5, 7, 7, 5

You might wonder why
It's not 5, 7, 5 now
Return of the haikus means...
Zombified haikus!

……………………………………


Unexpectedly
Had to check my email twice
Told my parents, then my sibs
USC I come

.……………………………

I have mixed feelings
Yes for me, maybe for sis
I'm supposed to be happy
What does this all mean?

God gave this to me
Be grateful for his blessings
Give me back my joy, sucka
This is my time now!

Haven't written one in a long time..

Life keeps me busy
New post grad life and new job
God keep me sane please

Progress!

Yay! Pharm apps are well on its way.. In celebration of my first submission, enjoy this cute clip.

Settled in.

No more jet lag! I've settled into the regular pace of life again, but with a new perspective on life. New confidence in my identity in Christ, new trust in God, and new desire to serve others, I'm ready to live for God!

Since I came back, I've been chillin' doing my pharmacy apps, and I've been job searching. Thanks to God I found one.

I also went to Mexico for a day to serve God's children. Yay! Here are some pictures.

Back from Thailand

I have bad jet lag

Up since 3 in the morning

Instead I write here

My Thailand medical mission trip was a step of faith that I know God had to force me to go. He closed all my job leads, changed my family and Kevin's hearts to let me go, and even provided supporters to get me to Thailand. What more can I say, God really wanted me to go out of my comfort zone. I'm glad I did.

Being in Thailand, I thought that I would adjust well since Indonesia is very similar to Thailand. Both countries have spicy cuisine, both have very humid weather, both countries aren't the cleanest places, and both have similar cultures. I thought I would feel like home in Thailand, but God proved me wrong the first night when I mistakenly ate a green chili pepper, thinking it was a green bean. God forced me to be out of my comfort zone again. He did so so I can give everything to Him, even my body, when I thought I had control over it. Luckily, I recovered by the time our team traveled to the island and started our clinic week.

To say our trip focused solely on clinicals is a lie because God had other plans. He showed us the relationships that have been fostered since Newsong came to the island 5 years ago. Coming to a 100% Muslim island was hard 5 years ago, but God has changed their hearts because many came to seek blessings from the American doctors, some gave us sweet gifts, and some invited us over to their humbled homes. We came to show God's love through our actions medically, but the people of Koh Yao showed their love back to us by cooking for us during Ramadan. For those of you who don't know what Ramadan is, it's a period of time when the Muslim people don't eat or drink during daylight hours. It's amazing how these people were willing to cook for us, knowing that they couldn't eat for themselves.

Through these people, God showed us what he has been doing on the island. For example, the imam, a religious leader on the island, came to the clinic and our hotel a few times to visit us. He even invited us to his house so he can show off his monkeys he trained. Knowing that the imam was so eager to see us is a sign that God is definitely working in him. Another occasion, the driver who drove us around the island, invited us to his house where he cooked a seafood feast for us. Another woman came to drop off coconut snacks called baubin, literally translated as, " damn crazy," because they are so good. Instances such as these showed that God uses these people to show us his love too.

Though I learned how to prescribe in Thai and give medical advice to the patients in Thai, I mostly learned to live faithfully for God. The funny thing is, a lot of people thought I was Thai and spoke to me with all kinds of Thai. One phrase I learned to say often was, " phoot Thai Mai dai, ka." It means " I can't speak Thai."

I can go on and on and on about my experience in Thailand, but so few words can fully express the life there. Though Thai food will never be the same, Thailand and the people of Koh Yao will always be in my heart.

Update of my summer so far..

It's been a month since I posted last. Back in June, I went to Indonesia for a family vacation. Here are some pictures to show all my amazing adventures.

at Indonesia.. We went white water rafting and scuba diving..

 Ate good foods.. Yum!

 Went site seeing all over Jakarta, Jogja, and Bali..

Petted a lot of animals..

Watched a traditional Balinese dance called Kecak..

  

 Went shopping...

 went to the beach a lot..

And of course, Hung out with family!

Next month... more pharmacy applications and my Medical Missions trip to Thailand! yay! to be continued on that chapter of my life..

My journey of the Thailand trip

The start of it all

Came flowing from the consult

(Newsong) flow consult

To go or not go

Why can't I hear Your answer

Worry less pray more

No jobs, no callbacks

God closed all my doors for now

He gave me missions

Two choices came up

to Africa or Thailand

Doubts and fear crept up

God decided it

By cancelling Africa

So the choice was made.

Yay! I got the go

Thailand here I come to grow

Take a step of faith

Now: Bought the ticket

Flying closer to my dream

Thanks for the support!

Too much tea..

Can't sleep. So this is what I do to entertain myself. Write haikus, go on Facebook, post here... But i don't sleep.

Here's my haiku for today.

Wide awake at 3

Got to stop drinking tea at night

This is what I get

Here's a few grad pics.

Last Skittens Small Group

I'm grateful to have met these amazing people this year. Thanks to my leaders Jon and Elaine, I have learned what true brotherly and sisterly love in Christ looks like.

Attached by the string

Good, faithful friends we will be

Yay! Skittens for life!

Nearing the End of UCI

College life is almost to an end. I had my last class at UCI today. Words cannot express these feelings, but maybe my Haiku can.

Graduation shock

4 years of my life flew by

post-grad life is now

Learn from the past life

reach your dreams in the future

but be in the now

Thanks Kevin for going with me as my date to my Edge banquet 3 years in a row. (:

Oh my. Obessed.

6/1/12- Battle field of the mind (3:00am)
Change the way i think
No more listening to lies
God renew my mind

6/1/12- first trex team meeting
(3:08am)
This is Thai culture
Don't point with your feet ever
Leave food on your plate

(3:15am)
Respect the king, yo
Wai is a form of bowing
Never touch the head

6/1/12- keep thinking of haikus (3:21am)
I so like haikus
It keeps me awake at night
I keep writing more

(3:28am)
I must go to sleep
Last haiku seriously
Good night world for now

A series of some haikus

So since I found my new talent in making haikus, I've been writing some whenever I feel the need to write how I feel. I like writing haikus because it's short, simple, but has profound depth behind it.

Trisha's Haikus

5/2/12- newfound talent
All along college
Sleep, play, fun, then graduate
Now life hits hard fast

5/3/12-medical missions trip
To go or not go
Why can't I hear your answer
Worry less pray more

5/5/12- green light
Yay! I got the go
Thailand here I come to grow
Take a step of faith

5/14/12 -poop
Let me be myself
Same person with or without
Be one with Jesus

5/23/12- finish strong
God gave us great plans
Receive them with faith and go
God's will and not mine

5/31/12 - awkward & comfortable
Who knew this is norm
To sleep without a bra on
I overcame fear

As I get the courage to post more, i will try to put them up on the corresponding date. Yay for God given talents. Thanks God!

Newfound talent

My first haiku that started this new discovery. Thanks to my art education class, I wouldn't have found my new talent.

Here it is:

All along college
Sleep, play, fun, then graduate
Now life hits hard fast

Much Needed Update

Since I wrote last ...
I was 21, had no dogs, had an ancient phone and I was super busy with Allergan and fieldwork and everything else.

Now...

I am 22.
I got a new iphone, Disney pass, and 2 dogs.
I found a new God-given talent of writing Haikus.
I found a new place to live after I graduate.
AND!
I've decided to go on a medical missions trip to Thailand in August!

I've been so blessed with having supportive parents and loving people around me. I'm grateful for my parents, sister, Kevin, and my small group. What's in store for me next is to take things one step at a time. 1st step, fight senioritis and graduate!

Past Me..

When I was a kid, I used to make all kinds of lists. Like my favorite colors in order of most to least, what I want to be when I grow up, even random things like what I ate for a week. Well.. I found a list I did in my freshman year of college. I found a list of 30 random facts about me.. I know I'm weird, but some are still true and some aren't. Goes to show how much I've changed or grew up since my first year in college.

• 1.      I have this thing for robots. I don’t know how it started, but I like robots.
• 2.       I’m a very dexterous person so I like to make things. Like I made a carpet before and a magic wallet. I’ve crocheted a purse, made moccasins, made a doll, and refurbished a jacket I bought from a thrift store.
• 3.       I’ve been to over seven countries: Mexico, Indonesia, Australia, England, Ireland, Italy, France, Philippines, Amsterdam,...
• 4.       I used to take ballet lessons and singing lessons.
• 5.       I used to play the flute.
• 6.       I used to collect beanie babies. I still have tons of them, though.
• 7.       When I was six or seven years old, my mom made my sister and I go for commercial auditions because we’re twins. Apparently twins were in demand. And I cried because I didn’t want to be on TV. I cried a lot when I was a kid.
• 8.       I get sick often and it takes me a while to get rid of it.
• 9.       I love spicy food.
• 10.   It’s not like I’m addicted to working out, but I love endorphins.
• 11.   I like thrift store shopping. They have the coolest stuff there!
• 12.   I used to be a major tomboy when I was younger. I used to cut my hair soooo short, like a boy, every summer.
• 13.   I broke the 3 digits, as in weight, my senior year of high school.
• 14.   I think I have progressively shrunk because my doctor said I was 5’4 three years ago, 5’3 two years ago, and 5’2 a year ago. I just take the average and tell people I’m 5’3.
• 15.   I find writing 30 random facts about myself really hard because I’m a very ordinary/boring person.
• 16.   I like to care for and help people.
• 17.   I can cook fairly well, clean, and sow. People say I’m set to be a wife.
• 18.   I have a short term memory. Nothing traumatic happened to me to be like that, though.  I’m just bad at remembering things, that’s all.
• 19.   I’m fickle.
• 20.   People say I’m smart, but in truth, I just work very hard.
• 21.   I used to own: a canary, a fish, a few dogs, a bunny, and a turtle. They all went to heaven. :(
• 22.   When I go home from weeks of college, I like to relax by watching cartoons.
• 23.   My favorite fruit is the fuyu persimmon.
• 24.   I usually don’t like eating chocolate because it’s too sweet. That goes for cakes, cookies, and brownies as well.
• 25.   I wear retainers every night.
• 26.   My favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:4-6
• 27.   I started playing piano when I was three years old, yet I still suck at the piano.
• 28.   I never had a job.
• 29.   I know how to hula and Tahitian dance, but just the basics.
• 30.   I like all racket sports. I play tennis, badminton, recently racquetball and ping pong. 

Hugs

Kites are the best inventions ever!

 Kevin and I went kiting. (; It took us a while to put the owl-like kite together. 20 minutes later.. our owl kite was in the air, soaring and flapping like a real owl. Flying a kite is soo fun. I am amazed how God's breath (wind) can keep it up and flying so high. 

Sister's appreciation Day

God is good for providing a loving small group, where I can grow and feel like a part of Edge still. I'm blessed and thankful to be in the Skittles (Cats on Mars) small group. (:

Actual Valentine's Day

Valentines is an overrated holiday when you're alone, but I thank God that I have someone special in my life. Kevin made me dinner while I was in my midterm review. Korean tacos with the mango salsa and spinach/artichoke dip as appetizers. For the main entree, steak and potatoes topped with Stella Rosa wine. Thanks for an amazing day! (:

Pre-Valentine's Date

Kevin took me to Segerstrom Hall to see the Pacific Symphony featuring Roberta Flack! Thanks, Babe!

First Time Shooter

Went shooting for the first time with my family. SO funny that we went as a family outing to the shooting range. I now know what my favorite gun is.. the Long 22 revolver.

Officially an Allergan Intern

God has been a blessing  because He continually opens doors for me in ways I never could have imagined. I never thought I would do an internship, let alone, get an internship at a well known pharmaceutical company. Allergan is the same company that developed Botox, which is a big deal. I've learned so much about drug development and it also goes hand in hand with my pharmacology class. God is good and He always provides! (:

Spirit of Deborah

At the Edge winter retreat, Adam Edgerly prayed over me and said that I had the spirit of Deborah. Not knowing who Deborah is, I researched her when I got home. This is what I found.

Deborah is the only female in the line judges. She is a perfect example of a responsible woman committed to God's call to leadership. Her responsibilities included being a wife to Lapidoth; a servant leader to God as His prophetess, and a judge to the nation of Israel. 

Deborah's qualities:

#1 -- Obedient to the voice of God

#2 -- Initiative to implement

#3 -- Supportive of the leadership

#4 -- Audacity to trust God. 

Past Faith

A note scratched into a basement in Paris during World War II quoted, 'I believe in the sun even when it's not shining. I believe in love even when I can't feel it. I believe in God even when he is silent.'


Now this is deep. I want faith like this.

Jesus > Religion

Deep.

Counting Sheep (:

Great reminder...

... to take things as it comes and go.

Lord, if I’m feeling rushed today,
I need Your eyes to help me see
That when an interruption comes,
It is an opportunity. —Sper

God's purpose comes with interruptions. 
- OBD

Stars on Earth

Firefiles = magical.