Everything I've learned, I've learned in. . . Korea?

I've recently learned that sometimes things 'end' in a draw, meaning it's not over yet.

God does things for reasons, some we know and some we will find out. But it's often the period of waiting to figure it out that gets us in the most trouble.

People are put in our lives for sentences, paragraphs, or even chapters often times for reasons we may never know.

I miss real steak.

I cannot wait to get home to actually shop and buy American convenience items.
Americans take SO much for granted- myself included- that it's often difficult to live without some of the luxuries.

Sometimes the bridge isn't burned to the point of no travel; it just needs some repairs from us.

Restored friendship -if it is genuine- can be one of life's greatest gifts.

Making friends knowing that one or both will inevitably leave is very difficult, but there is such a blessing that comes from those people in that short time.

No matter how much we say that we will never have a stupid period in our lives, we lie. We all have them at some point to some degree.

No matter how much we NEVER want to be like our parents that is also inevitable.

Nothing can ever replace the personal friendship with God. We are never complete without it.

Squatty potties are NO fun.

While in Korea, do not go in the bathroom in the Outback Steakhouse and play with the buttons on the toilet unless you know for sure what they do (and do not stand in front of them when you do decide to play with the buttons). Look out for the free shower.

Starbucks in Korea is an AMAZING comfort of home to have (even if I do have to go to Suwon or Seoul to get it).

Even when one of your best friends lives in the same country (that is about the size of Florida) as you do- you still NEVER see them because both schedules are far different from each other. :0)

There really is a McDonald's (and Burger King, Popeye's, Baskin Robins, Subway, and Pizza Hut) everywhere in the world.

I want to see my family more than anything. Christmas is going to be awesome because I get to see everyone again!

I am a professional. I am no longer an undergraduate student in a university. I have my own job, my own place (with my roommates of course) and my own bills to pay. I should have appreciated the free living more when I had it.

This is one experience that I will never forget. I am thankful for all the faithful support I have received from family and friends.

My relationship with my parents is only going to get better from here, and I miss them the most. :0)

Tis the (end of the) season (volleyball that is).

It has been quite some time since I've written in here last. Today I am catching up on it merely as a vice for procrastination. Life in Korea to this point has been very interesting.
Our volleyball tournament was last weekend in Pusan (which is on the Southeastern tip of the country). God took that weekend to show just how amazing He really is. Our girls constantly sang praise songs all weekend long. They did not care who was around to hear them or where they were.
On the bus on our way to Camp Hialeah from the subway our girls started singing (they sang on the train, bus, in the showers, during games- quietly of course, and on the way home). It was amazing too because it was evident that God was working in the situation. A few girls from the other teams on the bus (there were two other teams with us) began to sing with the girls, a few began to mock the girls, and a group even turned on a radio to try and overpower our girls. Of course the radio didn’t work though; the team was just too loud. It was obvious that praise songs were doing something in the hearts of the other girls if they were battling it.
The tournament was a double elimination tournament. The team had lost their first game, meaning if they lost another they were done. Every time after that when the girls were struggling they wanted to pray and ask God for a clear head. We ended up playing six games in all for the competition. Sadly every team we ended up beating left crying. The girls managed to pull their game together and they made it to the championship game against one of our sister schools. We won the first set of the game but lost the last two with an awesome fight. When we lost the girls were excited to have made it to the number two seat in the tournament. It was awesome because the first thing almost all of the girls said was “Praise God.”
It’s awesome to see how God was using our team to be a light to all the other schools.
There are things I miss about home, yes. But I am at peace knowing that I have an opportunity that most people would never get. I get to affect lives in a way that I never could have dreamed of.