..Smell..

As I walk to the front gates of the fairground and reaches in for my wallet, I can already smell the fresh cooked bb-q meat that is probably sizzling and getting the people hungry as they walk inside the festival. Getting inside the gates was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. There was no security in the front making sure that there were any gangsterish guys entering the Hmong New Year festival. I did notice that there was a guy that stood far away from the front gates watching everyone coming in and he was dressed like an security guard.
But I am not certain that he is a trained professional guard because he did have any source of defense on him. All he had was a walkie talkie, green security guard pants and shirt. He didn't seem to scare me at all if I was involve in a fight, and if he was suppose to be running to catch me..ahah..But, I will not ever be involve in any street fights. O.k, so the Chico youth and Simpson folks was going to pick up cans and plastic bottles so that we can all recycle them and get some money for the youth group in Chico. Moving towards the crowds in my Hmong clothing and swiveling my Hmong necklace(Hmong bling), making sure that my pants was not touching the ground, picking up every plastic bottle in every direction was hard work because the Sun would not let us rest.
After a few hours of hard work and satisfying refreshments, we all took a rest in the gymnasium and watched the performers perform their acts and talents. Sitting around and listening to the love songs, Hmong riddles, couples, family, and our guys and gals there, made me think about Church service, if there was going to be any possibility that we were able to reach out to this much people. What if church service looked like this? What if...what if we were able to preach and lead these people to Christ, to God..! sighs...it made me think so much that when it was time to go back and pick more cans and bottles the thought went away. But now I can remember that gut feeling when I saw that so many people was so interested in the Hmong festival.
What if we introduced them all to Christ..I wonder how they react?? A few hours into picking up more cans and water bottles, the whole team was really exhausted and tired.so they all took a rest but not Zong and I. We decided to go all around the whole fairground and check out all the bins and garbage dumps once more. Gathering all the bags full with cans and water bottles was easy and quick because we had Da's tacoma pickup truck and we all loaded the trucks bed liner in no time. Rushing towards the buffet restaurant and stuffing our stomachs with food and drinking tons of H2o from the hot fall heat.
Coming back from Chico and riding i the back of car was new to me. I never sat in hte back of my truck before and this was my first time. Sitting in the back and trying to catch the breeze coming in from the outside was soothing. I had my pillow in my hands and I fell asleep instantly when I lay my head on it. Waking up to the conversation of Thunder and Zong had me up and ready for our destination, Simpson University!! Coming back to compass and noticing that I am back for a reason made me realize that I really need to focus on my ministry more and more. Recognizing my life's purpose and reasons to be living I stared back into the sky and thank God for His Love, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Noticing all that can happen, and having such a big vision, and especially going through obstacles in life made me think and realize that everything that I do i life, has to be for God and not for myself. Acknowledging that who is my creator, who is the one that gave life, breathe, love, and family/friends to lean onto. Many great things and event has happen in my life, and there were many bad things, but am still thankful for every event, drama, problems, situations, and obstacle that God was with me at all time. Recognizing and allowing God to work within us, and especially asking Him to empower us and bless because that is what He wants us to do. To ask Him! To PRAY!! Knowing this sudden rush of realization, I know that I really have be committed to fulfilling my education here at Simpson University. Prayerfully, and being faithful to God at all time and costs.