UK Trip Updates

Detailed UK ministry trip updates are now being sent though email. If you're not already on my emailing list and would like to receive these updates, please let me know and I will put you on the list.

Thanks for your prayers!

Wen

My hair is pretty long now... over 20 inches. In regards to my hair, I get compliments on a fairly regular basis because it's long, straight and usually shiny. I'm also constantly asked what kind of products I use in my hair and how I care for it. Here is what I've been doing for at least 15 years:

Products: Head and Shoulders shampoo (for normal hair), whatever conditioner that can be purchased with a coupon from Costco. (No mousse, no hairspray, no gel, no leave-in conditioner.)

Process: Shampoo only the scalp area. Rinse thoroughly. Use about two pumps of conditioner only on the bottom half of my hair. Leave conditioner on while I soap up. Rinse off conditioner while rinsing off soap. Squeeze out as much water from my hair as possible with my hands. Pin up or tie up hair when toweling off. Do not towel dry. Wrap hair in a towel or turban. Leave hair in turban for at least 15 minutes. If in a rush, blow dry hair. If not, air dry.

Special Notes: I usually only wash my hair once every two days. I also get my hair trimmed at least every 3 months.

15+ years is a long time. But that's basically what I've been doing with my hair for years. I used to have light brown highlights but I eventually stopped because it was (1) too expensive and too time-consuming to keep maintaining, and (2) Locks of Love does not accept bleached hair.

In the last few months, I kept seeing infomercials for Wen by Chaz Dean. It's a hair cleansing product to be used in lieu of shampooing and conditioning. It's called a "hair cleansing conditioner." The infomercial features Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie) as the host, and other celebrities like Jane Seymour, Jennie Garth and Ming-Na Wen. The first few times I watched the infomercial, it seemed like a scam... washing your hair without shampoo?!?!?!? It just didn't seem right.

But then, I remembered how I always thought it was necessary to use a foaming face wash until my facialist told me to use Cetaphil, a totally non-foaming skin cleanser. My face is much clearer now—only getting the occasional acne.

So, after reading many online reviews, I decided to give Wen a try (the fig one). I even sent a bottle to Carolyn. Anyway, I've used it twice now. I'm happy to report that I actually like it a lot. Even after the first time, my hair seemed softer and easier to manage.

However, the whole washing business takes a lot longer now—thus making my shower a whole lot longer. The product needs to be massaged in for several minutes, then allowed to settle for another few minutes before rinsing. It also takes a lot of the product each time. With my hair as long as it is, I use about 40 pumps each time. And the stuff is not cheap.

Anyway, I usually don't endorse products (especially in writing), but I gotta say that I actually like Wen. I will keep using it until my current supply runs out.

Has anyone else heard of or tried Wen? I'm just curious what others think.

Whew! That was a lot just on hair. Sorry for boring the guys. =)

My Third Home

My first home is Los Angeles. Since August 2007, Vancouver has become my second home. And with flying between the two cities, the airports are now my third home.

Once again, I find myself sitting in the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Even the customs agent I had today remembered that I was from LA before I handed him my passport and customs form! He told me that he will soon remember my name! (For those of you who don't know... when flying from Canada to the States, U.S. customs is in the Canadian airport before even boarding the plane.)

Today, I have extra time in my third home. I was going to take the bus to the airport, which would have taken over an hour, but my landlord insisted on driving me. Therefore, it only took 20 minutes to get to the airport. Furthermore, I just checked my flight status and it seems that my flight is delayed by 34 minutes.

That gives me extra time to sit in the Alaska Airlines Boardroom before I have to get to the departure gate.

Someone told me recently that she has such a busy life that traveling by plane is the only time she gets to slow down (sitting in an airport waiting for a flight and sitting in a plane). I'm beginning to feel that way about my life too.

How ironic! Traveling is the one thing that can slow down life. Anyone else find this odd?

By the way, YVR is the only airport I know of that is advertisement-free. I love it. It's so beautiful... especially the aboriginal displays that you walk past when you first arrive at the airport before going through Canadian customs.

UK Trip Update

Our team had Meeting #2 on Monday night. Once again, it was a great meeting. But my favorite part was taking photos at the end. Even though this was an unofficial part of the meeting, this is when we got to goof off a little bit and get to know each other in a more non-businesslike setting. I love that this whole team is so much fun and quick to laugh.


Here are some parts of the official meeting that I enjoyed the most:

• Kenelm shared the song "Remain" (by Starfield) with us during our opening devotional and prayer time. He shared about feeling inadequate and about learning rely on God. What a lesson we all need to keep learning!
• Derek shared his personal testimony of learning about God and seeing His blessings unfold in miraculous ways. It's awesome how God touches our minds and our hearts in just the precise ways we need Him to do so.
• Our discussion of which workshop topics to tackle and lead at the youth camp was really eye-opening about each team members. I learned a little more about each of their interests, challenges and expertise in our discussion. It was absolutely delightful.

As for new prayer requests:

• We're still looking for a camp speaker for the younger track (ages 11-14). If we can't find anyone, it may be me. If it is me, it will be a scary, but wonderful, experience.
• Some of my team members have expressed worries about financial funding. I am blessed to have some very generous friends and family. I'm hoping that if I surpass the amount that I personally need, any other extra donations can go to help my team.
• Our team will be working with Calgary and UK people. Due to distance, busy schedules and unfamiliarity, we've been having problems with reaching each other. This is a bit frustrating.
  

Thanks for your prayers. Please continue to remember us as you pray each day.

There's No "I" in T-E-A-M

On July 30 - August 21, I will be leading a team of five Vancouverites to England on a short-term ministry trip. Our objective is to minister to the second-generation Chinese in the UK, while helping them develop their leadership skills and strategies. While in England, we will be helping out at a youth camp and two kids' programs. For the youth camp, we are partnering with a Calgary team as well as others from the UK.

I'm very excited... and very scared. This will be my first time leading a team overseas on a ministry project. And due to many scheduling conflicts, my team has only had one official meeting so far. However, I believe God pulled this team together. They are an awesome group of individuals. We are all from different churches, but our heart to do God's will is the same. As a team, they have displayed an emotional and spiritual maturity beyond their chronological age. In the major decisions we've had to make so far, the team has been very careful in making them. I can barely express how awestruck I am by them... and how they are seeking God's guidance.

At this early stage in planning, we are still trying to figure out roles and what they entail. We are learning about each other and how to best complement each other. We're seeking prayer and financial support for the trip. We are learning from the experience of those who previously went on such a trip. We are trying to rely on God for His guidance, and working hard to following Him.

Personally, this is a huge opportunity. I am eager to learn about how God is working in the midst of the second-generation Chinese people in the UK. And I am eager to gain experience in leadership and teaching. There are definite fears and worries. There are concerns and questions. But most of all, there is hope and assurance in God because I truly believe He led me to this opportunity.

If you would like to support my team and me through prayer or financial giving, please let me know. I will send you a support letter. Please "team up" with us!

The Sabbath

Exodus 20:8-11: Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord you God; you shall not do any work... For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

Deuteronomy 5:12,15: Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you... Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day.

Mark 2:27: Then [Jesus] said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind of the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."

I recently had a heated discussion with someone about the importance of observing the sabbath— to rest physically, to renew spiritually and to revive mentally. This individual accused me of being "legalistic" like the Jews in the Bible. I left that discussion very frustrated because I really do think that the sabbath is important... not because it's a day to be lazy and watch television, but because it's a day to look forward to for purposeful rest and renewal. And I do not believe this day should be eliminated for the sake of doing more work (even if it is ministry). How can I be effective if I'm burned out? Besides, God didn't need to rest, but He did it anyway. Shouldn't we?

Any thoughts out there about this topic? Am I totally off here?

I'm sorry I cannot disclose full details and context of the aforementioned discussion because I don't want anyone to figure out with whom I was talking.

The cartoon is a little irrelevant, but I thought it was funny

More Public Transportation Frustrations

Whew!

I finally made it to the airport. I waited at the bus stop this morning for nearly an hour, but the right bus never showed up. I guess the website was wrong. I am very grateful that Elaine actually answered her phone at 5:50AM, and was willing to drive me to the airport.

Assuming that my flight is not delayed too long (or canceled), I'll be at Grace and Jimmy's wedding this afternoon. I'm so excited... this is the event of the year! =D