Loved.

"Loved! then the way will not be drear;
For One we know is ever near,
Proving it to our hearts so clear
That we are loved.
Loved when our sky is clouded o’er,
And days of sorrow press us sore;
Still we will trust Him evermore,
For we are loved.
Time, that affects all things below,
Can never change the love He’ll show;
The heart of Christ with love will flow,
And we are loved."

Grace Penell

For those days we forget He loves;
and for those who yearn for it.

A Mother's Prayer

Listen to this song if you wish to be a godly mother, but know the realities of the world: A Mother's Prayer

I am honestly scared to have children because I know what the world is like. I know of the evils: the temptations, the fears, the anxieties, the anger....I feel I won't be at peace unless I can lock them up. I'm scared they'll wander-too far from me. But, after listening to this song, God reminded me of the power of two things: God's protection and a mother's prayer. The power of a mother's love is strong, bold, courageous, fierce; the power of a mother's prayer is just as mighty. The temptations of the world may be overwhelming, but nothing is impossible with our Father.

"pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

A tip for guys: "Lead Me"

Dad's love

"December 13th was my dad's birthday. I called to wish him a happy birthday and as usual, all he wanted to talk about was how I was doing: Isn't it cold? How are your students? Do you take Jessica to church with you? etc.
I was praying for him before I went to bed that night and I could only say thank You. Ever since I grew out of my teenage "I hate my parents" stage, I knew that I was blessed to have a dad like mine. I'm blessed because my dad helps me to taste the Father's love. My dad is so patient with me, and I know God is even more patient with me. My dad puts his family before himself, and God selflessly sacrficed his one and only Son to give me new life. My dad always wants to give me the best of everything, and I know God gives me what's best for me."

If you notice my dad's birthdate, I started this blog entry quite a while ago, but I never got around to finishing it....I'm attaching it since it relates with what I want to blog about today.
나는 이렇게 기도한다.. 하나님의 사랑을 모르는 내가 사랑하는 친구들...아버지의 사랑을 제데로 경험 못 해서 너무너무 아쉽고 마음이 아프다. 아버지의 사랑을 보여주고싶은 마음은 많은데 내가 약해서 그렇게 못 할때가 많다.. 미안하다. 그리고 그리스도의 사랑으로 사랑한다. 내가 아는 사랑중에서 그런사랑이 제일 영원한 사랑이니까. 하나님의 사랑을 알 수있게 마음을 열어달라고 기도한다. This is how I pray.. for my friends whom I love who don't know God's love. I feel sad and heartbroken to think that my friends have yet to experience the Father's love. I have big desires to show you the Father's love, but I've failed too many times because of my weaknesses.. I'm sorry. And I love you with the love of Christ because out of all the different kinds of love I know, Christ love is the most everlasting. I pray for open hearts so you may know God's love.

Amen.

On a Friday Afternoon

This week has been crazy: The school faculty played volleyball three days this week (On Thursday, another school came to play an actual game.). I’ve been having a hard time waking up all week. The students took midterm exams on Friday, so the class schedules were adjusted. And all week, my students have been more talkative than usual and more disruptive. I didn’t know what was going on because even the classes that are normally good were acting up. On Thursday, I was talking about it with Jessica (the other native English teacher) and I found out that her students have been crazy all week too! It made me a little relieved. Then, I started thinking, “Maybe my students are getting used to me…They were behaving well because I was still new, but now that I’m a familiar face, they are letting themselves get comfortable.” Just as I started to brainstorm disciplinary ideas in my head, my co-teacher brought it up! During one of our classes, she asked the students, “Why are you guys so talkative today? Are exams stressing you out?” I thought, “Oh my gosh! She’s right!” It was like an epiphany! I guess my co-teacher knew by her teacher instinct…? After our last class, all of the English teachers at the school talked about it in our office. Apparently, all of the students have been wild all week. Since the students finished their exams today and will have a weekend to have some fun, they should be settled down on Monday, right? Let’s hope so. :--)

This week, I finally got internet and cable TV at my place. I’m blogging from school, but I feel so happy knowing I could do it from home. Hehe Lately, I’ve been reminding myself to give thanks. The first 2-3 weeks in Korea were really rough and I was full of nothing but bitterness. It was very easy to complain and to question, but very hard to say thank You. After 2-3 weeks of this, I knew my attitude had to change. It was obvious that I was not fully surrendering to God and with that attitude, it would be hard to enjoy Korea. So, I started to pray a prayer of thanksgiving every night. I prayed over everything, even minor details. It’s been about a month since I started to do this and I know it’s helping: It reminds me to love the Korean teachers. It reminds me to love life. It reminds me that I live for His glory.  

Thank You for my new bed.

Thank You for my new TV.

Thank You for my new AC remote.

Thank You for my co-teacher who is just wonderful and so accommodating!

Thank You for showing me that I’m not the only English teacher who struggled here.

Thank You for all the friends I met at GEPIK orientation!

Thank You for Jessica’s honesty.
Thank You for transforming me in the small month I’ve been here.

Thank You for my internet connection and my cable TV.

Thank You for TV다시보기 so that I can catch up on my Korean dramas. Haha

Thank You for my first care package. ㅜ.ㅜ (완전 surprise and 감동.)

Thank You for the random phone calls from my relatives who call to “see if anything’s going on.”

Thank You for the variety in the delicious school lunches. ^__^

Thank You for helping me to love my students.

Thank You for allowing me wisdom and discernment each and every day I teach.

Thank You for my first paycheck. Haha

Thank You for giving me money when I go on business trips. (I did not know this until it showed up in my bank account. Plus, business trips are fun because you get to go home as soon as your business is done. Woohoo!)

Thank You for cleaning supplies.

Thank You for the wonderful Korean teachers I share the office with.

Thank You for all of the foreigners in my neighborhood! (Some teachers don’t have any in their neighborhoods. We have about six!)

Thank You for bringing Diana relatively close to me.

Thank You for BJ gsn. He reminded me of the grace I had forgotten.

Thank You for Heejeong because I feel less lost with a close friend nearby.

Thank You for reminding me how much I appreciate friends and family back home.

Thank You for protecting me.

Did you guys notice the first 3? Oh YEAH~~ Dad is good. <3

Moving In

...
At times like these, it's hard to keep an eternal perspective, so I pray, "God, remind me of Your grace and love. It's so easy to forget. Remind me that it's for Your glory. Allow me courage. In Your Son's Name I pray, Amen."

Welcome to South Korea

hello Johnna. Welcome to South Korea. heheh
After 12 hours (actually 11 due to speeding skills of the pilots), I landed safely in South Korea. It was way too early to go over to Heejeong's house, so I hung out at the airport until Eunice had to board her plane for EA. I'm so so soo glad that Eunice and I had the same flight. It might have been a random coincidence for us, but I know God had a hand in this. By the time I boarded the plane, my anxiety was still growing, but knowing Eunice was with me put me at ease. I thought, "Man, if Eunice is staying abroad for the 2nd year in a row, I can do this too!!!" I was challenged and encouraged (feelings that lessened my nervousness).
Getting to know her was also a really good experience. We talked about her 1st year ST experience, her feelings about the upcoming one, boys (^^), how I felt about teaching, etc. etc. Hearing about her ST experience helped me to see how God is indeed working in and through her. It made me think, "God is so in love with His people." Seriously. What a feeling! So, I was challenged to make Korea my mission field during this year. I may not be here as a missionary, but we're created to live for His glory. Even though I may not be doing spiritually well right now, I have faith in You. Help me to take this small faith and serve You. And if it is Your will, I pray that You would ready me as Your vessel so that I may shine Your love. (Please keep me accountable!)

Two Days Left

Last Friday, I came home and I saw that my mom had picked my plane ticket up from the travel agency. As I noticed it sitting on my desk, it made me excited, but the feeling of "shoot. i'm really leaving" hit me at the same time. During the application process, I was super excited, but this is when I started getting nervous.. Now that it's just two days before I leave, I'm getting more nervous. God, please help me..
I hope the other English teacher is fun.
I hope we can become friends.
I hope my co-teacher is easy to work with.
I hope my students study hard.
I hope my students listen to me.
I hope my students aren't taller than me. ^^;
I hope I don't get homesick.
I hope the place they're getting for me is clean.
I hope I'm not a loner there. (another ^^;)
I hope lots of people visit Korea while I'm there.
I hope there will be a good church I can attend.
I hope I'll learn more about myself.
I hope I can travel to other parts of Asia!
I hope I can get my visas, reentry stuff, and tax stuff completed soon (this part is the toughest).
I hope I experience God more during this year.