Comments on: People: What are you Thankful for?

By: Kan Lee

Kan Lee — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:08:28 +0000

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.

By: Tina

Tina — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:41:08 +0000

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.

By: Jenn Chen

Jenn Chen — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 06:03:44 +0000

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.

By: Lila

Lila — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 08:57:07 +0000

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.

By: Tiffany Chan

Tiffany Chan — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:59:43 +0000

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.

By: Jason Lu

Jason Lu — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:49:30 +0000

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.

By: Lawrence Wu

Lawrence Wu — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:10:19 +0000

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!

By: Chi Su

Chi Su — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:52:20 +0000

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.

By: Ben Rowe

Ben Rowe — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:47:14 +0000

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!

By: Angel Cheng

Angel Cheng — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:43:51 +0000

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.