November

Oh man it's almost Christmas!!!  Time is flying by.  It's time for an update.

Korea is getting colder, but it sounds like Georgia has us beat!  Y'all had your first frost before we did and it sounds like you may get a snowfall before we do.  Crazy Georgia weather.

Right now we have a friend staying with us for 10 days.  We met him last year at Taize in France.  He is Dutch and is a worship leader.  Kidoong went to Holland to visit him and his church, "Door Brekkers," a couple of months ago.  He arrived last Thursday, Thanksgiving Day (more on that later...).  Rutger joined us for a worship team retreat and participated with me and the YES team for leading worship for 2 services.  He did a great job and we all really enjoyed having him. 

About Thanksgiving... well, let's just say that I'm glad "thanksgiving" is not confined to food, family and geographic location.  I'm hoping for a little turkey when I come back for Christmas.  I had to work extra for Thanksgiving and there was no time for cooking or celebrating in the way we would in the U.S.  I struggled with homesickness that day.

Barry and the kids are doing great.  Most kids make a paper chain to count down the days to Christmas.  Sam and Will made a paper chain to count down the days until our flight back to the U.S.!  It will be a happy time.

See you all SOON!!!

Autumn, My Favorite!

Hello from Korea!!!  It's been a month and I'm sure it's time for an update.  So here we go!

Barry and the kids just got back from Yesan Retreat Center with the KidsWorship gang.  The kids had a blast climbing around and exploring in the area.  It's a beautiful place.  I had to stay home and work, but I'll get my dose of Fall colors and mountain scenery this weekend at the Y.D.B. retreat at Horeb.  I'll be helping out with worship and soaking in the sights of Fall.  I can't wait!!!

October has flown by and our visit home is fast approaching.  Our flight tickets are set for December 19th and we'll stay in Georgia for 5 or 6 weeks.  Slowly, but surely the details for housing and vehicles are falling into place.  Some dear friends of ours from Statham offered us their home and a vehicle for about 2 weeks around Christmas while they are out of town.  THANK YOU!!!  We'll also stay at Snow's Mill for a week and stay with our family some.  We do not own a vehicle at the moment, so we'll enjoy our 2 weeks with wheels fo' sho'!  I haven't driven a car since December 2010.  Be afraid...

Our home in Statham has found new tenants as of November 1st.  This will help us with our mortgage payment and keep the house occupied in our absence.  Our agent, Burgundy is amazing.  She's done a fantastic job dealing with everything via email.  We thank God for her help!  She is truly a blessing.

I'm working 5 days a week and Barry and I are serving in the ministry simultaneously, but like the majority of folks out there we still have to trust God for our finances.  It'll cost 6k to get us all back to Korea after our visit home.  I'm still hoping for the day I can snap my fingers and jump from continent to continent, but so far it hasn't worked...  We feel confident that the Lord wants us to return to Korea to continue working for a season so we're expecting Him to provide.  He already has in so many incredible ways!  There are not enough hours in the day to tell of all He's done.  Following Him is such a wonderful adventure.  He created the universe and everything in it, I think He can manage a plane ticket or two (or four.)

In terms of ministry, well that's a multi-faceted topic for us, but over-all we're praying that the Lord will help us to faithfully teach what He's taught us and that He'll create a hunger here for His word and give "the spirit of wisdom and revelation" spoken of in the book of Ephesians, that we may all come to know Him better.  We have plans for recording an album with the YES team this winter and Barry is leading the English service in the Word every week.  We're also working with Pastor Kidoong and KidsWorship team to create resources to share the Gospel around the world.  Wahoo!!!  The Lord will return.  While we wait we want to be found doing His work.

"The Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations."   ~Isaiah 61:11b

September

Happy Birthday, Mom! 

Happy Fall!!!  It's been an eventful month (in our hearts).  This picture was taken at a botanical garden type place that we found near our apartment.

Life is moving along at a steady pace.  Barry teaches English in the mornings at the church now.  I think he really enjoys teaching and working with the young adult students.  We're still doing the Sunday night English worship service and Barry still leads Bible studies for various age groups during the day on Sundays.  Things at my school are going well.  I enjoy working with the kids.

The latest news is that after praying and thinking and talking extensively, we feel like we need to stay a bit longer in Korea.  The plan is to come home for Christmas and then continue our work here for a little longer.  I will still work at the school, but I will have some weekdays open to wrap up some of the KidsWorship projects I need to get to.

There are a lot of details yet to be dealt with, but we're trusting that God will help us fill in the gaps as He leads us.  We may have already found a potential new renter for our home in Statham.  We're working on those details now.  We'll need to pay someone to move our junk out and do some painting then the house will be ready to go.  That saves us the headache of having an unoccupied house in the U.S. and it will help a little with the mortgage payment. 

We're all really excited about coming home for a bit.  It'll be so nice to catch up with friends and family in Georgia.  We'll need to borrow or rent a car while we're home and we're still working on living arrangements, but it's falling into place little by little.

While we're home we will lead a 2 week trip for a group of folks from South Korea.  We're not sure how many people are coming yet, but we know that we will spend 1 week in Georgia and then we'll split up and spend the other week in either Nashville or Orlando.  We plan to do some recording in Nashville and the other group is attending a conference in Orlando.  The dates will fall between January 9th and 23rd.  I'm happy to have the opportunity to see my two "worlds" come together -- Koreans in the U.S. among my home friends and family.

I guess that's it for now.  Love and miss you!

Happy Birthday, Samantha!

We just got home from China.  We left on our 13th wedding anniversary and came home just before Sam's 12th birthday.  It's hard to believe I'm the mother of a 12 year old.  She's a wonderful 12 year old and I'm thankful for everyday I've known her.  In some ways it seems like she has more maturity and wisdom at the age of 12 than I have at the age of 33.  Of course, I have prayed for her that just like Jesus, she will "grow in wisdom, stature and favor with God and with men."  Apparently God's been listening!

The opportunities for the Gospel here in Asia are unbelievable.  It's almost overwhelming -- mostly in a good way.  Kids camps in Korea and in China went great.  It was so fun to work with the Korean and U.S. teams for a few weeks and it was a joy to see everyone using their gifts and working together as one to share God's good news and love.  Thank you for praying for us.  It made a difference and we needed it!

There were several opportunities to lead worship for different groups in Korea and China.  We had the opportunity to lead worship for the adults in the Shanghai church.  We had a powerful prayer time with them and really sensed God's power and presence within and on behalf of their church.  It's amazing to see and experience the growth of the church in a country that openly rejects religion.  God is at work in Asia.  The kids were so hungry for God and for the most part very attentive to the teachers.  One night we had a Parents Night for the campers.  We worshipped together and then had the parents and kids pray together as families.  That was a sweet time.

I never realized how beautiful China is.  I always imagined it as a polluted, factory-filled nation.  It's not that way.  There are many trees and gardens.  It's lovely.  There are, of course, some unlovely things, but I guess that's to be expected.

We had the opportunity to see the Pearl Tower in Shanghai.  The city at night is so pretty and SO huge!  I've never been in such a large city.  Seoul dwarfs Atlanta, but Shanghai is massive!!!

Funny things I observed:  Men often walk around shirtless with their potbellies hanging out (it's very hot in China), children relieve themselves in public, parents carry around naked babies, you are expected to provide your own toilet paper around and also Chinese people will literally stop you in your tracks just to take a picture with you because you're a white person (that doesn't happen in Korea much.)

Tomorrow I go back to work.  I've got mixed emotions about that.  We obviously need and appreciate the paycheck, but part of me wishes we could continue to travel and do ministry.  God uses it all, though.

I think the next trip will be in October.  Barry will go to Singapore with Kidoong for a conference.  That's all for now.

Camps

The Mongolia trip was incredible!  The team ministered to 104 churches and gave them free supplies and training.  GREAT trip.  Thank you for praying.

Next up is 2 weeks of camp.  Six wonderful people from the States will be flying over in a day or so.  We will lead a camp here in Korea and then we will go to China for a camp.  In the bits of time in between we will be recording, acting and doing voice over work for KidsWorship.

I'm working at S&P up until camp begins and will work immediately after.  They've graciously given me an extra week so that I can go to China.  I've never been so busy or so dependent on the Lord.  There is such a freedom in trust and surrender.

So, here we go!  Barry and I have both had a few random physical ailments and such, but by God's grace we're moving forward.

Please keep the team in your prayers.  We need energy, health, unity, and God's grace and anointing.  We're asking Him for "fruit that will last" and we want to be full of His Spirit and love so that others can see and experience the reality of Christ.  Thanks.

Hi

So, Barry left for Mongolia a couple of days ago.  I'm excited about that trip.  They will be training 1000+ Mongolian pastors and lay people and supplying them with much needed resources for teaching the Bible to children.  It's a very poor area so the folks are incredibly grateful for the free resources and training.  The team is way out of wi-fi range (ministering to folks in the countryside) so I probably won't here from Barry while they're there.

The kids and I are holding down the fort here in Jongno.  I'm working during the day and the kids hang with Chan Hye and San.  In the evenings I cook supper and we watch some Andy Griffith reruns or play Legos or whatever else we can find to do.  I've started reading Dr. Doolittle to the kids at night before  bed.  That's been fun.  The kids get a kick out of that because they have recently acquired 2 caterpillars as pets.  One is named "Fluffy" and the other is named "Fuzz."  Sam likes to watch them while I read.

The weather has been so nice the past couple of days.  We're getting a little reprieve from "rainy season."  I have never encountered humidity like this -- not even in Valdosta, GA.  It's crazy!  I have some dried flowers sitting on the night stand by my bed and they WILTED!!!  They literally rehydrated and promptly slumped over in the dry vase.  It's a suffocating type of humid, so, we're glad to get a break from it.  I like the rain, I think it's cozy, but I also like dry towels and clothes.  There are no dryers here, so it can take days for your clothes to dry if it's raining outside.  Now I know why Asia is so lush and green!

I envy the rain here on y'all's behalf.  I know it's painfully dry in the U.S.  I saw an article recently about a guy who has gone into business painting grass green in the States.  For real.  He uses eco-friendly green paint that won't wash off.  Why water it when you can just paint it, right?

That's all for now... (I woke up at 4am today.  I don't know why, but I'm loving the extra time.  It's a great thrill when a "non-morning person" like me feels perky in the wee hours of the morning.  It gave me some extra time to write!)

Summer...

Summer is almost here.  We've hit the high 80's, but I know that's nothing compared to Georgia heat!  It's very humid here, too.  It does a number on my guitar strings!

I enjoy keeping up with folks by looking at pictures on facebook.  I am so excited about all the babies that we will meet when we get back!

Communication is not what I had hoped it would be.  I think if the time change weren't so drastic it might be a bit easier, but, like I said, I try to follow folks through blogs and fb and the pictures speak a thousand words.  We'll pick up where we left off once we get back!

So!  This summer Barry will travel to Mongolia for 2 weeks in July and then in August we'll have our team from the States fly over to help out with 2 weeks of English camps.  I may have mentioned this already, but, one camp will be at Horeb (you can see pictures in the previous post) and the other camp will be in Shanghai.

We're still involved in our weekly meetings and such.  I'm still leading worship for the Y.E.S. English Worship service on Sundays as well as helping out monthly with kids music and Barry teaches Saturday nights and Sundays throughout the day.  He's such a good teacher.  I admire his mind.  Though we are so, so different, I really value and appreciate his strengths.

My burden for Korea continues to grow.  So many people here are burdened and weighed down by so many things -- social pressures, expectations, busy-ness, etc.  Jesus said that "his yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30)."  For many people it would seem that the fear of man or what others think hinders them from the freedom that would come if they could take up only the yoke Christ has assigned them.

I know this is a challenge we all face.  I, too, have to learn to continually keep watch so that my inner convictions line up with my use of time and energy in my "outer life."  It's not easy in a world so full of "urgent" requests and demands on our time, especially when we want to say yes and convey our willingness to help in any and every arena of life.

I guess it's like they say, "good is the enemy of best."  We have to ask ourselves, "what is the best use of my time?" "What has God called me to do?"  It's not helpful to just blindly fill our schedules with "good" things or be at the continual beck and call of that which drains us, but is unproductive or unhealthy.

Anyway, that's a snap shot into some of my thoughts lately.

I'm still teaching Monday through Friday.  I love the kids, but I find that it's a very tiring job.  I guess that's to be expected.  That's why they call it work!

Here are some random pictures that were on my phone:

Sam, Will and San watching Kung Fu Panda 2

Joy-Bird, the more sociable of the 2 birds we have

Paper Lanterns on the Chungee Chung, a nearby tributary
of the Han River

The kids and I at Lotte World

The English Team from S&P -- when we went to see Jane Eyre together.
I am a giant.

My school (S&P)
I don't know the random guy getting out of the taxi...

Sam and Barry went to climb a mountain.  This is Sang Hyo who is a member of
the worship team and a good friend of ours.

Dung aka poop is a popular and funny thing here.
These are "dong" piles made on the side of the road.
The kids  couldn't resist...

June

Hi!

We're still here :)  We just got back from a much needed break in the mountains.  Private schools here don't take summer breaks.  My 1 week off this year will be spent working summer camp so I'm very thankful for any day that I am able to take a break.  Monday was a national holiday so we were able to travel and get outside for the day.

The water at Horeb was so pretty.
I would love to see what the mountains and trees look like here in the Fall.  Hopefully, we'll get a chance to see it then.

Our Korean summer camp will be held at this retreat center.  I'm sure our American buddies as well as all our campers will enjoy the facilities.  They have a driving range, a swimming pool, trails and more.  An interesting game they play in the summer is called, "Catch the Shark."  They literally put a shark in the pool and let the kids try to catch it with their hands.  It's not a dangerous shark.  I thought that was pretty crazy.  I guess we'll get our chance to play that game this summer!

I think I mentioned in the last post that my work load at school has increased.  That was/is tough.  I'm just now coming out of the fog from that.  I've learned a lot about Korean culture in the process. I'm having to make some changes in the schedule to compensate for the extra time and energy spent at work.  

The biggest help in that matter has been picking up a book that Brandy and Brandon left here called Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald.  What a timely book!  It's been such a help to me in reordering my schedule, beginning with what matters most.

Barry and the  kids are well.  Time seems to escape us here and I apologize on behalf of our family for not doing a better job keeping in touch.  I am attempting to walk against the tide in that respect right now and hoping to improve on the relationship front.  Love you all and miss you!

Oh my.  This is long overdue!!!

So many wonderful things are happening around us.  Life here passes so quickly.

The kids are doing great.  School is going well.  The kids enjoy playing "catch the people" and other random games as well as scootering, skateboarding, rollerblading, etc. with San and other children around here.  We have a rooftop playground in our building on the 3rd floor.  We live on the 10th floor so I can watch the kids play from the apartment.  They enjoy playing on the playground and in the bushes down there.  It's our "yard." I bought the kids season passes to "Lotte World," the nearest amusement park.  We can't send them to the States for the summer, so I thought I would buy them the passes as a consolation gift.  They're more than satisfied. 

We have pet birds now.  Did I mention that already?  The kids have lost interest, but I like them.
The yellow bird is my buddy.  She lets me know when she wants to come out of her cage.  She likes to ride around on my shoulder.  (She's on my shoulder right now.)  I do love animals.

Barry's China trip went well.  I'm still amazed at the number of people in that nation and the spiritual hunger that exists there.  I'm excited to see what God is doing.

Barry teaches and preaches now.  I'm enjoying hearing him.  He does a great job. He still teaches English and fitness at the Tae Kwon Do facility on Tuesdays and Wednesdays as well.

The weather here has been so nice.  It took a long time to warm up, but I think we're finally catching up with you all.  It's been in the 60's and 70's lately.  It rains a lot more here, but when it's clear, it's really lovely.

I'm still playing badminton regularly.  It is SO fun.  I'm so thankful.  This is the first time since my injury in 2007 that I've been able to consistently excercise.  It's a small blessing, but it is SWEET!  Thank you God that you always restore!

Work is going well.  They are increasing my work load so, we'll see how I do with that.  I'll teach more classes and stay late one day a week.  The pay is the same, though.  Doh!  I really am thankful for this job.  My co-workers are wonderful!  I've enjoyed getting to know them and sharing our stories about the children we teach.  Oh, there are so many moments I wish I could whip out a video camera.  There are some incredibly cute and funny moments with these kids.  I'm sure anyone who works with kids can relate.

Outside of school I spend time weekly with my neighbor.  She's learning English and has questions about the faith.  She recognizes her need for the Lord and the peace that can only be found in relationship with Him.  We talk and share and pray together.  She's a sweet friend.

Things with the English worship team are going great.  I'm so thankful for that group.  We're really becoming family, which is as it should be!  They all come over Saturday nights and we eat together, talk, hang out, pray, sing and share the word.  It's been good. On Thursday mornings our lead guitarist comes over and we work on arranging the songs I've written to prep for recording.  This was his idea.  That's really an answer to prayer for me because, I don't know what I'm doing!  I've prayed many times, "Lord, show me what to do with the music.  I want to be a good steward, but I don't know what else to do."  Jee Hyung has such a heart to serve and is a gifted and helpful musician.  He is incredibly talented and volunteers his time, energy and expertise freely.  He serves in 4 or 5 different bands!!!  It's really amazing to see how eager these folks are to serve and seek God. It's been very humbling for me.  I hope I can follow their example as they follow Christ.

I'm out of time, but I'll try to do better on staying in touch!!!

April Update

The Mongolia trip went great.  Thanks so much for your prayers! They've been felt. 

I'll let Barry share his thoughts about the Mongolia trip when he has time.  He has a trip for China lined up for the week May 4th.

There are so many things to tell (good things!), I don't even know where to start.  It's been so busy and the computers have been down so I haven't had a chance to update here, but I'm going to try to give it a shot here and now.

I guess I'll start with today.  At school I got to teach a song a friend and I wrote last year to two of my 7 year old classes.  We sing English songs everyday in our English classes, but the response to the worship song was very unique.  One student said, "when I sing and raise my hands (there are motions to the song) my heart feels so bright."  Another student said, "I can feel Jesus in my heart when we sing that song,"  and another student said, "my heart feels clean/pure when I sing that song."  It was fun.  That's my favorite thing in the world -- to see people encounter and experience God in an intimate and personal way.

In terms of Sam and Will, they're doing well.  Homeschool and Tae Kwon Do are going great.  Right now, their favorite thing to do is roller blade.  The weather is finally warming up so it's been great for being outdoors.  Also, I've been taking them to Ansley's kids service in Suwon every Sunday so they can have church with some native English speakers.  I now feel like I can identify (somewhat) with those folks in Africa who walk miles and miles to get to a church service.  It takes the kids and I at least 2 hours including walking, subway rides, multiple bus transfers and 1 taxi to get to the church in Suwon.  It ends up being a 6+ hour trip when it's all said and done.  There is no direct route from Suwon to Jongno.  But, the kids are worth it.  We get back to Jongno in time for the kids service at Youn Dong that Barry helps with weekly.  It's back to back practices and services at that point on for me. Sundays are so busy!

Speaking of busy, I've never been so busy in my life.  God is really stretching me and teaching me to just trust him for everything including rest, energy, inspiration, motivation, ect. I think it's against human nature to do that and it wasn't until I had no choice that I began to learn it.

I  was reading Psalm 18 yesterday and thinking of how David, who was a warrior, related to God in terms that made sense for him.  David knew the importance of a "stronghold" and "refuge."  It was the only safe place in times of war.  God was that for him.  In the same way, God is my "teacher" and my "song" leading me and taking care of me in every way and in all that he has given me to do here.

We were created to need Him for everything and contrary to popular belief, it's not a sign of weakness to need God.  It's not foolish to depend on resources that surpass your own, when the Source is Someone who never fails, never abandons, cannot lie, has all power, all knowledge, and loves unconditionally. He doesn't begrudge our neediness!  I believe He delights in it and loves our dependence upon Him.  He calls us His children!  His ways don't often make sense and often aren't easy, but they are always good.  With the wisdom of a father He leads His children in ways that are uniquely suited to bring out the best in and for each child.

I realize that in the States I had more liberty to manage my schedule according to what I thought I needed or wanted and what I thought I was comfortable with and capable of.  (Basically, I did what I felt like doing.)  Here, I have to let Him make the schedule and even when it's tough or messy I have to fall back on His sovereignty and wisdom knowing that He cares more about my life than I do!  He's made a way EVERY time.  Really.  I'm so thankful for that.  God is who He says He is.

In terms of school, I love my co-teachers and students!  It's been wonderful to get to know them all better.  Also, I've enjoyed getting to know my neighbor better and share a little about the One who can take care of our worries.  I've also enjoyed getting past the difficult beginning of forging relationships with the English worship team.  There are about 20 of them.  They are such a great group.  Despite the language difference, God is helping us to connect and really enjoy working together as a team. 

I got the 070 phone up and running thanks to Eunyoung, Chanhye and Iron Tiger.  The only issue is the huge time difference between the States and Korea.  It's exactly 13 hours.  Love and miss you!

Sleep-Overs, Birthday Cakes and Mongolia

Hi from Korea!  We're still rolling along.  I've missed friends and family so much as of late.  The language barrier is insurrmoutable at times.  I'm thankful for laughter, tears, music and prayer as they are universally understood.  I'm trusting that this will be a time for us to grow in relationship with the Lord and together as a family, but I still miss my peeps.  We're still working on the 070 phone thing.  Hopefully, that will be in place sometime soon.

On a positive note, I am forming friendships with my neighbor and my co-teachers at work.  I'm helping my neighbor learn English and I've enjoyed just sharing life with my co-workers.  I'm so thankful for that.  Chan Hye has also been such a great badminton buddy and help to me.

Barry and the kids are doing great.  They are in a great rhythm with homeschool.  Take away your home culture and closest friends and you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish.  (he he.)  Actually, there's a lot of truth to that statement.  I'm  not advising that you hop the next plane to a foreign country, but I have noticed that our productivity levels have sky-rocketed.  I've written more songs in the last 2 weeks than I have in 5 years back in the States.  Barry has summarized and typed up several great books for his discipleship groups, etc.  So, the productivity is up, but the heart loss of friendships and familiarity is still felt and can be very heavy at times (for me anyway.)  I'm such a connection-junky.  I love my people and it hurts not to see them on a regular basis, but there's always a silver lining and I'm excited to have the opportunity to check it out.

San slept over last night.  The kids are all playing Wii as I type.  They've had a great time together.  While they were playing I made Barry a birthday cake.  Guess how much it cost to buy the ingredients?
      ...Nope, higher.        Nope, guess again....      Okay, it cost $70 dollars to make him this cake.  That's a far cry from $2 cake mix in the States!  It is however, an icecream cake with 3 types of ice cream, 4 snicker bars, brownies and crumbled up chocolate cake (cost $20 to make the chocolate cake) that Barry made for a kids church video and some other random and miscellaneous ingredients.  So, anyway, I thought y'all might get a kick out of hearing the price total for the cake.  (He better like it.)  ;)

In terms of ministry travels, Barry leaves for Mongolia April 4th for one week.  He and Kidoong will meet with various ministers to plan outreach for summer and fall.  Chan Hye has been such a help with the kids.  I'm sure that between the two of us we'll have have the bases covered.

Thanks for sending emails and reminding us that we're still in your hearts.  You all are still very much in ours!  Love and miss you!

Tae Kwon Do Day

Saturday was Tae Kwon Do Parents' Day.  Chan Hye and I went to watch Sam, Will, San and their classmates in a special presentation.  Some students were promoted to the next belt. 

The photo below is of Sam breaking a board to be promoted to yellow belt.

Master Lim is holding the board. He was on the Korean National Demonstration Team.  He is the owner and head teacher at this Tae Kwon Do facility.

Below is a photo of Will breaking a board so that she could also be promoted to the next belt.

 Sam is presented with her belt.  Master Lim ties it on.

 Barry the English Tae Kwon Do instructor.  He's so handsome!

 Master Lim introduces Barry to the parents.

More About Life in Korea

Michael Millier, a seasoned missionary, asked a great question, that sparked some thoughts about our adjustment.  Life here is so very different from life back home in the States.

For example, we use public transportation daily.  Elevators, escalators, buses, subways and taxis are all a part of everyday life here.  My GPS on my iPhone has been invaluable for getting to grocery stores and other places.  I just follow the blue dot on the screen.  At times it has taken me past bus stops, underground to subways and then back above ground all to discover that I needed to return to the bus stop I originally came to 20 minutes earlier!  There's a steep learning curve and being able to laugh at yourself, ask questions and make mistakes is mandatory.

Because of the language being so, so different from English, we can't even pay our bills without help.  For example, our cell phone bills just came in the mail and I have NO IDEA how or where to pay them.  All of that to say, we are completely dependent on others for help.  For all practical purposes, we're illiterate in this culture.  I can read Korean, but my vocabulary is so small that it really doesn't do much good when I'm trying to decipher a complicated bill.  I have a hard enough time with the cell phone bills in the U.S.!

So, our Korean friends have been invaluable in helping to get our bank accounts up and running and helping us establishing automatic bill pay for our gas, electricity, water, apartment rent, etc.  There's no way we could do this on our own.  We're so thankful for our relationships here and the time they are willing to invest to help us get our feet under us.

Even after over 2 months of life here, there are still things that need to be set up and taken care of, but we can't do it ourselves.  This has been a stretching time for all of us in terms of having to lay aside our independent tendencies.

Another example, of learning how to depend on others and the Lord:  Last week I was very sick with fever and coughing that kept me from sleeping, congestion, etc.  I still had to work all week and I had ministry responsibilites on the weekend (band practice, childrens service, English service).  Our Heavenly Father is undoubtedly our healer and I have personally experienced miraculous healing on several occasions.  So, when I asked the Lord, "How am I going to sing? How am I going to lead band practice, etc.?  Lord, help."  He gave me 2 Corinthians 12:9.  His power is made perfect in our weakness.  "Okay, Lord," I thought.  When I asked Barry, what he thougth I should do he just reminded me that we're the Body of Christ.  "Let the Body be the Body."  "Okay...  What's that going to look like?" I wondered.

So, I showed up at band practice at 8pm Saturday, hacking violently and barely able to speak, but God was with us.  I didn't have any idea how things would turn out.  What did happen was wonderful.  The Body was the Body.  I couldn't sing, so I told the Korean praise team vocalists they would lead.  I did the best I could to teach them the melody to the new song and then they went into the next room to practice on their own while the band and I practiced the music.

Because I was sick and vulnerable a deeper level of friendship opened up between myself and the team.  They stepped up in leading and they opened up even more in our conversation together.  We were operating as the Body, like we're supposed to!  The Lord was reminding me that His yoke is easy ALWAYS, when we're on top of our game and when we're not.  Sometimes, when I feel strong I think I take too much responsibility onto my own shoulders.  That's not God's way.  It was nice to be reminded that no matter how weak I am, I can walk in His will.  The help we need is always there.

Sunday night before the English Service I felt even worse.  I still had the jarring cough and sneezes, but I had a migraine on top of if, so everytime I coughed my head felt like it might explode.  Again, I asked the Lord, "What are you going to do about this?"  He gave me 2 Corinthians 12:9, again.  I had to keep throwng off discouragment before the service began because I couldn't even think clearly to lead the band.  I couldn't seem to find the words to bark out "chorus," "bridge," etc.  But, I knew the Lord had something special in mind because my physical condition was rediculous.  He clearly wasn't worried. 

Long story short, the Holy Spirit showed up in our service in a powerful way.  I didn't minister through singing, but speaking.  The Lord gave words of knowledge and visited us in such an amazing way.  At the end of service He was commissioning people in a very personal way.  They were down front weeping before the Lord and having very intimate and personal encounters with Him.  It was incredible.  I was stunned at the way He was working in our midst.  The Holy Spirit was having His way.  I felt such a joy in my spirit.  I can't explain it, but it was almost as if in that moment He solidified His call in the hearts of those who came down front and that because of that call there were others who were going to come into the Kingdom.  I really felt His joy about those lost children who were going to hear His message and be reconciled to Him.

All of that to say, it was a stretching time for me to learn that I don't have to be afraid of weakness and responsibility.  The two do not conflict.  I can't really put it all into words, but it was good.  I'm learning.  Trusting God is never easy, but when you don't have any choice, but to trust, it's just a little bit easier. 

So anyway, that's my take on some of the learning and adjusting that we're going through here in Korea.  As far as today is concerned, it's Saturday and we've got the morning off, which is so nice.  Today is "Parents Day" at Tae Kwon Do, so Barry will help out this afternoon with that.  The kids and I will go and the kids will be promoted to the next belt.  Barry will teach at a small group in the evening at the church and I'll have band practice.  That's all for now.

Hi from Korea

Hi!  I'm writing an update just because I can.  I'm at school and have things wrapped up for the week and still have 20 minutes left in the day, so I thought I'd do a little blogging.

First of all, thanks for your concern, but we were completely uneffected by the earth quake.  Wait, I take that back, South Korea did move 2 cm.  We're praying along with the rest of you all for Japan.  What a horrific tragedy.  I'm so glad this world is not our home.  Jesus, did say, "in this world you will have troubles."  Real life will begin for us when we shed these "earth suits" and enter into life as God intended.  I'm so thankful that Jesus died to reconcile us to God so that we can know what life was meant to be. 

Everyday life here?  Well, things here in Korea are going well.  I'm settled in at school, which is nice.  I feel a little like Mr. Rogers with the routine I have.  I kind of like it.  Every morning I wake up and check email, drink coffee, eat breakfast and then hop on the bus to go play badminton with Chan Hye and Jung Hyun.  I ride the bus home, take a shower, have devotions with the family, have some time alone to talk to the Lord, then I put on work clothes, and hop on the subway.  I arrive at work 40 minutes later and take off my street shoes, put them on the shelf and I grab and put on my indoor "slippers."  I go to the English Teachers' office and put my coat in my drawer, turn on my computer, put water in my water bottle, do a tiny bit of planning for the day, eat lunch and then go teach 3 back to back classes.  After that I regroup, tutor a highschooler, give a guitar lesson and then organize and plan for the remaining 30 minutes or so and then Chan Hye comes by to pick me up and give me a ride home.  She drops me off on the curb at Jewelry City and I whip out my security card and run to the door.  I scan my card and the door opens, I hit the elevator button, check the mail and go up to the 10th floor to see the family.  They're usually done with school and I find them chilling playing Wii or legos.

I haven't had this much routine in my life since I was a kid!  It's probably good for me.  I get side-tracked so easily.

Barry and the kiddos are doing good.  Barry is an excellent Korean stay at home dad.  He teaches homeschool, does laundry and dishes and vacuums on occasion.  I'm SOOO thankful for all he does!  He and I both work weekends at the church, but he teaches multiple classes on Sunday whereas I only help with the English Service.  He's really enjoying teaching and discipling students.  He's a very good teacher and I'm glad that he gets to use that in homeschool and on the weekends with kids, highschoolers and young adults at the church.  It's a great fit for him and it's good to see him doing what he's made to do.  He also teaches English "fitness" to kids on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at a local Tae Kwon Do facility.

The kids want to come home, as in Georgia, for a month in the summer.  Barry and I can't go, though, because of work.  So, we'll see how that all pans out.  There's a lot of planning and logistical stuff to hash out before that plan can materialize.  Anyway, we'll keep you posted!

My desk at school:

European Vision Trip

We had the privilege of accompanying a group of about 50 Koreans to Europe.  I never thought I'd see Europe.  I've always wanted to, but I just didn't see that happening.  Well this was our chance.  What an opportunity!  We visited Germany, Switzerland and France.  It was a whirlwind of a trip!  We visited up to 3 cities a day -- Korean style!

The purpose of the trip was to be inspired by real stories of God moving in the lives of His people, it was a time to open the eyes and hearts of the team members to new things and to study the history of the Church in Europe.  We had the opportunity to see the castle and the very room where Martin Luther translated the entire New Testament in 10 weeks from Greek to German, we visited Bach's home, we heard the inspiring stories of Canaan and Taize, we fellowshipped with believers from around the world and worshiped in more languages than I can count, we got to see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Robert Longo exhibit in Berlin, the Steiff Museum, the tallest church in the world in Ulm, 2 operas, a private concert and talk with one of Germany's finest pipe organists, we visited Weimar, Hitler's 2nd favorite town to speak in and the location of the Italian film "It's a Beautiful Life," and more, I just can't remember it at the moment.

All of that to say, it was the trip of a life time and we're so thankful we got to go.  We paid for our airfare and the rest was provided for.  The group stayed in pensions and youth hostels to keep the cost down and the Koreans brought some instant meals so the group would always have a meal in a pinch.

It was a tremendous trip.  We had times of worship and prayer together and had the opportunity to grow in relationship with our Korean brothers and sisters and well as other believers.  In Taize, Barry and I connected with a group of Dutch believers.  The connection was so strong that we now have plans to visit them with Kidoong and the team next year in Amsterdam and host a worship/outreach event. 

So, that's the Europe trip in a nutshell.  I'd like to post some pictures of everything.  Hopefully, that will come next!

English Worship Service

Wow!  It's been a month since our last blog!!!  Oy!  We're falling down on the job.  Well, things here are going well.  Tonight was our first official English Worship Service.  The Holy Spirit visited us in a powerful way.  It was a wonderful time of worship, prayer and the Word.  We had a turn out of 138, which is a big jump from the 20 they had when they first tried having English Worship 3 years ago.  We thank God for such a wonderful time together in His presence.  We are looking forward to watching what He will do week after week. 

This week God gave me Genesis 28:3.  I think it is a word for this group.  The Father is seeking worshipers who will worship in Spirit and in truth.  As we seek Him in our private lives and grow in relationship with Him, we are preparing the way for Him to visit us corporately where He desires to draw together and establish a community of worshipers.
 
I'm expectant and challenged to cultivate deeper relationship with Him on my own time.  He has made it clear that for me, my relationship with Him is the only thing of lasting impact that I have to give here in Korea.  It's wonderful that the thing that brings the greatest blessing in my own life (intimate relationship with Him) is the very thing that will make the greatest impact while I am here. 

It's also one of the hardest things to pursue.  Seeking God is not easy.  It's hard to be still.  It's hard to fend of the busyness and the distractions and listen for His voice and take the time to meditate on His word.  It's hard to invite Him to search my heart and uncover the dark secrets of my heart so that I can be cleansed.  But, there is no endeavor that will reap a greater return than seeking to know God in the privacy of our own souls.  May He strengthen us to that end!

Why We're Here

As of today, February 5th, we've had 1 month to settle into life here in Korea.  We now have a bank account, a home, jobs, a routine, etc.  Just this morning I was talking to the Lord about everything and praying that His purposes be fulfilled and that He give us His vision for our time here.  He has been so gracious to give us weeks to settle and become somewhat accustomed to life here, but we know that He has called us here for a specific reason.

Tonight He answered my prayer for vision.  We ended up meeting with Kidoong and his family at a Chinese restaurant for dinner.   We had a powerful time hearing all about the doors God has recently opened in Mongolia and China.  We also discussed our roles here and how we can help to strengthen and under-gird the Korean church.

God very clearly told us to come here.  We understand that we are supporting God's work and seeing Him bring the Gospel into places where it is illegal to even crack open a Bible.  One of the ways we do this is by helping to equip and train young adults in both the things of God and the English language.  This group is composed of Korean young adults who will take the Gospel to the nations.  In addition to this we will help create curriculum to teach English and the Gospel to children to be used here and in other nations, especially China and Mongolia where discipleship resources are scarce.

Barry and our pastor will visit towns in China and Mongolia in the Spring.  We will then lead a U.S. team in the summer to work in Korea and China or Mongolia (probably China.)  We will follow the Lord for the next steps!  Please pray for us.

Why China?  I'm sure there are many reasons, but one I know of is that the Gospel is basically outlawed there and billions of people have never even heard of Jesus and the fact that He came to the earth to reconcile them to God.  It is apparent by the amazing doors God is opening that He is committed to taking His word to these people.  We are so excited to see how He is working and we are humbled and blessed to have the privilege of watching and supporting this work.

In terms of everyday life, today I worked at the school.  The English Teachers' office has been moved so I'm adjusting to a new work space.  Barry and the kids worked on homeschool and then exchanged Will's Nikes (a gift for his birthday) for a bigger size and then this evening we shared a meal in our home with a fun multi-national crew.  We had a gal from Japan, a gal from Mongolia, a Korea couple who had served as missionaries to Mongolia and then two Korean KidsWorship members.  We had a lovely time together.  We served them pasta, bread, fruit, coffee and dessert (American-style).

We're still dealing with some business type details.  We'll get Barry, Sam's and Will's immigration cards tomorrow.  Hopefully, by the end of the week we'll have cell phones and then we'll leave next Monday for Europe (Germany, Switzerland and France.)  The super-cold weather will be back in Seoul on Friday so it won't hurt my feelings in the least to leave the country for a bit ;)  So, that's that!

Lunar New Year

We've been told that the Korean celebration of the Lunar New Year is similar to our Thanksgiving.  Visits with family and eating large traditional meals are a part of the celebration.

Monday night the children were given traditional Korean outfits.  I was thrilled about this because the kids were invited to take part in my school's traditional celebration where all the children would wear them.  I was excited that Sam and Will would be able to join in.  At the school they participated in learning traditional games and customs as well as eating a traditional meal.

Wednesday we enjoyed an overnight trip to Cheonon for our holiday time off.  We went with Chan Hye, San and Eunyoung to SpaVis where we spent time sledding and then swimming.  Here are a couple of pictures from our time there.  You'll see the kids bungee jumping in the photos above.  They had so much fun!  Sam said, "Mom, I think I was born to do this!!!"  Oh boy.  :)

I didn't take any pictures inside the water park and sadly I didn't have my camera for the celebration at my school.  The kids were so cute in their outfits.

I especially liked seeing the reactions of the elderly folks in the subway to the children.  Sam and Will were dressed in Korean garb and the elderly folks just loved it.  It was sweet to see their reactions.

In Cheonan we went out to dinner with Kidoong's dad at Mr.Pizza and then we spent the night in Brandy and Brandon's old apartment.  It was neat to see some of the things they left behind, princess cups and such and think about what life was like for them while they were here.

Today is Saturday and we're enjoying down time, cleaning and unpacking before the new week begins.  We're enjoying a bit of a break from the cold.  It's above freezing for a few days!  Love you all and hope you're enjoying a great weekend back home.

Our First Three Weeks In Korea

1/27/2011

On Blogging

Well, we had good intentions to blog regularly. Kathryn likes to add lots of details to help others feel and experience what we are going through, and I like to share “deep” and “spiritual” things that challenge and/or encourage others. I think we are waiting to have the time to sit down and focus on posting insightful things. We are starting to see that we may not be able to peel away so easily to do that sort of thing. We have been here three weeks and our posts are getting fewer and farther between already.

We have not had a “normal” week yet. We are slowly establishing our routine. The Korean schools start their next term in March and that is the calendar we are working on since our primary role is teaching. So the church programs and Kathryn's work at the Academy are tied directly to the public school schedule. We have finished the paper work for immigration (this week). Kathryn is a legal, card carrying immigrant and Sam, Will and I should be also, when the paperwork goes through (February 7). So far our best week has seen three days of homeschool.

Settling in During the Storm

What is keeping us so busy? I'm glad you asked. Let me give you a snapshot of our lives since we arrived. We left for South Korea on Wednesday, January 5^th. Arrived at Incheon on the 6^th. Took the day to unpack on the 7^th and got moved in to our new place, met with the KidsWorship team briefly and had a meeting with Pastor Kidoong covering our responsibilities at the church. On Saturday the 8^th we had to show our faces at a pastors meeting at 9AM and we hung around the Kids Worship offices for a while. That evening we met the worship team for the young adult ministry and had dinner together. This young adult group (college students plus a few early career folks) is our personal small group. They have pretty good English and they are all great people. They have been so helpful to us. Saturday, we met them just to get aquainted. On Sunday we were introduced at five different services starting at 8 o'clock. We did not have to sit through each service but we did have to get presented to the church five different times. At 3 o'clock, we went to the childrens English service that I help lead, followed by the weekly meeting of the young adult worship team. As a group we chose The 4:8 Principle as the book that we would be working through together. For these meetings Kathryn leads worship and introduces a new song each week and I lead the discussion and Kat and I tag team teach through the book.

On Monday we left for Horeb Retreat center (about three hours away). This is a privately owned youth retreat center that we will be working with at times. That evening Kat led worship for the retreat center staff and the kids played in the snow (this place is cool and it's out in the country). I am sure we will talk more about this place in the coming months. On Tuesday, the 11^th, we did some filming for a video at Horeb and that evening we went snow skiing with the kids. We drove home that night after finishing skiing at 10 PM.

The next day Kathryn went to the hospital to get a full battery of test so she could be approved for her immigration status. After the hospital we all went to see the Academy where Kat will be working, as well as the Tae Kwon Do gym that I will work at.

On Thursday the 13^th Sam, Will and Barry left for a young adult retreat for two days that included indoor baseball and a visit to a waterpark. Kat did not go on the retreat because she was starting to get sick, but while we were gone she got to hang out with Ansley which was good for her. The kids and I got home Saturday and rested until we reunited with Kathryn that evening. Then Sunday rolled around again- I attend the 10:30 youth service, I help lead the 3 o'clock English kids worship service, and we co-lead the 5:30 young adult meeting (with worship and teaching). That is my regular Sunday schedule at present.

Rolling up Our Sleeves

Then Monday the 17^th came, this was Kat and I's first week of work. In the morning we all went together to immigration to begin getting Kat processed to get her card to be legal. Until this is done we cannot get bank accounts, cell phones, etc. Needless to say this is pretty important. We went to immigration at 9 o'clock, got lunch at Insadong, and headed off to drop Kat off at work by 1:00 PM. She usually leaves for work at noon Monday through Friday and returns home at 7 PM.  Kathryn worked Tuesday and I had my first day of teaching at the Tae Kwon Do gym.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays I do the warm up, strength, flexibility and balance portions of the TKD classes. I also teach English vocabulary as we work out. Wednesday was a typical work day for Kat and I. The big event for me this day was to make the trip home by myself. The most difficult part was to convince Master Lim (my boss) to let me go. He is a great guy but was worried about me getting lost on the subway. The trip takes about an hour and I have to change lines at transfer stations several times along the way. He thought that navigating through the maze of subway tunnels might be too much but I was able to convince him that it is hard to lose a Marine with a map.

Homeschool Begins

By Thursday we were really anxious to get homeschool started back so the kids could have the stability of a routine. Also, after too long of a break it's hard to get them motivated again. This provides a good excuse to slow down a bit with the outtings. Friday the 19^th was homeschool again as well as an evening trip (when Kat got home from work) to E Mart. E Mart is the Korean equivalent of Wal Mart. It's a good place to shop and has just about everything you need in one place (groceries plus clothing and items for the home). Saturday we took a break from the action, although we still hung out with some friends this day. They helped us to figure out what our monthly bills would be and how to set up payments and the like. Sunday was the typical schedule for me. I am not required to go to the youth service but it is important to me to get to know the kids and to build relationships with them. I feel called to the age group since they are so open and are usually searching for influences as they formulate their own ideas about life and the world. Being a novelty in this culture brings the spotlight and also provides a platform to speak into the lives of some. It is also rewarding to see growth in others and this is an age of accelerated growth. At the kids service we also launched a demo video that Sam and Will helped me make. This went over well and will become a feature for the spring semester as we write the new cirriculum.

Plugging

A new week began and we got back to the books but not without interruption. Monday was homeschool for the three of us and Kat started a new work week. Tuesday- Sam, Will and I had our turn at immigration. We had to wait for Kathryn to get processed fully because she is technically our sponsor for our family visas. Wednesday was work for Kat and another homeschool day for Sam and Will. Thursday we shopped for shoes in the AM but were still able to complete it in the afternoon. Tomorrow (Friday) I will leave for a middle school/high school retreat. Lucky for Sam and Will- another day off.

Now that we have an abridged recording of the events of our first three weeks, hopefully we can begin to keep a weekly journal of the next forty-nine. We want this to be a site people can visit to be entertained and challenged. A place to learn about a new culture, a place to meet new people, a place to help us understand ourselves and our neighbors and a place for us to remember that God is continually at work in our lives. Thanks for reading, we hope you are blessed.

On the Homefront

Hey!  We're slowly getting settled. I've had my first trips to E-Mart and Costco, my first cold, my first bout of homesickness and my first solo subway trip (I had to ask for lots of help).  We're getting there... We have a mini super market and a restaurant in the building, which is AWESOME. I took the elevator down to B2 and bought milk for our cereal this morning.  That's not something I could ever do in the States.

I still need to register with immigration and get legal so I can get our phones, bank account, etc.  The hospital physical went fine.  They were all so kind and helpful (and thorough).  I had 3 of our English worship team members with me.  One of the guys was a little too helpful.  He accidentally tried to follow me into the bathroom for my urine sample collection. Ha!  It was an honest mistake. He carried my coat around for me and they followed me (almost) everywhere I went.  It was very reassuring, and a little comical.

My first day of official work is tomorrow.  I'll be teaching English at S&P Academy aka "Heaven and Earth School" and working primarily with 1st graders from 1pm to 6pm.  Our tentative weekly schedule will have me working M-F, 1-6pm with a 30 minute commute by subway in both directions. Barry and I will co-teach the kids for home school.  I'm planning to use my Korean language text from UGA to give the whole family Korean lessons and Barry will teach the rest of the subjects to the kids while I'm at school.

Barry will teach physical fitness/Tae Kwon Do on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at a local Tae Kwon Do Academy with a guy from YounDong Church.  He will lead a small group Saturday afternoons and then help with kids and young adults English services on Sunday and then we'll co-lead the English adult worship service on Sunday nights.  (I'll lead worship and we'll tag team teach.) So, that's life as we know it right now.

I got to see Ansley Burns yesterday.  That was refreshing.  It was a welcome reprieve from all the "new."  We'll keep y'all posted.  Love and miss you.   ~Kathryn

Worship

It's cool to go to a praise and worship service where you don't understand a word.  It releases your focus from being on what is said or what you think about what is being said.  I thin o fGod's word that tell sus He inhabits the praises of his people.  I am free to bask in that fact and enjoy being surrounded by the presene of God. 

There were maybe 150 or so young people packed into the auditorium today.  Sure some were clearly not interested, after all, they are typical high school and middle school kids.  Also, there were a group that are merely singing the words on the screen.  But, thank God for the remnant of kids who are truly communing with God.  These are the ones who worship in spirit and in Truth and are responsible for inviting God's presence into this place.  Thank God for this remnant because without God's spirit our meetings are worthless and void of eternal value.  If the Holy Spirit is not invited in, then the chances of him affecting others is severely reduced.

The picture in my mind is of a castle wall under siege.  God's powerful presence surrounding the thick stone walls around wounded hearts.  How can God break down the walls and invade guarded hearts with his love if we don not invite his presence into the place where the resistant ones dwell?

Barry's Thoughts

Have you ever felt like you were born at the wrong time? You know like when as a boy you wish you had been born during the cowboy days. When it was perfectly normal to carry a gun everywhere you went and everyone rode horses and if you had a problem with someone you could take it out to the middle of the street and settle it like men. No clocks to punch, no paperwork that had to be filled out, instead you just did what you had to do.

Lately I have been thinking about what it means to be a missionary. I think the draw of missions is that it is a place where the love of adventure and a God-given love for people meet. What we are doing as a family here in South Korea is an adventure no doubt, but it seems to have a little less risk and a little less sacrifice than I had imagined. Sure there are sacrifices and risks but they all seem so manageable at present. I envisioned this to require a faith that caused you to lean heavily on God. So far I feel, like I always have, that leaning on God is a choice but you can totally get into the flow of doing things your own way and miss that closeness of leaning on God that is available.

I think that if I were born in the days of David Livingstone or Jim Elliot the draw to unexplored lands and unreached people would pull us into a life of danger and the unknown. This in turn would require unhindered unity with God for daily survival and sanity.  I don’t know, maybe that was not the case for them either, maybe those guys had to choose to follow and obey God on a daily basis just as we do. Not to mention I don’t think many women ever romanticize the opportunity to trade places with Mrs. Elliot or Mrs. Livingstone. 

The test is to learn to embrace where God placed you in human history and learn to make choices to honor him in all things regardless of your station in life. Let us put Jesus first in our daily life and ask for the vision and discernment to recognize opportunities to impact our world. Let us seize those opportunities to advance his kingdom however they present themselves. Be devoted to the King whether our times bring peace or peril.

Personally I am choosing to put the laptop down and go sit with the Lord- Now!

Signing off…   Barry