Saturday, May 10, 2014

Things I was Thankful for in China

(about half of my post-its, in no particular order)


  1. 1 John 2:25 ~ And this is the promise that He made to us -- eternal life.
  2. desiring God
  3. how You take what men meant for evil -- and turn it to good
  4. teammates and life together
  5. hanging out with Hilary
  6. Jeremiah 29:12 ~ Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear You
  7. the holiness of God
  8. getting to talk one-on-one in the office with Julie
  9. Danielle asking good q's during O3 (and doing it outside!)
  10. Timge
  11. being an American on this 11th anniversary of 9/11
  12. the awesome dinner & movie night with Kelsey & Tempestt
  13. sharing truth and laughter with my team
  14. the solemn ceremony of convocation at Huawai
  15. toothpaste
  16. 2 Cor 1:4 ~ ...who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction
  17. rock scrambling
  18. everything in Thailand being new
  19. Your promises that are fulfilled beyond our wildest expectations
  20. Sundays full of rest
  21. students who are late to their final because they got locked in their dorm... *facepalm* #loveChina
  22. getting to spend time with Carly's family
  23. getting over being sick
  24. playing crazy games of I Love You Like...
  25. settling back in
  26. sci-fi/fantasy by L E Modesitt
  27. bright flowers growing in Kunming
  28. deep and long conversations with Bridge
  29. Psalm 60:1 ~ O God, You have rejected us, broken our defenses; You have been angry; oh, restore us.
  30. Chan cakes
  31. the music of All Sons & Daughters
  32. awesome travel buddies
  33. the mobilization team and their heart for us and You
  34. that there is a four-hour train to QHD
  35. seeing Candace
  36. how convenient airplanes are
  37. Psalm 22:3 ~ Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
  38. Depreena (when she's tired. And the rest of the time.)
  39. seeing a change in Luther
  40. 1 Peter 5:7 ~ ...casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
  41. rainstorms right as my work week ends <3
  42. missing my sibs
  43. dinner with Grammar
  44. the water working for days!
  45. sharing life stories
  46. calzones!
  47. Proverbs 18:24 ~ A man of many companions comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
  48. the testimony of Ian and Larissa's marriage
  49. seeing so many people at the all-city meeting
  50. 1 John 5:14-15 ~ Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.
  51. having a quilt to rub my face against
  52. speakers that look like minions
  53. Jars of Clay
  54. Gungor
  55. seaweed fights
  56. the peace of a clean apartment
  57. Psalm 72:12 ~ For He delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.  (Teach me compassion.)
  58. having the opportunity to serve my office
  59. Psalm 118:21 ~ I thank You that You have answered me and have become my salvation.
  60. earrings
  61. Three + hours of live mafia
  62. Laughing at Lost in Thailand
  63. seeing stars so brilliant!
  64. Chai
  65. having so much more than I need to survive and a job that I enjoy doing
  66. friends who are willing to look out for my sibs
  67. warmer weather
  68. All of everything being turned in!
  69. being part of a community that loves You and chases You hard
  70. time alone with You
  71. One on Ones
  72. mail: from my family, from Grandmum and Ross, and from Bryana!
  73. getting randomness organized
  74. that You listen to us and respond
  75. That You loved us when we were still enemies
  76. the cablecar ride down from Dragon Gate
  77. the justice of God
  78. meeting other foreign teachers
  79. marvelous gifts from Danielle's spare 'oom
  80. not living somewhere that malaria is a huge concern
  81. Psalm 52:9 ~ I will thank You forever, because You have done it.  I will wait for Your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.
  82. Ib looking like a punk in the new picture
  83. night swim!
  84. That Your Spirit can change our hearts and the hearts of others.
  85. getting feedback from Danielle in our O3
  86. getting to perform for our school
  87. Tim and Jill seeing each other still
  88. House of Faith
  89. Epiphany and that You are King and Savior of all nations.
  90. a package from home
  91. healing
  92. that Your coming makes peace on earth possible
  93. brothers and sisters in the Muslim Quarter
  94. Job 42:5 ~ I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.
  95. phone calls with Jill and how much her English has improved
  96. backpacks
  97. picasa
  98. my whole team is back!!
  99. kebabs, rotee, fruit smoothies
  100. CS Lewis
  101. not having to sit outside in chilly rain at the sports meet
  102. Job 15:11 ~ Are the comforts of God too small for you, or the word that deals gently with you?
  103. Proverbs 20:24 ~ A man's steps are from the Lord, how then can man understand his way?
  104. street food
  105. brownies in a mug
  106. having a full reserve water bucket when I need it
  107. weddings
  108. books
  109. seeing my students and other much beloved students again
  110. Christopher (and the cutest kitten ever)
  111. space in Pudong to sleep
  112. things that didn't change a bit: loud greetings and being offered someone else's candy
  113. honesty in relationships
  114. Changchun A&B and Taiyuan skyping Nanchang!
  115. awesome Australia birthday party!
  116. dancing signs
  117. Kitty's incredible testimony -- and all of the ways You work.
  118. cool hostel-mates (like Lisa!)
  119. Evergreen
  120. feeling like a teacher, not an imposter
  121. having fun doing game day with two classes
  122. origami Christmas trees
  123. randomly meeting other ELIC'ers
  124. seeing the rest of TFP
  125. ceramic knives
  126. dining hall 4
  127. new bread recipes from market2meal
  128. Luke 1:74-75 ~ ...that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
  129. Isaiah 53:5 ~ But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities...
  130. students who say wildly inappropriate things in class
  131. 20000 names... and all the meanings
  132. finishing buying Christmas gifts!
  133. super good food at the sports club
  134. Roger's rockin' art skills
  135. Sundays that are restful (as well as productive)
  136. incredible job possibilities for next year
  137. Xi'an feeling familiar
  138. students returning soon!
  139. incredible potato-bacon chowder
  140. playing Ninja in Kunming
  141. students being genuine in their finals
  142. advent and the sure promise of hope in a dark world.
  143. hot showers
  144. getting things (aka Danielle's kitchen) clean!
  145. advice and Danielle listening
  146. Jordan
  147. plans for Harbin to come!
  148. mascara
  149. apples to apples
  150. Job 11:6 ~ ...know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
  151. that Danielle observed before the dean...
  152. chunks of cheese
  153. Luke 7:47 ~ Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved much.  But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.
  154. prayer
  155. good smells
  156. Colossians 1:12 ...giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
  157. getting to teach my trans class about Marshall McLuhan
  158. lunch with Cassie and Cindy
  159. Mom and CG going to the OPC ladies' retreat
  160. hearing from Eleanor and Erin
  161. how You refresh us through worship
  162. Isaiah 51:3 ~ For Yahweh comforts Zion... joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.
  163. good stories
  164. walking across campus with a student
  165. the photography of Rob Jinks
  166. changing seasons
  167. comfy warm clothes on a chilly, rainy day
  168. highschool friends and how they shaped me
  169. laughing over peas in a pod like no tomorrow
  170. team commitment
  171. Psalm 69:30 ~ I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
  172. the variety at the fabric market
  173. plans for the National Holiday
  174. a sweet birthday gift from Phoenix
  175. beautiful leather journals
  176. that You love me even when my attitude sucks
  177. jeans from the resource library that fit!
  178. youtube (and Flight of the Concords... 3 Little Pigs... Pentatonix...)
  179. Harry Potter
  180. Zeph 3:17 ~ Yahweh your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness...
  181. skyping with Abbie and Rivy
  182. quotes from books
  183. a GIFT from my teammates who went to CBS
  184. a letter from home!
  185. students from Guizhou
  186. 2 Cor 4:17 ~ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison
  187. fresh baked (and frozen) bread ^_^
  188. Loaded Questions
  189. the Harbin girls getting here!
  190. the most dirge-like rendition of "I've Got the Joy" EVER... and ensuing laughter.
  191. anticipation of the National Holiday
  192. fun translation classes
  193. the HCSB translation
  194. a couch cover + quilt
  195. stories of how English names came to be
  196. Tim Keller's sermon
  197. brunch
  198. 1 Thes 5:16-18 ~ Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
  199. mashed potatoes
  200. cookouts with everyone
  201. Colossians 3:15 ~ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful.
  202. mashed (baked potato + salt + milk + garlic + oil)
  203. getting to watch and play with kids!
  204. skype with Tim and him getting a job with ELIC
  205. fireworks
  206. Hebrews 12:28 ~ Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.
  207. talking with coworkers
  208. plans for Danielle to observe a class (and working toward TEFL certification!)
  209. FAOs who look out for us
  210. 1 Thes 5:17 ~ Give thanks in ALL circumstances
  211. encouragement from Bridge
  212. watching HP3 while writing lesson plans
  213. laughter
  214. John Piper and his passion
  215. POD sisterhood

2 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks for reading! I wanted to remind myself of what I was thankful for a year ago, encourage others, and let people see the glimpses of teaching in China that this shows. :)

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