Community

As today kicks off a 26-day work period, I am thankful that I spent my weekend in the company of friends.  I woke up around 4:30 on Saturday morning, drove an hour to town, hopped on the train, and arrived at the Huttons’ apartment at 11:30 for a 36-hour break from work and a fantastic 36-hour hangout with friends.

Lots of colorful hair

We spent the weekend watching Yosakoi dance groups including Jessica’s team and Teresa's team.  We watched a lot of other teams with crazy hair and costumes.  We even stopped by Starbucks before we settled into our seats at the main stage.  Drinking Starbucks with friends on a Saturday evening outside at a park in the city watching magnificent dancing—that’s how life should be.

Chitose Homura - Teresa's Team

We grabbed soup curry for the last time together and stayed up late sharing stories and watching Youtube videos.  Over the past 2 years, we’ve shared so much laughter and so many Youtube videos together.  It was only fitting that our last time in that tiny apartment we would be doing the same.

Sunday morning everyone went to church except Matt and me.  We went back to Odori Park to catch the parade.  We grabbed lunch and sat in the park and talked.  It’s been about 4 weeks since I’ve sat down and talked with someone face-to-face.  It was refreshing to sit outdoors, enjoy our rice balls, and share with my brother before we ran to catch more dancing.  After Matt left on the train, I grabbed another Starbucks and watched a few more groups dance their hearts out.

Muroran Keishoumai - Jessica's Team

I told Matt I’m thankful that our goodbyes this weekend are really “see you laters”.  This past weekend was the last time we'll see each other for a while.  Half of us are moving back to our respective countries and half are staying put for another season.  While it may be a while before we see each other face-to-face, I’m thankful for this weekend, for the reminder of God’s faithfulness to provide, and that His provision is not always what I’m expecting.

Natalie & John, Me, and Matt

For first 18 months, I was bitter that God asked me to leave behind my amazing community at USC.  I wanted the same community here—in the middle of nowhere. I begged and pleaded for that same community.  And it never came.  Instead I got a voice-only Skype Bible study once a week. I didn’t want them to replace my college community; they would never come close to my college community.  And I tried to keep them at a distance, but as we dug into the Word together and encouraged and prayed for each other, they slowly crept their way into my heart.  And slowly, ever so slowly, they became my community. 

What we’ve experienced together over the last 2 years will never be experienced by my college community.  I did have community here—it just wasn’t what I was expecting.  And God didn’t go back on His promise—He absolutely provided.  God didn’t ask me to leave behind my college community to be in the middle of nowhere alone (as much as it felt like it at times)—God asked me to be with Him.

This weekend, as I shared my fear of going back to a changed community, I was met with community.  Perhaps it was God’s answer to my prayers for the last few months—calm my anxieties and remind me You provide.  Because I know in 8 weeks, I’ll be back in LA and my college community, the amazing community I’ve tried to hold on to so desperately, will be changed.  We won’t all be living within walking distance, staying up until the wee hours of the morning to talk won’t be feasible, and the 24/7 accountability and encouragement will no longer be a reality.  Things will be different.  Different isn’t bad—it’s just different.  But it’s made me anxious about coming home.  This weekend was a timely reminder that God provides.  He always does.