클래지콰이

I was inspired by Jon to listen to their albums again.
One word: ILOVETHEIRMUSICOHSOMUCH
It's the kind that makes you dance like no one's looking.

Click the pics for oh my goodness. <3?>  $$

Shanghai Piano Bar

Those Who Trust / One Name

Amazing Grace

Catalaska

Hello!  My summer's been super-filled with a lot of God's goodness and beauty, so I wanted to share it with all of you lovely people.

Catalina

Right after school ended, I went to IV's end of the year trip at Campus by the Sea: Catalina 2008!  And it was amazing!  This year, I was part of the Prayer Seminar again, and although I partook in the mad praying for the second time (last summer I did the same thing), God showed up in a totally different way: whereas last year, it was mostly seeing God move in power through intercession that really affected me, this year, I was more struck by how God revealed so many weaknesses in my life: it's still hard for me to really, really, really believe that God loves me, and I find that I try really hard to impress people, especially those of the female nature :/.  I know, lame sauce.

I wanted to talk about one of the days in particular, the Day of Silence.  Since I was part of Prayer Seminar, one of the days during the week, we practiced a day of silence in order to be able to better listen to the voice of God.  On this day, I decided to go with Peter Kariuki, another Prayer Seminar-er, on a hike in order to pass the time / make space for God to speak.  Originally I thought it was going to be 30 min to an hour.  It took more like 3 hours.  Plus, I was wearing my shower sandals and jeans in RIDICULOUSLY hot weather.  Oh yeah, we also brought no water.  It was just ridiculous haha.  At first, I started out super excited and ready for anything; I would climb leaps and bounds and not worry about how long it would take.  After awhile, I started to mad sweat / pant.  As we continued our trek, there were so many times when I thought I couldn't make it if it wasn't for Peter literally pushing me up.  But when we finally made it, I was overwhelmed with how beautiful both God's natural world is, but also how his grace allowed me to make it to the top.  God really spoke a lot through the hike, especially about how I need to start relying more on his love and on community during my walks of faith.  I felt like my walk of faith was a lot like my walk on this hike: starting out strong, but reaching difficulty during perseverance, and finally not being able to make it without someone else's help.  

Anyways, Catalina was super duper fun though!  This year, Stanford partnered with UCLA's IV, and let me tell you, those Bruin folk are ridiculously legit haha.  I had so much fun just chilling with everyone from UCLA; from hanging out at the bonfire late at night, to interceding and praying with them, to cleaning up the camp with them, to helping them in a Catalina skit contest (we did God the Father, a Godfather remake, and we won!  See facebook) to even worshipping on the worship team with them!  Worship was amazing too; I got a chance to play the drums haha, and it was just cool learning new songs and new techniques for drumming.  Oh, and now I'm on a gospel music craze, thanks to the UCLA worship leader Mike Eubanks.  Gospel music is crazy!  It's just crazy!  I'll post a compilation of songs soon enough!

Catalina was a true beast.  I can't wait for next summer ofsho!

Alaska

This summer also marked my extended family's triannual family reunion.  This year, 75 of us Wang clan members invaded Alaska via the Carnival cruise, spreading the Chinese wonder throughout Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka.  The trip was super super fun in general.  It was amazing to just spend time with my family (they're the best ofsho) but also just to see how beautiful nature is and how mighty God is for creating it.  I seriously fell in love with God again and again; how mighty is He who created the earth!  Seriously, God is a visual genius.  Just facebook me for the photos, and you'll be amazed.  Or check out the slideshow vid I made up top; it has some surprise vids inside haha.  Sorry it's long, but it's worth it, trust me.

Ketchikan

The first city we visited was Ketchikan.  It was July 4th, so everyone on the cruise and in the little town were super patriotic (imagine red and blue spandex).  The cousins all went hiking around town, taking in the sights, and just enjoying the beauty around us.  The town was pretty small, so I got to hike around the entire place in a few hours.  We were then supposed to go kayaking, but I got sick earlier and decided to stay back :/.  I heard it was a beast though, so I made it my promise to kayak at some point of the trip :0)

Juneau

Ah, Juneau.  Sandwiched in between two mountains with a river for a neighbor.  Accessible only by plane or boat.  Juneau...(insert mystical sound effects)  Juneau was a true beast!  I woke up feeling more sick than the day before, but the activities of the day soon cured my ailments: visiting Mendenhall Glacier, checking out a salmon hatchery, glacier hopping while on a float plane, eating authentic salmon at the getaway Taku Lodge while playing with bears, raiding the Del Sol store (where everything changes its color in the sunlight), and ending the day with a screening of WALL-E (which was a true beast; the symbolism, the lack of dialogue, the portrayal of love..mm so good).

Skagway

The Wangs spent the day at Skagway going on a massive roadtrip.  We drove into the heartland of the Northwest Territories, checking out Bove Island, Emerald Lake, this random Soup kitchen, and even did a little shopping.  I know there's the stereotype about Asian drivers, but I have to say, the roadtrip was one of the best ideas ever.  I loved how the weather changed dramatically, how we were surrounded by nature wherever we drove, and how the Northwest Territories had so much to offer; we were caught in a sea of fog, drenched with sunlight at the beautiful Emerald Lake, and even managed to check out a real desert, all in 4 hours.

Sitka

Sitka was our last visited city, so the cousins decided to go out on with a bang.  We went kayaking (woot!) in the Sitka Bay, weaving in between the islands, catching sight of a mini flock of bald eagles, almost getting eaten by a sea lion, and having a kayak picnic with corn dogs, cheeto puffs, and gatorade.  Mm, goood times.  I have to say Sitka was surprisingly AMAZING, with the cool Russo-influenced architecture, drizzly weather, and kayaking!  Please, good people, if you ever find yourself in Alaska, do not miss up Sitka.

Overall (<- High school english classes have brainwashed me to ALWAYS start my conclusions with overall), Alaska was one of the most beautiful and magical places I have ever visited in my entire life.  Please, stop whatever you are doing, cancel whatever thought process is going on in your head, and just go.  Now.

P.S. If anyone of you good people are considering moving to / visiting Alaska, please, let me know!