For new updates, check the following website:
http://www.gracetofollow.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Final Update...for now
I can't believe it, but here it is - my last update for this blog. I will be switching over to a new blog for updates. If you still would like to receive updates, please email me and let me know as I'll be updating my prayer list of people.
Leaving Korea has probably been one of the hardest things I've ever done - and yet God has covered every step with His grace and peace. He has enabled me to walk through many unfamiliar places in the last few months and I'm grateful for His faithfulness and goodness.
I am currently living in Texas with my family, spending lots of time reading and re-connecting with people. I just got back from a trip to Atlanta, where I visited friends from my time in Korea, and in a couple of months, my family is planning a trip to visit family in North Carolina. I'm finding that having these excursions to look forward to takes the edge off the transition to living in the States again right now.
As to what I'm doing right now - well, the Lord is reminding me that there is value in doing the little things that He puts before me. I will be teaching some voice lessons and starting my niece in Kindergarten and helping my mom around the house and yard. The Lord has directed me to set aside this time for rest, and I know that I will be in Texas until December. After that, I have no idea. He is teaching me to walk one day at a time and to trust His provision for whatever comes.
Thank you to all of you for your continuous prayer and support throughout the last six years. It has been an adventure and a part of the journey I will not forget. God has taught me so much through my time in Korea, and I will miss it very much.
Blessings!
Leaving Korea has probably been one of the hardest things I've ever done - and yet God has covered every step with His grace and peace. He has enabled me to walk through many unfamiliar places in the last few months and I'm grateful for His faithfulness and goodness.
I am currently living in Texas with my family, spending lots of time reading and re-connecting with people. I just got back from a trip to Atlanta, where I visited friends from my time in Korea, and in a couple of months, my family is planning a trip to visit family in North Carolina. I'm finding that having these excursions to look forward to takes the edge off the transition to living in the States again right now.
As to what I'm doing right now - well, the Lord is reminding me that there is value in doing the little things that He puts before me. I will be teaching some voice lessons and starting my niece in Kindergarten and helping my mom around the house and yard. The Lord has directed me to set aside this time for rest, and I know that I will be in Texas until December. After that, I have no idea. He is teaching me to walk one day at a time and to trust His provision for whatever comes.
Thank you to all of you for your continuous prayer and support throughout the last six years. It has been an adventure and a part of the journey I will not forget. God has taught me so much through my time in Korea, and I will miss it very much.
Blessings!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Certification Update
I just realized the other day, after a conversation with my mom, that I never sent out an update to let all of you know that we did receive our certificate. International Christian School Pyongtaek is now officially recognized by the Korean government, and it will be allowed to remain and function as a school for as long as we can foresee. So please, praise God with us as we have been rejoicing, and continue to rejoice, in His grace and goodness!
This year has been about God proving His faithfulness over and over to us as a school, as a staff and as individuals. We have been blessed immeasurably even in the difficulties, and we are able to see how He has used this time of stretching and discomfort for good in each of our lives.
Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers and support and encouragement. As always, you have been a vital part of our ministry!
This year has been about God proving His faithfulness over and over to us as a school, as a staff and as individuals. We have been blessed immeasurably even in the difficulties, and we are able to see how He has used this time of stretching and discomfort for good in each of our lives.
Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers and support and encouragement. As always, you have been a vital part of our ministry!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
So What's Next...?
Over the last few months, I have had a few people ask me this question. I haven't taken the time to answer very many of them individually, and so I thought I'd simply answer the question as a post on here.
To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure about everything coming up in my future, but I do have some simple plans and that is what I intend to share with you.
First of all, I want to finish well my time in Korea. This has become my home in so many ways, and I often have mixed feelings over leaving it. The only thing that allows me to continue saying good-bye and facing the details of going is the assurance somewhere deep down that it truly is time to go, that my season here is ending.
Secondly, I plan to be in Texas sometime in mid-June. I don't have exact dates - one of those details of leaving that I haven't finished yet - but that is the time-frame I am aiming for.
Once I am there, my intention is to spend the next six months or so focusing on spending time with family and friends, and resting. I will also be using that time to look for God to reveal what's next in His plan for me. I have some ideas that I need to research and pray about, but He has not given me anything solid as an answer to this point.
On a side note, if you are one of those who has asked about my plans for this summer, the answer is probably yes - I would love to see you when I get back to the States. I simply haven't been able yet to face making plans for the summer when some days it's all I can do to think about leaving Korea. My mind doesn't get much past the end of school these days.
I know that as an answer, this is still rather vague. But honestly, my life is somewhat "vague" at the moment, with just enough light to see the next step. I'm learning to live with it, to be content in the present and not worry about the future, but it's difficult to explain it to others in a way that feels satisfactory. So I ask for your patience and understanding, and that you would pray with me and for me. And I really am looking forward to seeing many of you in the very near-future!
To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure about everything coming up in my future, but I do have some simple plans and that is what I intend to share with you.
First of all, I want to finish well my time in Korea. This has become my home in so many ways, and I often have mixed feelings over leaving it. The only thing that allows me to continue saying good-bye and facing the details of going is the assurance somewhere deep down that it truly is time to go, that my season here is ending.
Secondly, I plan to be in Texas sometime in mid-June. I don't have exact dates - one of those details of leaving that I haven't finished yet - but that is the time-frame I am aiming for.
Once I am there, my intention is to spend the next six months or so focusing on spending time with family and friends, and resting. I will also be using that time to look for God to reveal what's next in His plan for me. I have some ideas that I need to research and pray about, but He has not given me anything solid as an answer to this point.
On a side note, if you are one of those who has asked about my plans for this summer, the answer is probably yes - I would love to see you when I get back to the States. I simply haven't been able yet to face making plans for the summer when some days it's all I can do to think about leaving Korea. My mind doesn't get much past the end of school these days.
I know that as an answer, this is still rather vague. But honestly, my life is somewhat "vague" at the moment, with just enough light to see the next step. I'm learning to live with it, to be content in the present and not worry about the future, but it's difficult to explain it to others in a way that feels satisfactory. So I ask for your patience and understanding, and that you would pray with me and for me. And I really am looking forward to seeing many of you in the very near-future!
Spring Break 2010
Here, finally, is the promised post with pictures from Kenya. Just a brief overview of the time I spent there, and then you can peruse the photos.
I arrived Sunday afternoon. We went straightaway to a market where I was introduced to Kenyan bargaining.
Monday was a lazy day spent recovering from the flight, enjoying local coffee and seeing giraffes at the nearby Giraffe Centre.
Tuesday, I has the opportunity to spend time at a local ministry for disabled children from the slums. I got to play with the kids as well as "help" their mothers make jewelry to sell. Here is a link if you're interested in finding out more about this incredible ministry:
www.heshimachildrenscenterkenya.wordpress.com
Wednesday was spent at West Nairobi School and Thursday was a trip to Kibera, one of the largest slums in the world. 600 acres of poverty. We spent two or three hours walking around with our guides and ate lunch at a local hotel (cafe).
My last day was Friday. Aftan and I drove out to a game park and spent the morning searching for wildlife before she took me to the airport and I headed back to Korea.
Now for some visual highlights! Enjoy....
Pictures of the Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen's house (of "Out of Africa" fame).
A couple of pictures from West Nairobi school....
Kibera: pictures of the acres of houses, our guides, Leslie and Moses, a daycare and some government-housing that we were able to see. We also got to go inside Moses' house, but I don't have pictures of that....
Just a few of the animals we saw on Friday at the game park. We saw lots of giraffes, some water buffalo, ostriches, deer and lots of birds....
I arrived Sunday afternoon. We went straightaway to a market where I was introduced to Kenyan bargaining.
Monday was a lazy day spent recovering from the flight, enjoying local coffee and seeing giraffes at the nearby Giraffe Centre.
Tuesday, I has the opportunity to spend time at a local ministry for disabled children from the slums. I got to play with the kids as well as "help" their mothers make jewelry to sell. Here is a link if you're interested in finding out more about this incredible ministry:
www.heshimachildrenscenterkenya.wordpress.com
Wednesday was spent at West Nairobi School and Thursday was a trip to Kibera, one of the largest slums in the world. 600 acres of poverty. We spent two or three hours walking around with our guides and ate lunch at a local hotel (cafe).
My last day was Friday. Aftan and I drove out to a game park and spent the morning searching for wildlife before she took me to the airport and I headed back to Korea.
Now for some visual highlights! Enjoy....
Pictures of the Giraffe Centre and Karen Blixen's house (of "Out of Africa" fame).
A couple of pictures from West Nairobi school....
Kibera: pictures of the acres of houses, our guides, Leslie and Moses, a daycare and some government-housing that we were able to see. We also got to go inside Moses' house, but I don't have pictures of that....
Just a few of the animals we saw on Friday at the game park. We saw lots of giraffes, some water buffalo, ostriches, deer and lots of birds....
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
February and March and Now....
Just a quick overview of the last couple of months:
February gave us some snow days and then some days with snow that we couldn't take off from school because we'd already used our built-in snow days. Basketball finished up and soccer began. We began hiring teachers for next year, as well.
March was rainy and cold for the most part with a few beautiful, sunny days thrown in to tease us into thinking that spring was on its way. The month literally flew by and we are already in April, on Spring Break this week. In school certification news, the city of Pyongtaek approved our proposal, which means that we are certain the certificate will be following - hopefully, soon. We have hired about half the new teachers we need for next year.
This week, I am in Kenya visiting a friend and former co-worker. She and her husband work at our sister school here, teaching PE and high school math, respectively. I'm currently sitting in Aftan's new office, taking advantage of their new fiber-optic internet that was put in over spring break. Their campus is beautiful, with flowers and trees and shrubs everywhere. I'll be sure to post pictures of my visit here at a later date....
Please continue to pray for us and the certification process, that the government would continue to work with us and that we would have all the necessary paperwork for next year. Also, pray that we will finish out this year well as April and May are always busy and it's easy to lose focus on what is truly important.
Blessings to all of you!
February gave us some snow days and then some days with snow that we couldn't take off from school because we'd already used our built-in snow days. Basketball finished up and soccer began. We began hiring teachers for next year, as well.
March was rainy and cold for the most part with a few beautiful, sunny days thrown in to tease us into thinking that spring was on its way. The month literally flew by and we are already in April, on Spring Break this week. In school certification news, the city of Pyongtaek approved our proposal, which means that we are certain the certificate will be following - hopefully, soon. We have hired about half the new teachers we need for next year.
This week, I am in Kenya visiting a friend and former co-worker. She and her husband work at our sister school here, teaching PE and high school math, respectively. I'm currently sitting in Aftan's new office, taking advantage of their new fiber-optic internet that was put in over spring break. Their campus is beautiful, with flowers and trees and shrubs everywhere. I'll be sure to post pictures of my visit here at a later date....
Please continue to pray for us and the certification process, that the government would continue to work with us and that we would have all the necessary paperwork for next year. Also, pray that we will finish out this year well as April and May are always busy and it's easy to lose focus on what is truly important.
Blessings to all of you!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
January 2010 Update
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
We started off the second half of the year with two snow days in a row. The first Monday after Christmas break, we woke up to a heavy snowfall, and in Seoul, it was reported as one of the heaviest snowfalls in a long time. (I personally think it was all of the students' prayers to have an extended break. Never underestimate the power of elementary students' prayers!)
January has been full of events - semester exams, spirit week, a pep rally, basketball games, SAT's - life has been full these past few weeks. What has impacted me the most, however, has been the realization that many of our students are struggling. With a smaller staff, we have been in survival mode, and that has carried over to our students. Please pray for spiritual revival and refreshment for all of us. We need to remember that we are in this together and that we should be supporting and encouraging each other, not "holing up" and waiting for the year to end. I think many of us are hiding behind a mask of looking like we're doing all right, when really, we're not. Pray for openness as well as broken and surrendered hearts.
In certification news - well, there really isn't any news. Every time we think we're close to being done with the process, we find out the government is requiring something else: another inspection, another meeting, another round of paperwork.... It doesn't seem to end. Please pray that we will know something soon - our director is praying specifically for an answer by next Wednesday, February 3. He leaves Thursday for the States to go to a recruiting/administrative conference, and it would be helpful to know where we stand before he leaves. Plus, staff and students will have to begin making plans for next year very soon, and not knowing the status of the school makes that difficult.
As always, thank you for praying and supporting our ministry here. I love to hear from you all, and your words of encouragement have meant a lot to me this year especially!
Blessings!
We started off the second half of the year with two snow days in a row. The first Monday after Christmas break, we woke up to a heavy snowfall, and in Seoul, it was reported as one of the heaviest snowfalls in a long time. (I personally think it was all of the students' prayers to have an extended break. Never underestimate the power of elementary students' prayers!)
January has been full of events - semester exams, spirit week, a pep rally, basketball games, SAT's - life has been full these past few weeks. What has impacted me the most, however, has been the realization that many of our students are struggling. With a smaller staff, we have been in survival mode, and that has carried over to our students. Please pray for spiritual revival and refreshment for all of us. We need to remember that we are in this together and that we should be supporting and encouraging each other, not "holing up" and waiting for the year to end. I think many of us are hiding behind a mask of looking like we're doing all right, when really, we're not. Pray for openness as well as broken and surrendered hearts.
In certification news - well, there really isn't any news. Every time we think we're close to being done with the process, we find out the government is requiring something else: another inspection, another meeting, another round of paperwork.... It doesn't seem to end. Please pray that we will know something soon - our director is praying specifically for an answer by next Wednesday, February 3. He leaves Thursday for the States to go to a recruiting/administrative conference, and it would be helpful to know where we stand before he leaves. Plus, staff and students will have to begin making plans for next year very soon, and not knowing the status of the school makes that difficult.
As always, thank you for praying and supporting our ministry here. I love to hear from you all, and your words of encouragement have meant a lot to me this year especially!
Blessings!
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