2 new things happened on Friday: I got to meet the new teacher, and I went to a new Bible study.
The new teacher to replace Bryan is named Connie. She seems pretty nice, and has a lot of experience with Korea. She's Korean-American, and also taught in Korea last year. I'm excited to get to know her more, and hopefully have a friend to talk about school stuff with.
I went with Robert (my coworker) to a Bible study he goes to each Friday night. The pastor of the church and leader of the Bible study teaches at school every once in a while, so I've met him briefly before. The church was small, but there were probably 10-15 people sitting in a circle for the study. Another first-time visitor was my co-teacher from the children's center I got to on Tuesdays!! It was so random but neat to see her there. Most of the people were older than me (mid 30's-50), but it was uplifting to meet them. There are 3 women who are part of the church and missionaries that their church in the states supports to help Pastor Steven and his wife with their ministry. 1 of them really connected with me, her name is Dana. She goes to a free Korean language class on Tuesdays, and invited me to come along with her, so that'll be awesome!!
The Bible Study was about the requirements for a church leader, and they were things like being above reproach, temperate, respectable, able to teach, etc. Steve reminded us that these are not things that are natural in our sinful selves. They are only gifts that the Holy Spirit gives us allowing us to be seen and known as being different to this world.
I was able to share prayer requests with a group of other Christians for the first time since being here, and it was such a blessing. I've been aching inside with things that I need prayer for. We split into groups to pray, and I ended up being paired up with the pastor. God has been breaking my heart multiple times this week and then repairing me. I cried while listening to the pianist I mentioned in an earlier post because it was such a reminder to pour all my heart into however I am serving God, whether that be through playing piano or teaching. The same with praying together with the pastor. Every time that I pray from my heart in front of someone, I end up crying. I felt self-conscious, but know that God needed to hear me. It's most hard to pray for my students because their pains are my pains. But maybe that's not such a bad thing. Praying with conviction and emotion isn't a bad thing. Maybe it's best for God to see our true heart when talking with Him.
Sorry, I don't mean to sound/portray myself as a person who cries all the time. I really don't. I haven't cried much at all since I got here. It's just been in the last few weeks that my emotions have gotten the better of me. However, I know that I've been harboring different sins in my heart that needed to be confessed, and I truly believe that sometimes God needs to break our hearts in order to allow us to heal properly. It hurts to have turmoil, but afterwards, the peace
(for God's children) that passes understanding is more wonderful than could ever be explained. Let God heal your heart. Trust that you can't live without His grace, and accept Jesus gift of salvation for your life. Only after you confess your sins and accept God's love can you experience a personal relationship with God that offers peace and true joy.
October 31, 2009
The Piano Man/Pumpkin
Jamie invited me the other night to come to her church and hear a piano concert. I asked Juny (my friend from hiking) to join us, and the 3 of us walked to her church about 15 minutes from my apartment. The pianist was originally from Jamaica and then America. His music was Christian hymns with a jazz flare. It was really beautiful and uplifting. His heart was completely immersed in playing for God's glory, and it was amazing to see that. We all really enjoyed it, and got to spend some time at the end talking to the pianist and his friends since I speak English and my friends speak well also.
At the end of the night, Jamie and I were both hungry, so her mom offered to make us ramyon at her house! Yay!! It was really nice to meet her parents and spend more time with them. They're really kind and also very generous people. Her dad gave me a box of tea from Sri Lanka, and her mom gave me a bunch of fruit. They invited me over for chicken baked in a pumpkin some time next week, so that should be kind of fun and interesting :)
Speaking of pumpkins, Jamie and I picked out a small pumpkin, and I hollowed it out the other day. My knife was too big, so I ended up just making a bunch of triangle holes around the top in order to let oxygen in and light out. Then of course cut the top off. I brought it into school on Friday to celebrate Halloween in a small way, and the students were amazed that I'd done that. It was so funny how they asked how I made it and to see their expressions. They didn't know people could actually carve pumpkins, and none of them had ever seen/done it in their lives. They wanted to keep the lights off during class so they could watch the pumpkin glow. Cute!
At the end of the night, Jamie and I were both hungry, so her mom offered to make us ramyon at her house! Yay!! It was really nice to meet her parents and spend more time with them. They're really kind and also very generous people. Her dad gave me a box of tea from Sri Lanka, and her mom gave me a bunch of fruit. They invited me over for chicken baked in a pumpkin some time next week, so that should be kind of fun and interesting :)
Speaking of pumpkins, Jamie and I picked out a small pumpkin, and I hollowed it out the other day. My knife was too big, so I ended up just making a bunch of triangle holes around the top in order to let oxygen in and light out. Then of course cut the top off. I brought it into school on Friday to celebrate Halloween in a small way, and the students were amazed that I'd done that. It was so funny how they asked how I made it and to see their expressions. They didn't know people could actually carve pumpkins, and none of them had ever seen/done it in their lives. They wanted to keep the lights off during class so they could watch the pumpkin glow. Cute!
Sunday KBU Pictures
On Sundays, part of my work contract is to teach English to children. The week shown in the pictures we got to play outside, and the kids had a performance in the service. It was really cute!
October 29, 2009
Students/School
"Everyone make a heart!"
They wanted to pretend to be bodyguards :) A few of them did a good job, the others I'm not sure I'd want to hire :)
October 28, 2009
Korean Home, Noodles, and a Date
Lots of things have happened in the last day or two...
I met Ian's mom and dad, and had a really great conversation with them! It was really nice to be invited into a Korean home. His mom was really easy to talk to, and has such a passion for serving and pleasing God. It was a humbling experience to meet her, and yet such a blessing to be encouraged to continue pursuing God and His good pleasure. She was very giving, and I came home with probably 10 pounds worth of food and clothes more than I came with: things like toothpaste, a scarf, kimchi, and ramyon. Ian and I went on a night hike around the base of Suraksan, and it was so fun! We had no flashlights, but used the moon to guide us on the trail. I was so surprised to see people still hiking along with us!!
I was introduced to a new Korean food: Kimchi Mariguksu 김치말이국수. It's basically thin, long noodles in a kimchi flavored chilled water soup. It's the most delicious noodle dish I've ever eaten in my life!! Yum, Yum...
Monday, Jamie called me and asked me out for a movie and dinner. Classic American date, but I was so thankful to hang out with her after not seeing her in a long time. There were no good English movies playing, so we saw a new Korean movie that's had really good reviews recently. I was so nervous that I wouldn't understand anything and that I'd sit there bored the whole time. But I was more than wrong. It was a really great movie called "Good Morning Mr. President", and it was about people who were Korean presidents one after each other, and how their lives influenced the others.
The first president was an old man who won the lottery and had a hilarious personality. The second president was a young man who had previously known the 1st president's daughter. He had a rare blood type, and while in office gave an old man his kidney. He started big changes in Korea, standing up to the American bully of a president as portrayed. The 3rd president was a woman whose husband had a hard time relating to her as president. The connection between all 3 presidents was that when they had a problem, they consulted the chef who had a simple and unbiased mind. I really enjoyed the movie, and hope to see more Korean movies in the future.
I was surprised how much I understood, and what I didn't know, Jamie was helpful in quietly explaining.
I met Ian's mom and dad, and had a really great conversation with them! It was really nice to be invited into a Korean home. His mom was really easy to talk to, and has such a passion for serving and pleasing God. It was a humbling experience to meet her, and yet such a blessing to be encouraged to continue pursuing God and His good pleasure. She was very giving, and I came home with probably 10 pounds worth of food and clothes more than I came with: things like toothpaste, a scarf, kimchi, and ramyon. Ian and I went on a night hike around the base of Suraksan, and it was so fun! We had no flashlights, but used the moon to guide us on the trail. I was so surprised to see people still hiking along with us!!
I was introduced to a new Korean food: Kimchi Mariguksu 김치말이국수. It's basically thin, long noodles in a kimchi flavored chilled water soup. It's the most delicious noodle dish I've ever eaten in my life!! Yum, Yum...
Monday, Jamie called me and asked me out for a movie and dinner. Classic American date, but I was so thankful to hang out with her after not seeing her in a long time. There were no good English movies playing, so we saw a new Korean movie that's had really good reviews recently. I was so nervous that I wouldn't understand anything and that I'd sit there bored the whole time. But I was more than wrong. It was a really great movie called "Good Morning Mr. President", and it was about people who were Korean presidents one after each other, and how their lives influenced the others.The first president was an old man who won the lottery and had a hilarious personality. The second president was a young man who had previously known the 1st president's daughter. He had a rare blood type, and while in office gave an old man his kidney. He started big changes in Korea, standing up to the American bully of a president as portrayed. The 3rd president was a woman whose husband had a hard time relating to her as president. The connection between all 3 presidents was that when they had a problem, they consulted the chef who had a simple and unbiased mind. I really enjoyed the movie, and hope to see more Korean movies in the future.
I was surprised how much I understood, and what I didn't know, Jamie was helpful in quietly explaining.
October 27, 2009
Dad's Visit
Hiking
Some ladies we met and had snacks with on our hike. They helped us find our way down.
Uncle Kim, the security man!
My Korean "mom" :) She owns and works in the restaurant behind us. in the picture.
Picking out hamsters
Here they are :)
Our tall ice cream cones while shopping downtown
Out for dinner with my "Korean Family"
Korean "mom" and her daughter!Dad came to visit for a total of about 8 days while between business trips! What a blessing it was to see family and get some encouragement to "keep going". We did lots of fun things together like hiking, playing cards and games, shopping, and talking. I was happy to introduce him to my students, and they were really pleased to meet him as well! I was also really excited to have dad meet my "Korean family" from the Kimbap Restaurant. We ended up going out for dinner at a really nice restaurant together. And I met their daughter!! What a pleasure to meet her :)
October 21, 2009
October
Sorry for not writing in a long time. Work has been really stressful this last month, and I wanted to be sure to share positive thoughts on this blog...So...
Update: Nothing much has been happening in my life in particular. I'm learning to trust God in whatever situation that I'm put in--good or bad. I know that God has a good plan for my life.
My Korean "mom" from the kimbap restaurant gave me 2 huge bags full of grapes that her parents grew on their farm! It was so neat to have those. I was talking with her one afternoon, and her husband came out with hiking clothes on and pulled me after him to go hiking together. It was really fun! At first I was a little nervous because he speaks almost no English at all, but we just walked a little ways and ended up playing badminton the whole time. It was so fun! I don't think I've ever really played on a real court with real equipment before! I was surprised how quickly I picked it up...
At work, my students had midterm tests, and they all did really great! I was so proud of them!! My best friend at work, Bryan, left to go back to the States, and that was really rough. I'll really miss him. But I know that his choice was best for him. I just hope that God sends us a good teacher who can be my friend. Supposedly we're getting a woman from America in a month or so!
This week, my dad came to visit!! We had fun hanging out downtown and spending lots of time together. More to come on that with pics later...I'll try to keep this updated more often...Thanks for bearing with me :)
Update: Nothing much has been happening in my life in particular. I'm learning to trust God in whatever situation that I'm put in--good or bad. I know that God has a good plan for my life.
My Korean "mom" from the kimbap restaurant gave me 2 huge bags full of grapes that her parents grew on their farm! It was so neat to have those. I was talking with her one afternoon, and her husband came out with hiking clothes on and pulled me after him to go hiking together. It was really fun! At first I was a little nervous because he speaks almost no English at all, but we just walked a little ways and ended up playing badminton the whole time. It was so fun! I don't think I've ever really played on a real court with real equipment before! I was surprised how quickly I picked it up...
At work, my students had midterm tests, and they all did really great! I was so proud of them!! My best friend at work, Bryan, left to go back to the States, and that was really rough. I'll really miss him. But I know that his choice was best for him. I just hope that God sends us a good teacher who can be my friend. Supposedly we're getting a woman from America in a month or so!
This week, my dad came to visit!! We had fun hanging out downtown and spending lots of time together. More to come on that with pics later...I'll try to keep this updated more often...Thanks for bearing with me :)
October 3, 2009
Chuseok Weekend
Today is Chuseok, a Lunar Festival Holiday, similar in celebration to American Thanksgiving. It's a big family day, so listening out my window, it's pretty quiet. Not much going on outside. Many families have a big lunch and dinner together as well as paying respects to their ancestors.
Since Chuseok falls on a Saturday this year, we got Friday off work! It was nice to have a day to relax and choose to do what I wanted. Of course, I love hiking, so there were 5 of us all ready to go...ended up being just 2 of us, but that's ok. Juny, who I went hiking with, is a friend and student of Brian (my coworker) and works in the English Zone, so I've gotten to know him a bit too. It was really great getting to have lots of time to talk together. Turns out he likes a lot of the same things that I do! So that was pretty cool. Plus, he was a huge help and encouragement on the hard trail we chose. We had a really awesome time hiking!! We scaled rocks like lizards, climbed down steep hills with ropes, and got lost on our way down (hmm...why do I always get lost when going down??...). But it was a great time!
After getting home, we went out for chicken stir-fry which was really good (but spicy). I then had about an hour to clean up and get ready for the next part of the day...going to meet Heesung!!
Heesung had invited me over to see what a typical Chuseok meal was like. Because it's a big family holiday, I was able to meet some of his family which was pretty cool. His brother was there from China, he had an aunt, uncle, and cousins, and of course his parents. It was really, really neat to see a Korean family together. Obviously people are people, and we all are the same. But culturally, I was honored to be invited into their home. His 13 year old cousin speaks really good English, so we hit it off pretty well. For dinner we had boiled beef, kimchi that his mom made, japchae (sweet-potato noodles and vegetables), a soybean stew, and lots of fruit. It was neat to feel like part of their family, very comfortable people to be around. I hope that when I have people over that they feel natural around me as well.
Since Chuseok falls on a Saturday this year, we got Friday off work! It was nice to have a day to relax and choose to do what I wanted. Of course, I love hiking, so there were 5 of us all ready to go...ended up being just 2 of us, but that's ok. Juny, who I went hiking with, is a friend and student of Brian (my coworker) and works in the English Zone, so I've gotten to know him a bit too. It was really great getting to have lots of time to talk together. Turns out he likes a lot of the same things that I do! So that was pretty cool. Plus, he was a huge help and encouragement on the hard trail we chose. We had a really awesome time hiking!! We scaled rocks like lizards, climbed down steep hills with ropes, and got lost on our way down (hmm...why do I always get lost when going down??...). But it was a great time!
After getting home, we went out for chicken stir-fry which was really good (but spicy). I then had about an hour to clean up and get ready for the next part of the day...going to meet Heesung!!
Heesung had invited me over to see what a typical Chuseok meal was like. Because it's a big family holiday, I was able to meet some of his family which was pretty cool. His brother was there from China, he had an aunt, uncle, and cousins, and of course his parents. It was really, really neat to see a Korean family together. Obviously people are people, and we all are the same. But culturally, I was honored to be invited into their home. His 13 year old cousin speaks really good English, so we hit it off pretty well. For dinner we had boiled beef, kimchi that his mom made, japchae (sweet-potato noodles and vegetables), a soybean stew, and lots of fruit. It was neat to feel like part of their family, very comfortable people to be around. I hope that when I have people over that they feel natural around me as well.
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