August Update

Once again I need to apologize for not updating my blogger often enough.

Matt and I have been back in country for about three weeks now. Our first week back we taught the little kids at our church's VBS and we went to school a few times to prep our classrooms before orientation. We began working August 10 and the students started back Wednesday.

As you may know, a lot of our teachers (if not all of us) have more responsibilities than we would normally have due to being short staffed. Most of us are teaching an extra class or two. I have picked up a history class that I proctor. Matt is now teaching three ELD classes, 7th and 8th grade English, and 7th and 8th grade Computer and PE. He's basically teaching two and a half teacher's jobs. There are quite a few demands on us this year so please pray for time management and sanity :0) for us this year.

Volleyball practice starts Monday. Our 6th grade teacher, Bethany, has decided to volunteer her time to be my assistant coach this season. This is the first time that I've been a head coach of anything. It's very humbling- especially because I have to ask A LOT of questions.

Speaking of humbling situations. I decided to retake the Praxis II this summer. When I was hired to come to Korea, I hadn't passed the test yet and I didn't need to, to be able to work at my school. I prayed about it quite a bit and decided that it was time for me to retake it again this summer. I dedicated most of my summer vacation studying for that test. It was humbling because this test is something I should have passed five years ago. But honestly, it was my teaching experience that really helped me with taking it this time. There were questions on there that I never would have known had I not taught it before. Anyway, to end the suspense- I got my score on Thursday night and my score is high enough for me to get a license in any state that requires that test. It is still easiest at this point for me to get an Ohio license- but my score was significantly higher than what was required of me. That's a huge PTL for that!

Our intent forms for the 2010-2011 school year are due at the end of November. Please pray for us as we finalize our decision for that.

Until next time...

Something fun. Wordle

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Tired, Discouraged, and Weary

For those of you who actually keep up with my blog (potentially better than I do), I am asking for prayer.

I have hit a point where I'm tired of the way things are going in my workplace. I'm disappointed that people who call themselves Christians aren't acting like it. There should be no cliques or a feeling that one is holier than another or that they know more than someone else (and aren't afraid to let that other person know). It just stinks that people aren't really living out what they believe. We're supposed to be examples for students- yet what are we expecting of them when we're no different than the world, or we handle things no differently than the world.

I have become very weary in enduring all that is going on around me. I come home from work just frazzled because of the things that go on. There seems to be so much secrecy this year. There are also many divisions which is difficult too.

I don't even really know how to put into words what's going on in my head.

Please pray for the favoritism and partiality to die away. I really thought that when I took a job working with Christians that there would be no politics in the workplace. It's just as prevalent in the Christian circles as it is in the secular circles. Aren't we supposed to be different? To think, live and even work different?

Office politics are something I would expect from and have experienced (a lot) in secular circles. Why have Christians let it penetrate their workplaces?

To give you an idea of just how much we are around our fellow co-workers a day tends to go like this: Many of us either live with another teacher or live very near to other teachers, we all ride into school together, we work all day together, we all ride home together (sometimes this takes about 45 minutes- if not longer), then we go back to live with each other. We also almost all go to the same church, share a lot of the same friends, are involved in other activities in and out of school that require us to be together.

So, when there are divisions within the staff, there are cliques formed, or partiality is shown it hurts the group as a whole.

If you'd like to know more specifically what's weighing me down, I will tell you- I just don't feel it needs to go up here.

Pray for me, too, because I've hit the point where I love what I do- but working where I work is extremely difficult. It's usually a challenge to get up every morning to go to work. Matt and I are both signed on for next year and I just keep praying- that at least for me- that it wasn't a mistake.

Pray for strength, wisdom (especially on which issues need addressed and which I need to just let rest), and encouragement from outside the workplace (because it's definitely not coming from within it), and anything else that God lays on your heart to pray for us about.

God Bless.

January Update

Greetings, to our precious family in Christ.

I'm writing this on an unusually snowy day on a thankfully long Lunar New Year weekend. As it's a time for frequent travel, we are staying in and enjoying a low-key holiday. In all seasons, we are constantly reminded of His goodness.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support.

Our return to school after a three-week break transitioned well. It always brings a smile to hear students say "I was bored. I'm so glad to be back!" I hope and pray we teach to His glory.

February will be designated as "Random Acts of Kindness Month", a school wide event. We will teach and recognize acts of kindness in the school, and then in the community and home. Our prayer is to teach a biblical basis and biblical principles behind kindness. We also hope and pray that we can model service to Him and right attitudes without seeking reward.

We have also assembled a group to go to India during our Spring Break. I'll have the opportunity to lead a group of four teachers and four students as we help with Vacation Bible School at Priority One Ministries. We are raising money for the trip and praise Him as He continues to provide. We also seek Him for the remainder needed for the trip. He has great things planned, and we are excited to slowly see His plan unfold.

In closing, thank you again for your prayers, encouragement and support. God bless as you continue to serve Him.

In His service.

Christmas or just another day?

Eleven days out and still December 25 seems like just another day.

I look around at friends (those who haven't rushed back to the States to be with their families) and I see gifts from family (not in Korea) around their tree and more than just a helpless Charlie Brown tree.

How is it Christmas without family? I know presents shouldn't be a big deal, and don't get me wrong, they're not, but there's not one under the tree. There hasn't been for three years. There's not a Christmas card from a family member anywhere. There hasn't been for four years.

I know people say I have Matt and that should be enough. Or, we haven't been married long enough to fully detach from our families for the holidays- quite frankly- I hope we never get to that point.

Christmas right now is looking like just another typical day off from work. The sun rises, the sun sets- just another day.

Maybe the real reason Ebeneezer Scrooge was so unhappy wasn't because he was a crotchety old man- maybe it was because of a secret Mr. Dickens was hiding from us- he had family on another continent.

Community

Lately I've been struggling with the idea of community. The setting of my life right now is far different than it would be if I were living stateside. My coworkers were my roommates, are my friends, my support system, my family overseas. We travel to work together both in the morning and in the afternoon (and often make plans to hang out in the evenings on these rides). We coach, direct, and lead together.

But it seems as if there's still an oddness about it. The community I am a part of is mainly singles. Now, as a single in the community (as I was for about two years) I did not feel out of place- even when hanging out with married women.

There was a Bible study that I was a part of, when I first arrived in Korea, that was comprised solely of married women. At first, it was a little odd- but they did not view me any differently than they did anyone else in the group.

I just find it odd that now that I am on the other side of the line- I tend to feel more excluded. I'm not sure if it's just because of the numbers- there are only three married (women) teachers and three of our office staff- but if you think about the ratio: 17:3 we are a little outnumbered.

I also don't know if the feeling is coming from greater emphasis being put on being single than there has been in the past or what.

I know it may not mean much to the single ladies- but having been on the field and single for two years- There is a purpose to it. God has placed us in our situations and circumstances as we are for a reason. Singleness is a gift! If you cannot see that and if you do not embrace it while you have it, you will miss out on possibly some of the greatest opportunities God has for you. Try not to see it as a burden and try not to live in the future. Embrace it and see where you can be used in your circumstances. And, please don't treat us married ladies any different because we're married. We still need and want that female interaction (come on, we live with a guy). We're not really all that different.

July Update

This is the e-mail Matt sent our when we returned to Korea. He's much better at the updates than I am.

Greetings to our precious family in Christ.

We just arrived at the end of our visit to the U.S. It was a whirlwind, but a good visit nonetheless. If we failed to see you at that time, we apologize as our time was short.

I (Matt) had the opportunity to attend Pre-field Orientation (PFO) towards the end of June. By the end of that time, I had met teachers from Indonesia, Kungming China, Nairobi and Argentina, to name a few. It was a blessing to hear how God is working and plans to work in the lives of other International Christian School teachers.

We were also blessed to be supported by Beka's home church, Grace Baptist. We know God has blessed us to be a blessing, and I pray that we can do that.

God also blessed us with a vision for ministry. During the course of last year, we began to have a heart for those who are usually overlooked in successful societies. Through help from staff and leadership in our school, we were able to visit a Grandma House (much like a nursing home) and an orphanage. We plan on visiting the same places in order to estabish relationships. Thankfully, we were able to develop a small group of students willing to minister to others in this way.

Our plan for next year is to have one event involving Community Service Outreach every month. This will involve scheduling, which is not my (Matt's) primary skill. We trust and pray that He will give wisdom in this matter. We thank God for His vision and blessing, and pray for wisdom as we plan for this coming year.

I (Matt) am also planning a Bible Study focused on the topic of worship. I had the opportunity to do a word search over the summer, which yielded a wealth of information. Pray that God gives wisdom as I organize the scribblings in my notebook. I pray that we learn more of Him, and less of our own opinions.

We also praise Him that He continues to take care of us. When we arrived in Korea, we found that the locks on our door had been tampered with. We had to stay in a hotel for the night as we were unable to get in. Thankfully, the locks were changed the next day. When we got in, we found everything as we had left it. Thanks be to Him for His goodness.

In closing, thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support. God bless each of you as you continue to serve Him.

In Christ,
Matt and Beka

Does anyone know how to fix this?

When I first signed up for Multiply, I clicked something to import my blogs from my Blogspot page. I'd rather not have to the two linked. Is there any way to undo that? Help.

No time to say hello; goodbye...

It seems like there's always quite a gap in my blogging. It always seems like forever since the last time I wrote. I'm not sure if its because I don't do it often or because I'm not really into writing updates. I'll make an attempt at an update...

There never really seems to be much new news to tell about life around here. The school year is just as challenging as ever. There are more challenges this year than I ever would have thought. The attitudes of some of the students have been less than desirable. Please just pray for the attitudes of them and for the rest of the school year.

Matt and I and another teacher from the school are still planning on going to India over spring break to look at a facility for future mission trips. Matt and I already have our visas and, as far as I know, Alexa has hers too.

Please pray that we find affordable tickets to India. We haven't been able to find anywhere to give us airline prices yet. One (of the two affordable places here) told us they wouldn't have prices until the middle of March (and spring break is the second week in April), plus, they won't give us our whole flight. She said we could just pick up our connecting flight off the internet.

Matt and I are hopefully going to check out ticket prices from somewhere else. We're still exploring options with some other travel agents in Seoul that friends of friends have used.

School is school and being the high school English department is a tedious task. I don't have anyone to run ideas off of or to ask questions to. It's also intimidating that next year, I'll be the senior staff member of the secondary group. Scary...

The school itself is in constant need of prayer. We still have eight of the ten positions open for next year. We've got basically our entire elementary school open along with three secondary positions and our art position. We could be in serious trouble if we don't get these positions filled. We need all the prayer support we can get, pretty much because we can't offer the benefits and the perks that some of the other schools can. We're just a little school in the middle of a rice paddy. There's little incentive for people who are looking for perks on the mission field.

I guess that's about all the updates I've got for now.

Just thoughts spurred on from a book I'm reading.

Sometime during my junior year of high school Christianity became a fad. Sadly, in order to have been a part of that fad crowd you had to attend a certain church and a certain youth group.

It is so sad to see that the people that were so influential in helping bring people to Christianity (but unfortunately, not necessarily to Christ) had pretty much all turned their backs on the faith. It just saddens me to see it.

Maybe they discovered that following Christ isn't all roses, daisies, and frolics in easy fields. I have lots of thoughts on this issue but I'm not sure how to express that. Devastating is probably the correct word.

I've been reading a book lately that deals with issues like that and like what many churches are like in the states these days. People are definitely suffering from spiritual suburbia. People live in complacency instead of truly listening to God's voice and calling. They just want what's comfortable, not what's real.

Get out of the burbs, take some risks, and live for Christ!

(The book is Plastic Jesus: Exposing the Hollowness of Comfortable Christianity by Dr. Eric Sandras. A challenging and highly recommended read.)

Current Feelings

So, lately I've been reading through Psalms and some verses have been really sticking out. This one hit me tonight. It pretty much explains the entire school year so far and just the way things have been going.

Take my side, God—I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day.
Not a day goes by
but somebody beats me up;
They make it their duty
to beat me up.
Psalm 56:1

As usual, people in general need lots of prayer support and friendship and for some reason both seem to be lacking this year. I have to keep remembering that there is a reason for all the hardships we go through (even our month plus with no hot water). There just seems to be a lack of community for younger married couples in our church and our school. It's really difficult to now be viewed differently because you've gotten married. Two years ago when I came to Korea there were a decent number of couples in the school which made for a great support system around them. We don't get that at school because there really isn't anyone else. The one other newly wed couple I think is feeling similar effects to getting married too. It just makes for a difficult time.

I'm not sure how to put that any better, but when I read verses like the one that I listed I definitely feel like that's me. Right now I'm just heavy burdened, don't really have any network to share it in, and am in some severe need for prayer.

Amazing story about one of our students!

ICS has been very blessed this year by having an extraordinary student at our school. Pretty much everyone can learn a lesson in humility from this guy. He's a senior this year at our school and has also decided to play on our basketball team, where he's not even a starter. Not being a starter doesn't bother him though, he's content being one of the first guys off the bench, he goes out with a smile every time. This is just a testament as to how cool God is and how cool the students are that we have at ICS. Here's the article:

Northwestern Lands a Top-10 Recruiting Class for 2008

Wildcats receive commitments from Jae Han Chun and Sam Chien

Nov. 19, 2007

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern Director of Golf Pat Goss has announced the signings of arguably the best recruiting class in program history. Jae Han (Eric) Chun (Ansung City, South Korea/International Christian School) and Samuel Chien (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel) have signed National Letters of Intent with the Wildcats.

According to the latest Junior Golf Scoreboard ranking, Chun is ranked 11th nationally and Chien is 24th, giving Northwestern one of the top-10 recruiting classes in the country (according to the Junior Golf Scoreboard ranking). Chun also is ranked eighth in the 2008 class by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and 18th by Golfweek/Titleist. Chien is listed as the 28th-best player by the AJGA and 30th by Golfweek/Titleist.

"The signing of Eric and Sam represents a very strong recruiting class that will be competitive with the best recruiting classes in the country," says Goss. "Equally impressive as their results in the U.S. are the competitive successes and experiences they have both had internationally. These experiences will serve them very well in college golf."

Chun was a first-team AJGA Rolex Junior All-American (one of 12 players to receive this honor), finishing first in two AJGA events this past summer. He played the entire summer in the United States. In South Korea, Chun finished first in two other events in 2006.

Born in Seoul, Korea and moving to Malaysia at the age of 5, Chun became the top-ranked junior in Malaysia by the age of 12. He would go on to win six amateur opens and one national junior open by the age of 14. Chun then moved to Australia where he posted a 70.24 stroke average in 2004 to win the New South Wales Vardon award. In 2004, he won the Cronulla Amateur Open, Penrith Amateur and finished second at the Mastercard Junior Masters.

In 2005, Chun racked up 13 Australian Junior titles, including the NSW Junior Championship.

"Eric is one of the most impressive players I have seen in junior golf in my 12 years," says Goss. "His game is very mature and polished and his results have matched. I anticipate Eric will make an immediate impact in college golf."

Chien is a 2007 honorable mention AJGA Rolex Junior All-American. Placing first at the AJGA Ping Phoenix Junior, Chien was a medalist at U.S. Juniors Qualifier, and also qualified for Match Play at U.S. Juniors. He was a team member of the victorious West Canon Cup squad (junior version of the Ryder Cup).

In 2006, Chien placed first at three separate events. Once again, he earned AJGA Rolex Junior All-America honors. He also was a member of the 2006-winning Jr. America's Cup Team. In addition, Chien was a semifinalist at the Polo Golf Junior Classic, which is one of the most prestigious events in junior golf.

"Sam has won national junior tournaments each of the last two summers and has displayed a great consistency in competing with and beating the best players in the country," says Goss. "This summer he also stepped up his game posting rounds of 69-67-65 to win the AJGA Ping Phoenix and 68-69 to qualify for the U.S. Junior. To shoot 65 the final day while playing in the final pairing in Phoenix shows great competitive heart."

The pair will begin their Northwestern careers in the fall of 2008.

http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/spec-rel/111907aaa.html

Matt's prayer e-mail update

Greetings to our precious family in Christ. I apologize as it's been so long since we've last sent an update.

Beka and I continue to lead a life after high school discipleship team for juniors and seniors. There is at least one unsaved member in our group, and all of the students plan on attending a secular university when they graduate. Please join us in prayer that we can be the examples and give His wise advice, not our own.

We continue to learn names of God in our elementary and high school chapels. This week we learned that God sees, and He sees our hearts. I pray that the teaching will take root.

A group of teachers and high school students will go to the Philippines this coming April for a missions trip. The decision to go there came after much prayer and discussion. God will bless, and we thank Him as He provides for this trip.

Also after prayer and discussion, Beka, myself and another teacher have decided to go to Priority One India to experience and report back on the ministry opportunities there. This would be at the same time as the Philippines trip.

Beka and I have felt God's pull toward India for some time now, and He seems to be providing an opportunity to go. Our prayer is that we continue to seek His will and provision.

We cannot get an exact estimate on plane tickets from travel agencies this early, but the closest estimate so far was near $1000 for one ticket. We are currently praying for the amount of at least one ticket. As we say this, we know and trust God can provide above and beyond our needs.

Please join us in prayer and prayerfully consider if God wants you to help in this short-term ministry. If He has laid it on your heart to give, please send us an email and let us know.

In closing, thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support. God bless as you continue to serve Him.

The Type of Church Satan Loves

I saw this on a friend's site and couldn't help but share it. There is so much truth in this.

• Sit in pews and wait for the sinner to come to you
• Preach about God but prove you don't know Him
• Preachers and teachers aren't a Voice, just an echo
• Stress membership but not relationship
• Doesn't make repentance and righteousness necessary to follow God
• Spend more money on themselves than the poor
• Spend their time convincing themselves they are OK
• Lives don't really have to change
• Aren't known for prayer and fasting
• Known for programs and ad campaigns
• Don't believe in healing or miracles
• The only fellowship is looking at the back of heads and a handshake out the door once a week
• Exalt individual ministers
• Forget the priesthood of all believers
• Spend lots of money on average Christian entertainment
• Don't seek a move of the Holy Spirit
• Focus on the cares of this life
• Feel impressed by the famous and wealthy
• Don't expose sin
• The women do all the work of the Church
• Where the opposite sex are not brothers and sisters but potential suitors
• Where you do not work out your salvation with fear and trembling
• Where you will not learn a new song but squeeze to the old ones
• The scripture is not read
• Missionaries are not sent
• Leaders are not raised up
• Discipleship is delegated to a Sunday School class
• Men have no integrity
• Women have no purity
• People have no modesty
• You laugh at sin instead of weeping

The devil loves that kind of church!

In need of prayer/ sorting things out

Lately it seems as though everything has been crashing down around me. There are so many things that I've been dealing with; from my aunt and her heart problem, anxiety for a physical (really just the blood test part of it), feeling like I spend more time on school then my marriage, feeling extremely isolated and cut off from just about everyone, to feeling extremely disrespected by people that I would have never thought would make me feel that way, to downright wanting to quit my job.

The last on the list is probably what upsets me the most. Never, in the time that I've been here, have I even contemplated quitting teaching at ICS until Tuesday this week. The chain of events that has gone on has proved to not be good.

Please pray for me as I have some confronting to do within the next week. Pray that I say what God would have me to and NOT what I want to. I know that what I want to say would come out with a much sharper edge than what should be said. I will be addressing issues of disrespect with some of my students and that is very difficult for me. Again, it's difficult because I'm constantly fighting my mind to say what is right instead of what I want.

Also, please pray that I'll make it through whatever this is that's going on. There seems to be SO much and dealing with it is extremely difficult.

Rant

During my first year we were told that the Korean government mandated that all foreign workers have their health insurance program. I found this interesting because after talking with other foreign workers, they said they have never heard this. So, if this really were government mandated, wouldn't every foreign worker know this?

So, last week at work we found out some surprising news about our Korean health insurance. We found out that this mandated insurance also includes a mandatory physical (which includes a mandatory blood test among other things). If we don't do this, the school gets fined $10,000.

I spoke with another friend of mine today and asked her if she has to go through with this physical too. I was informed that the Korean insurance is no longer mandatory. I asked another foreign friend of mine, and she said that the physical is optional for them.

I'm so confused and really quite upset. I'm not really sure where my HUGE fear of needles came from but I'd rather be dropped off the insurance than go through with this physical. It's so dumb too, we've got American insurance which once we cover our deductible, the insurance pays for the rest. All that to say, there really is no need for us to have this Korean insurance.

Also, get this... we have to fast from midnight or so the night before (which kind of makes sense because of the blood test) and a fast from water from about that point on. Does it make sense that these doctors think that drinking water will really effect a height, weight, heart, eye, or ear test, blood pressure (which mine will be sky high because of the needles), chest x-ray or urine test (which by the way; how are we supposed to do that if we don't have any water in our system?)? Urgh. Sometimes it's so easy to get frustrated with the way things go when you can't communicate directly.

It's bogus that we've got to do something that we're told is mandatory which really isn't.

Maeby

Matt and I recently decided to add to our family... We got a puppy! :0) Through translation we were semi-able to figure out what breed she is. The lady at the store told us that she's a Pekingese, but she's a short hair. So we're a bit confused. Or, looking at it maybe her coat hasn't filled out.

The best part is... Koreans treat dogs like they are children. They do everything from dressing them up, to carrying them around in strollers, baby carriers or nice little puppy carriers, to dyeing their fur.

All that to say that since Maeby is all white, they dyed her cheeks pink.

I know, enough of me, on to the pictures. :0)

These are pictures from Maeby's first bath. Doesn't she look funny?

Matt's update letter.

For those of you who do not receive it; this is Matt's prayer/ update letter that he just sent. Enjoy!


Greetings, to my precious family in Christ. I
apologize as it's been a while since we've sent out an
update. It's been a busy few months as we started
teaching our classes and getting used to routines once
again. In everything, God is good.

I'm (Matt) enjoying my new job as I'm still teaching
English as a Second Language to elementary students,
only with a more structured system than that of a
haukwan.

Beka is enjoying teaching her third year of English
Literature, and her second of Speech and drama. She's
planning a musical with the music teacher. They're
still searching for the right one to do, but since the
musical will be in the spring they have time to work
with.

Beka and I will begin a life after high school
discipleship group for juniors and seniors this week.
We currently have eleven students signed up for the
group. Please pray that we will work together well and
be the guiding influence He would have us to be.

Next week will be our Spiritual Emphasis week. A
musical group called station two will visit during
that time. Our prayer is that the gospel will be
preached and that students will be challenged to trust
in Him as Lord and Savior, or to draw nearer to Him.

I was excited to hear about two baptisms in our
church. I've been praying for a member of my college
group, Paul. He had been quiet about it, but it turns
out he made a decision to follow Christ a couple of
months ago. He talked to our pastor and was baptized
at our church's retreat on Wednesday, October 3. Beka
and I were unable to attend the retreat because we
didn't have this Korean holiday off. Still, I rejoice
that God continues to answer prayer.

The second baptism was another member of the college
group, Soo Ik. He had grown up in the church, but
hadn't made a decision to be baptized until now. He
hated the attention, but I told him how a public
confession of faith is important.

I thank God for the work He has done and will continue
to do in our church and school.

In closing, we thank each of you for your prayers,
encouragement and support. God bless each of you as
you continue to sere Him.

In Christ,
Matt and Beka

Eventful Weeks

A lot has happened over the past few weeks.

First, there were two possibilities for our mission trip this year, the Philippines and India. The mission team decided that the Philippines was the best choice for our group of kids this year. This was a tough decision for me to handle since I was the one with the Indian contact. I really don’t feel the pull to go to the Philippines (and really, neither does Matt).

Matt and I have decided to go to India to see what the program is all about and how our team may fit in, in the future. Right now, we’re still trying to figure out if we’re going to go during spring break (when VBS will be going on in India) or if we will go at Christmas break (when we’d have more time). Please pray for us as we try to make that decision. Pray for us too as we determine whether or not we need to ask for support for this trip (since airplane tickets to India are around/ over $1,000 each).

In the past week Matt and I have had three adventures too, to the hospital. Last Saturday morning, I was getting breakfast ready when my thumb decided to get in the way of the knife I was using to cut. Matt called our high school principal first since he’s a former EMT. He came over, wrapped it and went home. My biggest fear at this point was that I was going to have to get stitches. The slice in my thumb was pretty big. I waited about half an hour but the bleeding hadn’t stopped. So, I called one of the Korean ladies from school to take us to a hospital. We went, and I ended up getting two stitches in my thumb.

This is a picture of what it looked like today after I got the stitches out. I cut it from where you can see it to about the middle of my fingernail.

I know it doesn’t sound like much, but your fingers and toes are some of the most sensitive places on your body. Before I start this, let me remind you that I am practically terrified of needles. They gave me two shots in my thumb which was supposed to numb it. Apparently since I did cut my thumb and it was close to the bone, what they numbed was not what they stitched up. I will admit, I am a baby when it comes to needles.

Not being able to feel my thumb for a week (because it was wrapped) made pretty much everything an interesting task. Because of the stitches I couldn’t get my thumb wet. I really don’t know what I would have done had I still been in a roommate situation since I was totally dependant on Matt.

Speaking of things getting cut, I cut my hair even shorter. I’ve been looking at this hairstyle for about a year but I didn’t get it cut because of the wedding. So, this week, Matt and I went to a place called Miss Piggy’s (yes, that is the real name) and I got it chopped off again. I have received some very nice compliments about it which is reassuring.

As for school things, our discipleship program starts up this week. Matt and I are leading a group of about twelve 11^th and 12^th graders. The topic of our group is “Life After High School.” This will be my second year leading this group and Matt’s first. The size of the group from last year has over doubled in size and Matt and I can tell that the Lord really has some cool things in store for our group. Please pray for productive and fruitful meetings with our students.

More to come as the year progresses.

Ruffling feathers

The following is complied of bits that I wrote up while I was sitting at the coffee shop at the top of the mountain at Seorak.

It amazes me that there is a possibility of an international school opening in North Korea. The work that a specific group is doing up there is amazing. They have gone in as businessmen. The odd thing is that the government knows that this group of businessmen are Christians.

The government is actually allowing this group to work along side of them. The gov't is also considering the suggestions this group has made about improvements they can make. One of the major suggestions being that since the N. Koreans want to begin making their country an international country, they will need schools for the children of the internationals living in the country. To this, the gov't has actually agreed. With the connections already made, it very well may be an Oasis school.

This group is doing the ground-breaking that is necessary to make connections and relationships with the government. This is just amazing. The visions this group has for their business and for the country of N. Korea are a true testament of the wonders of God.

We were recently given a glimpse on just how spiritually dark the country really is. Every morning at 7am, the N. Koreans begin by singing songs (much like hymns and praise songs) to their leader. This is immediately followed with time to journal about what this song time meant to them (again, much like the quiet time Christians set aside to worship God). This country is being brainwashed into worshiping a man, a human. Ick.

The possibilities amaze me. The potential and likelihood of an international community in North Korea, the Koreas re-uniting, and even an international school in N. Korea is possible. From the inside, the people are hoping for a regime change within the next five years or so. That may or may not happen in that time frame but it's highly possible either way.

The similarities between N. Korea and America amaze me sometimes. The North Koreans are fed nothing but propaganda from their government.

Although the Americans aren't given messages from their government that they believe, they are being fed propaganda daily from the news industry. Just in the same sense that the N. Koreans believe the propaganda that's being spoon fed to them, the Americans do the same thing with the news. Most believe whatever they hear from a news source; not realizing that the news company that they are so devoted to tells everything from a biased slant. These news channels shove their agenda down their "loyal" viewers throats. With this, most people don't take the time to compare sources to see what the real truth may be.

Most Americans are made to think that their country is invincible and that no one can do any harm to it. It is the world superpower, but it is still vulnerable. It has many enemies; it is a target.

More importantly the Americans have abandoned the foundation on which it was built, a foundation of Truth. A godly foundation. A hope to have a better, freer chance to worship God that what was set before them in England. A chance to worship God only and not the idols and statues that the churches in England had set before them.

The foundation of America is Christianity, regardless as to whether or not it is recognized. America has walked away from its foundation. Anything without a foundation collapses or is at least easier to destroy.

Some Pictures

These are just a few of the pictures from the Seorak trip.

This is a view from the Mt. Seorak Natn'l Park.

This is just what you would want "guarding" your hotel.

Yup, I definitely rode to the top in this.

These are just a few shots from one of the hikes at the top of the one mountain.

And, just one more for fun. I saw this on our way back from Seorak today in Osan. Gotta love Engrish.

Random Thoughts

This weekend was our annual staff trip to Mt. Seorak on the East Coast. Most of it went fairly well. It rained just about every day, but we still got hiking time at the mountain in.

Sunday we thought we were headed to the beach, when it turned out that we were going to a lighthouse first. Let me preface it with, we were dressed to go to the beach (including footwear), it was raining, and the steps that led up the hill to the lighthouse were metal and slick. I was wearing my cheap $2 Wal-Mart sandles and on the way down, fell and slid down about ten of those steps. This of course bummed me out because our next stop was the beach (as planned).

I ended up spending most of my time at the beach on the bus. One of the other teachers came back to the bus shortly after I did to avoid the rain.

I love the conversations that she and I have, especially ones like we had yesterday. She's really been dealing with a lot lately, a good portion of which revolves around her ex husband.

Talking with her about some of the things she went through with her ex was like looking into a time warp of what my life may have ended up like if I had stayed with the guy I dated before Matt.

It still boggles my mind that women so easily are attracted to men who do nothing but manipulate. Why? What is the charm about them?

Daily I am shown blessings from having a godly husband. Matt has been great with helping since I fell. My body is completely sore, even to the point of breathing hurting when I was laying down this morning.

Crazy. The only thing really to do is to train our youth (young women and men) how to treat each other, what to look out for, and how to avoid putting themselves in situations where they will be manipulated.

August Update

So, it’s been quite a while since I’ve written an update.

Matt and I had a great, but busy summer. The wedding went off pretty well. My dad’s accident put a bit of a strain on things. Getting out of the hospital about an hour and a half before the ceremony can cause some extra stress. Anyhow, it went really well. The dresses that everyone the girls chose all turned out well. The guys in their own suits went off well too.

We still haven’t seen the pictures yet, but that’s what happens when you have to leave less than a month after the wedding.

Our time in New York with Matt’s family was great too. Not only did we get to spend time with them, we got to go to Lake Placid and to NYC.

Our trip back to Korea was fine too. We only had about two days until we got back into the school to do work. We were working on getting Matt’s classroom busy because he was going to have ELD testing during orientation. We got his room pretty much set up before our open house which was a good thing.

Now, almost a week into school, we’re starting to get into the swing of things. The school year is busy as usual. The staff is having our annual Labor Day trip to Mt. Sorak. For some reason I am not really looking forward to it this year. Matt’s never been up there so we’re going.

There’s not really a whole lot else going on right now. Like I said, we’re getting the school year underway, so I have no doubt that things will pick up quickly.

Until next time…

Time flies, or something like that.

I did not realise that it’s been over two months since I’ve written a blog. I guess that’s just a testament to how busy things have actually been. It’s seemed like one big whirlwind after Christmas break.

We just had the Science Fair at the school two days ago; which consumed most of my time because of reading and grading papers. It was the first fair for both secondary English teachers and the Science teacher.

The Science teacher decided to do the fair in a less conventional way and it turned out pretty well. The ninth grade class was the only class to actually do an experiment. The biology class did something very interesting (and something we could never have gotten away with in a public school), they were refuting the theory of evolution, even as far as theistic evolution (which is a load of lies too). The physics students wrapped it up with their topic of “It’s not Magic, it’s Physics” by demonstrating all kinds of things that represented different physics principles.

Along similar lines, the pastor at our church did a three week series in how theistic evolution is not possible because believing in one means you are disbelieving the other. Meaning, you cannot believe in something like the Day Age Theory and believe in the Bible, those beliefs contradict each other.

Pastor Larry did say something that I wish I would have had in college for one of my essays on creation verses evolution. He pointed out that by the terms of evolution this world we live in should be getting better; the people should be getting better, the planet should be getting better, etc. Conversely, if someone is to really examine the human condition it is clear that things are not improving, they are getting worse; thus proving the account of Biblical creation and the fall of man. God created a perfect world. Once sin entered everything started to decay, death entered the world.

I’m sure most people have heard that scientists often use canyons to help prove their theory. Which is a canyon was formed after water running in the same place for millions and millions of years. If one were to go look at the Grand Canyon for example they would observe that the layers of rock are fairly flat and straight. If the scientist theory is then correct, why are the layers straight? Why did they not erode away and become jagged and uneven? The answer is simple: it does not take millions and millions of years to create a canyon. This was seen by the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, May 18, 1980. A canyon was formed as a result of water, ash, and lava flowing over it. Are people then to assume that the only way canyons form is over millions and millions of years when this was formed in a very small window of time? Is science not about logic and being able to prove things? If a scientist discounts that, then where is the logic?

I would like to challenge you to look up the definitions of “fact,” “theory,” “truth,” “science,” and “religion” and form your own judgment.

I had no intention on going off on this when I first began writing this. This does happen to be a subject area of which I am extremely passionate. No, I do not have all the answers, but I am firm in my belief and have evidence to support it.

On the flip side to things, Matt and I are doing very well. He got hired at ICS next year as our Elementary ESL teacher (which is really nice because that means we will be on the same working schedule). His boss has agreed to allow him to continue to work until June (which is awesome too). And, the best thing yet, he does not have to go to PFO (training to work at our school) this summer since the last day of that is the day of our ceremony.

Until next time. . .

In need of prayer

To make this a plain and clear as possible, my school needs prayer. I cannot go into too much detail other than telling you that our enrollment is 20 students short of where we need to be to make budget, therefore we've had to make a lot of cuts in things from classroom budgets to salary.

It is a trying time and we know that God has a purpose in all of this, but it does weigh down on us. All of the teachers will be receiving their first pay check of the lesser amount this Friday. Please pray that we can all budget accordingly (since some of our housing and bills can be quite pricey).

Also please pray for our enrollemnt. It seems like everytime we get one new student, we lose two. Hence the student shortage.

Our student shortage is quite a surprise to most of us as well. We have been told for several years that enrollement would not be a problem with the military moving most of their troops to the Army post and Air Force base in the area. Unfortunately, that has not worked to our advantage. We are, however, the least expensive school in the country.

Again, please pray for more students, discernment (especially for the leaders of the school, if the enrollment drops any more then they will have some major decisions to make), patience (as we wait for more students), and just our needs to be met in general.