Saturday

Walked to the edge of the city to explore a park.

Should do more walking when I eat so much chocolate here.

The office

It's a warm day, but a cool breeze comes through the window. My apartment would be too stuffy and noisy right now so I am thankful for this space.

Final pass at the ms. Feeling tired but God promises to lend us His strength.

Thankful that I am not alone in this.

Local life

Storm on the horizon.

Happy thing when one is already home for the rest of the day and it's so hot and the apartment has no fan.

Weekend lessons

When traveling with my friend's sister, I couldn't help but notice how alike they are in the words they use, and in some of their mannerisms.

But I also noticed that they inherited a portion of their parents' spiritual gifts and blessings too. Their family has a spiritual heritage of generosity and of hospitality. God has blessed them materially, but they are also among the most generous people I've met.

As I was reflecting on this, I wondered if God gave my family a spiritual heritage too. A word came to my mind, and it was "Joy."

It may not always appear true yet, but I'm believing that God can redeem my family and use it to fulfill His purposes.

Because our God is more than able.

Budapest

Lovely city. Livelier than Goettingen. If I were here this summer, I probably wouldn't seek God as much.

This part reminds me a little of Palermo and Rome.

Another test!

On the way to the airport to catch my flight to Budapest, there was an accident at Hanover train station. My first train got very delayed and I couldn't take a train to the airport after arriving in Hanover.

Paid 30 euros for taxi to airport. Ran like mad, just made it but now flight is delayed by 20 minutes. 🤦🏻‍♀

I told myself over and over again to not worry, but I still kinda did.

God is teaching me to trust Him. Practice, practice, practice.

Peter walking on water, and he was afraid. But later, people were healed after Peter's shadow fell on him. We keep our eyes on Jesus.

Steve Furtick: We are too anointed to worry. We need to be worshippers and not worriers!

Amen. Lord, make me a worshipper and not a worrier.

Insomnia

I stick my head out the window when I feel sleepy.

Academic culture

.... it's so toxic that I don't really want to spend a lot of time with other academics.

But I'm also learning that I shouldn't be too quick to abandon friendships. They are so precious.

And with toxic people? Boundaries. But no judging or writing anyone off.

Sacrifice

"Sacrifice isn't something we do for God, but simply setting out the stuff of life for him to do something with. On the altar the sacrificial offering is changed into what is pleasing and acceptable to God. In the act of offering we give up ownership and control, and watch to see what God will do with it. With a deep awareness that the God who speaks life into us also listens when we speak, we put into words the difficulties and delights that we foresee in the hours ahead.... We watch to see what God will do with the assemblage of hopes and fears we set before him." -- Eugene Peterson, Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer.

Space

The school's gym. But it is too far away...

Remember

God is powerful.

God is good.

God cares.

What one sees on a public holiday

Goettingen is so flat it's disorienting.

Beautiful, but flat as a pancake.

Little pleasures

Summer fruits here

Friends who think of you

Okay, no more

When we run from pain, we also run from the God who wants to meet us in that pain.

Saxon Switzerland

Pork pork pork

Mmmm. Schnitzel.

And that was when

My mom voted in the historic election.

I was in Germany when my ballot was mailed to Hong Kong.

Temporary office

My desk isn't as comfortable as my own in HK, but now that it's warmer, I can have the window open and smell the grass.

It's such a blessing.

Peculiarities

The little man is wearing a hat.

Neighborhoods in berlin

White people know how to enjoy life. Asians are too busy making a life.

I'd like to enjoy life too.

Berlin Wall

Pretty cool to finally see it.

Berlin Art

Rooms are decorated with works by local artists.

Prophecy?

Me: I don't want to get fat while I am here.

Friend: it's a foregone conclusion.

Arriving

Praising God for blue skies and fresh air and space.

It's still a little cold though.

From a non-C friend

"Worrying is useless."

Indeed.

So, why do we persist?

New self

So different. But part of the same family.

One of the conclusions we came to during our faculty fellowship group today: "Work is meaningful because we trust God to see what we cannot see."