Sad to say, one of the things that I am already staring to miss about Colorado is its pho. I've been told over and over that I'll miss pho when I'm gone, but I never understood why until now. Haha, pretty funny, if you ask me, but it's okay, I plan to come back. I've made some lasting friendships here and I will continue to pursue the relationships that I've created here.
This summer has been crazy! Starting off with this last minute internship, everything has been flying by me. Three months have never been so quick! The first two weeks were such lonely weeks for me. I didn't know anyone here, and everyone here was related, so it was difficult for me to find common ground. But with all thanks to Yexus Khetos, I was able to gather up the courage to start approaching the youth and by his grace, I have been able to create memories with friends that I'll never forget.
This summer, God has also thrown my way several people to keep me accountable and in check. Everytime I start to act out of place, God sends someone to remind me of my lowly place. I've continually been rebuked and humbled. I thank God for sending those people into my life.
I didn't understand why God sent me here instead of to Wausau where I was originally supposed to intern. And as of now, I still don't understand why. Why did God send commission both Meng and me here? Typical places only intern one person. But surprisingly, during the Annual Conference, Meng and I got the exact same fortune, "Two small steps are sometimes better than one big one." Maybe, Meng and I were the two small steps that God sent here.
I see the ministry that Meng started to do with the older guys here. I could have never done that by myself. For one, the older guys are pretty reserved around girls, or at least around me; however, I was able to get really close to the younger guys and some of the younger girls. We each had our own ministries going on, using what God allowed us to have to reach out to the two youth groups here.
I know that I can speak for both Meng and me that the Annual Conference was an experience that we'll never forget. We stayed up most nights until 2 and we up by 5 or 6 the next morning. We met so many people and ran into so many old faces. We were all running on pure adrenaline. But those days will never leave us. I believe it was both our first experiences with the CMA Hmong Annual Conference. For those of you who have never been there, a word of advice, this is one to go on your "bucket" list.
Likewise, running around and working with the people here at HKM has been an awesome experience. Those who stand in awe of these people, I guess, can, but to me, these guys are just ordinary people that are allowing God to work through them in extraordinary ways. They struggle just like we do. They get into disagreements. They are just like us. What we should stand in awe of, is the fact that they are allowing God to contiually work through them.
Experience after experience, this has been a year of firsts for me. First time: in college, doing ministry from a Bible College, interning, eating so much pho, teaching a workshop, meeting so many xf's, living with a missionary, working with two youth groups, talking so much, going to SALT, working and attending the Annual Conference, talking so late into the night ( and even pulling all nighters), having thanksgiving away from home, leading a ministry team, and so many more.
And all I can say is thank you. Thank you to everyone that God's thrown my way this summer. Thank you for your open hearts. Most of all, thank you Lord, for all the opportunities that you've given me. I know that there is so much more that I could have done, but everything happens for a reason, and I'm going to trust you in where you may lead me next. If you don't bring me back this way, then I pray and lift up all these people up to you. Watch over them and guide them. Pick them up every time they may stumble, and let them know, that though we may be miles apart, that I'm always going to be here with them in spirit. I pray all this in Jesus' name, Amen.
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