New year

 2013 - you've been interesting. Not all bad, but not my favorite.

However, you did teach me a lot about myself. Not all good things... But starting points for growth.  

You've brought new friendships and rekindled old ones. You took me to a foreign country for 2 months and challenged me in more ways than I thought were possible. You showed me that I get more anxiety and culture shock from starting university in America than I ever felt living in a foreign country.  You showed me that I have a long ways to go in learning to love people like Jesus did.

You reminded me how blessed I am.  

You reminded me that God is still gracious and loves me, a reality which continues to blow my mind and shape my life. 

You reminded me that an ocean, a culture difference, and a language barrier doesn't change your love for me or others- and reminded me of the blessing of hearing an Asian believer pray to the same God in their native language. 

You reminded me that "not all those who wander are lost." (Tolkien)  So, in a continued season of wandering, I know this:  God is faithful.