this & that

Hello,

My parents will be visiting this weekend. I am excited about it, but I also hope that they don't get bored PLUS that I don't get "annoyed" with them. :)

I've come to the realization that there is a huge communication barrier between myself and my parents because I don't speak cantonese fluently and they don't speak english fluently. Because of this, often times, it causes doses of frustration as I try to tell them something and it also means that there is not much conversation flow. I'm going to have to share my theory with my sisters to see if they concur.

My parents fly into Phoenix on Friday morning (it was cheaper to fly to Phoenix) so I will drive up to meet them, spend the night there, & hang out there Sat. There are also more things to do in Phoenix. We'll come back to Tucson Sat. night and then they are here only until Monday evening before they head off to SF. I hope that this weekend gives me a chance to serve and honor them as they are always taking care of me. It'll be nice to take them around and try to show them a good time.

I went to Phoenix this past Sat. for the day as well. I went with the cantonese fellowship to hear Streams of Praise, they're a well-knonw travelling mandarin music team. I didn't really understand a thing during the concert, but I was the only one able to drive and it also meant I had some decent chinese food and a time of shopping and fellowshipping.

Hmm, I was just thinking the other day that God seems to place me in positions whereby I have a burden to support my church in their building expansion. TCBC happens to be expanding their church and while the initial idea to expand came about 3 years ago, it was only this past couple of months that they got their permits and are ready to move ahead.

But 3 years ago and even last year, the estimate for it was $925,000. Today, the estimate is $1.8million dollars. Crazy how the building boom has increased cost.

One thing is that the church does not believe in is obtaining a building loan or mortgage. The only way that they will build is if the congregation commits to supporting this endeavor financially and entirely on their own, no banks involved whatsover. This means that the members commit to offering a certain amount to the building fund monthly or put up a lump sum now. It's a big dream, to have the money be there, but it's also completely feasible for the church body to do it.

It was a big decision for me, but I felt led and decided to commit 10% of my income towards this building fund for 1 year. This doesn't include tithing to support the day to day expenses of the church and missions.

I came back to Edmonton during the time E3C decided to build too and I remembered that I always felt it on my heart to faithfully support the building fund during the time I was in Edmonton. It is interesting to reflect that God is placing me at this church during this time for their building as well.

Grace to you, Vien