Got back today from going to Dennis Kang's college group retreat. I picked up Harold & family from the airport and then took him to the retreat. I stuck around for the first couple of days. Man, I forgot what a blessing it is to hear Harold speak. He was addressing college students, but I was still so affected by his sermons!

I know much of it is the way God's gifted him; but I'd venture to believe that it's also because I am back in a quarter-life crisis of my own. My feelings of vast options and over-freedom are smiliar to what a college student w/o a calling as yet would feel. To be encouraged along those lines was quite a gift.

I'm such a negative thinker, so to hear words of hope and joy is quite refreshing...a positive description of the future...prospects of finding and enjoying an identity and calling...the love of Christ no matter what...

At one point, he refers to this famous passage in Isaiah 58:

11 The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

I've always liked this passage (really, the whole chapter!). It's my prayer even more these days - God's affect on me; and thru me, His affect on others (someday)...

Chillin here at Pastor Ryan's place w/ ma peeps Victoria & Alexandria. They're the coolest, cutest, bestest kids ever! They're watching me write this, so I gotta say nice stuff. But it's natural, I really like hanging w/ them. I'm gonna miss messing around w/ them. haha But yeah, when they ask if/when I'm coming back, it makes me sad. Sigh.

Leaving for LA today w/ Jaepil.

Oh, I didn't get to write about a 'musical' I saw last week. I went to go see "Movin Out" w/ some friends. It was really good. Actually, it's not a musical so much as it was a ballet set to Billy Joel songs. The guy singing the songs had a great voice and the dancers were incredible. It helped make it better that we got orchestra seats for half off! (yeah, it was good, but I would'nt've paid full price for them)

Back to Socal...

stealing a quick moment to blog while I'm still up here in the Bay Area!

Softball tournament was a lot of fun. We didn't make it to the finals tho - defending champions and all, we got knocked out in the semis...and I made the last out!! Argh! I've NEVER made the last out - to my memory anyways. Ah, sooo sad. But it was fun to see friends from all the other teams and just to play with our guys again. (For a more thorough description of playing in this softball tournament, see Yunjae's blog. I hear he wrote an essay on it) =)

Wedding was nice. Grace was beautiful and it was good to see her really happy. Dewey looked really happy too. Nice, quick ceremony and really nice outdoor reception - at the same place where Sakura got married. Good to see some old friends again, of course - esp Dr. Phil (DK), and Deacon Ted & his wife, Stella. Hadn't seen them in quite a awhile. Oh, Grace & Dewey even had Karaoke afterwards - pretty funny listening to people trying to sing....

A few of us went to noh-reh-bang afterwards and sang our guts out. It was great. Seriously, if you go w/ the right people, it's like a therapy session! hahaha MIK, baby. Good times w/ Mateo, JP, Bong, & Dawit

Oh, getting to see Neil was quite a blessing as well. He's a church friend who got mugged and hit on the head w/a 2x4. He was in a coma awhile ago, but now he's up and about. He's all "there", but he can't speak 100% as he'd like. But it's a total miracle that he's sentient and up and about! Praise God!!

Otherwise, it's just been good hanging out w/ friends - catching up, shopping, golfing, eating, chilling. It'll be time to go home on Friday. Driving down w/ Jaepil so he can go to a wedding and then fly out to the Motherland to teacha da engrish.