Expectations and Anticipation

I leave for Jakarta tonight! It has been a wonderful time in Singapore; adjusting to the new time of day, eating lots of good food (especially all the tropical fruits we don't get in the U.S.), spending time with friends and relatives, meeting a bunch of my parents' college friends (see picture), and attending a Catholic church service for the first time (I guess you could call that experience a pew swap).

I'm not really sure what to expect when I go to Jakarta, Medan, Siborongborong, Aek Matio, and Lampung. I do expect it to be radically different from the U.S. and Singapore. I remember Jakarta having these huge shopping malls, really bad traffic, and--amidst all the Mercedes-Benz and BMWs--poverty. One memory of a girl outside an expensive restaurant begging for money still breaks my heart to this day. I struggle in encounters with poverty in which I want do something to help, but I don't know what would be in their best interest.

That's one of the reasons why I'm excited to go on this mission trip with our church (GKI Seattle) and Women's Enterprises International, and see how microfinance loans and education really make a difference in helping people, particularly women and children, in poverty. While I anticipate culture shock and probably getting sick, I am so grateful that I can have this experience and see how God is working in the lives of the poor.

Before I go...

Hello friends and family,

I would like to thank all of the wonderful people who are supporting me on this trip! Whether it be through prayer, finances, or friendship, I appreciate it so much.

I especially want to thank my mom, dad, grandma, brother, and sister for putting up with my terrible packing skills. I'm slow, inexperienced, and confused. Thank God that somehow all the baggages ended up the right weight (probably thanks to my mom's superior clothing folding and item distribution)! And that my sister so graciously let me borrow her cell phone for this trip (it's multi-band, so it works internationally).

Thank you, Father, for my wonderful family and for your grace in packing. Thank you also for this opportunity to go on a missions trip with awesome people who love You dearly. May many hearts be turned to Christ and may You be glorified.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

My grandma and I leave for Singapore tomorrow, so please be praying for our safety and health. Thanks!

P.S. Going to Singapore and Indonesia means bringing tons of gifts and orders for our relatives. Because of that, Tash and I bought out Top Food's stock of pork rinds...yum. :)

Take Heart

"Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

These were Jesus' words to His disciples when He was walking on water in the middle of a storm.

These past few days for me have been a storm in themselves. First it was finals week, and then, after checking my grades, I just broke down. It was just too much. I felt like all my hopes of going to medical school and being a medical missionary were shattered the moment I saw my GPA, and I became angry. Angry mostly at myself for not being smart enough, motivated enough, pretty enough, disciplined enough, healthy-weight enough; for being too frustrated, too selfish, too distracted. My family comforted me as best they could, but it was Jesus' words that renewed me and helped me hope in God.

In the same Bible story, Peter stepped out of the boat in faith and began walking on water as Jesus commanded him.

"But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and [began] to sink." (John 14:30)

Peter started drowning because he started doubting that Jesus could enable him to walk on water.

How illogical it seems to begin doubting when Jesus has already proven that He can enable you to do the impossible! And yet, I too still doubt despite the way God has shown Himself to be so faithful. I feel like I took a step of faith in going to college as a pre-med student, but this quarter, I began to doubt God's almighty power and sovereign will, despite the overwhelming proof for God's faithfulness! And so, I started to drown.

But as Peter sank, he cried out,

"'Lord, save me.' Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God."" (John 14:30-31)

What a comfort it is to know that even in my lowest points - my moments of unbelief - I may call out to Jesus Christ, and He will hear me and save me. I can "hold fast [to] the confession of [my] hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23). I know that Jesus will not let me "drown" for long, but he will take hold of me, and save me from the storm of feeling inadequate.

Jesus saves. No doubt about it. May His sovereign will be done for His glory.

Dear Tiffany,

I received a letter from myself on Monday, and what amazing timing God has. It was just what I needed.

I was feeling down, because I hadn't done as well on my exams as I had hoped. But on the way home, my parents showed me an envelope addressed to me in uncannily familiar handwriting. I opened it, completely unaware of what was going on. Here's the letter, with my misspellings and poor grammar!

April 28, 2003

Dear Tiffany,

I've known you my whole life. Now it's your turn to guess who I am. It's pretty easy, just think about what you did in the year 2003 in writing class. Okay, now that you know who I am, I'll start telling you about me. (I couldn't think of an intro)

I have a brother and a sister. Chris turned 15 on April 20th and Tash is 11. I'm glad I'm 12 already, because I hate it when Tasha and I are the same age. My mom is working full-time right now, because my dad decided not to take an internet casino project and get laid off instead. Now he started his own company called iCrescendo and it's going okay.

When I'm bored, I usually start making things. Sometimes, it's beaded jewelry, other times sewing, crafts, one time I made an awesome miniture display of a room. If you're wondering, I did change pencils.

I just moved to Woodinville last year. I'm a sixth grader now, at East Ridge. I'm doing pretty good in all subjects.

The popular stores and stuff right now, event though I'm not into them, are abercrombie, limited too, Claire's, Hot Topic (yuck!) and Target. There's the 12 Cinema's movie theater too and ppl like to go there. I wonder if Lord of the Rings is still popular? Oh well. Personally, I'd rather get clothes at TJ Maxx where things are cheaper. I wear glasses. Do you have contacts? When did you start? since I have way more questions, I'll go to the next paragraph.

What college are you going to? Scholarships? What do you plan to do as your career? I want to be some sort of doctor. Maybe the one who discovers the cure of prevention of cold, cancer, corona virus pneamonea. Are you planning on getting married? (hehe) I told everyone that I wasnt get married. Have got to find out if it's true so far. I think I've ran out of questions. One last one. What friends from sixth grade of below have you been able to keep in tought with? Who's your best friend? (I know, that was 2).

Sincerely,
tiffany Y. Lim

P.S. Has your signature changed? Who's your worst enemy?

What a reality check this letter was! I thank God for reminding me of my hopes and dreams and craziness as a 12-year-old. Reading this letter helped me reflect on how He's been writing the story of my life, and that He will shape it into something that truly glorifies Him...even if I don't do as well on my exams as I would like. :)

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. - Psalm 33:11

"Immunizations, check!"

After much prodding and help on my mom's part, I finally went to the doctor to get immunizations for my summer trip!

I had to get two shots, Hepatitis A and B, and also typhoid pills. I'm so happy that insurance paid for the Hep A and B shots, but we had to pay for the typhoid vaccine. Still, as the pharmacist was telling me earlier today, they are totally worth it.

As I read about hepatitis and typhoid, I realized how blessed I am to be getting these vaccinations, and I am evermore grateful to God. These vaccines could save me from the painful consequences of these diseases!

In the same way, when I read verses like these:

The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. - Revelation 20:13-15

I am evermore grateful for to God for the promises He's given in verses like this:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23.

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. - John 17:3

By all means, I deserve death, because I've sinned and fallen short, just like rest of us! But while those vaccines only have a pretty good chance of keeping me immune to hepatitis A and B and typhoid, Jesus Christ has made me totally immune to death,which is eternal separation from God...and includes being thrown into a lake of fire. God's grace and love are so amazing! Jesus paid the price for our sin and offers us immunity to death. He did that to give us true life in a relationship with God, which is what we were made for in the first place! :)

I had to drive all the to the doctor's office to get my vaccinations this morning, but all we've got to do is go to the Great Physician for our death vaccine! He's just a prayer away, the immunization lasts forever, and it's already been paid in full. I know, it sounds way too good to be true, but it's the truth!

Plans, plans, plans...

After this past month, I have gained a deeper respect for my parents and how they manage to plan vacations for six to eight people. I'm overwhelmed just trying to figure out travel plans for one person! But God is so gracious, and despite my inexperience, He's opened doors to such amazing opportunities.

This summer, I will be traveling on my first ever mission trip, to Indonesia. With a team from my church, Indonesian Presbyterian Church, and partnered with Women's Enterprises International, we will be sharing the gospel in a village and town as we serve by helping to build a library and teach English. I am so excited to become part of what God is doing among the people we will be serving!

God has also given me the chance to job shadow a biomedical doctor who studies malaria on the field in Indonesia. I am so grateful for the experience I will gain, and I pray that God would show me how He intends to use this experience for His glory.

Here's my itinerary:

June 24-25 - Seattle to Singapore
June 25-27 - Visiting relatives and friends in Singapore
June 28-July 2 - Visiting relatives and friends in Jakarta
July 3-4 - Medan and 7-hour drive to town of Siborongborong
July 5-7 - Sunday worship in Siborongborong, hike to Aek Matio village and build library
July 8-10 - Bible and English Language Retreat
July 11-12 - Visiting women's groups, Sunday worship, mission team debriefing
July 13-14 - Lake Toba to rest, return to Jakarta
July 15-23 - Malaria research in Lampung
July 24-29 - Jakarta to Singapore to Seattle

Please be praying for me, the mission team, and the people we will be sharing the gospel and working with! May our lives be changed by Christ's love and grace.

"Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." - Romans 10:4