It is officially the last day of 2021. It has been 2 years since I studied abroad and 1 year since I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in History with a concentration in Social and Cultural. This year was certainly full of ups and downs. I was tested positive for COVID-19 this past January and early February. I was quarantined in my parents’ bedroom for days. I, like other people did not expect to experience a pandemic in our lifetime. This year, I grew closer to God. I prayed to Him all the time about my family, friends, my problems, schoolwork, my health, and grades. This past Autumn, my paternal grandfather passed away. He really enjoy reading and he loves the simple things that one can find in the outdoors. I hate being in the city too long. I do want to explore the countryside and feel the warmth, the sun basking on my sunscreen covered face. Like others, I was expecting to graduate on the stage and walk across the stage. Why did we have this pandemic happen to us? Why did the COVID-19 virus exist? Questions unanswered, but we should know that God is still here for us and He is in control. He knows all our personal thoughts and problems and experiences. Our longings, hopeful dreams, desires.

I pray that God will protect us all in the new year. As the years come and go, and as I grow older and wiser, I pray that God will help me to make prudent decisions. I pray that I will exemplify God’s light, love, and kindness in my eyes and in my daily actions. I also pray for my relatives who do not know God’s word. I pray that they will come to believe that God is real, true, and there for them. I pray that God will sustain my heart and move my heart so that I can make a meaningful and genuine impact upon others. I can’t believe it’s nearly 2022. Where did the time go? I still remember my high school years. I still remember my moments from middle school. This year, I had ups and downs. I experienced a broken heart. Still, I should remember that God cares for each and every one of us. God answered my prayers and my bible study group’s prayers. For instance, God answered our prayers when I asked my bible study group to pray for me to receive scholarships and grants so that my graduate school tuition bills can be fully paid. I learned via an email that I won a $5,000 scholarship and I also received full grants from an organization in my home state! God is good all the time. I also prayed to God about a book that my grandma gave me as a present. I could not find the book in my house and I searched the book shelf I think two times more or less. After I prayed with faith and firm belief to God to help me find that book, well I went to that bookshelf, the same bookshelf where I already searched through for the book that Grandma gave me as a gift, to my surprise, on that bookshelf, the book was there despite the fact that I already searched for it on that same bookshelf, but it was not there before! I believe God, with His hand, put that book there on the bookshelf! I thank God for answering my prayers. I pray that I will become a woman of faith and I pray that I will stand firm in my faith. Let’s look forward to 2022 with gratitude, love, and thankfulness! God bless you all.

Lastly, I want to include a beautiful poem that my uncle selected for my grandfather, Steve’s memorial. Please take the time to read this poem. This poem is heartfelt. I also want to say that we love and miss Steve’s wife, Ellie who is my grandmother. She really loves us and adores my sisters and I. We love you, Granddad and Grandma. With love, Mei.