My Heart Is Full

Deciding what to share on a blog can be slightly overwhelming. Some blogs come easily, but other times, I question myself. 

For me, this blog fulfills several purposes: to keep friends and family up to date on the Dingus family members, as well as share every day life living as an expat. I also hope that by sharing my thoughts and stories that someone somewhere in the world will be inspired to step out of their comfort zone or even better, make a decision to live life daily with Jesus.

Despite the separation from family and long work hours, I am so gratefully to be a part of this community. I have the opportunity to teach, disciple, and mentor the next generation. Who knows where God will take these students of mine or how He will use them to bless the nations of the world? 

Storybook Character Day!

This is such a privilege, as well as a responsibility that I don't take for granted. It is such a blessing to see God's kids growing both physically and spiritually.

The physical growth is easy to see. Especially since most students tend to measure their height in comparison to mine. And, yes, a few do pass me up by the end of 2nd grade.

The spiritual growth is often harder to gauge. Seeds being planted, those seeds being watered. It all takes place deep in the heart and souls of those sensitive to the moving of God's spirit.

Today this drawing of the Holy Spirit became visible!

I was deeply touched as one of my current students demonstrated obedience to the word of God through baptism. 

During the main service, each person being baptized was asked to share their testimony. While intimidating for most, my student joyfully stepped up to the microphone to make a confession of faith. He shared his choice to follow Jesus, as well as his love for God's word, which he faithfully reads every day.

While God has an amazing plan for each one of us, I am truly excited about where God will take this young man.

His love for his Savior and God's word sets an example for us all to follow. 

I see a faith and a love that far surpasses his young age; a faith and love for God's word that we all should strive to obtain. 

"Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Mark 10:15

Today,  my heart is full.

Week Without Walls

Thankfulness

Every time I get on Facebook, I see it.

People making a list for the things they are thankful for.

It reminds me that the calendar has advanced into the eleventh month- November. The month of Thanksgiving.

While there are many traditional Chinese holidays that touch on being thankful, there is no holiday quite like our American Thanksgiving. Of course, to many Americans, this holiday has simply become a celebration of family and food. Not bad things, but I hope, that at least in my heart, my family,  and my community the central message of this holiday hasn't been blurred.

Fortunately, even though we live in a culture very unlike our own, we still have the opportunity and the means to also pause, with friends and family.

While I am not participating in the thankful each day challenge currently on social media, I would like to share a few things I was thankful for this week.

My week didn't have a great beginning! Over the weekend, I had a major allergy reaction to celery, of all things. The rash was extensive and extremely itchy. But, this leads me to the first of my reasons to be thankful. 

Doctors and medicine. 

Although I don't always get Taiwanese medicine and the thought process that goes into their methods, I was extremely grateful for easy accessibility of medical attention and medicine. I walked into the village doctor's office, waited three minutes and walked out again five minutes later with the medicine I needed to rid my body of the offending substance. By Monday, I was sane again. Which is good since the second of my eye procedures was scheduled for Monday morning. Once again, while I don't understand their methods and reasoning, the laser procedure was completed successfully and at a minimal cost a fraction of what I would have paid in America.

Best thing- I CAN SEE CLEARLY AGAIN!

This is a great thing!

And, I honestly cannot put into words how thankful for modern medicine that allows me to continue functioning as a normal productive adult. God is so good!

On Wednesday, our school had a K12 chapel. Each year, the entire school body gathers to hear about the Christmas project. 

I am particularly thankful for this year's project. I think it is a need that our students can really get behind from the youngest kindergartners to the seniors preparing to head off to college.  Our goal is to raise enough money to support 7 babies and 7 college students for one year. The babies are the most recent children rescued by Heart of Africa from the streets and poverty of  Swaziland. The college students are from JiBei, one of Taiwan's smaller islands. A place where money to further one's education is practically nonexistent. What an amazing opportunity to share the blessings God has bestowed upon our community with those less fortunate. I can't wait to witness the creativity and determination that will take place over the next six or seven weeks as we strive to attain this goal!

I am also very thankful for the students God has given me this year!

While I have always been thankful for the children God has placed in my life, this year's students seem to have a spiritual depth or understanding of the deeper things of God. They go beyond the obvious to see the message, the truth of God's word. And, the best part, is I get a front row seat!

I also had an opportunity to be part of our fall sport's recognition. I am thankful my children were educated in an environment that sees them as a whole child, not just an academic, or athletic, or artistic being, but a combination of all these things and more. The opportunities they have been given far exceed what they might have had if we chose to ignore God's calling seven years ago.

This morning Jacob left with a group of juniors, seniors, and adult leaders for a week long mission ministry trip to an impoverished area of the Philippines. Last spring, Jake participated as junior, but this year he was chosen as a senior leader. This has given him a chance to exercise leadership skills in a way that he has never had to before. But, he and the other two senior leaders, did a fabulous job preparing the juniors to step out into ministry. 

Getting up at 5am on a Sunday morning isn't a natural thing, especially for a teen!

I have seen a depth, a maturity emerge from this son of mine, that I did not know was there. I am beyond thankful for those who saw that in him and took the time to nurture and develop it. This is an opportunity not many American teens are given. 

I am anticipating so many more reasons to be thankful over the next several weeks. I often overlook the obvious, passing up chances to pause and exercise gratitude for the many blessings of our creator God!

How about you?

What are you thankful for today?