In the Waiting
Caffe Piu in Caracas
THERE ARE SEASONS OF WAITING
Sometimes it can be hard to wait. But waiting doesn’t mean you sit back and do nothing. Honestly, I’ve had days where I’ve just been at home resting. The time as I wait for the next transition is important, but it’s also important to be intentional in the present.
These couple of weeks, I’ve been able to reconnect with my home church, reconnecting with family and friends that are also going through new seasons, seasons that help each other grow.
VENEZUELAN MISSIONARIES
Being part of ministry in Caracas has also been pretty exciting! We’ve had a lot of celebrations with our church family: Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays. We recently went to a retreat for Venezuelan missionaries, where we were able to lead worship in both languages, Chinese and Spanish. The congregation was pretty excited to worship Jesus in Chinese! There were more than 900 missionaries. So awesome to see how God is working in Venezuela. Missionary families here also face challenging situations, when it comes to finances or even to the point of feeling like they are the only ones serving. This missionary retreat was definitely encouraging and uplifting for our brothers and sisters serving full-time in the different states of Venezuela, especially in the borders of Venezuela and Colombia. Every single day, thousands of people pass through the Venezuelan-Colombian border facing hunger, hopelessness, and fear. Venezuelan missionaries are aware of the need, and there are families, churches and ministries serving at the borders, providing food, refugee homes and sharing the hope we all have in Jesus.
COFFEE TRAINING DAY
Caffe Piu was the usual place to hang out after school. It was also the place to meet up with my classmates and our missionary teachers that invested so much time in us! It’s a place that is very close to my heart. I have many good memories there! When I saw that Gian Franco (the owner) was doing coffee trainings, I immediately signed up. We had a great time, learning about the history of coffee and knowing how to distinguish coffee beans, whether they are roasted quickly or at a longer time. My other favorite coffee shop is called Common Grounds, located in Lakeworth, Florida. It’s such an awesome environment and the staff are very warm. Their vision is to reach out to the community and make a difference. The coffee shop literally feels like a home.
Future baristas in the making. Hehe I’ll probably just be serving coffee at my house and inviting people over. Dream big! :)
I’ve been learning that waiting doesn’t mean sitting and doing nothing. In the season of waiting, continue to pursue Jesus, read His Word, being sensible to what God speaks to your daily life. If there is an opportunity to spend time with people and build relationships, do it! If a friend invites you over to their house, do it! If there are opportunities to serve at your local church, say yes! Take advantage of every moment. Surround yourself with a community of believers. Something that a pastor said last week impacted me, and it also made me reflect on how I don’t do this often.
“Asking God every morning before the day starts, “Lord, I’m here. What would you like me to do today? How do I glorify you today?””
My home church, Iglesia Bautista China de Caracas
I have around 2 weeks left in Venezuela before I move to Hong Kong for a year. It’s a time to fully depend on God, on His guidance, His providence, His thoughts and plans! It’s so much freedom to not depend on my own strength, although most of the time, that’s exactly what I do. If you are in a time of waiting, remember,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
