Beginning of the 4th week....

Tomorrow will begin my fourth week of being here. It is really amazing how fast time is flying. I have already made so many good memories here and I know that God has many more for me to endure.

If I was still in the states, I would be going to my second home around this time: Camp Bond. When I first decided to come to South Korea, I didn't think that Camp was as big of a part of my life as I am now finding out. I am the person that I am today because four years ago, my roommate decided to apply to work somewhere for the summer. Never would I have dreamed that the job I was applying for was going to change my life forever. I remember the first day that I got there... I was there for about 30 minutes and then Dwight, my boss, had us go out to the pond and start burning off the dam... I couldn't help but think, "What have I gotten myself into??? This is manual labor!!!!" hahaha... I would do it all over again if I had the chance. I have learned about love and life at this place. I've endured physical exhaustion, complete brokenness, amazing joy, and even a little sadness, but that was the greatest choice I have ever made to this day. God put those people in my life for a reason, and I cannot even begin to explain how amazing they are! I love you guys!

Well, since I got that out, I suppose I could talk a little more about this country that I am in. I tried some squid and jellyfish the other day. It was different, but isn't that why I am here??  To experience things that I have not experienced before. If I just came here and spent my year and never did anything that was different, what is the point of me coming here?? I don't want to be that person... the one that lets an opportunity pass me by. I will have more to say after this week.... I know that things are just going to get better and better...

Finding myself...

I got to take a trip downtown by myself on Saturday. It was the first time that I actually got to walk around and actually think about what I was seeing and where I was. Every time I look around this new place that I am in, I can't help but think to myself about how big my God is. The world I grew up in is so small compared to how big the world actually is.

Not only did I get to think about things, I also got frustrated because I realized that I did not know my way around as well as I thought I did. I had been to the mall at least 2 times before this and I thought I knew my way around. WRONG... for the love of God I could not find either one of the stores that I was looking for... I am definitely not in Texas anymore.

The internet is now working in my room ---->
Which is where this picture is taken... in my lovely apartment... I will be adding more pictures of that in the next couple weeks... Right now it is still a work in progress...



As for Korea as a whole, I still love it... the newness is starting to wear off and it is becoming more of a reality and a job, but a job that I actually care about and want to do. I know this is exactly where I need to be right now.

 This is the KNU campus, where I am living.

 This is downtown.... 

 These kids stopped and asked me what my name is and then they told me all of their names... it was precious. They like to talk to Americans so that they can use English... it's so cute... 










This is the view of the part of the city from          KNU...

 I was just walking around campus one day and took these photos on the campus.... It is a beautiful place... 

This is my new favorite store... not just because of the name either... it has really cheap and awesome clothes =]

This place is so beautiful, and there is just so much more to see in this place. I can't wait until I can experience more... 

cupcakes....

So... recently, this has what my breakfast has consisted of... so nutritious, I know. Since my internet has not been working in my room, I have been having to get up and walk to the cupcake place in order to do anything. We may or may not have gotten the problem narrowed down with the internet... we will see.
This week has also flown by. It is crazy how fast this is already passing. I have learned so much in just these two short weeks:

Things I have learned:

1. Middle school boys are middle school boys no matter where you are in the world. Enough said.

2. I have never felt so safe in my life. The only reason to avoid dark alleys at night is because the cars may not see you. That is it.

3. That it is extremely difficult not knowing the native language in a country... never again will I ever make a comment about how everyone should no english in America, whether I am joking or not.

4. The cupcakes here are REALLY good.

5. The food is so amazing, but it is sad that I already miss American food. I would give anything for a big burger right now, or some Chicken fried steak... yum...

6. God is everywhere. I see it mainly in the kid's eyes here. I love it!

7. Going on a media fast involuntarily is not fun. I have finished two pretty decent sized books since I have been here.

8. I learned that I need to learn Korean. =] I know a couple phrases, but it would be nice to know a little bit more...


I know that as the time goes, this list will get soooo much longer, but as of now, that is pretty much it. I took some more pictures when I was walking home from the cupcake place yesterday...

 This is the cupcake place where I have been spending most of my time... 

This is what I see on my walk home...  

 This is Korea Nazarene University's Campus

The view from my window... There is actually a Mcdonalds really close there, but you can't see it... 

Well I have officially been here an entire week. Wow, that flew by. I got to experience more of Cheonan City this past week. We went downtown and walked around to all the shopping places and also watched a movie. We watched Thor, and it was in English with Korean subtitles, which made it nice. I keep forgetting to take pictures, but I am going to get better, I promise.

I taught the entire day on Monday, and it went 100 times better than my first class did last week. The students are all welcoming and they are really understanding of the fact that I don’t speak Korean. They were helping me with how to pronounce their names and also teaching me new words. It was a good Monday. I finally have been able to talk to some of my family online and that has been a lot of help too.

I have found a little cupcake/ coffee place that I can come and get internet until mine is fixed in my apartment, which hopefully is very soon. But I do like sitting here and just people watching. Plus... the cupcakes are really yummy =]

It still amazes me to be in this completely different place in the world, but still feel as though I am surrounded by people that are all here because of God. We all have a purpose no matter where we come from, or what language we speak. God made us that way and it is such a beautiful thing.

“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” –John Wooden

Day 5

I have been here for almost and entire week... It is going be quickly. I have been observing the class that I will be taking over and that has been a learning experience. I learned that middle school boys are middle school boys no matter where you are in the world. On Thursday, we walked into our last class of the day, and the first question we have to ask these boys is "What did you set on fire?" The class smelled like something was burnt. I can say that it was not what I expected when I got here... Other than that, the children at the school are awesome and very welcoming.

Yesterday, I taught my first class and I can just say that it didn't go as well as I would have hoped that it would. The kids were really talkative when the other teacher was talking to them, but then I got up there and none of them were talking to me at all. They just started staring at me. WHAT??!! It was not good. Well at least I got the first class of teaching over with... I hope everything just goes up from here. I can only pray that it does.

The food here is amazing... I have eaten so much since I have gotten here... It didn't take much to adjust to that at least. Well, send up some prayers for me as I take on all the classes next week. Im pretty nervous about the whole thing, but I know that God is going to work through me. If I stumble he will pick me up. Thank God for that =]

wow...

So I have been in Korea for almost two full days and I love it!! The first day I was here, we took a trip to Jeju Island and that was amazing. I met the staff of teachers that I will be working with and I can tell that God has given me an amazing opportunity. I start observing the class that I will be taking over, this afternoon.

In the last 24 hours, I have learned to use chop sticks, ate kimchi, rode a horse, rode a hover craft and had an awesome cupcake! It is only the beginning of this adventure and I can't wait to see what else this adventure has in store for my life. It is still not a reality for me that I have actually traveled here, but it is slowly sinking in. I had to go to the hospital today for a check up and I was x-rayed, they took blood and checked my sight, hearing and teeth... all this happened in about 15 minutes... it was crazy...

I am super blessed to have this opportunity and I can't wait to experience more!

Jeju Island

We climbed the entire way up to the top of this crater...

 We went to a crater that was made by a volcanic eruption many years ago... It was an accomplishment just to make it to the top ... 

 This was a rock that we passed on our way up to the top...

This was my first Korean meal.... it was really good. :)

Love don't run...

This week has been full of emotions... I don't know how much more I can handle. My heart has been hurt in many ways in just a couple days... from anger, to sadness, to grief, to pure happiness, to complete emptiness and confusion. I have never experienced anything like this before... I've had to say good-byes to many friends and family members... I also had to say the saddest kind of good-bye to one of the greatest men that I ever knew: my grandpa. Today at 2:47, he took his last breathe and is now walking with Jesus. As great as that sounds, I can't help but hurt so so much. I won't be able to go to the celebration of his life this coming Monday due to the fact that my journey in Korea begins on Sunday. How do I deal with this??? I want to badly to go through the full stages of grief, but I'm going to be going through it on my own in a different place.

As this weekend approaches, I can't help but wonder how it is going to go... I am wanting to celebrate with my family and say good-bye to them, but how do i do that when my heart is completely shattered. Prayers would be extremely helpful at this point in time...

I know that God is going to see me through this, but right now it is hard to see the light at the end...

Texas...

Being at home is always great! I'm getting to see so many faces that I have not seen in quite awhile... I'm going to miss this place when I leave... I've only been here for 4 1/2 days and have made so many new memories to take with me.. Well 4 days to go and I will be off...