ignite 'n inspire

      A lot of the time, Christians say "Everything happens for a reason, God placed you in that situation so that you can grow," but we rarely dwell on what that really means or acknowledge whether or not that's true. For months, I had two friends who went through a rough patch in their friendship as boy trouble infested their lives. Let's just say...it was difficult for them to look each other in the eye knowing that they liked the same guy. They went through periods of hate, attempts of restoration, sadness, but ultimately confusion. The roller coaster was rough, but I saw that the result of this experience as something God-planned, something beautiful. Last night, I saw these two ladies not just as ordinary friends but two individuals who've learned to rely on their faith as their primary source of comfort. They sought for restoration because their friendship no longer depended on their relationship with this one guy. Today, these girls are serving, growing an...

       What is "the real deal" in life? Is it that perfect high-paying job or a good well-bonded family? As a 19-year old, many of my friends strive for that perfect resume. That perfect resume includes good professional references and versatile volunteer experiences, which showcases one's ability to be the ideal employee. The truth is, many young adults today are boiling their life down to one single sheet of paper, but is that where our focus should be?     As I was reflecting with my close friend this past week, I opened up about my fears in building that resume...only to find that there is a much bigger resume that we must hand in...to Him, the real Boss. Here's my story...I have a younger cousin who aspires to be a teacher, just like me. She applied to Con-Ed at Queen's and York, just like me. She has a big heart to be educate the next generation, just like me. The biggest difference we have between us is the fact that she got into all the universiti...

I was talking with my friend today and we were sharing about how teenage girls today seem to forget about the beauty of singleness. Young girls often mourn and speak about their dissatisfaction because they are not loved and invested in a romantic relationship. Even though this is an issue that I have written about in previous blog posts, I hope to expand and spread positive energy to young women because I really think that there is so much more to life than being unsatisfied about God’s plan. Just so that you understand where I come from… I am not in a relationship at the moment, so I confess that sometimes, I simultaneously covet being loved by a Prince Charming. From looking at people’s prom pictures, date night Instagram posts to any sort of cute facebook interactions, I can’t help but wonder when it is going to be my turn to display that joy/happiness that comes from finding a significant other. I am often left wondering if something is possibly wrong about me…what makes me unl...

Despite the fact that the weather has been amazing over the past few days, my heart is hurting over something that I know I can’t control of. Here’s why: Several years ago, a family friend named Aleena was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Statistically, the chance of survival for her illness were very slim. However, the church and her family prayed endlessly…praying for His touch, God’s miracle. I remember the first time I heard her story, she told us that she was never scared of death because she knew that all her sufferings would end one day when she returns to heaven. After rounds of intense chemotherapy, God gave her strength and positivity like none other. Just like any other mom, she recovered and went to go back to work. She could do what we would consider ‘normal.’ She drove her daughter to swimming practices and high school. A few years ago, she even served with me at a children’s fellowship. I was her assistant and she certainly became someone that I looked up to. Talk...

I have always thought that when people pass away, their family spend months after their death grieving over their lost family member and will continue to live with that "hollow space" in your heart. However, this first night in Hong Kong has surprisingly given me a chance to grieve about something that seemed to have passed so long ago. I am talking about the death of my grandfather, a hardworking and committed man, who raised up my mom and her six siblings. Because I have only seen him for several weeks every now and then, many would say that our relationship wouldn't be extremely close. In fact, we rarely had to the chance to sit down or have a serious conversation. However, coming back to HK in 2016, a few years after his passing, I have suddenly noticed the hollow space that he once occupied in my life. Last night, amidst my jet lag, I remembered that morning 7 years ago, when all the Ho siblings were jetlagged at 4:30am. He came out of his bedroom sincerely asking i...

                I think as a Canadian girl, I feel perfectly normal in admitting the great influence of media in my life. I often stare at Glamour and Vogue Magazine, questioning why I do not look like the supermodels that are plastered over the pages. They all have flawless makeup, body types and skin. For the longest time, I felt like a flawed being who fell short from what people considered as beautiful. Ever since my grade 11 days, I have been struggling with oily and acne skin issues. At first, my family and I thought it was just a short phase of red bumps that I would quickly outgrow. However, after months of adjusting my diet and trying new skin products, nothing seemed to work. Seeing the doctor was the next option and I began taking medication. This first around, I lost self-esteem and confidence…I covered myself in foundation and avoided eye contact during conversations. I feared that people would not like talking to me becaus...

On the first day of school at York University, during orientation day, I realized that I had a major flaw. My major flaw was that in comparison to the other English majors there, I did not love my program of study. In this university, people L-O-V-E English… for pleasure they read large novels, write poetry and short stories. As they shared with me their interests, fear crept into my mind because I felt that I did not belong. My stomach ached and I felt trapped because of the inner conflict between my limited love for English and strong belief that God wants me in this program. So, I decided that I would pray a bold prayer to my Papa above. I prayed that ‘one day, I will fall in love with English, just like the rest of these folks and be able to use this skill to further His kingdom.’ At this point, I still had to conquer 24 weeks of lectures and tutorials with English fanatics. Surely, it was a gradual process that began with fear and tears, as I realized the great skills and knowl...