But God...

Well, it happened. I lost the key to my apt. Now, losing your apt or house key at any time is annoying and upsetting but losing it in a foreign country where the ppl don't speak your language is even more daunting.

But God...

You see, wherever I am, He takes care of me and tonight His compassion came in the form of floor mates I'd met only once before and His care through my co-teacher who called the building manager, and His love through a new friend who offered support. And through it all, His strength became my strength.

So now I'm home. Safe within the walls of my apt. Thankful that I have a God who loves me enough to always be there and be everything I need.


Until next time...

This Christmas

This year Christmas didn't "feel" like Christmas. There are little to no decorations on the streets and definitely no carolers or Santa...lol. Even though I know that's not what Christmas is all about, it's always been nice to see. And no, I didn't get to spend it with my family, at least not in the traditional way but God always provides.

Even on His own birthday, He looks after and comforts those away from home. I had a great time celebrating with hundreds of other foreigners at church and new friends.

I may be far away from home, it may get lonely at times and I may have only gotten to see my family via Skype but guess what? I am a child of the Lord and wherever I am, He's there with me, loving me, taking care of me. As I know He is with you!!!

Merry Christmas!!! Tell someone you love them today!!


Until next time...

Learning the Language/Culture

I tell ya, I don't understand why ppl will live in a country for several years and not learn the native language.  I understand the how, especially if you live in a community within the country that speaks your language, but I find it disrespectful to live in a place for so long and not learn their language/culture.  I dunno...

I've been in Korea for 4 months now, and I've been doing my best to learn Korean.  I'm at the point where I can read and write it pretty well but of couse the speaking and comprehension parts slower to get right.  Part of the reason I came out here was to learn and experience Korean culture, which includes their language so for me it just seems like the right thing to do.

And it's helped...a lot!!!  For example:

I left a friend's place tonight.  She lives 45min away from me by train.  Similar to DC, the trains stop running at a certain time.  Well, I was able to get on the last train leaving the station nearest my friend but wasn't able to get on my transfer train to take me to my "home stop".  What to do?  Well, most people would've taken a cab home.  Call me cheap but I didn't wanna spend $4 on a cab when I could spend $1.20 on train or bus, so using the little Korean I've learned, I navigated the bus system and 2 buses later, arrived at home.

Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against cabs, I've used them quite a bit.  But I don't wanna depend on a cab to get me places because I don't know how to get around.  I wanna add the cabs to my transportation arsenal, not have it be there by default and because I don't know enough about the language to get around on my own.

Anyways, it's 1:25am here in SoKo...getting down off my high horse and heading to bed...

안녕히계세요 = an-nyeong-hi gye-se-yo (good night)


Until next time...

Music: Universal Lanuage

Maybe it's cause I grew up in a family of musicians; a family where singing and playing we're as frequent as breathing but there is just something indescribable about being able to attend a Korean orchestra concert and be just as moved by the talent and music as everyone else.

Music is truly a universal language, one I've been blessed to learn and can appreciate wherever I go.