Colorado Time...

I'm in Colorado, though the morning at LAX was quite trying. My flight departure was 6:20AM from LAX to Denver. I get to LAX airport at approximately 5AM and I couldn't believe how many people were in line for Southwest. What's even worse was the line for the security checkpoint. The line was at least a quarter of a mile. It was insane! So here I am waiting in line with an hour left before 6:20AM. I for sure was going to miss my flight. But, I kept on praying and asking God that I would get on my plane and my luggage would be on the same plane as well. I get through the security line at 6:10AM and now I'm hauling my butt to the gate. I've never ran so hard in my life. Fortunately, I board the plane, then I look out the window to see if my luggage is being placed onto the plane as I'm walking down the aisle to find a open sit. To the delight of my eyes, I see my guitar and carry on. Whew... What a morning I should say.

For the future, I have to really think through if I wanna fly Southwest again. Because they have cheaper flights, tons of people fly Southwest. But I realize if more and more people are going with Southwest, then lines will eventually be more horrendous.

On a lighter note, Joanna and Rochelle (Joanna's Sister-in-law), picked me up from the Denver Airport. We went back to her home where I saw Jordan (Joanna's brother), Waveland (Joanna's niece), and Banjo (Jordan & Rochelle's semi A.D.D. Golden Retriever). We chilled a little bit, but then we went for a bike ride at the nearby park.

Joanna and I riding bikes. Doesn't she look so attractive?

Jordan and Rochelle rockin' the tandem bike. Waveland's chillin' in the "Burley"

The family model pose.

Group shot.

Another group shot.

Here's Waveland. She's so cute.


This was her first serious interaction with grass. Apparently, she loved eating the grass. Maybe she's gonna be a Vegetarian?

Waveland loves being on Joanna's shoulders.

I also met Jeremy (Joanna's oldest brother), Alaina (Joanna's Sister-in-Law), and Edwin (Joanna's nephew). We all ate at a tasty burger joint called Cherry Cricket. It kinda reminded me of Fuddrucker's.

Tomorrow, Joanna and I are headed down to the Glen for the June Edge Summit.

Wowzers...

I know, I know. I haven't updated my blog for almost two months. It's been a busy last few months with UCLA coming to a close just this past week. I can't believe I've been at UCLA for two years, and what an experience it has been. I have the summer now to process and reflect on what I've learned these past two years. That'll be for another future blog.

Other than processing my experience over the summer, you might be asking what else am I doing? Well, here is what I have planned so far:

June 13-17 - Joanna comes to LA (and June 13 is tomorrow!!! woohoo!!!)

June 16-21 - Colorado. Flying into Denver, and hanging out with Joanna and her brothers on June 16. Then helping out with June Edge Summit from June 17-21

June 22 - Victoria Lowe and Robert Marr's Wedding in La Jolla

June 29 - July 2 - Las Vegas. I'm helping my mother setup her showroom exhibit. (She has a silk floral arrangement business, in case you didn't know. www.jennysilks.com)

July 8-15 - Normal, IL. This isn't set in stone yet, but hopefully I get to visit Joanna and her parents in IL.

Late July - Moving to Long Beach.

August 10 - Josh Cheng and Rema's Wedding in Berkeley

August 30 - James Tsang & Liz Riedel's CA Reception in Alhambra.

So, I do have a packed summer already. It's gonna be crazy. But for the most part of my summer, I'll be fundraising. I've been given an exciting opportunity to continue on staff with the Navigators for the next two years at CSULB! Hence, that's why I'll be moving to Long Beach. With a larger budget to raise, I sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed looking at the numbers. Yet, I serve a BIG God and He always provides in His way and in His timing. I agree with my friend Tim Lin, who is also raising support, that through my weakness, God's power and strength is made perfect.


But I end with some photos from this past quarter!

Spring Break trip to San Felipe, Mexico!

We caught more than 40 fish!

Navlympics, an annual Navigator sporting event against the California campuses. UCLA came in second overall for the 4 straight years...

Our end of the year party. The theme was Beauty and the Geek. Here's a picture with the staff and some of the student leaders. Don't you think we all long so handsome and beautiful?

Joanna visiting me in March. But soon, she's gonna be here tomorrow. I'm really excited to see her!

O Great God

I've come across another great hymn that I listen to quiet often. This hymn has such powerful words that I long to say to the Lord continually. It depicts truth about myself and who the Lord is. If you want a recording of the song, then let me know and I'll email it to you.

O Great God
O Great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart;
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power.
Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me;
Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin,
Had no ears to hear Your voice;
Did not know Your love within,
Had no taste for heaven's joys.
Then Your Spirit gave me life,
Opened up Your word to me;
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life
That's dependent on Your grace;
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face.
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed;
O Great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your name through me.

A Bit Overdue...

I know, I know. I am a bit overdue in updating my blog, partly cause I've been distracted by a special someone. Yep, my girlfriend Joanna. She pretty much rocks. She's on a 10 day visit in Southern California to visit me and her friends. Here's an update of our life so far.

Before Joanna came to LA on March 12, I was corresponding with our Arizona friends about a surprise visit to Tucson. Joanna had no clue she was going to Tucson. Thursday morning, we went to Panera near LAX airport and ate breakfast. Afterwards, I started driving towards LAX. As we were driving, we were also praying. However, Joanna got so distracted by the LAX signs, she didn't know what to pray for anymore. She asked me, "Are we going to LAX???" Soon enough, I parked my car at the LAX parking lot and told her to open the glovebox. She found an envelope with 2 plane tickets to Phoenix!

The reason why we flew to Phoenix was because I found cheap tickets. So we rented a rental car and took a little "road trip" down to Tucson.

And we arrived in Tucson safely. Here are some of our AZ friends.

Ryan, me, Steven, and Mike doing fake smiles. Steven looks more like he's enjoying life and Mike is trying real hard to smile.

Our last picture with the AZ crew before we left back to Phoenix.

While I was in Japan, I really wanted to go snowboarding, but didn't have the chance. I made sure when Joanna came to California, we would go snowboarding. We went to my local mountain, Bear Mountain, and it was great! I must say, Joanna can shred the mountain.

I took Joanna to Literati Cafe, which is one of my favorite cafes in LA.

We sat near this wall and noticed there were books in the wall! We thought it was sooo cool!

We had a couple of double dates. Here we're hanging out with Eddie and Monica, who are happily engaged! We ate at Honda-Ya, a Japanese Yakitori restaurant. Oh how I miss Kirin draft beer.

We ate with Cody and Katie. Twas a fun nite at P.F. Chang's, partly cause Cody and I used our P.F. Chang's gift certificates. But of course what's more important, we were with our AMAZING girlfriends.

Oh yes. Here is Chris...enough said.

We had dinner with my parents. I'm so glad that Joanna had the opportunity to meet my parents. We had a fun time eating Chinese food and getting to know each other better.

I had the chance to meet Joanna's friends: Tim and Kimbra Noxon. They were pretty fun and really fun to get to know.

Clara loving her pink-snugged chair.

Overall, we are enjoying each other. She loves to put her finger in my nose and I love to make hideous faces. We make a fun couple.

The Story Continues...

So, you're wondering how in the world did Mikey win a 1967 Ford Mustang? Here's the story.

My friend Abby sent out an email about how her church in Riverside was doing a fundraiser for a proposed church plant out in Temecula area. Her church and few other churches around the area came together in this project. To fundraise for the church plant, the churches sold raffle tickets $250 each. The money obviously went to the church plant, but the raffle tickets went toward a 1967 Ford Mustang.

Abby asked me if I wanted to buy a raffle ticket with her. She would put my name on the it. I told her I would think about it. For some reason, I had the lingering thought to go in on the ticket. So I emailed Abby telling her I would buy half a ticket with her.

The raffling was this past Sunday (2/3), which I didn't know about. I get a voicemail message from Abby saying that I won the Mustang! Initially, I thought, "Ha! Yea right. I never win raffles." I called Abby to make sure this was for real or not. The reality of my win gradually sank in as she said, "Yep, you won." I couldn't believe it. She told me when my name was drawn, she was the only one who yelled cause no one else knew who I was. I thought that was pretty hilarious. I picked up the Mustang on Monday and drove it around. Boy, does that car ROARRRR.

To tell you the truth, I'm more stoked that I actually won a raffle. I mean, who wins a raffle? Seriously? I never win raffles. But I can't complain about winning a car. That's pretty cool.

What's funny is I remember receiving my raffle ticket stub from Abby's church in the mail. Attached to it was a fact sheet about the church plant and a photo of the Mustang. After looking at the Mustang, I remember thinking, "God, that would be funny if I won this car." God is definitely humorous.

I have a 1967 Ford Mustang now. Neat.

I Never Won A Raffle Before...

But at the age of 24, I managed to win a raffle for this 1967 Ford Mustang!


The story and details to be continued...

The Love of God

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin

When years of time shall pass away
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God's love so sure shall still endure
All measureless and strong
Redeeming grace to Adam's race
The saints' and angels' song

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song!

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky


Oh the richness of words in hymns!

What's your favorite hymn lately?