What are you thankful for regarding the topic of people? We hope you have been filling out the 21 days of thanksgiving chart. If you have an entry regarding the topic of people, please share it with us by adding a comment to this post.
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Nov 11, 2009
Salvation: What are you thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of salvation? We hope you have been... -
Nov 10, 2009
People: What are you Thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of people? We hope you have been... -
Nov 09, 2009
Church: What are you Thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of church? We hope you have been... -
Nov 07, 2009
Nature: What are you Thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topic of nature? We hope you have been... -
Nov 06, 2009
Material/Physical Blessings: What are you Thankful for?
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Other: What are you thankful for?
What are you thankful for regarding the topics other than the ones listed?? We hope...
I’m thankful for all the guys who work in SF downtown together along with me. I’m thankful that we can eat together for lunch, as it creates a clear break in the day where I can be free from the worldliness of work and work culture and spend refreshing time with my friends. I’m thankful for Erickson, Bruce, Mike, Steve, Larry, and Chris, that we can eat together and not be isolated during the work week.
I’m very thankful for Seong-Ae JDSN, who was the Children’s Dept director at Gracepoint Berkeley over 15 years ago. Even though it was so long ago, I still remember going to her house with the other kids, sleepovers, home made dinners, listening to her messages, and the countless other things that she did to express her love for us. Looking back, I’m just so thankful for her presence during my younger years, as it was just a really hard time for my family and it was a difficult upbringing. God really provided a safe haven for me through her and I’m just so thankful.
I’m also very thankful for my mom who brought me to church at a young age. Even though my father and sister were not Christian and hardly went to church, she was faithfully bringing me every Sunday and also brought me to join the children’s friday activities at Seong-Ae JDSN’s house. She has persevered through so much hardship in her life, and I’ve come to realize that God has been redeeming everything that she’s gone through in her life, to make her a more compassionate, selfless, patient, sacrificial person. I’m so thankful that God rescued my mom and brought her to salvation, and then He used her to draw me closer to Him.
I’m so thankful for the outpouring of love and prayers that I’ve received from the countless leaders and older sisters at this church. God has used each of them to minister and love me and I’m so thankful, and I realize that I’ve been entrusted with so much that I need to steward well and then pass on to others.
I thank God for the missionaries who set up the E-Wha Women’s University in Korea, as mentioned in Susanna’s testimony at the Thanksgiving Retreat. My mother often referred to her years there and the mandatory chapel times she had attended. In the difficulty during the years after immigrating as a single mom with two young children, she recalled the hymn, “Nearer My God to Thee” that she had learned at E-Wha. After a long hard day of manual labor, she would listen to it to seek peace. Even recently, at age 72 and in frail health after years of chemo and surgeries from cancer, she still sings it and other hymns, and clings to God in prayer. And, I can testify that these words became true in her life today.
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I’d be
nearer, my God, to thee;
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
I’m thankful for my peers. There’s a general consensus among us that some of us would’t be friends with one another and some of us wouldn’t have any friends at all if it weren’t for God and this church. It amazes me how up to four years ago I lived an isolated and apathetic life but now I am connected to so many people. I’m thankful for these relationships through which I learn to love and receive love, lose myself, and experience fellowship.
I’m thankful for Chuck Colson who wrote so many wonderful books like Good Life, Loving God, and The Body. I am also thankful for Joshua Harris who wrote books like Not Even a Hint and I Kissed Dating Good Bye. I’m thankful for the fact that there are so many wonderful Christian authors – CS Lewis, Tim Keller, Henry Nouwen, Elizabeth Elliot, Bill Hybels, etc. I am also thankful for many Christian artists – Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Joe Horness, whose songs inspire me and life up my spirits. I am truly part of the body of Christ where I get to experience the blessings of so many other talented brothers and sisters in Christ.
i’m thankful for andy and jammy and the team of brothers that worked over 100 man hours to upholster the chairs. all of them learned the skill of pulling apart fabric and then meticulously upholstering the chairs. i’m thankful for their hard work! now we have brand new looking chairs at NL!! thank you brothers!!
Over this last year I was able to see this church at work in different ministries. I’m just really thankful for the youth teachers and their hard work and sacrifice, so that they may see this youth group be a great ministry. All these teachers have a heart for the youth and I just thank them for the desire to serve God, for I know that all these teachers left the comfort of their own ministry so that we could have something known as Element and Interhigh. Without the effort that they put into this ministry, this youth group would truly have crumbled a long time ago. Thank you Pastor Will and T. Esther for the decision to lead this youth group. I ‘m really grateful because despite the group that you guys had to lead, you left that all so that you may train this youth group into being future leaders. I have learned many things from youth group and I don’t want to stop because I know that all this didn’t have to be, no youth group, teachers, or even InterHigh. It was all by the faithfulness to God and sacrifices that I am able to experience all these things such as small group Interhigh, Element, selflessness, love, and meaning relationships at this group. This is a place were people can just get past there insecurities and just be open with one another. I thank the teachers for their warm presence in this group, always willing to serve and have an open ear for those who need to talk to someone. Truly we have something great here, God has given us so much, so more should be expected, we as a youth group need to step up and embrace all that God has in store for us. Can’t wait for the future, and what it has in store for us. This youth group is maturing fast, so we must increase our pace so that God can truly work in us.
TY PASTOR WILL, T.ESTHER, AND TEACHERS!
I LOVE YOU!
Our God Provides
I’m so thankful for all my leaders at Gracepoint who have had some hand in shaping me. In chronological order: Gina Han, Sue Yi, Jeannie Lee, Kelly Kang SMN, Michelle Sun SMN, Jiseon Choi, Sunny Kim… They have pretty much seen every side of me, and yet somehow maintain their sanity.
I don’t know where I would be had it not been for their loving perseverance in my life ever since my freshman year when I arrived on the Berkeley campus, a clueless only child so amazed that anyone older would actually want to pay attention to me! I especially fondly remember the times as a freshman and sophomore when Gina Han would pick me up every week just to take me out to a cafe like Berkeley Espresso to study together or to go to our old Alcatraz building for prayer band, and her prayers for me would be so uplifting because I was able to connect with God more intimately and learn how to pray. Also, she had initially helped me understand what it means to be a sinner during a prayer meeting right before the 2001 winter retreat, and during the car ride up to the retreat site. I don’t know if she knows, but that prayer time with her and the conversation we had in the car was pivotal for my salvation decision at the retreat… So thankful that God had brought her and her guidance in my life during those early years!
I’m thankful for my brother, who invited me to NSWN in 2007. I’m thankful that he told others about me and for the SF staff who prayed for me., that he called me that day when I got lost on campus, and for how he introduced me to a bunch of his friends and leaders, who encouraged me to join a small group! My life drastically changed after that and I’m so thankful for how my brother took ownership over my life.
As I was having my DT today in 1 Corin. 4, I was so thankful for such heroes of faith like A. Paul who really lived out what he preached that to follow Christ entails suffering, hardship, persecution, even hunger/thirst & no place to lay my head and to simply expect that as my Lord Jesus said. But to be reminded that there is God’s glory at the end of such suffering.
To see how God provided Him with the strength needed to endure all that he encountered, reminded me that God will do the same in my life.
I am thankful for my peers with whom I can share and pray.
I’m thankful for this body of Christ. I’m thankful for my leaders and older sisters who have persevered in loving me and demonstrated, not only in words, but through their steadfast lives of faith how to become a more godly woman. I’m thankful that I can be unemployed and in Praxis. Otherwise, I would not get to see the staff and ‘09 sisters as much as I have. I’m thankful that I have younger sisters to love and to be loved by.
I’m thankful for all my brothers and sisters in Davis! I think about how I was the past 12 years and how everyone has put up with me. I’m grateful for our church that was key in me understanding this Gospel, who God is and understanding what grace means. I’m thankful for my leaders there how have been patient with me (P. Joong, Susanna SMN, P. Timothy and Alice noona, and many more), my peers (Jacob and Ming), the sound team (love you guys!) and the rich relationships that I am able to have with many older and younger brothers and sisters.
I’m so thankful for my A2F peer brothers, for their love, forgiveness, encouragement, prayers and much more these past 2 years. I’m thankful that even though Alex and I are in the dorms by ourselves, their spirits are really here with us through their prayers and visits! I don’t know what I’d do without them…
I’m so thankful for the freshmen God has placed in my life this semester! Seeing them grow closer to each other, coming out to Bible Study more consistently, some taking Course 101…etc, has been the biggest source of encouragement and blessing in my life. I feel like through ministry I’m receiving so much more than what I’m giving, which is just so profound and hard to understand, and I’m so thankful to God that He has allowed me to witness his redemptive work in this fallen world.
I’m thankful for my roommates, that I can eat late night food with them and bond with them after TC practice. If I wasn’t Christian, I would definitely not be eating with other people late night.
I’m thankful for my wife who puts up with my many flaws and shortcomings.
I’m thankful for my high school friends, Jodi Zercher, Kara Maupin and Christy Olson, without whom I would not have become a Christian. They invited me out to their youth group and church, they met me weekly to answer my questions, they read through the Book of John with me and explained who Jesus is to me and shared their testimonies with me. And they are still godly women now, serving in various capacities at their churches.
I am thankful for Bev Dailey, the founder of Kids Club in San Jose. I thank God for leading us to her. I was thankful for our meeting with her because of our shared values and heart for children. 16 years ago, she started praying for the opportunity to reach her childrens’ elementary school. After 3 years of prayer, they started a kids club in the school cafeteria after school. Basically, she runs a bible study and small group time at the school. Now she runs these kids club at 30 schools in the san jose serving over 2000 kids. I was challenged by her child like faith to obey whatever God commanded her. I was challenged that she gave up her real estate job and a comfortable life to be engaged in this ministry. Because her husband works, she’s able to spend her time running this ministry. I was challenged because she doesn’t gain anything from this ministry as she helps other churches reach these kids. She doesn’t receive any financial help but is giving herself full-time for the kids. I was thankful for the opportunity to visit one of the kids club meeting. It was amazing seeing 250 kids run after school into the cafeteria to hug their small group leader. Watching these kids sing “Get down” and listening to a bible study was amazing. She said that God uses ordinary people to do great things for God. It is amazing what great work God is doing through Bev. I am thankful for people like Bev who passionately obey God to expand God’s kingdom and spur me to follow hard after God. I pray that God will open doors for us to reach the children in the Alameda, Berkeley and Oakland areas.
Thankful for Pastor Ed and Kelly and how God used them in my life. I’ve never met a pastor couple like them before coming to college, where they have such an open, welcoming home. As a freshman, I felt like I was always over at their home for the “Let there be dinner” times (sigh, those were really fun times!), and the “Let there be lunch” in the union building and I would sometimes skip class just to go! (shhh!…) I also remember we went through Genesis during TFN, and the human condition, and I never heard anything like that before and forced me to really assess what it means to be a Christian. Kelly was also a pivotal presence in my life during a particularly hard struggle, and her demonstrating the heart of God, which brought me to a deeper understanding of God’s grace in my life and the preciousness of the gospel. So thankful that they are people that I can trust who are wholeheartedly serving God and upholding truth, and set an example of hearts being stretched to love even more people in their lives.
Thankful for my peers as Eugene and I just had a chance to visit them in Berkeley last week. Thankful for their support and just taking care of us, giving us places to sleep at, taking us out for meals and just spending time with us. Thankful for the years of history that we have!
Thankful for Pastor Ed and Kelly and the directors who lead our church. Thankful for their zeal that keeps our lives exciting and that keep pushing our church to do more (esp. as I think about new church plants) and not settle for status quo. Thankful for their faithfulness through the years, through the ups and downs, through the joys and burdens and sorrows of ministry. Thankful ultimately for their leadership under which I proudly serve as together we try to glorify God and carry out His kingdom work!
Thankful for all the people who have and are currently serving here in Taiwan with us. I think about many missionaries who serve alone on the mission field and they pray for years before they get coworkers but it is never a shortage here at our church. Thankful for all the wonderful memories that we build as we see each other 24/7 here in Taiwan. =)
Thankful for Daemin, leading prayer band in SF. It is a blessing to have someone older and wiser giving proper perspective in prayer and directing my prayer.
thankful that our church tries to be people who don’t consider their time their own… small example: this morning, i was busy with a group meeting for school, didn’t have a chance yet to pick up a birthday cake for a student’s birthday, texted out to some of our staff sisters if anyone had candles, and Sarah texts back she has some and by the way, do I want her to pick up the cake since she’s at Randall’s anyway? I had to call her back just to say thank you so much. But this kind of stuff happens all the time, from big to small, and I’m so thankful that there is this deeper kind of unity where thinking about how can I maximize my time for others is being ingrained in us.
I am thankful for Lillian and Thanh for writing such good entries!!!
I can read this blog forever!
I am thankful for all the creative people in our body!
Aritistic ones who come up w/ beautiful designs, word art, etc, musical ones w/ talent for singing and playing instruments,
ones w/ writing skills that help write the web content, put up meaningful blogs, scripts for skits, etc,
ones w/ tech know how to give us wonderful atmosphere for sws…
all these people whole heartly giving all they have for the benefit of this body and His kingdom!! Especially the ones w/ great sense of humor…they brought so much fun and joy yesterday as we celebrated God and his work for the past year at TC.
I am thankful for Myra! If you know her, you know why.
I’m thankful for godly Christian authors like Jerry Bridges (his 80th birthday next month), John Stott, J.I. Packer, Tim Keller, Richard Foster, Rosalind Rinker and C.S. Lewis for writing good, hearty, Christian books that serve to teach, shape and encourage me.
I’m thankful for all who helped make TC happen! It was not only great fun to dance and sing along with praxis where I was able to better fellowship with others, but it also allowed for an “excuse” for my good non-Christian friends to come out to a Christian event. Although they mainly wanted to support me and see me act goofy on stage, I really pray that they were personally impacted by the powerful messages of giving thanks (through the personal sharings and awesome praise band) and of receiving thanks given by Pastor Ed, by the way we really joyfully gave thanks to God through TC, and by the people they met during the very warm and scrumptious meal so that they would become more open to Christianity. I am thankful that they seemed to really enjoy the night! I am really thankful for all the ‘09 sisters who opened their homes to me to crash in Fri-Sun – although very tired, they still made every effort to make sure my stay was comfortable. Such a community of selfless and loving believers I really am thankful for!
There are so many people I’m thankful for that I don’t know where to begin! Well, let’s start at the beginning, with someone I’ve known for my whole life since I’ve had consciousness. I’m eternally grateful for Ray Choi, homegroup lead for one of the Koinonia groups. Ray and I grew up in the same church down in LA, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve looked up to him in almost every imaginable way possible.
Ray is a year older than me, and when I visited Cal as a HS senior, he was faithfully attending Gracepoint and brought me to my first TFN. When I decided to attend Cal, church was one of the last things on my mind, and I am certain that if not for everything Ray did for me during that dark time in my life, I would not be here today, and I certainly would not be Christian. Even though I continued to brush him off, ignore his calls, and turn my back on his invitations to church and Bible study, Ray never gave up on me. I distinctly remember a conversation we had over a kimchi jjigae dinner, where Ray really challenged me to take my spiritual life more seriously and to put God in His proper place in my life. Because of conversations like this, I was eventually brought back to the church and to God. I now know that Ray even prayed for me over the phone with my freshman year leader.
I consider him my guardian angel, as God has used him in such a powerful way in my life. Even though we don’t get to spend much time together, Ray continues to serve as a role model who inspires me to hunger after God and His word. Thank you God for placing Ray in my life!
I’m thankful for the people who work at the DCs, who labor hard everyday to feed thousands of students. Though we students often complain about how bad the food is, they do spend a lot of time and energy preparing it, and I’m thankful that they do.
I guess first of all, I’m thankful for Pastor Ed because He kept urging us to share our gratitude and emphasized the blessing it brings to both the recipient and the person that’s grateful. I wasn’t going to post because I figured maybe what I’m grateful for wasn’t significant to others or I’d say it wrong, but after Pastor Ed’s message I figured that was selfish and cowardly. So first of all I’m grateful for Pastor Ed’s insight and truth about gratitude.
So I just wanted to thank God for the unwavering faithfulness of my mother and father. My mom and dad got married at quite a young age after finishing college and had my older brother, Josh. When he was less than a year old, in 1986, they packed up all they owned and served as Lutheran missionaries in rural villages in Nigeria. Me, my twin sister, and younger brother were born and raised there. They planted several churches, but in 1995, my mother faced severe health complications and they were forced to return to the US. Because my parents had been out of the country for so long and the currency exchange rate from Nigeria was so bad, when we came back, we were extremely poor. We stayed with my grandmother for a short time then moved to a two bedroom apartment in Los Angeles. The four of us kids in one room and my parents in the other. I still remember those days, my father had earned a Masters degree, but still could not get a job so he worked as a flower delivery guy and a pizza delivery guy. I still remember him coming home exhausted and I’d ask him 7 year old questions about his day and he’d try to smile and say it was alright. After several years, he and my mom began teaching at a local private elementary school. They taught for a number of years, then they were offered pastoral positions at a small church in Pasadena we had been attending for a number of years. All throughout our high school and middle school years they served with that church–at times sacrificing time to be with us so that they could spend time with struggling people in the church. Looking back on it, my parents were always open to interruptions. Three times we took in people from our church who were in need: we housed a man and his two sons for several months until they got back on their feet, we housed a homeless man found him a job and reunited him with his family, and we housed another woman for several months until she could provide some stability for herself. I never thought to look back and think of the courage that it took my parents. Though some of the people my parents loved and cared for still struggled with sins and addictions after they left our home, my parents never expressed any regret for having taken them in.
As I was leaving for college, my parents very sadly, and regretfully resigned from the church because of some irreconcilable relational difficulties and difference in ministry goals. As I started college, some poor investment decisions left our family on hard times once more. At that time, my parents were still trying to disciple some of the people who they had built up a relationship with over the years. I remember bitterly chatting with my older brother that my parents would still be involved in any kind of ministry after having suffered so much in the midst of it. And in the midst of financial uncertainty, they still met with and counseled the people they felt like God had called them to love and serve. Their faithfulness and my selfishness in these times was really convicting for my salvation testimony winter of 2007.
Today they are teaching full time. Last time I was home, I was struggling a great deal with what it means to be a Christian and how to relate to God, and I remember chatting with my dad about these things on my way to the airport and he said something which I don’t think I’ll ever forget. He said, “You know, the other day someone asked me my long-term goals, and it got me thinking about my situation. By all worldly standards, it would seem like my life hasn’t really amounted to anything, our family is struggling and I’m working a job where it is really hard to minister to anyone, but if in 5 years, I’m closer to God than I am today, I’ll be happy. That’s it-that’s all that really matters.”
As I talk more and more of my peers and others who have family who are lost, I am especially grateful that God would give me such faithful parents. Without their example of faithfulness and encouragement, I do not know the depths to which sin would have devoured me before I met this community of faith. I am grateful that I can love and serve God freely without ever having to wonder about their approval.
I’m thankful for the freshmen brothers that I’ve been given the privilege of reaching out to and serving and for all of my leaders who so patiently and lovingly guided me during college. I remember my freshmen year and how much love and attention was poured into me. Now that I am on the other side, I realize how much sacrifice it took to love me and my peers in such concrete ways and all of the struggles we must have cost our staff. I’m now an example to these guys, for better or worse, and this class has challenged me to grow in my spiritual maturity and commitment to the Gospel.
I am thankful for my peer Robin Chang, who made probably the biggest impact on me when we were undergrads. As roommate, she has put up with my obsessive cleaning habits; as classmate, she has put up with my competitiveness and nerdiness; as sister in Christ, she has shared my spiritual burdens and struggles, and, in return, encouraged and comforted me. She has so graciously loved me despite all my shortcomings and showed me love that is only possible in a God-centered relationship. I am so grateful that God has placed her in my life to always speak the truth in love.
As I reflect on how much I’ve been given, I realize again how undeserving I am of all the peers and older people God has placed in my life. Being someone who finds it hard to relate with girls, I am so thankful that I was brought to a church where these relationships were emphasized. Although there are many many people to be thankful for, I wanted to thank my small group. My small group has had to put up with so much from me, and I am so thankful for their patience and love despite my ways. Truly, God has worked so much among us. I see now that God brought us together for a reason, and I look forward to many years growing and sharing with them. I’m thankful for Sij despite our difficulties to reconcile our past, that she has persevered to love me by keeping up with me, even sending me e-cards at random times in the day or making a heart shape even though I get grossed out. I’m thankful for Tina, who consistently asks me how I’m doing with a puppy dog smile, and who always has time to go out for boba to talk and pray. I’m thankful for Ellen, who adds so much color to our sg, with her African music and neon colored shoes, and how she treats me the same despite my faults and always has a huge hug waiting for me everytime I see her. I’m thankful for Kelly, who always has a spare moment to listen and talk, and is always so open about her own struggles (and is always down for LOTR =D) I’m thankful for Diana who cooks amazing Mexican food and always is so cheerful no matter if she has a midterm the next day or not. I’m thankful for Judy, whose Chinese has helped me on numerous occasions, and whose intellecutal discussions really challenge me to think more. I’m thankful for Teresa who I can relate with on a lot of levels, especially as we are the same major, and I’m thankful at her honesty about where she’s at and her persistence to find the Truth of the gospel. Lastly, I’m so thankful for my roommate Angela, who has been such a source of love and forgiveness to me, who has seen me at my worse yet loves me as Christ did. These are the girls I will cherish and count as the treasures in my storehouse, the ones I’m so undeserving of and never thought I could get close to entering college. Yet, through God’s amazing grace, we have learned what it means to love one another and submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Praise God!
I’m so thankful to God for letting me get closer to Dawnja this year. She is not only a true friend, she’s my spiritual companion, compassionate shoulder to lean on and sunshine in my moments of darkness. I can’t get enough of Dawnja-bonding-time. I love all the late night talks we have until 2 AM, all the meaningful walks we take and the engaging conversations that challenge my preconceived ideas. When I am around her, I can’t help but see the world in a totally new, optimistic light. I hope we have many more precious moments together, and we may stay friends for life. <3
I am thankful for my peer sister Francesca Limanto for her willingness to give even though she just recently joined our small group. I am really grateful for her willingness to drive us junior sisters around because none of us have a car, and also for her helpfulness to whatever things that we want to do together as a group. I am so thankful for her willingness to get to know us even though she just recently transferred from Davis and this is a completely new environment for her.
God, You’ve blessed me more than any other kid in the world. My dad guides me and leads me in the right direction. He never is at a loss for encouragement and always finds a way to see the bright side of things. Even when the glass is nearly empty, he is quick to point out that at least there is some water left. He’s never been abusive and he’s been the best role model of how to love his wife, my mom, that a son could ever ask for. He works with a purpose and sacrifices his time away from the family so that we can live in prosperity and never be at a lack for anything. Sometimes I don’t know if a wiser earthly father exists- his advice to me seems like it comes straight from heaven’s wisdom treasury. I am so thankful that he sees the good in me, notices my talents, and encourages me to be a good steward of the gifts you have given me. My dad never tries to take credit for the work he’s done, but instead makes a point to playfully brag about me and my brothers in front of other people while we are present- how special and treasured this makes me feel! He has worked so hard as a father and invested his time, emotion, money, soul, and energy into me.
To say that I’ve been inspired by his hard work and sacrifices is a gross understatement. I’ve watched him, often in awe and bewilderment, come home after a hard day’s work, obviously exhausted, and clean the dishes the rest of the family ignored or neglected to take care of simply because he loves me and my family. He personifies the statement “love is a sacrifice”. He has taken that statement to heart, chewed it up, digested it, and brought a whole new, visible, palpable meaning to it at home when seemingly petty sacrifices make small differences, but point toward his deep rooted understanding of love, which is so firmly grounded in his sacrifice for us. He never wavers in this: his love for me and my family in word, and at most especially, in deed. My dad has been a beautiful earthly example of how You, my heavenly father love us. Thank you, God for my Dad!
I’m thankful for the three Juniors – Shufei Lei, Dan Chiang, and Ben Park – who worked as security monitors in my dorm freshman year. They got to know me, talked with me about the meaning of life, and invited me to come to church. It wasn’t until two years later at my baptism that they told me that before they started working there, they prayed that God would lead them to that one freshman in that dorm who is lost that they can love and reach with the gospel. And I turned out to be that one freshman.
I’m thankful for my good friend Will Wu. Eunice Kim was telling me the other day how during SK1 she shared the testimony that Will wrote about our relationship and my road to salvation. Then when I was at Kofman setting up for TC Saturday night, a couple people stopped me and said, “Wow I didn’t know you and Will have known each other for so long!” I do forget sometimes the special bond Will and I share. I’m so thankful that he’s been that good friend growing up, someone I could trust. Knowing him definitely made me more willing to come out my freshman year and lowered barriers I had to Christianity. I’m thankful for his faithfulness for his praying for me and my salvation. I remember it was only 2 years ago, one sunny morning during winter break in a parking lot outside Starbucks after we did DT together that I told him, “Will, I became a Christian last night.” His jaw dropped and we started tearing up and we hugged each other and I still remember him saying to me, “Law, there’s angels in heaven right now throwing a party.” So God, thank you so much for placing Will in my life!
I’m really thankful for my parents. In finally coming home, I just am amazed of how much my parents love me and care for me. But at the same time, I am also reminded from just noticing how they seem older than when I last saw them that time is short and is passing quick and it is my obligation as the only Christian in my family to help them receive the Gospel. I do hope that I can now return all the love they gave to me by giving them the greatest gift I have also received. Hope that during my short time home I can be a loving son to them so that they can see Jesus living in me.
I am thankful for Myra, Jenny, Kevan, Jacqui, Carol, Jon, Ellen and John and all the staff who stayed in Alameda/Berkeley for Thanksgiving. If it were not for them, Thanksgiving would be kinda sad because the break is too short for the international students to go home. Instead, each year, Thanksgiving in Berkeley is joyful and meaningful. I would really like to thank Myra for letting us sleepover at her place and eat all of her persimmons
, etc. Also would like to thank Kevan and Jenny for cooking us very yummy Thanksgiving lunch AND dinner, letting us hang out at their place playing King Kong Shower (twice), and sharing about who we’re thankful for (I felt blessed by everyone’s sharing). Although the staff deserve a nice, relaxing break from work, they immediately invited students to their homes and took very good care of us 
The thought that the staff did NOT have to spend their Thanksgiving break with college students really touches me, and I feel very grateful for all of them.
people that I am thankful for:
Esther Park, for bringing me out to church, for being my spiritual buddy, even if we do go to difference schools now.
my youth teachers,: Julie & Jim, Ben & Elise, Mina, Bessie, Theresa, Danielle, Linda, Matt, Ben, Paul, Danny, Jason, John for working unbelievably hard to make Element a place where I (and all the other youth) could learn about God. Through them, I learned what living a Christian life looked like in a real, everyday way.
the younger sisters in youth and the older Kairos sisters with whom I can have deep, God-centered relationships with.
Kairos staff: John & Eunice, Jackie, Lois, Jessica, Joyce, Nelson, Joel, Jacob & Angela, Steve & Eunice, Laura, Richard & Jeanne, Dora, Richard L., Abe, Hartie, Michelle, Kaitlyn, Ellen, Roy, Jeff, Josh, Lawrence, Rick & Sue, Will, Jon, Andy & Amy, Richard D., and Albert for being so welcoming to Esther and I, even though we are gone nine months out of the year.
Albert & Janice Lee, who lead Bridgeway’s Santa Cruz campus ministry. They drive form San Jose to Santa Cruz multiple times a week, just to lead small groups, SK2 and Bible study with us.
Pastor Chris and Sally, who open their home up to 20+ college students before our broomball night and come up to Santa Cruz to help with bible studies once a month.
I’m thankful for Nancy, who is in charge of food prep for TFN. For Thanksgiving, I was in charge of making six dishes with only two girls to help me, and as I was stressing over the different details of food prep, I realized how much effort goes into planning these things. I’m thankful for all that Nancy pours into doing food prep, the patience with which she directs us, and the attention she gives to even the smallest details. I’m thankful for these opportunities in which I can help out and get trained up to do more and more at this church.
I’m thankful for Pastor Ed and Kelly, whom if not for their decision years ago to serve the Lord as pastor and pastor’s wife, if not for their constant sacrifice through denying their own rights for the sake of others, if not for their persistence in presenting the gospel clearly in their own lives, if not for their faithfulness in loving and discipling others to raise up this generation, if not for their humility and courage to follow God’s leading, I would not have such a rich inheritance of relationships and culture, of the clarity and love of the gospel, and ultimately a life that has been greatly redeemed and changed toward God since I stepped foot on this campus. Thank you, Pastor Ed and Kelly nmn, for being examples for me and for others who are ahead of me, for giving your lives to the Lord. I am a life that was changed.
I am thankful for all the people that God used to loved me and bring me to him. First, my Christian grandma who prayed for me over the years, missionary doctor who operated on my cleft lip and palate, my parents who sent me to a Christian high school, my Christian high school teachers, coaches who devoted so much of their time and energy to love us very unlovable teenagers, and Richard Park, Eugene, Pastor Manny, Patrick, Steve Kim, who worked closely with me through the years at this church. As I look back at my life, I realize I would not be able to be here if it weren’t for these people. There are so many stories of how these loved and guided me. I am just so thankful that God has richly blessed me with these relationships.