It's Friday night, 11:29pm. The kids are still up cleaning their Legos (playing). Barry is hanging wet laundry on the drying rack (they don't do dryers here in Korea). He's a keeper. (Although, heh heh, the story of how he became so helpful would take hours to tell. Much of it is contained in this blog...)
I just wanted to do a little therapeutic typing/blogging.
So, I don't have to work on Monday because it's a national holiday. I'm not sure what we're celebrating, but I know that I don't have to go in to work. That'll be nice.
What a year it's been! Wow. We came in faith and we live by faith and we're staying in faith. The Lord has made it clear that we're not done here yet.
We are looking forward to visiting home for Christmas. I'm looking forward to the clean Georgia air. It's funny the things you take for granted. I don't know if I'll ever take clean air for granted again. We live downtown in one of the world's largest cities and the air pretty much reeks. (All the time.) It's not necessarily a complaint, it's just an observation. If you have clean air to breathe, enjoy it!
I also want to ride my bike and drive! I haven't done either since we came in January. But, oh the money you save when you don't own a car. I can get almost anywhere here by bus or subway. It's pretty cool. I never was a city girl, but it has its share of perks and conveniences.
Surprisingly, many things are more expensive here, like food, most electronics and clothing. Taxes are lower, medical care is so cheap it's pleasantly ridiculous and cell phone plans are cheaper, too.
There are obvious cultural adjustments to deal with also, but as a teacher, I get the chance everyday to see and be reminded that people are people everywhere you go. Children all over the world love to pick their noses (among other things...) and laugh and be silly.
I'm surprised by how comfortable I am now at my work place. There were such ups and downs for the first few months, but finally it seems I've reached equilibrium. Though we don't fully understand one another, we (my employers and co-workers and I) have a mutual love and respect for one another and genuinely enjoy being together. That is a blessing.
I am so very thankful that I do work in a Christian school. It's a breath of fresh air to be able to pray and speak freely about the Lord. It's encouraging to see how He is moving all over the world. I'm also so fascinated by the cultural impact on the church here and in America. We recently made some connections with the church in Holland. I'm looking forward to learning more about how they relate to one another and the Lord.
Though we're all so different and even though we can see God's creativity in the variations among nationalities and cultures, the similarities are also fascinating. Like the saying goes, "hurt people hurt people." I've seen some hurting hearts here. Relationships really are everything. The main thrust of the Bible is reconciliation. God certainly knows people well. We all need to know and experience the unfailing love of a faithful Father. There are some specific folks I am earnestly praying that for right now.
One friend in particular lost his father at a young age and is plagued with anxiety in his relationships. He struggles with loneliness and a debilitating fear of abandonment. I'm observing that the human plight is essentially the same everywhere.
We are indeed lost sheep in need of a shepherd. Jesus is that Shepherd, that indescribably comforting and calming overseer of souls. The devastating irony though, is that when you don't have Him you don't realize that it's Him you are desperately needing and wanting -- you just know that you hurt. It breaks my heart. I know what it is to feel afraid and alone and I know what it is to know the comfort of the Living God. There's nothing like it. It's more real than anything else I've ever experienced. It's personal. It's intimate. He is personal. He is intimately acquainted with us. Nothing compares to that.
I'm really praying that this friend can experience the reality of God's love and healing presence in his life. And that like it says in Psalm 62:8, that he'll learn to pour out his heart to God and really trust Him.
One of my favorite songs is by a French gal named, Isa Couvertier. Its called "Safe Place" and its about coming to find God as the "safe place" -- THE place to unload your heart and the pains of the past. It's a beautiful song and a beautiful truth.
Well, my eyes are tired, so I'm going to bed. Goodnight...
I just wanted to do a little therapeutic typing/blogging.
So, I don't have to work on Monday because it's a national holiday. I'm not sure what we're celebrating, but I know that I don't have to go in to work. That'll be nice.
What a year it's been! Wow. We came in faith and we live by faith and we're staying in faith. The Lord has made it clear that we're not done here yet.
We are looking forward to visiting home for Christmas. I'm looking forward to the clean Georgia air. It's funny the things you take for granted. I don't know if I'll ever take clean air for granted again. We live downtown in one of the world's largest cities and the air pretty much reeks. (All the time.) It's not necessarily a complaint, it's just an observation. If you have clean air to breathe, enjoy it!
I also want to ride my bike and drive! I haven't done either since we came in January. But, oh the money you save when you don't own a car. I can get almost anywhere here by bus or subway. It's pretty cool. I never was a city girl, but it has its share of perks and conveniences.
Surprisingly, many things are more expensive here, like food, most electronics and clothing. Taxes are lower, medical care is so cheap it's pleasantly ridiculous and cell phone plans are cheaper, too.
There are obvious cultural adjustments to deal with also, but as a teacher, I get the chance everyday to see and be reminded that people are people everywhere you go. Children all over the world love to pick their noses (among other things...) and laugh and be silly.
I'm surprised by how comfortable I am now at my work place. There were such ups and downs for the first few months, but finally it seems I've reached equilibrium. Though we don't fully understand one another, we (my employers and co-workers and I) have a mutual love and respect for one another and genuinely enjoy being together. That is a blessing.
I am so very thankful that I do work in a Christian school. It's a breath of fresh air to be able to pray and speak freely about the Lord. It's encouraging to see how He is moving all over the world. I'm also so fascinated by the cultural impact on the church here and in America. We recently made some connections with the church in Holland. I'm looking forward to learning more about how they relate to one another and the Lord.
Though we're all so different and even though we can see God's creativity in the variations among nationalities and cultures, the similarities are also fascinating. Like the saying goes, "hurt people hurt people." I've seen some hurting hearts here. Relationships really are everything. The main thrust of the Bible is reconciliation. God certainly knows people well. We all need to know and experience the unfailing love of a faithful Father. There are some specific folks I am earnestly praying that for right now.
One friend in particular lost his father at a young age and is plagued with anxiety in his relationships. He struggles with loneliness and a debilitating fear of abandonment. I'm observing that the human plight is essentially the same everywhere.
We are indeed lost sheep in need of a shepherd. Jesus is that Shepherd, that indescribably comforting and calming overseer of souls. The devastating irony though, is that when you don't have Him you don't realize that it's Him you are desperately needing and wanting -- you just know that you hurt. It breaks my heart. I know what it is to feel afraid and alone and I know what it is to know the comfort of the Living God. There's nothing like it. It's more real than anything else I've ever experienced. It's personal. It's intimate. He is personal. He is intimately acquainted with us. Nothing compares to that.
I'm really praying that this friend can experience the reality of God's love and healing presence in his life. And that like it says in Psalm 62:8, that he'll learn to pour out his heart to God and really trust Him.
One of my favorite songs is by a French gal named, Isa Couvertier. Its called "Safe Place" and its about coming to find God as the "safe place" -- THE place to unload your heart and the pains of the past. It's a beautiful song and a beautiful truth.
Well, my eyes are tired, so I'm going to bed. Goodnight...
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