The sun has gone to bed and so must I

The sun has set on ATD Spring Tour 2009 in DC, but God never sunsets, except to show us a bit of his beauty on a lovely day ~ ATD day 1, 2, 3, 4 (and day 0, Friday) were all so beautiful, each a glorious sunrise (b/c ATD) that God prepared for us.

Personally, the biggest thing that I learned was to trust in His perfect timing, His perfect provision, His perfect love --- ultimately, nothing that we could do, that I could do, be it preparation, or planning, or nitpicking, could hope to rise to the heights that He brought us as a group to this ST ~ He let us see so many little things that showed He was working hard, and He revealed little things to us here and there, over and over again when we so didn't deserve it... the people who came up to us and thanked us for this music that we didn't deserve to give, who shared with us how much they were moved, whose lives touched ours for just that small second - all these we did not deserve to see or have, but God graciously gave them to us...

He's definitely brought us close this year as sisters, and relationships are really something that only He can give us in this way - who else could possibly grant such a blessing? Our lives have not just touched, they've intersected! And we move along in a kinda parallel path... we don't know necessarily how much longer we'll have to spend with each other, how much longer we'll be intersecting in this way... maybe in the future, some of us will lose touch, or some of us will grow closer, or anything inbetween and beyond. True, we don't know our futures, but at the same time, we know our future so surely and so completely - I'm confident that though we may lose communication with each other, that as we walk alongside our God and Savior and Lover, we will never lose the love that we have for each other, or the love that ties us together deeper than the bonds of human blood, or of human communication or trust - we're tied by the blood of Christ that was shed for us once for all... and nothing can tear that apart.

I'm excited for what next year will bring... whatever it is... and this year as well, as we draw to a close in the next two months... :)

Last Day in DC

Hmm...what to say???  This has been such a great trip!  I can't believe we're leaving tomorrow already :( Living with 10 sisters, and doing this ministry together, is so....humbling, and challenging, and wonderful, all at the same time.  I have seen my faults more clearly, I've gotten goosebumps worshipping God through our music, I have laughed until I've cried, I've seen others deeply touched by our music, I've been struck by some very deep truths in devo time, I've been filled with beautiful sunshine (in more ways than one)--and I will be leaving tomorrow with a much stronger appreciation and love for each of my sisters here, with each of our strengths and weaknesses and quirks :)  I am so grateful--seriously--for the abundant gifts God keeps pouring out to us!  Like the woman who cried when she heard us practicing, and the man who thought he was in heaven when he heard us in the hospital, and the beautiful Sunday afternoon at the waterfront in Old Town, and the way we link arms when we walk together and lay our heads on each other's shoulders and share all our food, and the irritating little situations God places before us to strengthen our patience and love, and the ways that God has enabled each of us to change--the way we are each seeking our King and growing closer to His heart.  We take so many things for granted--but "Let us not be deceived--every good and perfect gift is from above"!  And all of this we are given, though we are wretched, blind and dark! Sigh!  "Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!"

Hospital and Buses

Today we rose at around 6 and fit in an hour of rehearsal, 7-8, before leaving to catch the bus+train+bus to Inova Alexandria Hospital, with our packed tuna and ham and cheese to make sandwiches (and we actually left the tuna on the street when we took off on our first bus...then we stopped the driver and elaine ran to get it) When we got there, we found the volunteering services office and met the lady who we had contacted about our coming to sing. She asked to hear a song, and we sang "That's the Way It Is," which she loved =D

We then proceeded to go to the cafeteria to sing a few songs, and then we had the opportunity to go to some of the ICU units and emergency room areas ....what a blessing. There was some hesitation about having us sing in the main emergency room unit...but God eventually provided a path! And although we weren't permitted to particularly sing to the patients because of privacy matters, there were some looking, some listening, including doctors and nurses (who are, we often forget, just as broken spiritually although not so much physically)...and we hold faith that His Word has been sent forth, and we pray for Him to continue His changing of hearts through the mere trivial efforts we set forth, which to our gracious King, are most valuable.

We returned to the volunteer office, and each of us were given $3 certificates for use at the cafeteria! Thank you Lord! =D So we went down and bought random things (some of us cakes, some of us chicken, some of us fries) and ate them with our tuna sandwiches. =D

Then we went up to the volunteer office again, and met a group of the staff (I think associated with the volunteer) and ended up singing a few songs for them...then one of the chaplain's of the hospital walked in....and he wanted to connect us to the system to get us on one of the channels at the hospital! we were entirely willing, so decided to just catch the next bus. We went to sing...and were blessed by the opportunity God had provided a way for areas of the hospital we might not have been able to actually go to...to hear His message in our songs.

After all this, we walked out of the hospital and while we waited at the bus stop, we were practicing Held. Sometime in the middle of the song, an elderly woman came along and stopped to listen to us. To us it seemed she was another person that would come, tell us "good job" or perhaps ask us where we're from, and what we do. But when we finished, she came around to ask "prayers to God?" After a moment of confusion, we all nodded, saying yes, yes. She explained that she was from Greece and didn't speak much English, but thought that we were giving praises to God because, according to her words, we "seemed nice" and....she began sharing about how she had lost two loved ones within a year...and we were all amazed, and blessed. How was it that she had not understood the words, yet known that we were believers? Or even more, how is it that she had happened to share of her loss of loved ones right after Held, when she had not understood the words of this song written for those that have lost loved ones? God is so good, so sovereign, and so loving. We were all so thankful, so showered with God's love, in His bringing this beautiful woman to us, at the perfect time (what if we had caught the earlier bus?) while we were singing the perfect song. His plan is always perfect. We began singing Still for her as she showed us pictures of her grandchildren...and as we began singing she began crying, and at this our hearts broke even more, in amazement and gratefulness for God's providence.

Reflections - Helen

My grandmother is Episcopalian, but I've never been through an Episcopalian service, and even the parts I have attended have not been in English. so this one was particular impactful. Simply because of the very fact that some of the things that were carried through were things that really created a dynamic for the order of service, a dialogue between our Lord and us. The beauty of the structure of the service, the respect given, was moving, inspiring. And it is during these times that I come to question the loss of tradition...not that it should be sustained for the sake of tradition, but because I feel there is a depth in certain traditions and structures that provide for a beauty that His Word institutes.

And well, of course, how can we forget the CHILDREN. =D the children are young. and often times I think we resort to the fact that we are simply providing some kind of temporary entertainment or source of fascination for the children...but i pray that even if just by one of our smiles, if even by one of our notes, one of the words in our songs...if it lasts in their memory...I could not have another wish. =D

during our devos at Waterfront...we read a part of If by Amy Carmichael that speaks of God's willingness to change us and guide us to walk in love...that all we must do is look to Him, and have faith in His power to change and depend on Him knowing that we are unable.

Recognizing our complete inability to love, and having faith in His power to change us and all around us. Two of the most foundational things in love, and yet these two things are perhaps the most difficult for us to fully embrace.

I pray that the two days left of our spring tour become pleasing to our Lord, in every way...in the way we reach out, as well in the way we love one another within this beautiful family of sisters.

Emmanuel--God is with us!
+Helen

Church and Children!

This morning we rose at around 5-6 am to head off to two of the churches we were scheduled to offer up songs at...including Jaimie's home church! =D Both churches were so sweet....=D and at Christ's church (the one we went to second) we also were given the opportunity to sing for the children...ahh! =D so cute. =] one girl apparently started to imitate vaneh's beat-boxing...hahhahah

We then walked to the Waterfront to sing some songs there...there was this boy that was standing in front watching us ...but then his balloon POPPED! =[ so sad. we all kind of laughed...and he ran to his daddy crying!! =[

Then then then then we walked over to a park-ish area at Waterfront and had devos! =D on Elisha's healing of Naaman's leprosy. we shared that we should receive God's gifts in any situation, whatever given, with humility. and about His calling of us to particular ministries that we perhaps may not be accustomed to thinking of as "our calling" because of our own desires and expectations for His calling. Even God's calling of us to Wellesley...the "use" of our education in His ministry, how we are to embrace whatever situation we are granted with thanksgiving.

Then! some stayed around the park area to soak in the sun +D
and some of us ran off (or actually walked, since our feet hurt) to starbucks and sat and spoke and etc. =D

AND THEN WE GATHERED
and THEN WE CAME HOME
and THEN
WE ARE HERE!
dinner tonight is chicken (instant stuff) and ramen (also instant stuff, says lulu)!

by the way.
Christin loves to sing.
she is singing right now +D
just kidding, she's actually mouthing.
i'm weird. ignore me.

Memorable Quotes

"Everybody DOWN, DOWN, DOWN...NOWWWWWW"
- J-crum, 3/20

Day 1!

Day one.... Points to note:

Soobeen is sick! :( She is still at Wellesley at this moment.

Ruth missed her flight! And she will be joining us in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

Elaine is best friends forevahhh with Mrs. Crumley! :)

Lulu broke the toilet. But, in Lulu's defense, it was already partially broken, but the situation was that of dire stress, and nothing could be done, so she went and broke it more.

Joanna wrote a paper! It was like 8 pages long.

In the midst of all these struggles and chaos, we were still able to bask in the wondrous-ness of homemade chili dogs+diced corn+salad (with one tomato each, because tomatoes are really expensive), and sing to our so-so-wonderful hosts, Mr. and Mrs. James and Dee Crumley <3

Right now, there is much gas and much happiness in this house. God is so good :D

Tune in next time for Adventures in DC partI with Awaken the Dawn, Spring Tour 2009 in Washington DC!

Good night.