Done with Undergrad!

I'M DONEEEEEE!! My first response was to shout, "I'm free!" However, I've been blessed with the most amazing transition semester where I'm only taking 12 credits with moderate to low course load. This allows me the freedom to really enjoy my relationships and remaining time with people. Because of this, I don't really feel a difference between life with classes and life without classes haha. I guess that's a good problem to have :)

My favorite year in college has definitely been senior year. Previously, I would've said it was freshman year, easily. The thrill of meeting new people and having a taste of freedom being away from parents make freshman year so amazing. However, senior year for me has been even better because I continue to meet new people, but I'm really able to see my existing relationships come to fruition. Even in this last week of staying up until 8am working on papers and watching the sunrise, I've been able to get to know people more intimately, especially my stressbusters :)

On another note, I started writing my goodbye letters, and it is legitimately one of the most depressing things I've done in my life. It feels like I'm having a part of my heart torn out of my chest knowing that I'll be leaving these people that have made such a profound impact on my life. Even though I'll probably visit a couple times next year, it just isn't the same as living life together and enjoying the small, everyday moments together. Why must you people be leaving me in two days?!

Bittersweet.

Peru Mission Trip: June 2 - June 12

Dearest friends and family,

Can you believe how time flies? I will be graduating in less than a month! The Lord has brought me on a magnificent journey from hating school as a biomedical engineer at Washington University in St. Louis to being passionate about how my marketing and psychology studies can be used for God’s Kingdom. One of the biggest lessons that I learned this past year is that as a Christian business woman, my role in the Kingdom expands beyond writing checks to the church. How I interact with co-workers in the work place, how I treat our suppliers, and how I work with integrity all play a part in being a light in the workplace.

However, ever since my last mission trip to Kenya my junior year of high school, I have been itching to do another short term mission trip. Since I took six years of Spanish, I have a heart for Spanish speaking countries. In addition, these past two years, God has really placed the topic of human trafficking/modern day slavery on my heart, especially as a business major knowing that cheap labor is necessary to produce cheap products. Furthermore, I knew the only time that I had was before I started work with The Nielsen Company as an analyst in mid-June. Then, the perfect opportunity appeared!! My friend is going to Peru from June 2-June 12 with her church, Victory World Church, and will be working with an anti-slavery organization called Not For Sale, and I asked if I could go with her even though it was already so late in the process. But God opened up all the doors necessary for me to go on this trip. If he wants it to happen, He’ll make it happen! God is good, is he not? This experience will be extremely valuable in shaping me as a business woman, because I’ll be able meet people who have been affected personally by human trafficking and hear their stories.

I’m writing you this letter because I want you to partner with me. If you also have a heart for Latin America, helping free children from human traffickers, or sending out Christian professionals, then consider partnering with me through prayer and/or finances. First, prayer is the most powerful force, and I am looking for prayer warriors! I am looking for people to specifically choose [at least] one day of the trip to pray for me. If you are willing, please let me know which day you would like to pray for me (May 31-June 20). Second, prayer is most important, but I also respectfully request your financial support. I need to raise $2100 for this trip. If there’s anything that I learned in college, it is that our resources are not our own, but they are God’s, and He’s chosen us to be stewards of his resources. If you are willing and able to partner with me, please consider supporting me financially. Every little bit helps, even $2.47! I don’t know how this is going to happen, but God does the impossible, and I am faithful that He will provide.

Peru and Not For Sale:

In Peru, Not For Sale supports Lucy Borja, a modern day abolitionist who has fought for the rights of Peruvian street children throughout her life. Together we provide shelter, education, healthcare, and job training.

Children living on the streets in Peru are deprived of family care, protection, and opportunity. Many have been pushed from their homes due to domestic abuse or poverty. On the streets, these children lack basic rights such as access to education, healthcare, housing and food. They are stigmatized as drug addicts, thieves and prostitutes and are defenseless, subject to abuse, neglect, commercial sexual exploitation, and forced labor.

Our team will be ministering to the street children and showing the freeing love of Jesus Christ through skits, arts and crafts, and messages at Vacational Bible School (VBS). We desire to show them that though the world may be cruel, they are children of worth and are valuable and loved by God.

Prayer requests:

· He would use this opportunity to shape my future as a business person

· Team unity, especially since I am joining them last minute

· Traveling mercies

· God would provide fundraising ($2100)

· Health and safety

· Open heart and open mind

· Boldness to act on divine appointments

· God’s work already in that part of the world

To partner with me financially via pay pal, please click the donate button below.

1. St. Louis Art Museum
2. French Toast Tower @ Crepes, Etc. for lunch
3. Won #1 team in Marketing Strategy class... last class EVER.
4. Held last GIG on the Prodigal Son :'(
5. DSP Banquet @ The Highlands in Forest Park

What a great day last day of classes.

I DON'T WANT COLLEGE TO ENDDDDDDDDDD. My friend told me, "If you think about it, we've lived 1/3 or 1/4 of our lives already." Man time is too short.

Mom Arrived

My brother is in town for an international Robotics competition, so my mom tagged along. He's busy until Sunday with the competition, but my mom will be here to enjoy St. Louis.

Got dinner at California Pizza Kitchen today after shopping for my banquet/graduation dress. After tasting the Thai Chicken pizza, I realized that I've eaten so many green curry pizza's from Thai Pizza that Thai pizza will never be the same. I'm truly going to miss Thai Pizza on the loop :(

Running out of time

Breaking lent never tasted better! Shroom 'n Swiss Red Robin Burger.

Today was a day of running out of time.

1. Went to Red Robin for lunch, but had a DSP meeting that I had to get back by 2:30pm for. The waiter was too slow, and we didn't leave until 2:30 :( As the biggest J (Meyer's Brigg) you will ever meet, this was very distressing.

2. Looking at my schedule for this week, I have wayyy too much to do and too little time to do it in. Especially since my mom is coming on Wednesday, I want to reserve time to spend with her, but there are so many events, meetings, and things to get done while she is here. I need more time!

3. This is the last week of classes. That means the semester is really winding down! Everyone is having their senior send offs this week: Asian Christian Fellowship, DSP, and Outpour. I WILL BE LEAVING SOON!

Time is running out.

This makes me extremely sad, and I want to cry every time I think about leaving the amazing people that I've met. But at the same time, I'm really happy with how I've spent my senior year. I hope I continue to use my time well.

Resurrection

Had another great Sabbath today!

1. GIG outing to Crepes, etc. + Resurrection passage = most premium brunch
2. CSA Talent Show: Jordan and Tim serenade :) Fun, fun, fun, fun!
3. Aristocats concert: Lucia Breaking Free
4. Easter Vigil @ Cathedral Basilica
5. Debriefing with my suitemate <3

What I value most about my relationship with my suitemate Lindsey is being able to come home and debrief about my day with her. She's able to call out different areas of my life that I need to work on, but brings it up in a manner that doesn't make me feel like she's judging me. I'm so blessed to room with her this year!

Today we were talking about the implications of Jesus' death and resurrection on the Jewish culture of the Old Testament. If you know the answers to any of these questions, please enlighten me!

• If the curtain in the temple split in two signifying that you no longer need a High Priest to talk to God, do Jews still need to talk to God through a High Priest type of person, or do they talk to God directly too even though they don't believe in the Gospel of Jesus?
• If Jews don't believe in Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice that died to forgive our sins, do they still practice animal sacrifices to atone for sin? If not, how do you atone for sin?
• A lot of Christianity revolves around the importance of an eternal life through Jesus after death. However, there is little mention of an afterlife in the Old Testament. What do Jews believe about the afterlife?

Passover Fail #2

After yesterday's fail, I've been trying so hard to make sure that I don't eat bread. When getting a meal, the lunch lady asked me if I wanted bread with my meal, and I almost yelled, "NO!" haha. Then after our senior Ring Ceremony where we get our class rings, there was a reception with lots of deli sandwiches and bread, which I had to force myself to avoid. Success!

Afterward, I went to DSP where we were writing cards to the graduating seniors, and there were snacks galore! I saw the donut holes right in front of me, so I popped one into my mouth and realized, "NOOOOO, it's leavened bread!" Dang you desserts! Always sneaking up on me. Maybe I should just avoid desserts until Passover ends.