Happy New Year!

Last post of 2011...wow, it's been a memorable year. So many good memories...

• living in country club/spontaneous dance parties
  
• working in Santa Barbara after graduating early
• Potter's clay working with dentists
• Westmont grad in May
• living in Seattle for the summer
• Community group at Mars Hill
• my brother Jesse getting married
• packing up and leaving for the UK in September

Reflecting back on January 2011, I never thought I'd be writing this post in London. Thank you Jesus for providing everything I need.

It's been a while since I last updated...I've been playing tourist with my American friends as they were visiting for the holidays. We've been exploring Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, eating kangaroo for the first time, National Gallery, Trafalgar square, crazy sales shopping on boxing day (never again), Buckingham palace, Big Ben, strolling on the river Thames at night, getting hipster at Brick Lane, British Museum (Rosetta stone!), Covent Garden, Borough market, Tate Modern and London Bridge in the pouring rain. Yesterday, I ate dinner with an American family who are planting a church in London...even though they had a comfortable life in the states, they were called to the UK and out of their comfort zone without family or friends. It's encouraging to hear God is working in this city!

It was my first Christmas away from my family, but an amazing time experiencing it in a new culture. I celebrated Christmas Eve acting in the play at church...I enjoyed playing an old posh lady (Mary Poppins) and handing out sweets to everyone. Praise God for all the people who celebrated the good news of Jesus' birth! On Christmas day, we attended the service, celebrated with my very British friend's family, and ate traditional English roast. I enjoyed opening crackers (we don't have them in the US), eating Christmas pudding, and watching the Queen's speech. After, we went to a Brazilian family's house and had a fiesta! :) I pray each of you were filled with His peace, hope, and love during the Holiday season.

Blessings

It's the most wonderful time of the year. It truly is! Hot chocolate, Christmas trees, warm fires, carol singing, mince pies, mulled wine, good friends, and celebrating Jesus' birth. :) Thank you Lord for this season. I'm thankful to spend Christmas in London...as much as I'll miss my family in Hawaii and Seattle, I'll be spending it with my new London church family and friends from Spain. I'm even in the Christmas Eve play at church...so much effort put into this production with 4 services. Pray for all the people in Woodford to come with open hearts to hear the gospel!

Thank you Jesus for your blessings and how you answer prayer. I've been praying about mentoring the girls at my youth group and we had our first event this past week. We made Christmas sugar cookies together with many laughs and good times. I love these girls...from 12-16 years old. We decided to call ourselves "Girls 4 God" and will be meeting Saturday evenings starting in Jan! I'm excited for our upcoming events...a retreat in Scotland, sleepovers/movie nights, hiking, and baking for homeless to name a few. It's so important for just girls to get together for encouragement, prayer, and meditating on scripture.

Youth Christmas sleepover was madness! One of my favorite parts of helping at church is being with the youth. They keep me young and full of energy! We enjoyed a pizza party, caroling at church, bowling, playing Christmas games/prayer, and watched Elf (of course). Most of the youth didn't sleep at all...they are c r a z y. I made sure to get in a few hours! All in all, a great weekend and can't wait for God's plan in 2012.

Baking

I think my home stay can tell I love BAKING! I make cookies, breads, or cakes at least once a week. It's a great hobby when I feel stressed or need something sweet. Last week, I made ginger bread cookies out of Christmas tree and reindeer shapes :) Yesterday, I made pumpkin bars...it turned out quite lovely. Full of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger with icing on top...a real Holiday treat! Thought I'd share the recipe:

Ingredients

• 125g plain flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice or ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 120ml vegetable oil
• 200g caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 250g pumpkin puree
• 110g raisins
• 65g sieved icing sugar
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

Preparation method

Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 30 mins | Extra time: 4 hours, cooling

1.

Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas 4. Grease and flour a 23x33cm or similar sized baking tin.

2.

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, spices, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda; set aside. In a large bowl beat the eggs, oil and sugar together until smooth. Stir in the pumpkin, then the dry ingredients. Finally, stir in the raisins.

3.

Pour the mixture into the prepared baking tin and spread evenly. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow to cool before adding the glaze.

4.

To make the glaze, stir together the icing sugar with the maple syrup. If glaze is too thick to drizzle from a spoon, just add a little water. Drizzle over the cooled pumpkin cake before cutting into bars.

Merry CHRISTmas

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6

"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." -Matthew 2:11

JESUS is the reason for the season.

Testimony

"We write to taste life twice..."-Anais Nin

Just walked through Epping Forest and it was such a beautiful, crisp winter day. The sun was peaking out from the trees and leaves were crunching beneath my feet. I love the wide open spaces...reminds me of a scene from Pride and Prejudice. :) Thank you Lord for walks and your creation.

Yesterday's youth group was the most memorable yet...the power of testimony! Testimonies are so important...a time to be vulnerable and show authenticity of what God's been doing in your life. It's funny because we were supposed to have a speaker, but last minute canceled and decided to share praises and why we follow Jesus. Totally the Holy Spirit moving in our youth! One of the girls shared of her depression and how Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer has changed her thinking. Another one of the guys talked about his 14 year old friend wanting to hang himself because of the deaths in his family, but thankfully his mom caught him in the act. Now he's reaching out to his friend. Praise God.

Thank you Jesus for giving us stories and how we can relate to eachother. We can't do life on our own.

Restless

As Christmas is approaching, it's so easy to get caught up in the busyness of buying presents, seeing family/friends, and working. We need to make rest a priority. In our culture, it seems better to keep busy and productive, but we need to stop, be quiet, and listen to God's voice. All I need is the Bible, a journal, and chai tea. :)

"I am restless till I rest in You" Jesus.

When I think of resting, I think of this song by Audrey Assad "Restless":

You dwell in the songs that we are singing
Rising to the Heavens
Rising to Your heart
Our praises filling up the spaces
In between our frailty and everything You are
You are the keeper of my heart

And I'm restless
I’m restless
'Til I rest in You
(Oh God I wanna rest in You)

Oh speak now for my soul is listening
Say that You have saved me
Whisper in the dark
'Cause I know You’re more than my salvation

Without You I am hopeless
Tell me who You are
You are the keeper of my heart

Still my heart
Hold me close
Let me hear a still small voice
Let it grow
Let it rise
Into a shout
Into a cry

I am restless until I rest in You

Psalm 16

"I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure… you have made known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasure at your right hand." -Psalm 16: 1-11

Holiday in España

Hola! Como estas? Muy bien, gracias! I'm back from Spain and so thankful to spend Thanksgiving break with my amigas. It was so nice spending time with Clarissa (my old roomie from college) and her sis Candida flew all the way from CA. Thank you Lord for a fun and safe trip. I will miss sitting on the porch looking over the blue ocean, soaking in Vitamin D, and feeling the cool breeze from the palm trees. What a dramatic change from England weather! Definitely reminded me of Hawaii and Santa Barbara. Highlights of the trip included: watching Breaking Dawn and making fun of it (don't recommend it), riding my first donkey (burro) on the streets of Mijas, Spanish Thanksgiving dinner with new amigas and amigos/dressing up as Indians, picking fresh oranges from the trees, walking the beautiful beaches in Nerja, eating the best paella of my life, chestnut stands (castanas), and exploring a new culture.

I noticed Spanish people are so friendly! I love their warm culture...greeting everyone with hugs and kisses on the cheek. I wish America was like that. Traveling has definitely opened my eyes to a whole world and ways of living. "Traveling teaches you to live an adventure, helps you encounter compassion, and allows you to get some culture." Love this article.

This is your LIFE.