Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Okay. Head out to train station soon.
The Swedes learn to appreciate the sun and good weather more because good weather is so rare in Sweden. That it why they have the mid-summer festival, to celebrate summer and the good weather that soon disappears when fall and winter comes.
Having lived in Sweden for three weeks, I think the thing that shocks me the most is the sudden weather changes. Scandinavia is a really windy region, so everywhere you go, there is bound to be wind. I can't imagine how winter will be like when the fierce wind these last couple of weeks have already been able to move my body (I can feel it pushing towards me all the time). I rarely have time to care about my hair because 90% of the time its flying in the air. Luckily everybody else's hair is blowing at the same time as me so I've learned to care less about my hair appearance =].
Just the other day, I was walking down the streets of Lund with Ka Ka and Karen and we saw this performer perform songs with his own special set of instruments. Basically, he had everything strapped onto his body such that when he moved his body, the instruments would play sounds, which forms the basis of his songs. As I watched him dance and perform magically (I used the word "magically" because I really find it mesmerizing), I can't help but notice how much he enjoyed playing in front of his audience, and how he took everything in as part of his performance. When a dog nearby barked very loudly, he told the audience how the dog was joining in into his music and played even more enthusiastically. I guess he found his passion. Music. So where is my true passion? I know it has to do with art, but what specifically? I once thought I had a clear idea, which was to open a scrapbook business, but come to think of it, really?
Then on Sunday, while Yeo Joo and I went to a nearby park (By the way, I am so thankful! I spent thirty minutes on Sunday getting onto my bike and trying to ride it and then ta da, magically I could ride to the park! =D. I am so amazed and really enjoyed the ride to the park =] Thank you Jesus.), we noticed a Swedish daddy teaching his little kid how to walk, and I couldn't stop smiling. I had this wonderful thought, what would it be like when one day I could teach my little kid to walk? And I imagined the scenery for a split second before I came back to reality. When would that day ever come?
Yesterday I had the worst day so far in Lund, although I can't say it was really THAT bad because I did learn quite a few things about myself. In the morning, I got up early to get ready for a class I wanted to register for but was wait listed to get in (my advisor told me to go there any way so that I could sign up if spots were available). The sky was dark and it was already pouring rain when I got out. The walk was supposed to take 35 min, but it took me over an hour because I got lost and by the time I got there, they wouldn't let me in because I wasn't registered for the class. So I went to the language building to find Eileen, who then waited with me until class was supposed to end so that we could speak to one of the professors for the class directly. Turns out when we went back, the class was already over and so we had to email him once I got home. Eileen and I went to have lunch, walked to Helsingkrona Nation, then she got on the bus to go back to Malmo while I headed towards the post office. But when I was heading over there, I stopped by a coffee shop called "Cream" (which I fell in love with-not because of the crepe I had there, but because of the boss who is Egyptian and the atmosphere), and decided to go check out the Botanical garden in Lund before going back. So I walked for another 30 min, took some pictures, walked back the opposite direction, got lost, finally found the post office (which is VERY far from my home), and couldn't get my parcel that my mom sent because I forgot to bring my passport. And then I got mad. LOL. I was partially mad at myself but also mad at the lady who wasn't very nice to me at the desk. So I was determined to back home to grab my passport and then come back right away to get it, no matter how tired I would be. But when I finally got home, I just couldn't help it but sank deep into my couch and didn't want to move.
I wished I had my car lol. And I have no idea how I could always get lost lol. But I also realized that bad days will always happen so its okay to feel crappy sometimes. Don't force yourself to be happy when you're supposed to be mad or sad but don't make yourself think too pessimistically either. The sun will shine and every day will be a brand new day =]
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My album for Copenhagen:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150298338942719.356349.513912718&l=90fa852583&type=1
My continuation album for Life in Sweden:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150285696187719.352667.513912718&l=917a38acc6&type=1
Today the first thing that happened to me when I woke up was that I got a chance to facetime with Pastor Owen, Carmen See mo, a bunch of aunties and uncles, and of course, my mom! Pastor Owen was so funny I couldn't stop laughing and giggling even after the facetime convo =o=.
Then I went back to bed (they rang me awake at 7am =[ ) and watzapped for a bit and watched two amazing Youtubes (one is of a korean christian group who danced and worshipped publicly on the streets somewhere in US, the other is the new song of Song of Praise-相信有愛有奇蹟) before I slept until 11 something, woke up, made myself some Thai noodles in soup =] (Yes I think my cooking IS improving!) and then headed out the door hoping to buy tickets for the Gothenborg trip on October 15th. But when I got to the office and asked them about it, I realized that the whole group "Parties" until 2 am at a club in Gothenborg and then comes back to Lund at 5am. So I didn't buy the ticket. I'd much rather go by myself by train or bus and just wander around looking at maps =]. I walked around the shops for the rest of the afternoon, asked about tickets to Les Miserables playing in Malmo Opera in September (I really want to watch this play! Its a real classic =] ), and went into one of Lund's museums where they showcased the history of the scandinavian culture as well as history of the Lund Cathedral (It was a good look).
Then at night, I went to the international bible study group organized by Ad Fontes for the first time at a couple's place, and there I was really blessed because I found myself amongst a group of students who were very different from me but who also shared the same believe as me. I guess I was quite lonely after I came here because I wasn't able to meet any christian friends.
We had dinner together and Ulaf made some amazing Shepherd's pie while Linda made a very delicious apple custard pie for us all to eat. I felt warm and cozy as I ate there and it almost felt like home (not because of the food in particular but because I was really comfortable and felt pretty safe). Then we had a time of worship and prayers before Ulaf shared a brief message on Phillipians Chapter 3. And as I listened, I was reminded that 1. This is not our home, our home is in heaven 2. Discipleship where brothers and sisters rebuke each other in a righteous way is important 3. We are in a race, and we mustn't give up even if we hit a brick wall 4. We need to be humble 5. Don't let people who seem to be also running the race but are, in fact, deceivers, pull you down.
We sung Blessed be your name, Mighty to save, and How Great is our God tonight. As I sung blessed be your name, I couldn't help but tear for a little bit at bridge:
You give and take away,
you give and take away,
my heart will choose to say,
Lord blessed be your name.
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Ah Jesus, You are good.
So another week has passed and tomorrow I'll be entering into the third week that I'm here in Sweden =]. Since I'll be busy with school later on, I really hope that I can travel within the next few days, although I'm not really sure where to go yet. I checked the prices for Stockholm but they're a bit expensive since I'm planning in such last minute (I wish I knew my school schedule earlier so I could've planned earlier), and I don't feel like going to Denmark again since I went to Copenhagen just last Saturday (Copenhagen, by the way, is a very nice city =]). I should go there again to go on the cannel tour when it's not raining.
I finally figured out my residence permit today and went to Malmo to get my photo and fingerprints done-card will be sent to my address within a week =]. It'll act as my ID and substitute for passport from now on during my stay in Sweden =]. So now I just need to open my bank account tomorrow and everything in terms of living should be settled. Which goes to the next step of figuring out my school time table. Apparently in Sweden the school schedules are really confusing. You don't get the standard "every Tuesday and Thursday, 2:30-5:00" classes but instead, you get the "this week your class is on Monday 10-12 and next week you will have two classes, one on Tuesday 3-5 and the other on Friday 12-2"... like...how do you expect me to remember when to go for class? Not including the fact that the locations for classes each time are different too! I guess Lund doesn't have a very good scheduling system with their professors, or the professors just like flexibility so much that they're willing to have students miss each class (those who either don't remember there's a class or who are lost somewhere within the campus) so that they can go on vacations each week =P. Not really sure what the terms are.
Anyhow, something interesting about myself: I think I actually like cooking! Or I'm either forced into a situation where I must cook so I want to cook good food for myself =]. No I don't follow any recipes and I just do whatever I want with the food but somehow I think it all tastes pretty good =]...I'm actually satisfied by my own cooking! Of course, I'm still a bit disappointed that there's no chicken wings here or fresh fish for me to cook, but overall things aren't THAT bad when you have a supermarket just right beside where you live and you can always shop for groceries easily. I think there's more and more food building up in my refrigerator now ever since I found out about "the joy of grocery shopping" lol. The other day I went into a larger supermarket with Bernia and I was so excited about eggplants and carrots that I gave a small squeek and was like "Bernia I'm so happy! I can make carrot soup!" =D lol. So I ended up trying to cook rice and vegetables with chicken and carrot soup with corn and it all ended up alright.
And for me right now, living by myself in my little apartment is like a long forgotten dream come true. Its long forgotten because I haven't thought about it until just now. Ever since little, I always played pretend in my room where my room is my house and I had everything inside-the kitchen, bathroom, bed-all accessible within reach. I never fancied a super big house because I'd think it'd be quite lonesome if you're living by yourself. So living in my apartment right now everything is within a few steps reach and I can always have a drink of water or go to the bathroom without having to go up and downstairs =]. I guess the only problem is that there's no really good ventilation system so every single time I finish cooking my whole studio smells like food =P.
i think it's time for me to send out the first batch of postcards tomorrow =] So if you're one of my precious girlfriends, expect for a postcard soon =] (not all of you though because I want to send you postcards from other countries instead!) ^^"
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寫的時候我喊了。。。wu wu。。。
Caption: The trees whisper in my ears, telling me "keep going, keep going."
I wrote this last night on my iphone:
Tonight, as I waited at malmo train station to buy tickets to go back to Lund, I looked at some photos that I took of my old house with my iphone, and I suddenly realized something. Over the course of this year, God has been teaching me a valuable lesson: that nothing ever stays the same except for Him. This year, God has made me go through some hard changes, some good, some bad, some emotional, and some physical, and as I think back to my old home, I can't help but contrast between the major differences of now and then. I've basically moved twice in less than three week's time, and with each move, I'm forced to give up but also gain something. And with the second move from the new home to Lund, I actually cried the night before coming, wrapping myself around my mom's waist as I felt this big pang inside of my heart-too emotional to tell whether I was missing home already or because I knew that my leave was a necessity for me. "Why?" I asked my mom. "why?" and she only confirmed my decision by saying "Daughter, you chose this road for yourself. I didn't." And I knew that she was right.
Today, as I went out with my new friends and told them how I didn't know how to ride the bicycle but wanted to learn (with a hint of hesitation), James responded by saying "If you traveled by yourself on the plane, arrived safely in Lund by yourself, and can survive by cooking then you can surely overcome a whole lot more like riding a bicycle." Of course, that may be over exaggerated but I'm really thankful to have these new friends with whom I can slightly rely on and of course, overcome challenges with. I really feel that God is trying to tell me something but I'll need to take some time in deciphering it. I really thank Him for the days he is giving me right now, even though there may be salt and bitterness to it too. My feet really hurts from all the walking right now as I'm sitting down to rest.
This morning:
As I walked alone down the streets of Lund at 1:00am in pouring rain and tired legs (My friends and I basically walked around the whole city of malmo...not sure for how many miles), I learned to rely on God for comfort as I talked to him and asked Him to be my refuge and protection. And when I flipped to my bible for this morning, Psalm 91: 1-8, it re-confirmed my conversation with Jesus even more.
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
I am so thankful =]. Even though its hard.
Tonight:
After dinner at Delphi, I waited outside the bus stop for the 11:55pm bus...but it didn't come so me and another man (whom was the only other person waiting outside the bus stop) started walking down to the train station together. As the two of us walked for the one hour walk (walking from Delphi to Klostergarten, which is where I live, takes 1.5 hours-exactly why I need to buy a bike...) we talked about our countries and background and what we were doing in Lund. The man's name is called Reihi (I don't know if that is how you really spell it) and it means "clean" in icelandic language because that is where he is from-Iceland. He came here to study entrepreneurship and management together with his wife, and his family has two children (8 and 2), whom are all living with him in Lund. Although the conversation wasn't very long, it was very special for me because I somehow felt like I learned some sort of philosophy from him. He told me about how he dropped out of school during university and really regretted it, so then he wants his younger sister (20 years old now) to continue education instead of taking his road. Reihi is but only 29 years old so he started his family young and knew of the importance of being a responsible father =] (I said I wanted to go bungee jumping and he said he wants to too but for his family he wouldn't do it-and he chose Lund to live in because he wants his family to be in a safe city). I am so in awe by his character somehow-there is just something so "proper" (if that's the word to describe it) about his attitude towards everything we discussed, that it makes me feel that this is something that I want from my future partner-responsibility. Even over the course of the whole walk, he kept on urging me to take a taxi home once we get to the station (because I needed to walk another 30 min by myself-which, according to him "Its not good for a girl to be on the streets this late of an hour"). We parted at the station but I really hope to bump into him again at Lund because I really want to know more about Iceland and his family =]
I really thank God for providing me with this man to talk to out of the blues. Because if not for him, I wouldn't know how to walk from Delphi back to the train station by myself, since I'm still unfamiliar with the roads. And if not for him, I would be scared through out the walk because of the strangers who would pass me by drunk or smoking (although Lund is a really really safe city I think =] ).
Amazing. Each day. Tomorrow hopefully I can buy my bike and start learning.
Today I went to Osterlen and this picture was taken after visiting Ales Stenar-a place where stone monuments were set atop the cliffs above Kaseberga, the largest monument in Scandinavia.
Jesus, thank you for this picture and thank you for the beautiful sceneries. It was very windy today and I almost cried while walking down the streets this morning, but you remind me through this picture over and over again why I am here. Please please please provide me with a good christian friend over here in Lund whom I can trust so that I can share and pray with him or her.
And a church please. =)
So its been two day since my arrival to Lund, and as I thought back to the past two days, I'm really surprised at how fast I adapted to my new environment and how God has kept on protecting me throughout the whole trip.
I still remember the mixed feelings I experienced as I stepped through the gates of Vancouver airport. I really wanted to cry. Cry because I couldn't bare to think of how it would be like to live alone for the next six months. Cry because of the uncertainty I felt as I didn't know what it would be like in Sweden, which places I would be going to for travelling, and what types of people I'd meet at Lund. Cry because I had so much hurt inside of me that I was bringing over to this trip. But as I sat on the plane and the plane took off, I thought I heard God speaking through of my thoughts. He told me, "my precious child, this is the trip I've been planning you for. It is by no accident that you are going on this trip. And I promise you that you will be healed. This is my promise to you. Hold on tight to me and you will experience a different you."
And miraculously, I experienced peace within me. Peace because I knew that no matter what, God would guide me and protect me from all harm.
From the moment I stepped out on the Copenhagen airport in Denmark, I had been sent angels from all over the world to help me. ;] First off, I didn't know how which destination I should buy tickets to get to Lund, so I asked the girl lining in front of me at the machine for help. She immediately helped me and told me that she was heading to the same place (I forgot her name already but she was from Toronto). Then, after we bought the tickets and were ready to head out of the airport, a mentor came to find us and carried one of the luggages for me to the station platform, and told us exactly where to get off. On the train I met five new friends, including Bernia, who lives in the same building as me. And as we got off of the train, Bernia and Jason both helped me out with luggage since we had to go through a flight of stairs up and down to get to the parking lot.
I received company from Jason, Echo, Lisa, and Muo Yi Ding as we sat to wait for the registration process, and then the mentors took me to the new apartment that I'm staying in right now, and once I got in and had trouble finding my apartment (my room is 2122 but apparently its NOT on the second floor, its on the THIRD FLOOR lol), Tim from the second floor helped me out and brought me up with the luggages (A really good looking Australian guy I must say ahahahaha). Once I got to my apartment and unloaded everything, I sat on my bed feeling quite amazed but tired. I was already a little home sick and wanted to cry but when I saw my mom on facetime everything was back to normal. I was excited and happy for this trip.
Then today, I woke up early and was a little worried because I had no idea where the general meetings and classes were held. Lund University is similar to UBC in the sense that all the campuses are spread out across the city. I knew I had to walk 30 minutes to get into the city, but even that I was worried about because I couldn't understand the swedish maps. But thank God the moment i stepped out of the door and went out of the building, I felt cold so I went back inside to get my jacket. And when I went back, my neighbor who lives just across from me (Carla) came out and asked me where I was heading to. So we got to walk out together and she showed me how to get into the city and where to eat for good food =]. Once I got into Lund I walked around for a bit, got my jojo card, and went into The Phone House to take a look at the sim cards. And there I met Glynnis who was also lining up for the phones and told me we could walk together to the general meeting =] (If it wasn't for her I 100% gaurantee you I would be lost). And so we went to the general meeting market, where we bumped into Bernia and Joelle again, so the four of us headed back to town, walked around for a bit, and bumped into a group of girls from Hong Kong and a guy from Sydney (it turns out i have my introductory swedish class with one of them!) So I got to know KaKa and went to class with her, and I have a feeling we'll be planning trips together later on to go to other countries too. Amazingly awesome =D
And each time I met a new friend and I realized how they helped me out in between, I was so thankful and thanked God because I knew that because of them, I didn't have to worry at all about getting around to places! Somehow they all brought me there! =O
Tomorrow hopefully I can sign up for the IKEA tour this Friday because I have a bunch of things to buy, and on Saturday I'll be going to Osterlen and on Sunday, Malmo.
Link to album:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150285696187719.352667.513912718&l=917a38acc6&type=1
Psalm 86
1 Hear me, LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, LORD,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
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