everyone I knew in my left to go out. I'm not going to lie, I felt so alone and so discouraged to find people I clicked with. Even though I was home alone, I knew God was reaching out to me to seek after Him during these times of loneliness. After talking to a few people from home and being reminded that I'm not here to conform, but to be the light to those around me..really encouraged me.

It's only been 5 days since I've been here, but God has really shown me so much and provided me with just so much! I can't even imagine how much I'll learn during the next 4 months. Thanks to Gary I got connected into a church here called CCIL (Chinese Church in London). After being here for only 2 days (bc they responded so quickly!!), I got plugged into a small group or what they call, DCG (District Care Group) Friday night. I didn't know how to expect, but at that point I was so excited and yearning for something familiar here which was a family. It's my first time being in a co-ed small group so it was definitely something new, minus the fact that they're all English and have accents that are so hard so me to actually understand (even if they are speaking in english to me). Sometimes I just nod along or laugh (when they started laughing) because I don't understand and I don't want to be rude and ask them to repeat what they said. I basically saw them 3 days in a row and it IS a blessing, but I can't help but MISS MY KOI! Koi, I'm thinking about you guys so much and praying for you! :')

As of now, I am excited and determined to learn why God brought me here. To be honest, I'm not really interested in exploring London too much. Maybe it's because I was here in March and felt like I saw and experience it with Gary, but I am grateful to be here. I've been getting used to the Tube system here and I am just in love with it! I feel really confident now to just go out on my own and get to places with out fearing I'll get lost. Also, I am SOSO thankful that our program gave us an unlimited oyster card for us to use because I know how expensive it it to just get on once! I've also been seeing a loot of korean restaurants/markets near by so I'll be looking forward to going when I get homesick. :)

okay. enough talking!

first lunch with my flatmates

I AM SO EXCITED TO GO BACK AND GET THE BEST FELAFEL I'VE EVER HAD :') Gabby <3

Our program took us to the national gallery for afternoon english tea :o)

Venturing out at night to find Big Ben

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walked towards the london eye then found these pretty lights at Alice and wonderland themed carnival :)

SOSO crowded at Notting Hill Carnival

I had no idea what ^ was, but it's a huge carnival they have ever year. I told my flatmates I would meet them after church, but never found them in this crowd! Ended my weekend by going to Hillsong London's last service and what can I say..it was amazing. When I went in March with Gary, I don't think I really REALLY saw how amazing it was. Today was the first time I praised with all my heart. Arms up and tears rolling down and not carrying who was around me :'). 

Anyway, this was a long post! wanted to say thank you to those who have been praying for me because your prayers are definitely being answered!! :') I really appreciate it...

To be continued..:)

Safe & Sound

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

 After giving (& receiving -_- lol) my parents a million waves until I couldn't see them anymore, I was off to board my flight! It really started to hit me as I was seeing my parents get smaller and smaller and I felt tears coming. At that moment, both Mina and Gary sent me these verses ^ and soon after it calmed my heart and I knew it God was telling me that He would take care of me and protect me and everything/one else so I didn't need to be upset.

Seriously, everything went soso smoothly from start to finish! Got to the airport on time, flight was on time, met a girl named Ashley (from my program) right before boarding, flight was only 9 hrs and 50 minutes compared to 10 hours and 30 minutes (actually made a huge difference), watched Hunger Games and Five Year Engagement on the flight, walked out and Ashley was waiting for me to get our bags together :'), thought I would have to wait a few hours for my taxi driver to come but he was already there by the gate with my name out and helped me with my bags, got dropped off at the ACCENT Office and right away met a girl named Lexie..we both had a hard time finding our actual dorms, but together we got there safe and sound. Got my keys to my room and realized I was only assigned one roommate, which was weird because I had signed up for a triple because it was cheaper, but it turns out we have a triple bedroom to ourselves =  an extra bed for visitors!! :').

In our flat we have 2 rooms (5 girls) and 3 bathrooms! I live in the basement level so it was a pain carrying my bags down, BUT it's always better than carrying it up so phew! + we found out we get FREE laundry (which is a few doors down from my room) + a FREE oyster card (subway) with an UNLIMITED amount of spending money (that..makes sense right?) basically we get to travel in London for free!

How does God always provide like this?! :')

paid for a triple, but got a double! extra bed on the left ;)

can't wait to crawl into bed tonight :'_

Throughout the day I was always with at least one person and I'm so thankful because I would've been so lost on my own. I haven't felt homesick yeeet, but did feel bummed when I started recognizing some of the streets when I came earlier this year to visit Gary :( loll. After a quick tour around Bloomsbury, few of the girls and I went to get some groceries and we all came out super sad and hungry. So expensive, but it's okay..I will lose weight from this experience...lol

Finally, in my room with wifi working on both my laptop and phone. The girls on my floor decided to go out and explore a little bit and I decided to decline and stay in tonight. They probably think I'm boring already (which...is okay lol), but I promised myself it was just for tonight. :)

To be continued..:)

Blessed Beyond Words

Leaving tomorrow night! bags are packed, money is exchanged to British pounds, and said all my 'see you laters' to friends and family these past 2 weeks. Surprisingly, these past 2 weeks was a perfect amount of time for me prepare my heart to leave. These past few days I was feeling down because I finally started being active in AWANA/GEMI after months and months of praying about it and really started developing strong bonds with amazing people when I'm leaving! BUT, I trust that it was apart of God's plan all along and I am so excited to come back with more confidence and more love for God to pour on to the group of boys that were given to me in Awana and to everyone around me! Ahh~ I'm excited to learn why God is sending me to London (at this time especially) and how He will use me there, I'm excited to see how much He changes the lives of those who I love that are home, and I'm excited to come back and really experience and see how God provided for my friends and family especially while I'm gone.

I've always hated change, but now I'm so excited for it! (Does this mean I'm growing up? hehe)

My Uncle shared something that C.S. Lewis wrote which was "Gratitude is the key to happiness." He also said, "If you're constantly thankful, God will constantly give you things to be thankful for". It was so easy for me to forget to be thankful for what I had; my family, friends, a church, an education, and so much more. I kept forgetting who gave me all those things. I didn't do anything to deserve any of it and yet God provides me with so much!

Anyway, just wanted to share how seriously awesome God is and how blessed and thankful I am for this opportunity to go study abroad! I know I complained a lot because I wasn't able to go when I wanted too while Gary was there or because of how financially I wasn't prepared, but God really just provided everything! SO no more complaining from me...

Pictures to end this rushed post before I leaving for London haha

Thankful for wonderful friends/roomies and encouraging convos! (I wish I had 1 picture with everyone I love in it) ^ Thankful for Euni's amazing picnic sandwiches!! :)

Thankful for this relationship and how much I grow from it! Looking forward to how God uses us together. (Gary's early birthday celebration/Gabby's last dinner together before senior year :'))

Thankful for my #1 group of supporters! :')

I'm sure this is how he felt before meeting my family for the first time loll (#11 <3)

I love them all so much (though I complain) & so thankful for them (even thankful >< for the balloons the kids stole from the birthday party in the next room bc it made this picture a little bit more festive hahaha)

Thankful for my koinonia! Looking forward to coming back to see how much more they'll SHINE and GLOW :')

soso thankful I got to see you guys before I left + looking forward to serving in Awana & Gem I with you two :')

Go map suhm nee dae Rachael Teacher! :') I look forward to filling this journal uppppppp!

To be continued..:)

It's Happening

After months of talking about studying abroad in London, I'm leaving in 6 days! It hasn't hit me yet, and I'm sure it won't hit me until the moment I say goodbye to my parents at the airport and I start crying!

Ahh..Am I ready? Am I excited? I'm pretty much all packed. I'm excited for what God wants me experience and how He plans on using me in London these next few months!

I thought this summer would be a pretty uneventful couple months before I left for London, but it turns out God had so much to teach me and show me. I was so so spiritual weak while I was in Irvine and it was hard for me to get back into the routine of the simplest things like prayer. I was worried that I would leave the states spiritual weak, but God just provided in so many ways for me to turn things around! Was reminded how small my problems were, was reminded that I do have genuine/caring/wonderful people in my life that keep me accountable and make me want to be a better person, was reminded the importance of quiet times and how MUCH it effects my daily outlook on everything, learned how much God’s been reaching out to me this entire summer and yet I continued to seek help and approval from those around me, realized HOW selfish I have truly become this year…completely forgetting about God’s mission for me to really love, forgive, and serve those around me. It’s so simple, yet I make it so complicated.

To be continued :)