Adventurous

I've always been the adventurous kind of person.

The kind of person that sees life as an experience, rather than an end itself. The kind of person that receives a phone call from a friend, hops into the next bus and visits an indigenous village the same night. The kind of person that is curious for life and is open to see the world in different ways.

My best life experiences come from traveling.

I still want to see and experience so many things in life. I want to see what human trafficking is like in South East Asia and do something about it. I want to visit the Garifunas in Honduras and see how their culture and identity has evolved throughout the years. I want to study about the exile of the Jews in Spain and how they have adapted to other cultures while still preserving their customs. I want to reach to new depths of understanding of the human condition and gain a richer perspective in life.

It's been my lifelong fascination to travel and experience other cultures.

Oceans

Here is a video from the most recent concert I played (violin) last month with the Christian Symphony of El Salvador.

In other news, I got into the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of El Salvador. I will be playing Haydyn's 100th Symphony, Beethoven's 5th and Bach's Air next month along with visiting Musicians from Spain.

God is good.

A Conversation

*In Class, while teaching the meaning of the word 'Apostate'*

Me: "So, my parents are not Christian but I am thankful that they let me choose my faith."

A student at the back: "What made you choose Christianity, Ms?" 

Me: "I once prayed to Buddha and he didn't answer my prayer." 

Another student: "Qué resentida, Ms." 

Student at the front: "You keep surprising me." 

A Letter

#foreversisters #eternalbond

An Encouragement

Some years ago, a brother wrote me this message that keeps encouraging me to write in my blog to this very day. 

(Circa November 2011)

Brother:
Hi Karen,

Hope you are well.

Just thought I'd let you know that in our writing session last Sunday, we read your poem/testimony and it touched many of the UK brothers and sisters, it inspired and helped them to write their own poem and personal letter to God as many felt the same way you did in your words. May He keep using you to encourage, glorify and lift up his name in many different way.

My Response:
lol where did you find it? which poem?

Brother:
It was from your blog - looking at yourself from the Lord's view. We've been doing writing and poem sessions for the last two weeks. A sister's poem was really good! Pure and straight from the heart - you can tell from what she wrote related to your poem the most.

All of me wants all of You

[The train of thoughts of the woman that touched the fringe of Jesus' robe]
Matthew 9:20-22

All of me wants all of You,
All of me craves and yearns
for You.

I have been unhappy for so long,
Broken, sick and beat by life's
blows-
Hammered, simmered and shattered
By my shame and sorrows.

I have been bleeding for so long.
Heal me, for I need Your gentle touch,
Your warmth and relentless love.

All of me yearns for You.

Seep, seep deeply into my every marrow and bone,
Fill me with Your eternal gladness and joy...
And make me whole.

[She touches Jesus' robe. Jesus turns around and says,  
“Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.”]

Conversations

Three childhood friends sit by the beach side and talk about relationships and life.

"You know, I am glad that things did not work out with my ex, because now I met this wonderful guy."
"Things always happen for a reason."
"He didn't treat me well, and I knew that he was not the one in the beginning. But I got carried away with my feelings. Thinking back, I was not in love with him. Rather, I was in love with the idea of being in a relationship."
"I think we all had a fair share of bad experiences..."
"And we need those bad experiences to know what we want and what we do not want out of a relationship."
"It's always a learning process..."

Hindsight

"Thinking back, the number one reason that has driven me to make pivotal decisions is my zest for life...my will to live and make sense of all things. Once I realized that I was trapped in a system of false beliefs and conducts, dead-end relationships...I bravely took a leap of faith and got out of those situations fast. And I have no regrets in doing so. I've learned to trust my gut instinct. I believe that there are greater things in life, and that all these things reflect the invisible and the eternal that God has prepared for us. I won't settle for anything less.

There are still so many things I want to do in life -travel more, learn more, make more meaningful connections, laugh more, cry more, contribute more and love more. And for that, I need to constantly get out of my comfort zone and challenge myself. I believe God created in me an insatiable spirit for adventure and newness in life. And to be caged in a state of ennui and the mundane is torture.

The secret of happiness is freedom,
The secret of freedom is courage."

Sarah Chang plays Sibelius Violin Concerto

#violingoals #rolemodel #beauty #talent #grace

This Sunday

This Sunday marks 1 year since I came back home. A LOT has happened this year, but I am thankful for all the experiences.

Here is a picture summary of a typical Sunday for me in El Salvador: Church during the mornings, working in the afternoon, Orchestra Practice and then hanging out with my cousins.

Sundays are my favourite days.

Top Moments of my Life

If my life was a movie, here would be the top moments that has significantly marked me:

Going through High School with my Besties- much laughter and deep conversations

My first mission trip in El Salvador that ignited a passion to go to all nations!

Graduating with these goofs. Good times.

Visiting my best friend in Winona. Learned all about Dorothy Day and Morality during that trip

Field School in Oaxaca, Mexico! Learned lots about Oaxacan Culture and teaching ESL

Seeing my good friend during a music tour in Virginia

Conversations with El Maestro about life, humanity and education. Super enriching.

Visiting the Johnsons at Winston Salem. Learned all about Moravian culture,  sugar cakes and Duck Dynasty!

Joining the Nahuat Collective. I discovered that I have a deep connection towards indigenous culture.

I pray that I may continue to encounter amazing people in my life. I live for those moments