Natalie Poon

Hawaii = Disneyland?

Today I got to spend some time with the Lord through prayer walking. I actually was just walking alongside of Waikiki Beach. I was giving thanks to God for me even just being here in Hawaii, and how I’ve come a long way to serve here.

Then, I was thinking about Disneyland, and how I used to work there (actually just about a year ago). As I was looking around Waikiki (biggest tourist spot in all of Hawaii), I then realized that Hawaii is just like Disneyland! In a way where people from ALL over the world come to these places, and it is like a melting pot.

Though I have never actually been out of the United States/overseas and experienced God’s creations in different parts of the world, God has blessed me enough to have placed me to work at Disneyland, and here in Hawaii! He has given me a taste of who His people are in different parts of the world! Thank you God for doing that.

This picture could sum it up! =)

Psalm 16 - Rewrite

At our staff SOULCARE Monday morning, we each picked a Psalm and rewrote it in a way where we gave thanks to God and got to reflect upon His sovereignty (according to us personally)…

I chose Psalm 16:

Thank you God, for keeping me safe and protecting me every single day (even when I’m riding my bike). Lord, apart from you I am nothing. Those who seek safety from other things, or other gods, I feel bad for and want to do something about that. Lord, you have given me my portion and my cup, and I thank you for that. Thank you for keeping me in place and in boundaries. I will forever praise the One who teaches me, even at night when I’m really tired, I will praise You in my sleep. The Lord is always in front of me, because He is my right hand. I will be safe and protected. The Lord will never abandon me, or trick me. Thank you for your presence, because it fills me with joy. We are safe in Your arms.

Rewrite a Psalm Today!….

What’s next!?

Lately, people have been asking me, “What are you going to do next year!?”

Argh, that question always gets to me.

This feels very familiar! Exactly a year ago, I was asked this question over and over again (as I was ending my college career and entering into a new different wave of life). After I graduated last year, I thought I was escaping that question, but nope, it haunts me again as I am kind of coming to a close to my first year of interning with Campus Crusade.

Alright alright, WELL, what IS IT that I am going to do!?!?

I was listening to the song “None but Jesus” by Hillsong.

“When You call I won’t refuse…When You call I won’t delay…”

Lately, I have been refusing, avoiding, and delaying! Refusing that possibly staying in Hawaii for another year may actually be what God wants me to do. Recently, I couldn’t give God or people a definite answer. I don’t know why. Could it be the enemy? Could I be running away from the truth!?

Well folks, there are many reasons why I’ve been delaying from giving a definite answer. I fear many things when it comes to re-interning (support raising, would I have enough supporters for next year?, what would my family think?, could i still do a summer project this summer!?)…WHOA! Too many thoughts running through my head right now…

I feel sometimes as if I’m just looking for the answers. Today I was trying to find a scripture that will tell me if I should stay in Hawaii another year. What it came down to was “Natalie, are you trusting in God?”

In reality, God is already present, and showing Himself/His answers to me, when I was avoiding Him/them. Yes His word in the bible are the answers, but God has a part in all of this, as well as myself (God gives us a choice). It’s a 2-way street. He wants what’s best for me, yes, but He also wants me to be in this WITH Him!

My mom showed me this quote the other day:

“Stop doing things FOR God, and start doing things WITH God.”

If you want to hear about what I am doing next year, ask me.

EPIC Conference was EPIC!

Okay, so I kinda just got back from EPIC Conference in San Francisco. So I figure I better write about it quick, before I procrastinate again…

I have two highlights throughout this conference I’ll mention briefly.

Before the conference, I attended the Intern Mid-Year Retreat. This was a really neat experience for me, for I got to meet other interns from New York to Seattle to California. I got to learn all about their ministries and hear that they are going through similar struggles and experiences during their first year, just like me! To learn that I am not alone was encouraging.

THE EPIC INTERNS! [we are familyyyy!]

This year at EPIC Conference I got to be one of the DAY OF OUTREACH coordinators. It’s funny because last year, I was a student at this conference, not expecting to be coming back again, and this time I was working within the conference as staff! It’s crazy what a year brings!

During this day all 283 students from conference went out into the city and got to take a step of faith in sharing God’s love and presenting the gospel to the people in San Francisco. I had the opportunity of going with Kristen, a UH freshmen, whom I currently am discipling. Our experience in Union Square was motivating. We got to talk with this local man named Tim, who had a background of homelessness and a history in Alcoholics Anonymous. We got to hear his story, and one thing he told us was that he really appreciated us approaching and talking with him. I got to see Kristen’s heart for people that day, and to hear how motivated she is in telling everyone about God’s love back on the UH campus!

[Everyone has a story. Everyone wants to be heard.]

SHAKA! All 16 UH students, along with Jamie, Gen, and I (as staff) at conference!

To Southern California we will go!…

A couple days ago, I just got back from a 10 day trip in Southern California. Boy did it feel good to be back in my “hood”. Well you know, after living in Socal/Long Beach for the past 5 years, and then returning for a visit, felt splendid.

I went to San Diego for Campus Crusade’s Winter Conference with 5 UH students. Which I might add, was so amazing! It was my first CRU conference ever. I felt so blessed and excited to be apart of something so HUGE! To be apart of what God is doing all over the world. Crusade offers so many opportunities all throughout the world to serve God in mighty ways! It was neat learning and hearing about the many people who have been all over the world to serve Him.

So don’t miss any opportunity. http://gosummerproject.com/ check it out!

After the conference. There was still more ahead of us…

Went to San Diego Zoo (Rachel W joined!)

Went to Disneyland

Went to the Getty

Went to Hollywood (apparently I was named after Natalie Wood)

Went to Santa Monica 

And to top it off, we saw a taping of the Jimmy Kimmel Live show! (with Matt Leblanc!)

What a trip. Thank you Jesus for making all things possible…I’m exhausted now…

Matthew 5:11

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me,” says Jesus [Matthew 5:11]

If you look at this verse, Jesus is taking the blame for all of those insults that have been directed towards us, because of the things we do for Him…

• Because we [work] for Him, 
• because of the type of [job/internship] we have (missionary, pastor, youth worker),
• because we [love] Him so much, that we would [travel the distance] to do His will.

For those of you who have been insulted [minor or major] all over the world because you are sons and daughters of Christ, and you are out in the harvest field, you are blessed Jesus tells us. Continue to strive with perseverance. 

I was watching The View on ABC. David Hasselhoff’s daughters appeared on the show. They want to be up and coming singers.Whoopi Goldberg had asked them something like, “As you enter into the entertainment industry, how do you feel about all those lies that are put out on the tabloids for the public to see?”

Taylor-Ann Hasselhoff responded, “That’s the smallest price you have to pay, when it’s something you really love.”

And by being a worker for Christ, being insulted by the world IS the smallest price we have to pay. For Jesus already paid the biggest price.

We have nothing to worry about. 

keep on praying

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/vincentstringer

Please keep Vincent Stringer in your prayers this week. Vincent is from my church here in Hawaii (Kapahulu Bible Church). He is a 17 month year old boy who is battling cancer in his liver and lungs (diagnosed in May). Check out the above website to read his story.

“And our HOPE for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our COMFORT.” -Apostle Paul

[2 Corinthians 1:7]

Let’s keep on praying for Vincent and the Stringer Family!

Blessing the community

I know this is quite a late post…But on October 31, 2010, I helped my church here in Hawaii, Kapahulu Bible Church, plan a festival called “Light Up the Night”.

Our vision for the festival was around 300 people. Halloween is a great night to bless our community without all the spooky things, and to let our neighbors know that we appreciate them, so what better way than to throw a FREE carnival with FREE shave ice, FREE prizes, etc etc (in marketing ‘FREE’ is a dominating word!)

We passed out Gospel Magnets (picture below) as the kids entered our church’s parking lot, which was turned into a huge carnival of 8 games, free shave ice, a bunch of lights, gospel balloon show, prizes, and a ton of candy. At the end of the night, we passed out around 550 magnets, so all in all, around 550 people came in and out that night.

I was working at the shave ice booth for a bit, and a girl asked me, “How come you guys are giving this out for free? You should charge people.” And I told her, “It’s because we want to bless you [as Jesus would].” The look on her face was as if things suddenly made sense. [Hopefully it did!]

In Long Beach I used to be apart of planning Halloween and Spring Festivals for some of the kids in Downtown Long Beach who were apart of a mentor/tutoring program. God has done a tremendous work in blessing the community in using me to plan festivals in the past and now present, from having 50 kids attending the festival, to 100, to now 550 here in Hawaii! What is this!?? God does the possible!

“…with God all things are possible.” -Jesus [Matthew 19:26b]

Two girls (Lilly and Kylie) that I knew from KBC Day Camp stopped by.

October Newsletter

Hello All,

Just in case you didn’t get my recent update, here is my newsletter that I just sent out to my supporters. Even though you’re not one of my supporters, I would still like to share with you all what is going on in Hawaii! (I hope you can read this, it might be a bit small).

Enjoy!

wounds that are healed.

There’s something powerful in revealing your wounds and talking about them with others. People need to be healed from their wounds. People need to hear your story.

This past weekend, was CRU’s Fall getaway/retreat at the North Shore. (which was quite amazing!) Our theme for our retreat was “Inside out”. So realizing where you are hurt or wounded, knowing you are not alone, and going to God to be healed.

During Women’s time at retreat, something I realized is that my Dad’s passing is probably my deepest wound. The feeling of being lonely and fatherless.

I’ve told this story of my Dad’s passing countless of times, but only if someone asks me about it. I usually don’t like to tell others because I was scared, I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me, I didn’t want to be different, or be known as the girl without a father.

Sometimes it’s weird because it feels so surreal, like did he really pass? It’s been 7 years since, and I feel like he’s around most of the time, his humor, his caring, and his fatherly-like presence.

When I used to talk about my Dad, I would always start to tear up and get really emotional (which is normal), but during women’s time at Fall Getaway was when I realized that my wound had already been healed. As I shared my story, I felt God releasing me from pain and sadness, and turning it into joy instead. He has allowed me to be strong and confident in sharing my story to bless others with it. Amen.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” - Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 12:9)

The amazing CRU Ohana!