a few weeks ago, my church, boston chinese evangelical church (BCEC), celebrated its 50th anniversary. although i’ve only been attending BCEC for a little less than 1/5 of its existence, i have been immensely blessed by the community here. every time i reflect on how i ended up here in boston, and why i am still in boston 10 years later, i know it is because of this special building on 249 harrison ave. the things that are most dear to my heart, from my small groups to my softball teams, from chinatown ministries to short-term missions, are all deeply rooted in BCEC. without this church, i wouldn’t have found my life-changing mentors, some of my best friends, and i surely wouldn’t have become CEO and president of aznriderz (a group of hardcore, fun-loving snowboarders). =P

i like to think that the 50th anniversary celebration must’ve been like that for the 1000 others who attended the service – a deep reflection of God’s continual faithfulness and goodness to individuals, and also to the community as a whole. it was such a privilege to shoot this joyous event.

thank you, BCEC, for everything you have meant to me. i hope that perhaps i’ll be a good enough photographer to shoot BCEC’s 100th anniversary!

gallery here
and a whole lot more pictures here

not any given sunday on the chinatown basketball courts…

how many people does it take to blow up a balloon? ahem, charles…

yun-yun rocks my world!

one of my favorite songs growing up – if i were a butterfly =)

the founders:

it’s been a really long winter. many people often ask me, when they learn that i grew up in california, why i would ever choose to live in a place with such harsh, cold weather. i have to admit that as depressing as northeastern winters may be, it is the long months of waiting through november to march that makes me appreciate the spring so much more. it makes me happy to no end when i leave work and the sun is still shining. i don’t even mind that during spring, the birds start chirping next to my window at 7 in the morning, or that the blooming flowers are suffocating me with their pollen. opening day in april is one of my favorite days of the year, a sign that summer softball is just around the corner. i love it when it is warm enough i can wear flip flops and drive with my windows rolled down blasting trashy pop music like a true california girl.

i guess life is often like that, too. sometimes, waiting for the next “season” of your life takes much longer than you would like. as i watch my friends and peers around me transition to various life stages, whether it be a career change, a new relationship, starting a family, i often wonder what i’m supposed to be learning through this particular season of my life and when i’ll be “ready” to move on to something else. the process is painful at times, but like bostonian winter, is extremely worth it if you’re able to wait it out.

so here’s a rather long photo post, about my most recent long winter, and the spring that i’m looking forward to just around the corner (those of you who make it to the bottom will receive a hint as to where i’ll be for the next two years!)

after a historic snowfall in boston, auggie and i went on a photo shoot around boston. it was cold.

for a while now, my projects at work have been europe and asia-based, so i’ve been working odd early and late hours. here’s a picture of the frozen charles next to my office at 5am in the morning.

it was so cold that mit built an icewall.

my mother braved the cold and came to visit me in february!

valentine’s day love from mama:

valentine’s day love from friends:

my friends and i celebrated the arrival of spring at the cherry blossom festival in DC:

back in boston, and looking up…

it’s been a while since i last posted. the past half year has been quite crazy – i flew some 50,000 miles around the world, made some major life decisions, and in the process, have had to learn some very difficult lessons. but through it all, i’ve learned that though the scenery around me might change, though my best laid plans may fall apart, i have an unchanging God who loves me very much, and an enduring supporting cast of loving family and friends. for that i am truly blessed, and as i look forward to the new year, i want to thank you all for always being there for me, for giving me hope. here’s for the best in the new year!

red envelopes with “lucky money”

“nian gao,” my favorite!

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV

dear baba – happy birthday! i know this photo collage is not much, but it shows much better than i can ever say all the things i appreciate about you. i love your silliness, your humor, your wisdom, and your everlasting patience towards mama and me. as i look back on my life, i cannot recall a single moment when you have shown me anything but these sides of you. thank you for all that you do. happy, happy birthday with love! – mandy

having had my dslr for 3 years, i often forget the wonderful things you can do with a simple point and shoot. there are just some moments when you can’t lug a huge camera around (snowboarding for example), and it’s such a shame because some of the most breathtaking views are when you least expect it most (who would’ve thought the east coast had decent mountains??). here are a few pics from a fun weekend in killington, VT with my crew:

my point and shoot can capture reflections!

for more pics, see my picasa here.