Hallelujah!

"Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" (Psalm 66:20)

Halleljuah! Praise be to God!

This verse explains the email I have just received. As many of you have read, these past months of support raising have been the most faith defying months of my relationship with God. There have been immense struggles but always beautiful victories. When the Lord put it on my heart to go to Australia this summer, I had no idea how I'd raise $5,000! Though the odds were not in my favor, I felt that He wanted me to be there.

So I went along with this journey. I knew He would challenge me, but I never knew it would feel like this. I knew He would grow me, but I never expected to learn the things that I did.

Through support letters, taking extra shifts at the coffee shop, working for my dad, babysitting, bake sales, and calls that I wanted to avoid, God has provided me with that beautiful light at the end of the tunnel.

With my goal still out of reach, I have been in constant prayer. I trusted God to get me to Australia, and He has. The last of my support money is coming from my family at Olive Branch Community Church.

Now, when I received this email, I wish someone was there to see the moment. Reading the words "provide you with the remaining funding of $800," my heart stopped. Could this really be it? Could my great and mighty God be providing the last of my support money now? I didn't believe it, I had to read the email 3 times. After coming out of the reality shock that I was in, I rejoiced! Oh boy did I rejoice! That's why this post is called Hallelujah! God be praised!

"You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever."

(Psalm 30: 11-12)

Oh boy should God be praised because I am definitely not getting to Australia by my own strength. This whole process has been through Him gives me that strength! I am so in love with my God, but I wasn't just in love with him in this moment. Throughout this whole process, I was rejoicing through hardships as the wonderful apostle Paul always says.

I love this verse from Romans.

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Rom 5:3-5)

I am so incredibly blessed with the support family that has now been created. God has taught me many things throughout this process, I can't wait to see what He will teach me in Australia! All I know is that after I reflected on this process, I wept of happiness. I literally got down on my knees and praised my Lord for providing for me, just like I knew He would. Oh Lord, I love you so much! Thank you thank you thank you!

Holy are you God! Holy is Your Name!

With everything I've got,

my heart will sing how I love you!

When my world is shaking

heaven stands

When my heart is breaking

I never leave your hands

Learning through earning

So as many of you know, the end goal for my Australia mission trip this summer is $5,000. Now that is a huge number and a very intimidating goal to reach. However, through God’s grace and power, he has brought me to about $4,400 right now! Praise God!

I have been so blessed by the many families and friends that have decided to give financial support! It has been amazing journey thus far. I have seen countless people, that I least expected, give cheerfully. I have seen people from all walks of life and all religions come aside me and show me support. It has been life-changing to see how many people love me and want the best for me. I always knew I had a family but I never knew it was this big. Thank you for all your support, it has left a lasting impact upon my life.

The most unexpected lesson that I have learned through this process is obedience. Yes, that may sound weird, but again, it was unexpected. First, I had to learn how to obey my God. I learned through a lot of different aspects. I had to learn to obey his guidance that He had placed in front of me. Even though there were times in which I wanted to go my own way, earn money on my own and get myself to Australia, God always had a plan. I learned that He will always provide and always love, whether or not I know he is doing it. Of course I know I haven't fully obeyed God in every aspect of my life, but I'm getting there. I recognize the obedience needed for this relationship and I'm working to be a good and faithful servant of my Lord.

After obeying my God, I have learned to obey many other authorities that are placed above me. One of which being my parents. Since I was still very under my goal for Australia, my parents offered to have me work for my dad to earn money. With the process of doing yard work, painting, cleaning and working with my dad, I have learned many things. I now work with purpose. I know that each plank that I paint or each plant that I cut, I am working for those lives that I will reach in Australia. With this, God provided me with patience, strength and diligence. I learned to obey my father's commands and to fufill them successfully. Who knew I would learn so many life lessons, merely by doing yard work for money? I sure didn't.

I'm still running the race. Still trying to reach my goal. However, I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I am reaching up to merely $500 to go and I can almost feel the the relief. This support raising process has given me stress but has also led me to God. It has given me anxiety, but it has also led me to prayer. It has given me thoughts of defeat, but it has also reminded me of how amazing the result will be.

Thank you for all those who have supported. Please keep me in your prayers :)

I love you Lord and I lift my voice to worship you! Oh my soul, rejoice! Take joy my king, in what you hear! May it be a sweet, sweet sound, in your ear!

Glory be to God forever and ever, Amen!

HYPE

Time Flies

I still can't believe that I'm finishing up my first year at UCLA.

It still amazes me that time has gone by this fast.

I remember graduating & I remember stepping into UCLA not knowing at all what was going to happen the next year.

Who knew that I would be going on this new spiritual journey!

I've grown so much in my love for my Lord & He has definitely stretched and challenged me this year.

I'm so excited for the ways that he is going to use me this summer in Australia!

I'm supposed to be writing a paper right now, so I'll blog more later (: