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...

Last day of Oklahoma....

Should I be sad?? It's Oklahoma ... but with the state that I am leaving, I am also leaving people who have taught me so much about life, love and God. There are quite a few people in this state that I would like to say something to...

Camp Bond:

 I have learned so much about myself and how to love others unconditionally... especially when we are working in the hot sun, haven't eaten in hours, and want to punch each other in the face... if I still love you after this, then I know that there is such a thing as unconditional.

I have met so many of the people that I call my best friends at this wonderful place. I've experienced true peace, true heartbreak, love, sorrowful losses, and many minutes of laughter. I could not ask for a better heaven on earth. God is truly in this place.

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These are the people that I call family. I could not ask for better people in my life. God has placed them in my life, and even though the chapter of my life that has been there is on hold, I know that prayers will be coming from there to me at all times. 

I thank God daily for these people and what they mean to me. I love you all and you have no idea what you mean to me.

2. Sarah Townley 

You light up my life... Best friend and greatest sister ever! We have shared so many memories... There are so many things that I thank you for. You have been such a role model in my life. Your passion for others and God is mesmerizing and I love seeing you do what you love. Do not change for anyone. God has amazing plans for your life!!!!

Nichole Coots....

You make me smile. You're cooler than the flip side of my pillow... just saying... You are amazing. We have been through so much in the small amount of time that we have known one another. From fighting with the cravings for reeses to singing to the top of our lungs, you have brought true joy to my life.  You will never know how thankful I am to have you. You are going to do great things in your life. Remember that God has a plan for you and you just have to listen... You are a great person and I have learned so much from you! 

My girls.... You will never, ever know what you mean to me... From all the laughter and tears that we have shared, I could not ask for better friends. You have gotten me through some very dark times in my life... God has a plan for all your lives... I love you all like crazy! 

Just because your picture is not on here, does not mean that you didn't influence my life. I would be writing a never ending blog if I thanked every single person that has meant something to me. I'm ready for my last night in OK.... here we go ...

10 days... It's not good-bye, it's see ya later....

Well this past week has been full of good-byes... Good-bye is such a permanent thing to say... I prefer see ya soon or see you later. I had to say sad farewells to my second family at Camp Bond this past weekend... I never knew that people could have such big impacts in my life until I start to leave them. Camp Bond is my second home and I have learned so much while being there. They are the reason I am the person I am today. Something that one of them told me really stuck with me..."Go have fun doing God's plan." Sometimes I forget that this is the reason that I am going over there... He told me not to spend the time worrying or I will miss opportunities to see God in others, and that should be the fuel for my trip.

Today, I had to say good-bye to 19 third graders. Now this was difficult because I don't know if I will see their faces again. They have taught me so much about life. At times, I was frustrated but I love them all the same. I was told that I made a difference in that classroom, and that means so much...

Well I have to start packing up all my stuff... I haven't even started and I move home in two days.. GO ME!!! Well, Texas, here I come on Saturday... Well I hope so anyway...

24 and counting...

Well... I have gotten my visa, so everything is officially ready for my adventure. I can honestly say that as the time gets closer, the more excited I get about this. I truly know that this is what God is wanting me to do. Yesterday, while I was eating with a group of my 3rd graders at lunch, one of them said to me that she prays for me every night and that she has yet to miss a night. She said that she just prays that I will be safe and God will take care of me.... wow... I know that I have many people praying for me as I do this, but to hear it from a child just blesses my heart... Just another way that God shows himself to me daily.

When I walked to the mailbox today to see if my visa was there, I was really excited. I opened the package to find my passport, along with a visa attached to the inside... PLUS a Korean Cuisine book. hahaha... they know that I like to eat apparently... That is all that was in the package.

Everything is slowly coming to a stopping point in this chapter of my life. I no longer am working at my second job, I have begun to say some sad goodbyes to friends, and I only have 10 days of teaching left with my kiddos. Everything is coming soooo quickly.


So all I can say now is... bring it on... :)