Thankful for the Opportunity to Serve
Nov 20, 2009
During this time of Thanksgiving reflection, I am amazed at how generously God has enriched my life. As a senior (gasp!) this year, I have been given the privilege of loving and serving those around me and learning to take ownership of the many relationships that God has blessed me with.
A couple of weekends ago, my roommates and I were given the opportunity to host three sophomores from Gracepoint Austin who were here our annual Thanksgiving retreat – Edith, Sheila, and Juri!
Here’s a group picture of them at Ghirardelli (in my hometown! Woot woot!)
Photo courtesy of Suzie Kim
I remember eagerly anticipating their arrival at our house and wondering what they would be like. Honestly, it was still hard for me to picture Asians in Texas! Once they arrived, we eagerly compared tales of each of our ministries and were in awe of how much God has been working actively and faithfully on both of our campuses. It was crazy to think that these were the faces of the students that we were praying for and now they were in my own living room! Even though our time together was short, I’m blessed to have met some of my younger sisters in Austin!
Fulton House with our honorary guests:
I look forward to the Austin team’s next visit! Or a possible visit to Austin… 
i’m so thankful that you guys got to show them our community and just experience this precious moment of seeing the fruits of a church plant ^^
Thank you for showing them such love while they were there. Truly, your actions spoke powerfully to them and all of us. I am really proud to see how you all have grown and matured over the several years since I last was with you guys. It’s hard to believe that time has passed by so fast that you are already SENIORS. (Congrats!) Keep praying for us over here! I will be doing so as well from our end too! Miss you Koinonia Berkeley!!!
I’m so thankful and so proud of you guys! Thank you guys for hosting the Austin sisters! Your love really impacted them very deeply, and your example helped them to see what kind of older sisters they can be to the younger ones here. I can’t believe you’re all seniors now, and every time I go back to visit I’m so amazed at how God’s been so faithful and active in each of your lives. I miss you all!
Hi Ashton!!! I miss you and all Fulton house senior sisters so much!!! You made me and Edith one of the best toasts ever for breakfast(we don’t get to have toaster in our dorms)! Thank you for generously hosting us and for treating us with genuine love and care. We were all deeply moved by your hospitality, and we hoped to be good sisters like you for our younger ones over here in Austin. I now have better idea of what heaven would be like– eternal reunion with all sisters and brothers I love! Thank you for your prayer and I will pray for ya’ll too. Please come visit here sometime. ♥
I’m so proud of you guys in how much you took ownership of them! I’m reminded again that acts of love speak a thousand word!
hey ashton, thank you so much to you and the other sisters who hosted all the girls. I was amazed at the level of hospitality that each of you showed to them, and challenged by it as well. so glad that you guys were able to spend time with them and show them a good time in Berkeley. man, where else could this kind of bonding happen so quickly were it not for the gospel? i hope it will be a cherished memory on both ends for the many years to come when we think about how it all started for our Austin students. Thank you, thank you!