A Short Update

Hello My wonderful and amazing Friends and Family,

How are you all?? How has God been blessing you?*This letter is a how I've been doing letter. I'll share about what passage God's been challenging me about later this week I hope.**

I have been doing very well just extremely busy. I am still attending both churches, Yeadalm and Galilee. At Galilee I am helping lead worship and actually leading a bible study with new and old believers! There are usually about 12 people *Myself included* in the bible study and about 30 -45 at the English service. I am renewing my contract and will be staying on another year here in South Korea at Jung-ang Elementary. As some of you know, I work with two other foreigners at my school. When I came there were two teachers who had been teaching there for 2 years. One changed school at the start of her contract renewal and the other is leaving at the end of his month. *She felt like God was calling her to a new school and he is getting married yay!* The foreign gentleman was the unofficial head teacher over us foreigners in the office but with him leaving that title and responsibility will be falling upon me. I'm happy to be blessed with this chance to grow and to be honored with a promotion of sorts. Also, I am still trying to work on my novel when I have the time. Oh and I joined a boxing gym. As some of you know, I did Hapakido for a while but injured my knees and therefor was not able to do any kicking or what not. I had to stop hapakido and I have been looking for another way to work out that would be good with my body. My friends suggest this boxing gym. They teach you how to box and there are classes. There is also circlet training and weight lifting. You can come in any time from 2pm -12am Sun-Fri. The gym is right next to my work so I am able to go most every day. I really love and I'm happy to say that my life and my body are getting heather. I have begun to write a few of you and I would love to write more :) I am very old fashioned and therefore I love to write and receive letters. Mostly because they are not too expensive to send over seas and they let you know that someone cares and took the time to let you know. ^_^ I'll attach my address at the end.

How can i pray for you? I can always use prayers with my heart. This is an area which I have struggled with for a while ut God is always faithful and I wait upon Him. Also I have come to realization that I cannot come home until Jan 2015. This is a year longer then I had hoped but we all have to do what we must. Because of this I am and I'm sure will continue to deal with homesickness. Please pray that God sustains me. I would also like to ask that you pray that God would fill me with His desires and passions and that He would give me direction and decrement.  But please let me know How i can pray for you.

I love all of you so dearly and Miss you so very much! I Pray for you often and I hope you are well. Drop me a line you can spare the time :D And remember that each day is a wonderful gift, don't ever do anything to regret it. I Love you!! Blessings!!
John 14:15
~Megan

Ps My Address
Jungang Elementary School
CGEC c/o Megan Jarrell 179
Oryong-Dong Dongnam-Gu, Chungchangnam-do
Cheonan-Si, South Korea 330-030

Living an Intentional Life starts now.

Hello Everyone!!
I hope and I pray that God has been blessing you and Challenging you *Yes!! Challenging you, for is only when we are challenged that we have the chance to grow. So I hope and pray that God has been challenging you and stretching you in so many ways that may not be comfortable.

I am doing well, so great!! I am so incredibly blessed and I am joyful! I am eager to talk to you guys because honestly my life has changed! All my life I have accepted that I will always struggle with sinning, that I will always be overweight, that I will always struggle with pleasing people, that I would always be single, that I will always struggle with my relationship with God…and why God wouldn’t come and take control over these things…but in reality I was wanting to sit back and let God come and do everything.

God is an amazing God. He is compassionate, merciful, loving, powerful, just and simply amazing!!! God will come the 99% and wait for you to come the 1% to Him. He is waiting at your side for you to come and fully surrender to who He is and what He wants to do for your life. You see I’ve realized Satan doesn’t mind if we are just doing nothing. He doesn’t mind if we sit back reading our bibles and crying together and then go about doing the same thing everyday. He would love if we are just going to act like and call ourselves Christian but not do anything about it. We are warned about this in James. James 1:22 “But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” And it hit me, we have to be intentional.

We have to choose to have a relationship with God. We can say we are dating so and so but unless we go actively on dates with the person and get to know the person all it is is words. Our lives need to have intention. All my life I’ve been sitting back waiting for God to change my life so that it’s easy and therefore I am content but what good does that do? It creates fat, lazy, bottle fed ‘Christians’ who claim to be changing the world but are doing little more then sitting and watching it go by. Is this the life God has for us?! NO!! Of course not. God has said that He wants us to have a life and to live it to the fullest!! Living on the couch of life watching ‘life’ pass us by as our friends are on a conveyer belt to hell is NOT living the life we are called to or to the fullest. This creates people who don’t know what they believe or why they believe it. It creates apathetic people who are joining others on that conveyer belt who claim to be Christian but have nothing to show for it. People who say they are living the life but in reality they are on the same conveyer belt as those perishing

So how do we change? We’ve been this way all our lives, but how do we change? We choose to be intentional. We choose to stop accepting the complacent lies that Satan has given us. We CHOOSE TO BE MORE! We choose to not only change a little of our lives but every moment of our lives!! So how have I changed? I’ve become intentional about my relationship with God. I am doing devos every morning and waking up earlier each day to be sure I will have more time for God. I am choosing even in the first moments of my day to honor God with all that I am. *don’t get me wrong I am still messing up but I don’t let Satan get me down and I don’t let my sin take me away from God. I restore my life to Him and strive to be more, SERIOUSLY strive to become more!* I am following God’s leading in my life where it comes as far as a church spilt and going to the place that is NOT the easiest but is the perfect place for me. I am taking my life captive and trying to honor God through following the command to become a leader in that church and I am going to lead a book study for the Koreans/English service people starting Saturday. I have taken control of my life and I have joined a gym and I am going to no longer be this unhealthy again. I am going to be a woman who is healthy and honors God even through my eating habits and taking care of the beautiful temple God has given me. I have fully given God my love. This has been the hardest thing for me because I treasure my love the most. I have been praying for my husband since I was 12 years old and I have been dreaming about it since before then. But I am at the point that I have given it to God. If I am single for the rest of my life I will be filled with God and passionately follow after him. If I get married this next year, I will still be filled and passionately follow God. But if I am single, I can do more of a ministry for God and isn’t that for the best? Now am I hoping and praying still that I get married? Yes, but it no longer holds be chained to a ring as it had before.

I want you to think about this. If you do nothing, if you choose to not change anything in your life, then don't expect your life to be any difference then what it is now for your future. IF you never change your thinking, change your heart, change your words which change your life, then your life will always be the way it is now. Are you happy about it now? Are there things that need to change? Would just transforming your thinking and spending 30 mins each day FOR ONE MONTH with God change everything about you? Not unless you are intentional about it. Change yourself for the better now to transform your future later!!

How did this come about? God challenged me by asking if I thought that who I once was, was who I will always be. He asked me if I would be happy living the life I am or have now for the rest of the time? And that’s what I ask you. Have you accepted the lie from Satan that you are bound by the life you once and always have lived and always will have to live? That is a HUGE lie!!!
YOU ARE FREE! Now CHOOSE to live in that freedom!!
2 Corinthians 3:17
¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Galatians 5:1
¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Colossians 1:21-23
²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- ²³ if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
1 Peter 2:16
¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves.

I love you and I’m praying for you!! Please let me know how I can pray for you more!! I challenge you to get alone with God and Change your life! Ask him to show you how you need to change your life!! HE WILL Show you and YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

So two paths lay before you....which will you choose?

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Hey everyone,
I hope that you are all doing well! I am sorry it's been so very long *though it seams like i always apologize to you all* but here goes a long needed blog post.

ok to start off...let's talk about the elephant in the room
I AM SAFE. haha South Korea is a very wonderful and safe place. North Korea is still huffing and puffing about doing this or that but I do not believe that they are going to be doing anything as far as an attack on South Korea or the USA. That being said, I do have a few back up plans :) I have a bag ready to go at a moment's notice. I am registered with the US Embassy and get emails/texts/phone calls when needed. Also If something were to happen, if North Korea were to be crazy and try and attack South Korea or the States, and I were not able to get to the US Embassy because the Embassy was over run or closed or what not, I would try to seek refuge in another embassy. If that was not able to be done *My Aunt YV is here and her hubby is retired military* So the next option would be to go to a military base *one is 30 mins away* and seek refuge there. IF i could not do that then i would work to get out with through my Korean friends and stay safe. Again I do not think that anything big is going to happen but it's always good to have a back up plan.

School is going great. I love my little kids. I made a break through with one of my kinders. He is the youngest of my youngest class and was one of the two who looked like they were going to cry the first time I went to class. well i've been saying hi to him and trying to get him to smile even just once but he wouldnt he would just look and stare at me. But Yesterday when I was hidding clues for a game he came up to me with a huge smile and waved at me and HUGGED me!! Success!!! Then my Aunt came and went to my school  and watched me teach them. One of my girls *a kinder* went right up to my aunt and introduced herself to her in English!! Again Success!! I've been doing well and trying to be whom God is wanting me to be :D

I could use prayers about school always and that God would change and encourage my heart for Him and for people all around me. I need to be focused and looking for opportunities to be God's hands and feet. ok It's like 11pm and since i'm an old woman.....I'm exhausted. I love you all and I hope you all are doing well :) feel free to leave me a comment and I'll answer questions in my next blog <3 p="">

 

Me and a few of My kids 2nd Grade

 6th and 5th

 4th 5th 6th

 recess

 This is Sally. She's my girl <3 br="">

English service at Galilee

The Eyes of Love

Sunday Morning God woke me up about 5am. I welcomed the early morning. You see He let me escape a pretty weird dream about aliens and people trying to kill me. still 5am is pretty early but I am blessed to have been able to wake in a warm safe home where as so many do not have that; or they did not wake at all.

 Anyway, I thought about going back to sleep but decided that it was not a good idea. I had this urging to pray. so I did then I got on facebook and began to pray for those on facebook. then I got distracted ha. But still I ran across this video someone posed of Oprah speaking to her audience with a pastor. She was talking about how no matter the circumstances, our gene, what has taken place that was out out of our control,or anything else; it is the way we choose to act and how we choose to live that matters and changes everything in the end no mater what hand we've been delt. Nick Vujicic was a very short guest and well I've been `stumbling` up on any of his videos at work. He said what he's said many times before that no matter what you've been through, no matter what's been done to you or what you've chosen to do, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. . .YOU ARE A TREASURE. . .YOU ARE WORTHY! 

I began to weep. its not that I haven't heard this before, I've heard it many time often when I know that people are trying to help and be encouraging but its been veeeeery hard for be to believe. So why did this one time click? What made this special? well unknown to anyone about 6 months ago I was given pills from a doctor here in Korea that would last two weeks.these pills would take away my apatite completely. they were meant to help me loose weight. I was determined to take them starting tomorrow for two weeks.  I had tries them once and they causes a ton of pain and I stopped taking them after one day.But I needed to take them. I am not beautiful and this is something I've struggled with countless times. I've hated myself to the point of literally pushing myself into starvation or causing myself to throw up. All for vanity. All in the hopes that I would be loved or love myself more. but this is a lie. if I were  size 8 or 38 neither would make me love myself anymore.they are just reason to not deal with the real issues of self hatred, the real issue of not accepting GOD`s words as truth. not accepting GOD`s love for me. Not knowing what love really is. I realized...

I don't know what love is.

Don't get me wrong I have been deeply loved by so many and I do love so many. I would give my life for a great number of people. . . .partly because I have accepted for such a long time that their lives are more valuable then my own but also because I do not want to live in a world without them in it. EVENTUALLY would we all be OK of course we would be able to move on but we cannot ever be the same once we've lost someone we deeply love. No what I mean is I don't understand God`s love I dont understand His heart or understanding his forgiveness His Amazing grace. I don't understand it and maybe that's partly because I don't see him so many times its hard for me to believe more then the wallpaper hears my prayers but deep inside I know He is REAL. I know He cares. I KNOW He loves me.

How? hasn't there been bad things that have happened in my life? Shouldn't I be angry? Hurt? something? Yes. I have experienced more then most and less then others. did I hate GOD for allow the abuse? Yes. Do I still struggle with anger with Him for it? Sometimes. Did I hate GOD for taking my mom from me ? Yes. I still struggle but she was never mine to have really. Shouldn't GOD hate me for things that I have done? yes but he doesn't. He loves me. Somehow I know he's forgiven the horrible things I've done to Him and to others. Somehow I feel his great eyes of love looking down own me with a beautiful smile on his face.
 

See I've realized it all goes back to what Nick was saying. . .it all comes down to my choice. am I going to be angry and hurt and hurtful toward the world for all the wrong that has been done to me? I could but what good would that serve? would I be any happier for it? no Id be more hurt. What about taking those `diet` pills. . .would I love myself anymore if I did? perhaps but unlikely. I might be happy for a little but ultimately hate myself again. I once hated myself so much I tried hurting my body and I've paid both health and emotionally for it. why would I jump back into a put of more hurt and anger with myself under lies of starving myself? So I got up and dumped all those pills down the toilet. because you know what,

THERE'S NO POINT!

its like for the first time in a while that I can truly say I feel like  I AM FREE!!
Nothing is holding me back. yes I still have issues but I choose this moment to see myself as Christ sees me and to hold my head high. I am beautiful. I am worthy. I am treasured!

So are you! you are beautiful despite of any lie satan may whisper to you. You are worthy and made whole in this moment despite what you may have done or had done to you. YOU ARE A TREASURE! Now what will you choose? will you choose to hold your head and believe these words of Truth or will you believe satans lies? "Beauty is in the Eye of the behold" The only eyes I'm worried about being beautiful for are the eyes of my Creator. Who's do you worry about?

Its time to choose.

Here's the Link to the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPW3EB5U0bo&sns=fb

Once Upon A Snowy Winter's Eve

Good Evening to you wonderful people!! How are you?? I'm sorry It's been so long *I feel like i', always opening with that haha but life gets crazy!*

Life has been crazy but God has been as wonderful as always. My contract was renewed and so I will still be teaching at Jungang Elementary this coming year. I am so very excited about it. I know that this has been a harder time then I had realized it would be but I am incredibly blessed. I have grown so very much. It's crazy to realize that I used to think that i would job hop for the rest of my life. God has so changed the way I think and how I look at life. I've realized that the true purpous my real job is minister  to be the hands and feet of Christ. ha I mean I knew that. But now I'm living it.

I've been volunteering tons and i love it. I've been volunteering at an animal shelter as well as at my church. i've been apart of a the college age ministering. I'm teaching two of them English on the side and another girl i've just met also. I've been able to use English as a ministry.  I just found out about a ministry where you can help teach English to North Korean defectors on the wedding. I'm VERY excited about that and I'm hoping to begin that again here soon. I am also ministering to the children at school. More and more i've been getting hugs and many of them are coming up to me and connecting with me. I'm so blessed :) Also i'm wriring more and more. i've finished my prolog and the the first chapter of my book.

Tonight I was able to share my testimony again. This makes the third time i've been able to share my testimony publicly. I shared it at my church and I love it. Tonight i was incredibly worried because this church that i've settled at and is my home church here, it is wonderful. it feels like home. I was worried because my life hasnt been the best as many of you know. It has been hard. It has been sad at times but God has held it. Each time I've shared it, the message is slightly different and I believe that that is because of who God has listening. Tonight the verse was Isaiah 41:9-10 *go read it ;) yep right now!! it's a great one!* God is always there He is always holding me. God is gracious and loving. it was so wonderful!! I had one of my friends come up to me and tell me that while i was speaking it was like a wave of blessing came and fell on him. It blessed me through that. I am so happy that I am able to be grant them with that and that each of them blessed me with their acceptance and joy.

I am doing well very i hope that you all are doing just as good. I love you and I am praying for you constantly! I would love your prayers for my students, my co workers, the people i interact with, my book, my church and my heart. 

The Same Yesterday, Today and Forever

   Today we did not have classes because it was our school's birthday.I was really excited about having a day off because well I could use the rest and time to write. I didn't actually sleep in but I was able to head down to my favorite cafe by Korea Nazarene University. I was able to write for a while and then i met with my good friend Taylor Ford for dinner. We had a good dinner and then began to talk. She had never hear my testimony before so our conversation drifted that way. I shared about all that God has done and who He has been in my life. I spoke about the hardships and troubles but I spoke about how God has provided and rescued and blessed me. 

   Recently I've been having a hard time. I have not been able to feel God,  to hear Him, but I know He's there. It's been hard because I've been dealing with the normal cultural issues here in Korea, the difference of belief about not only the normal religion and difference of how each person sees their others, especially foreigners. I've also been dealing with the issues of the self image here in Korea and how everyone is so incredibly thin and well...I'm not ha. But it's also the seasonal time of year when families come together and well enjoy being one. So I've been dealing with the loneliness and the culture and still feeling distant from God. 

    I've been trying to do my devos and worship and church regularly and trying to devote myself more and more but still i have been not feeling much of anything but I've been reading in Leviticus, Matthew and Psalms. I was reminded tonight about something David said time and time again. * I've been feeling more and more that David and I would have been great friends. * David was said to be the man after God's own heart and yet he was a man who failed time and time again. He was a man who committed adultery, murdered and questioned God. And yet he was a man who so passionately yearned to be close to God in spite of Himself. There were times when he was so close he could hear and feel God but other times when He could not feel God. He could not hear Him. David could only see the hardships around him. He would cry out to God and still perhaps have no answer. And yet in the end of almost every Psalm, David ends up Praising God. Countless times, David reminds himself of who God is and who God was. He would remind himself of who God was and then rejoice in what God would do. 

     Taylor reminded me that this was how a testimony worked. Yes it shared with others who you are and what you had gone through, but it also reminds the one who is sharing who God has been in their life. We will not always 'feel' God. we will not always 'hear' God, but God is there none the less. Times may get hard but I try to remember the teacher is quietest during the test.  And I was reminded of that Tonight, I may not understand what is going on or why i cannot feel or hear God like i use to but I know He is there! I know That God is passionately standing by us and protecting each of us. God has always taken care of us, why would he stop now? He wouldn't. He won't. 

    So maybe you are like me, maybe you are going through a hard time, remember who God is, remember who God has been. Do not give up! God is still the God who saved the Israelite from Egypt, He's still the only who heals and saves many, He's still the one who fed the 5000 He is still the one who died on the cross so He could spend eternity with you. Remember who God is and never give up hope.

Isaiah 41:10

Hey everyone

I know it's been crazy long since I've blogged and posted about how life is going. I'm so sorry! Life has been beyond crazy. Since I last talked to you amazing people, I've been teaching many classes, as well as fostering two adorable kittens who are getting adopted on friday and I love them and that's going to be so hard...but it's good :D Also i've been teaching my home Bible study *off and on the girls are now exceptionally busy and we haven't had it in a while :( * as well as leading worship and leading the adult Bible study at church. I was actually asked by my pastor to preach once a month. I am overwhelmingly blessed by these opportunities. I have been slightly pulled a bit thin though and I'm trying to regain some strength. I have up days and down days but I am richly blessed because God is always ALWAYS with me. I'm trying to read my bible through in 90 days time.i've never done this in such a short amount of time but I'm really excited about it. 

Today was a bit of a down day. I've been so extremely exhausted just from preparations for teaching two full weeks of 7 hrs of English and then teaching the last two days it's been crazy. I was just so drained today that I have been on the brink of tears for most of the day but God has gotten me through. I came home and extreme cleaned my bathroom and then cleaned up my living room pretty well as well as doing two loads of laundry. I was still obviously exhausted but I needed to do something I felt....And then i found a letter that came in my last box that said "save for a day when you need a smile" well I couldn't think of a better day that was described as such. i opened it up and saw a dinosaur card. Upon opening it tears just began to fall from my eyes it was a wonderfully scribbled letter from Mr. Ryon my 2 year old nephew and a beautiful letter form my sister Jenny. I needed these most today.I then began to cry out to God.*not sure why i didnt do this first but yeah:( *

I told God how i missed my family but I was thankful because I will see them soon-ish, and how I would miss my kittens but that I'm so thankful that they are getting a loving home and how I hate not being understood or not understanding and how i feel so alone and then God just told me even when there is everyone or no one around who understands that HE does and He is always there. I could not be more blessed with the LORD that we serve <3 I just pray that are you being richly blessed where you are. I hope and pray that no matter what life may look like that you take these few precious moments and thank GOD for what He has done and how He has blessed you <3 I love you all and i'm praying for you <3

 

Isaiah 41:10 says:
"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Finally a Blazing Fire!

Hey All,

this is a rarity isn't it? Two post within less then 24 hours. haha but alas here I go :D

God is amazing isn't He? Even through all the crap and stuff that is going on around the world, the fires in Colorado, the flooding in Florida, the war over seas, the impending war with Korea, and yet through it all GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!!! What a RADICAL God we serve!!! 

I wanted to expand on what God has been doing in my life! I wrote a little bit on it last night but I was half awake and I NEED to explain more haha! I'm sorry i feel so giddy I cannot explain it haha. Ok So I was struggling deeply through a ton of stuff, but it came down to the fact that I had not only begun to listen to satan's lies but I had taken them to heart, which is so much worse. I had taken more then a few steps away from God and ended up falling into a pit of depression and sadness and loneliness. i had been focusing on what i did not have rather then what God has blessed me with. It was very destructive. Then I had allowed myself to become sick, slowly sicker and sicker until on the 15th I was so sick with strep that I could not swallow or talk and could barely breathe. I took a day off and rested at home all weekend. There was some stress that happened at work because I did not use the proper steps on taking a day off and I was seriously consumed at that point with worry and fear and I was completely overwhelmed when i was asked to have a meeting with the director of the program here in Cheonan.

 I finally begun to share what had been holding me down with a friend here in korea and that is when things began to look up. i cried and was so overwhelmed by everything and she shared her heart and that God has placed me here for a reason and I had begun to feel better. I had gotten that day a package from my mom and family and friends back at home and when i had finished talking with my friend that evening I went to the my room and unwrapped a package of pure love!! I spent the rest of the night crying and just thanking God for my family and friends. I went to sleep that night and actually rested for the first time in a while. i woke the next morning with some worries but mostly peace.I went through the day praying off and on and then went to the meeting and spoke with my Director and she did not fire me which I was afraid of but she spoke with me about my worries and how things were going and she reassured me that she would help handle the situation and that there would be no issues but that i needed to follow the right steps next time, which i assured her I would and I will if i get sick again. ha

That was Wednesday the 20th and then we had a dinner all of us teachers in the program and we celebrated together the birthdays of everyone who had had one in the last 3-4 months *myself included* and then celebrated with those who were leaving for a new adventure within the next 3-4 months. It was really good! Then I was talking with my friend Amanda here and we decided that we would go to the beach on Saturday. So we went to the beach Saturday and that was the first time I had actually swam in the ocean and it was beautiful and relaxing and so good, just what I needed. Then Sunday I have been asked to do a Bible Study of the Adults and college age for the English Service for 8 weeks because our normal Bible study leader is in Canada visiting home. I was preparing for the Bible study and still honestly not on the firmest of grounds with God and had no clue what God had wanted me to share and then I was reminded of a youtube video that I had seen of Francis Chan where he had been talking about this person he was very close to who had died and how he did not know if he was going to heaven or not and how he just broke down by the bed weeping when he died. Francis was not alone in the room when this happened. He turned to this man's son i believe it was an he said with tears streaming down his face that he did not want to ever be uncertain of his fate, he begged this man to never leave it up to change, to live his life fully sold out. I was then reminded of the verse in Revelations that Jesus says it would better to be hot or cold rather then luke warm that He would just spew you out of his mouth. 

This for whatever reason FINALLY sunk in! This is who I was being!!! I was complacent! I was luke warm!! I was safe. My Friend Lauren told me, "It means nothing to follow Jesus until you understand what it will cost you." Finally I've realized this!! I was having such a hard time because God has put a spiritual at the very edge of this cliff. I could either jump and trust that not only will God catch me but that He will teach me how to fly OR i could turn around and return to what i've known and become even more and more cold. God was not going to allow me to be complacent, he was not going to allow me to lukewarm any longer. this was the moment of decision. And in that momment, Sunday morning I was cleaning my house and listening to worship online and then I was in the middle of picking up trash when all of a sudden i had that choice, I could stop and worship God full and choose to never go back to who i was or i could choose to continue to be who i was...and I stopped and worshiped!! It is one thing to think and talk about doing something but it is so much more to actually do it! i'm doing a 90 read through the Bible plan, I am devoting myself fully to God! I am not sure what this means but I am overwhelmed with peace and hope and love and joy sooo much joy in spite of the hardships and sadness that I've heard about all over the world God is still in control GOD IS STILL HOLY!! this is a song that is sooo the cry of my heart right now I would encourage you to listen to it and be consumed by who GOD really is :D I love you guys!! Sorry this is so long but this is what has been going down :D i'm so happy I could share it with you! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXElUPuIDTw

AND I CHALLENGE YOU!! BE different!! Choose to be someone more!! and then GO and DO it with GOD'S help!!!!!

The Things That were and now are and that will be...

Hey Everyone,
I realize it's been forever and for that I am very sorry. this last month has been up and down so much for me, mostly down...but I am doing better I am doing MUCH better!! over the last month I have experienced a ton of culture shock as well as sickness. Over the last month I have, for the most part, gone to work, come home, rested, gone to work, came home and slept only to repeat the cycle. I was able to go to the doctor but one thing here in Korea is though the doctor is very inexpensive about 2.50 per visit and about 3 for meds, they only give you enough meds for 3 days and then you are expected to come back. That does not work very well with my work scheduled but I've been working on it.

Also I have been doing Hapkido for the last four months but i had hurt my knee about two months ago and though my doctors had told me that I needed to take a break from Hapkido I just couldn't not with my belt test coming up so closely and though i had hurt it even worse, partially tore a tendon, i continued to be in Hapkido. However after hurting it and straining it more I decided that I needed to take a break. And so I took this last month off however I did physical therapy and have rested my knee. 

Also There was a good amount of stress at work. I went about the protocol of missing a day of work because I was very sick and that set things off a little. I have been able to talk to my director and heard coordinator for my program and thing have been smoothed out. I am adjusting to the culture though it is very difficult. It's been very lonely partially because I've been sick and so I've been isolated in my room but also because well I'm in a country where i am not being understood or understanding 90% of the time and that is very tiring.I am always striving to become more thought.

But I am doing better, MUCH better!! I am very glad to say, healthy. Also i am working on me and GOD and more on who I am. I am trying to get more and more rest. I think that that is a reason why I was getting sick so easily was that I was pushing myself too much. I also am eating very healthy, Also I am going to be running with a friend. we are going to be doing a program where we are conditioning ourselves. Also I am going to be reading through the Bible in 90 days. Also I am continuing to have my Bible study over on with my friends, Also Also haha I've been asked by my pastor to do the Bible study while our current leader is gone and I'm leading the worship on Worship team for the English service. Also I am going to be doing foster care for a kitten for a while until she can find a good home or until I leave Korea. I really think that that kitten will help with the loneliness. I will be getting her Saturday. My Friends are helping me get out but what is helping most is God

God has recaptured my heart!!! I can't really express it! God has renewed who i am in Him! I was listening to worship online and God consumed me He wrapped me in his Love and hope and peace and all that good stuff!! He has shown me this through a package from my family and friends and a blanket from my friend who made it and had people pray over it! I am inspired. I am inspired to be more, more who I am where I am at. I know that Korea has been a HUGE step for me and something that I'm not yet even still adapting t but I know that God is and will prepare a way one way or the other.I am and will be more! I just need to cling to God and honor Him through all that i do. I love you guys and I am praying for each of you!!!! God has also given me a peace about being single and alone. Though satan would try and take this little object an let it eat away all that I am God has given me peace and I know, more then anything, that because I have Christ, I will NEVER be alone!! There is no one better at love then the author of Love Himself. <3 we shall see what the future holds. Also please be praying. The program here in Cheonan may not be renewed, and if so I need to know where i should God and what i should do. I've been debating on going and teaching english in another country or if it be possible working in an orphanage. That is my ultimate goal. Or I may end up at home working off my loans .... any of these are a wonderful option and God would and will use me wherever I am :) I hope you are well and I love you guys so much!!! I'm praying for you all!!!

O love from the God of the Universte ... (part2)

I've been planted here on this earth, but more then that I'm planted here in south Korea. I am to be God's hands and feet and yes. I've known that for a while for a long time, but what the heck does that look like? Does that look like me getting up each day, walking 30 mins to work, working teaching kids, walking 30 mins home, going and doing Hapkido and then going to bed?! NO!! it is so much more then that!!!! There needs to be Passion!!!! there needs to be LIFE!! Christ says "I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full!" John 10:10 Life is not meant to be something that we just pass through where everything fades to gray!! GOD wants us to have LIFE and to have COLOR!!! But that does not usually come in Money or fame or gratification whatever that may look like in your life *be it food, or sex, or drinking, or drugs or whatever* God's color, the REAL color of life is injected through people that we encounter, it is inspired through seeing Christ in the eyes of a child! GOD IS EVERYWHERE!!

I was watching this video of this woman, Christine Caine, She is from Hillsong United and she spoke at this conference but her words have stuck with me she said

"Jesus Christ came to make us alive to set us free and then SENT us into a dark and dying world to bring freedom, and life, and hope, and mercy, and justice and truth to lost and broken people. WE DO NOT NEED TO FEAR WHAT HE HAS ALREADY DEFEATED!! We do not need to fear the darkness!! We just need to shine our lives into the darkness and dispel that darkness...Light works most effectively in the darkness. we do not need to fear the darkness we just need to take the light of Christ THAT IS IN US into a dark and dying world and dispel that darkness with the light and the hope of the Lord Jesus who for freedom has set us free!"

There are so many around us that are trapped in fear or worry or selfishness or just trapped in the blah. GOD as called us to be more!! There is so much that is going on in this world. So much that is threatening to destroy us. Did you know that there are over 27 Million slaves world wide? There are more slaves now then there have ever been in the entire history of the world. I would venture to say that you know many people who may not be slaves through chains but through fear, through depression, through sin, through death. These people need hope, These people need LIGHT!! They are trapped in the darkness, starving for the fullness of God's love, beaten, bleeding through the lies of satan. We encounter them each day. I ask you who In your life is a slavery? who in your life is not only hearing the lies of satan but accepting them fully as truth? There is so much more then that?! DO THEY KNOW THAT?

The Church is not meant to be a time of just singing songs in a building listen to someone and then go home...no church was meant to be a place where the Christians came together and fellow shipped together after being beaten after being torn apart for their lives, but now we are stuck. we were meant to be Warriors for God. Read Ephesians 6:10-18! Why would God give us armor if we did not need protection? we are meat to be fighters for our faith. There is a battle for our souls, for the souls of EVERY  SINGLE one around us and they are taking captives. They are brainwashing people and sucking all the joy and life out of their lives they struggle in vain to feel alive again by partying and doing this and that but in the end they are not fulfilled. it is a shallowness that is not lasting and leavings them feeling worse then before...We are meant to be helpers, we are meant to be fighters for everyone around us. What would happen is a person came up to you and said "I wish you Christians would die?" what would you say? What would happen if instead of just writing that person off we offered to buy that person lunch or asked them to go see a movie with you or play a game or hang out How would that radically change their life? How many of us are too busy with our own lives, our own agendas that we miss the chances to share God's love with those that may need it most? Have you ever thought that God interrupts people's plans to change the world? Esther was just a girl living her life, when she was called to save her people. she was taken out of her comfort zone and fought for the future of her people, Moses was just an Egyptian Prince but was put as a sheep herder for many many years before being called to save the lives of all of Israel. David was just a normal Shepard, minding his own business looking after his sheep when God called him and anointed him as the next king, Mary was a young teenage girl who was charged with the most precious child ever born. Paul was stricken blind before God called him to not kill his people but save them.

My dear friends, my family, we are called me be more and to do more then we are doing. This quote stirs in my heart.

"Compassion is never compassion till you go and cross the street and do something RIGHT NOW! Compassion is not Compassion until you are will to be interrupted." ~Christine Caine

My dear friends, my family...We are called to be something so much more. We do not know when our lives will collide with others and completely change who we are or even more transform who THEY are. Our calling our challenge is to go and make disciples among ALL nations. and some may say, well i can't go to Africa, or Russia, or The Middle East, or wherever but you must bloom where God has planted you! He has you there for a reason. But BE that compassion BE that love. Do NOT just pass by whom ever God is placing in your life. Whatever that may look like stop and pray. Ask God to show you who you are meant to minister to. But also make sure that your light is buring bright. If you are not in God's word, if you are not earnestly praying and seeking Him, start there. God can use anyone wherever they are but "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him!!" I love you all and I am praying for you! I ask you pray Eph. 10:18-19 over me and that God would give me His Passion, His Love, His eyes. untill Next time my dear family :)

O the love from the God of the Universe... (part1)

Hey you all

I hope that you are doing well. This is what has been happening in my life as of late. I am here in Korea for going on the fifth month. These past four months have been a roller costar but a blessing. I have felt very alone, I have been overwhelmed, I am blessed. I am enriched, I have been challenged, I have been broken down, I have been lifted but, but I survive and more then just survive I am thriving, by the grace of God.


Within the last month I have had the pleasure to go to Seoul with my group of teachers and visit the last palace of the last known Princess of Korea. it was a wonderful time and a good time to rest. I needed that time to relax. we went and saw the palace and walked around. it was wonderful. I was walking around with one of my friends and she and I wandered around and eventually found ourselves at this one place in at the back of the grounds where we could no longer hear the roars of the cars or the chatter of people but what we did hear was the whisper of the past. it was almost as though we could heard the clog clog clog clog of the wooden shoes of the King or the scuffing of the Princess' Hanbok 한복 dragging upon the cobble stones of the palace grounds. It was so peaceful and wonderful. I plan on going back with my friend in August and going back into the area called the Secret Garden.


I've been working each day. I am teaching Kindergarteners, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders. I love my kids so very much! I've been having my kids come and speak to me in English during lunch and they are getting better little bit by little bit. They have such wonderful hearts though sometimes they can be such butt heads ha. We also have schools come three days a week and we teach 5 classes each to these kids. There was this group that came last week. they must have been from a smaller school because they were not used to having native English Speakers. I was standing outside of a room because the class was not done yet and this room was the play room of sorts. I was standing blocking the door and a group was gathering right in front of me and I wasn't paying them any attention or anything but then one of them said 선생님 which is teacher in Korean and I looked at him and said 무 which means what? and then they all started saying it one by one. haha they would laugh and then just star at me in the eyes. finally I was like WHAT? haha and then one girl 아름다운 눈 which means beautiful eyes. Haha It was a wonderful complement and for the next 5 mins i stood there and just stared into the eyes of each student and I could not help but pray for each of them.

I don't know if you have read or if I have posted but I am doing a Bible study over John with now three Korean ladies and few American ladies. it is going slow but I love it and these ladies. I had the distinct honor of going to one girl's church *her father is the pastor* and I shared my testimony and sang a song for the church. it was a gathering of about 10 but it was a huge blessing and I feel like this is what I'm meant to be doing right now here and there...I'm finally getting it!

I am so blessed

Hey Everyone, 

I'm agagin appologizing that I have not posted in FOREER. Life has been crazy. and I've been sick...still I will try to post a ton more often in the future. once a month is not good.

So I am teaching tons now. We teach a camp also each week three days a week and kids come to my school and we teach them things like writing a letter, board games, and other awesome stuff. it's been fun. i've diffenately found my teacher's look. haha it's a blessing to teach these kids

I am doing well in Hapkido. I had a recent knee injury but i've been to the doctor and he says that I will be fine i just need rest. My knee is not in any pain it is just unstable...so yeah but it's getting better. I have been sick for about a week with this cold thing that seams to have fallen in love with my cheast. not cool. I'm taking meds and going to he doctor about every three days. the ladies in the office know me by name and they are excited to see me :)

Overall I am doing very well. I have bouts of home sickness but then i remind myself why I am here and WHO has put me here. I dont know what is going to happen or where i will end up but I know that I am here for now :) and I am doing as much as I can for this time being. we shall see what the future hold.

I went to Pohong two weekends ago. I saw the ocean for the first time it was AMAZING!! i've attached a link to picture I took. it was really a blessing i need the break. then we went and hiked up a mountain it's a ton of fun and I was deeply blessed by all who went. We got a ton of seashells that stink btws and if you know how to get the smell out of them PLEASE let me know :D it was really nice. 

I am going to a multibang with some friends here in an hr or so. it's a room that has karakoki, a tv with dvds, and a tv with a wii. we are going to hang and sing and rock it out! I am excited about it. I am thinking about going to the jimjilbang after with a friend. I love how in Korea all of this is so inexpensive. I am blessed to be able to experience cultur so reguarly...and then tomorrow I am going with my Kwanjanim *hapkido master* and my friend Ben and we are meeting up with other Hapkido dojo's and we are going to go hiking and watch old time korean fighting and cutlural thingy. I am excited except it will be from 7am -5pm :P i'm going to be so dead but ti should be good. and then Monday I'm going to being cupcakes or something for my kids because it's my birthday and Ironically they will be learning about how to ask someone when their brithday is. ha. and then after work I am meetin with a few people for dinner, then going to hapkido and having cake *again* and celebrating with them :D I am so blessed. I so much miss home but I am blessed

Prayers: I would ask prayers for North Korea. My friend is going to be sending me a link about some of the stuff that is going down up there that noone really knows about. PLEASE be praying for the people and the government that change Good change would come. Also Please pray for my health it's been up and down and kinda stayed at sick....please pray for that and then also for my friends here. i know each have their own issues and I want to help as much as i can but a ton of it is up to God and the person.

I hope and pray that you all are doing well I miss you guys like crazy like CRAZY CRAZY I often pray for you and about you. I love you!!! 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150619380115666.382630.572395665&type=3

God is always at Work

Hey Everyone,

I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to write again. Man life has really picked up. Good news I graduated from TESOL!! Yay! I’m an official international teacher! Yay! God has been doing so much in my life and I know 못 that is mostly because of you all and your prayers and I cannot thank you enough for all that you all have been doing.

ok So what has God been doing? He has been showering me with so many blessing and so much love it’s crazy!! As all of you may remember I was having some issues feeling isolated and alone. Well God has been helping so much with that. He has been providing wonderful people in my life whom I connect with so easily and so well. God has given me well the wonderful people that I was teaching with in TESOL as well as Amanda *the girl from Florida whom has become my best friend here* then there are three more new teachers; Rea, Christian and Carlee. I am also taking Hapkido which is a type of Korean martial arts and I have been blessed with an American friend there as well, Ben. God has helped me to no longer feel so alone and I know that that feeling will come and go but I’m hoping that it is done for now.

Also I am finally becoming more at peace. I had been worried and stressed and wrapped up in so much and most of it was not right for me to be worried about or what not but now God has given me an overwhelming peace!!! I am just so happy and well peaceful. There really is not other way of expressing it then peaceful. It’s so amazing!! I love it! But I believe that that also has a great deal to where my heart is at. God has really been chasing me and fighting for my heart and I am finally allowing Him to be God there. My heart has always been something that I have always tried to control and not give to God. And because of that I believe, ok, no, I know that I’ve been deeply hurt. But I finally understand what it means and looks like to protect your heart. I finally understand how to allow God to have my heart. He finally has all of my heart and all of my focus and all of every part of me. Now that is not to say that I am perfect. Ha I’m far from it. But it does mean that I’m so much closer to God then I’ve ever been but it is also a different form of closeness. It’s a new kind of closeness. I’ve never experienced this closeness before. I’ve always just known who God was but I’ve never realized that passion He has for me. And I know that He has been trying to share that passion with me but I have not been listening. I’ve only been listening to the lies that satan would say to my heart. Finally I am listening to that voice that God has that enriches the very depths of my soul. It’s amazing!!! Again I’m not perfect but I’m a beautiful work in progress!! One example, Korean culture is very VERY big about looks and being incredibly skinny. And we are not talking about healthy skinny but almost to the point of being anorexic. One would think, that I, being a plus sized person, would feel even worse about myself being here but it is quite the opposite. I’ve finally realized who I am in Christ and where my form of worth comes from, or whom it comes from I should say. And this thought process has restored my heart in many ways. “Change your thoughts and you will change your world.” It’s a quote I have on my computer screen and I read it each day.

Also God has been using me!!! I felt very out of the loop when I first got here. I kind of felt ok now that I’m here what am I supposed to do God. And God was very silent at first. But then I got connected to a Korean church here with a group of friends and they are wonderful and I was beginning to feel like I was more at home but then Tesol ended and I was speaking with the only Korean lady in our class and I felt God impressing upon me to ask her to do a bible study with me. She was all for it and before I knew it I had 2 other girls in this Bible study. We met for the first time the one girl Rachel told us a story. She said that she had been praying for a person to do a language exchange with. She had prayed for someone who was Christian and someone who was nice. One day when she was on the bus praying she finished praying and opened her eyes and I was getting on the bus and I smiled at her. God impressed upon her to ask me. So we had gotten off the bus at KNU ** I was still in Tesol and I was running very late this day** she followed me and then when I got into the elevator she told me she wanted to be my friend and she asked if I would be willing to do a language exchange and I said yes. And then about two weeks later we are sitting together with AnSu and Amanda doing a Bible study. I know that this is a major reason of why I am here, for this and even on a greater scale. I’m beginning to mentor these ladies as well as other people and I am also growing in faith and trust and understand of God. This is a very good thing for me. I also and volunteering where I can. On Sunday I attend a Korean church from 10-1230 and then rush to an English service form 1:30-3 and then an English bible study form 3-4pm. My Bible study is on Saturdays from 11-12 with food in my apartment. We are going over John.

I would greatly enjoy your prayers. My heart is at home with my family a ton of the time. My brother David just got engaged and I hope to be home to celebrate that in August sometime but that will depend upon my work schedule. Our first break is in August so here’s hoping. I am praying for each of My family members as they go through their lives. I would love to have prayers for each of them. They are wonderful, wonderful people and I am deeply blessed by each of them. Also I would ask for prayers over my heart and my life. I am struggling and growing and deepening in the way that God grows me. It’s not been easy by any stretch of the imagination but it’s been amazing and I know that I am meant to be here. I was just talking with my friend Lauren how I’ve seen time and time again in my life how God has set me apart. And how God has touched my life or intervened in some way and has saved me from a worse fate whatever that may be. I know that I am meant to be alive. God is obviously not done with me yet. I know that there is a greater purpose for me. Maybe it’s not to be the next Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King Jr. but maybe it’s to be inspired. Maybe our lives are not to change this world by our own hands but maybe we are meant to inspire those who will. You never know who around you needs God’s love most. We cannot see the hurts, we cannot see the shame always, but it exists at some level in everyone’s lives. And we do not know who will be the next Billy Ghram or the one who is going to cure cancer. We don’t know and we cannot take the chance that the person we are upset at is going to change this world and our words are the cure that they need. And yes, maybe that person will not be someone who changes this world, but you know what is more important? They have Christ in them. They are worth our time and our love and our effort for that reason alone! Would we snub Christ if he upset us? Would you never talk to God because He chose something over you once? Would you cheat on God with someone else? NO! of course not. What makes that person any less special?? O they are not Christian…blah blah blah. They are a human being. They are God’s most precious creation. They are put on this earth JUST as you are to glorify God. And how are they supposed to know that God if we do not show Him!? They can’t! We must look past our prejudices and see people with the eyes of Christ! Then and only then will this world truly be changed for any good. We must see people the way that God sees them we but honor people as if they were Christ Himself. We must live out lives and help those around us so that we are all able to live our lives to the fullness to which Christ has told us that He wants us to have. We must give all we have.

Ok sorry for preaching. Haha you know me. Once I get started talking about God it is hard to stop. But my final words to you this time as this; I love you. God loves you so much more then I would ever love you. God says you are worthy and valued and pure and incredibly special!!! I am praying for each and every one of you! Remember your worth is found in Christ and in Christ alone otherwise you will not be fulfilled at any point and time.

“I will come and shower my blessings on you!!” Hosea 10:12

O it's the little things add up

Hey All, 
I'm so sorry it's been sooooo long!!! Life has been so incredibly crazy. Right now I am still in TESOL which is really kinda boring but very informative so I'm trying to keep my interst up. The teachers are all very nice. 


Ummm what's new....O i got my hair cut. it didnt go so well. they cut it horribly it was like a girly mullet. it was aweful byut my friend Tera fized it up for me and now I look smoking. it was  an ordeal but yeah haha a new experience none the less. 


O i moved full time into my appartment. it's nice. but ti's quite I'm so used to having my amazing loud family here with me...so that's hard but Idk i've thought about getting a pet. but i'm not sure if that would be fare to the pet whatever I were to get. so idk we shall see....


O well God has been doing a ton in me. This is has been the hardest time for me in a VERY long time. it's so different and so new. and for the most part there is nothing familure, nothing to anchor on, nothing that is except Christ. that has been so hard for me. Im so used to the familure.i think that we all are to some degree. But there is very VERY little that is the same here. but God has been giving me little things that are and that has helped. But God has been greatly challenging me. There are so many times that I fear the silence. I once told God i would go anywhere, do anything and be whomever HE wanted me to be. I meant it fully. I still mean it fully. but becareful what you say to God. He will take you seriously! Every time. And so i've been almost afriad to sit down and really listen to God and see what He may say. but i did and it was wonderful!! God told me that He was going to passionately win my heart back. And that no matter what He's always goign to be there with and for me and that no matter what life may try and throw at me, that HE will and has impowered me to be fullfilled :) Sometimes it's so good to hear that. I need reassurance. He also said that I need to keep my eyes on him and him alone. I'm ok with that. there is too much going on to not do that. 


haha O i'm starting Hapkido on Monday. My friend is in it and i got told about it and it's REALLY close to my appartment, so Amanda and I are going to do it :) I'm very exicted. Also i'm rocking teaching in TESOL.


So yes. God is still all there is with me! But he is more then enough. Yes. I love Korea. it's hard and new and different and sometiems just smells like kimichi or taekwandoe but it's awesome. Yes. I am making friends and having new adventures just about every day. No. I'm not dating/engaged to anyone. I promised God that I would not date for a year and jsut focus on God and I. *that's up here soon. april17th i think* and Two. God has not made it clear that I need to be investing any of myself in anyone anyway. Yes. I would love more prayers!! I will always take them and always need them. I realized I am truly being a missionary to those around me even though I'm not in active ministry with a title and all. but I'm being amissioary to eveyone around me every moment of my day. I cannot wait to go and teach and be able to speak about Christ openly there too will be awesome. 


Basically right now I'm just enjoying the place where God has put me. I may not know exactly what He wantsd from me or for me here but I do realize God has put me here for a reason and so I will passionately presure Him though all of this and see where it takes me. It's like I'm being showered in His blessings. Our God is sooo Good isnt He??

O culture Culture CULTURE!!

Hey you guys!!! ***SORRY this is so long I divided into Paragraphs for easy reading***

I'm so sorry it's been forever since i've written an actual blog. LIFE IS CRAZY and sucky but amazing!!! <3 God has been and i know that He will continue to look out for me. Ummm what was the last thing I had told you all....*looks back at last post* O.O Wow that was forever ago like over a week ago!! i'm so sorry!

Ok so what has happened. well there are now new teachers here on the 25th of Jan. Two couples Bethany & Thomas and then Tera & Micheal and then Amanda. *Amanda and I have really connected and she's like my sista* well i had gone up with Terry and Jeff to get the new teachers. we found them after a very long bus ride. Then Terry paid for our meals at KFC and then we were heading back to KNU :) Everyone was chatting for a little but it was kinda obvious that everyone was tired. They crashed and so did I. The next day the 26th we went to the doctor and got a health exam to make sure that we were all good. *everyone's test came back normal except they said my liver test was a little high but that could be because i'm tired soo after I get my alian card I'm going to go and get it check again :) No worries though*  at the examination we had out weight, height, hearing, eyes, and chest mesured. then we had to do a urin test, an extra, a blood test and a dental test. haha it was an intersting and bonding day. We went to this tradtional sitting on the floor meal place and it was fun :)

the next daythe 27th we went to toured the downtown and Jeff helped everyone know how to get on the bus and how to get to the mall and all that jazz. I showed Amanda the Reneneisance where i found out she would be living there with me. :) then we headed back to the school, ate at a cheap but good restartaunt that everyone eats at Kimbop Nara. then we hung out. we actually met some of the older new teachers *those who had been here anywhere from 6mon-2 yrs* and we ate a Kimbop Nara and then we went bowling downtown. I learned how to bowl from a friend and actually got second place i had a score of 110 :D I was really excited and it was a ton of and I was able to really begin to get to know the people :)

then it was Saturday :D YAY for the weekend!!! I caught up with my friend Abby and Amanda and I went to go see a movie. we saw Journay to the Center of the Earth2 with the Rock! IT WAS AMAZING!!!! it cracked me up! haha i loved that we were all in this theater and there were times where us Americans were cracking up but eveyone else but silent haha so awesome. It was always pretty awesome because it cost only $8 and one thing that i liked was that they had assigned seating that way there was no fighting for the right seat or anything haha and they didnt open the doors till 10 mins before the movie and ther was only one preview XD awesome

Then Sunday came around the 29th :) I was going to go to this church with Amanda, Abby and a Korean friend but Amanda had to go to a different church and my Korean friend bailed. So I met Abby and we rocked it OUT!! Joshua, a guy i am going to be working with invited me to come and this other amazing girl I will be working with Lauren was there also. I also met Amy abother america. This church was awesome! Sooooo friendly!! I met the Pastor's wives and actually I got a korean name!! it's 기쁨 Which Means joy!! it's Read Keep-uum :) I love it!! And then so the service was great. it was about how God can and does use us whereever we are at and that we do not have to be amazing before God can or will use us! and afte the service they had a small meal for us which was so awesome and really good. I met some really awesome people. and then we played a traditional Korean game called. Yout. it's kinda like SORRY....kinda. haha it was a ton of fun and my team and I got 1st or 2nd. i cant tell because that part was in Korean but we got toilet paper and kimchi ramen as a prize *blaaaaaaah i hate ramen* but it was good. then then...we walked over to H&M and i was hanging with Abby, Joshua and Lauren and they were doing their things and I found a chirt for 6 bucks and it fit :D *lost about 3 lbs woot* then we went to Indian food it was really good and then i headed back to the school and crashed

Monday 30th we were going to go to this Budhist temple but i had to go back to the doctor because something was wrong with my liver. So we waited and waited and waited :P and then whne we finally got in the doc asked if I drank or smoked or what and I said no and the she said that my liver levels were just a little too high and that she thought that i had a fat liver. and I was like O ok i got it. I totally understood what she was saying but she didnt not think that I got it :P she proceeded to tell me like 3-4 more times I was fat and I needed to loose weight. then Terry wanted to make sure that I understood and he told me 2times that I was fat and i needed to loose weight. Now at this point I was about to cry. I thought that i was pretty confident in who I am but this was like a kick in the teeth. ****HOWEVER before you decied to hop on a plane and come tell thses ppl what you think about them let's look at this a cutlurally differnt way. their way. they were trying to express to me that they cared for me and were concerned for me and thaty THEY LOVE ME!!! it was to show great concern and well being for my health. I did not know this at the time so I was just crushed.***** Well then we went to the temple and I will add at the bottom of this a link to all the pics from well since we picked up the new teachers :) at first i did not want to take any kinda pics because i was just consumed with wanting to get back to campus and go to bed and just end that day but God whispered to my heart and encouraged me and I ended up taking a TON of pics which I love <3 and I'm so glad I did. this is where the largest buddha in the world is HE IS HUGE! we then went to Lunch, pizza *yum* at this awesome pizza place and then Amanda and I went back to my Appartment downtown and on our way we went to this awesome dollar store and got some little stuff. we met up with Abby and Laura and watched movies and played with a bunny and then Laura and I missed the 12 bus that would take us back to KNU and had to RUN to take the 1 and walked for the rest of the way

Tuesday 31st. We went to the immagration officce and applied for our Ailen visa and then we went to this places called Jacksons' Bimbbeebop. which Bimbeebop is a kind of all mixed together tyope of food. it's not my favorite. then Tera, Micheal Amanda and I went to this coffee shop that's close called Awesome Place. it was well....pretty awesome. then I went  up to Seoul with Abby. we went ot Iteawon which is like the American district :) IT WAS AMAZING!!! I had Subway and saw a tacobell and found english books and actually found a skirt that fits and it's cute!!!! it was an over all great day :D I brought a 6in sandwhich back with me and ended up having that for breakfast the next day because i found out in the dorms the water pipes burst and so the water was not hot. and it still isnt :P

Wednesday 1st. TESOL begins. we had out intro classes and it was good and I learned a ton :P not much to say about that ^^ However I did choose to stay with amazing Amanda last night because there was no hot water. and Amanda lives on campus in a different dorm. but the beds are soooo hard :P o well I'm crashing herea again tonight

TODAY!!! 2nd. we had Tesol again and It was fun at time not so mcuh at others. an amazing Korean lady in our Tesol group the only one took Amanda and I to lunch at this Kimbop Nara type place. we had Black speghitti and fried Mondoo it was really good and fun. then we had class again. then Amanda and I went back to the room and waited for Abby to get there and then we went to the doc but the doc said that she didnt know and that we needed to go to the specialits. soooooo Abby and I walked over to the speciaist and low and behold we were litterally 1 min too late so I am planning on going back tomorrow :) then we met Amanda at Kimbop Nara and ordered some amazing food ***O side note, cooking food and eating out are right at the same price*** then joking i said lets go to a Jjimjilbang. ti's a bath house. but before i knew what was really happening we were on our way. *Terry paid for our dinner he happened to show up and decied he would** so we wnet to the Jjimjilbang and i was freaked. i had heard stories and wasnt excited all that much buut we got there and changed into the clothes provided. then we went into the different like sona type rooms like the salt room where u lay in hot salt or the warm room, the cold room the HOT HOT HOT room, the bamboo room and then we went into the showers/tubs we had to shower down***WE WERE SPERATE MEN AND WOMEN*** *yes we were naked everyone was :P it was akward at first but then it's like eh eveyone's naked so yeah** and then we soaked in tubs one was the tea tub one was the HOT HOT tube one was ICE cold and the others were luke warm. each had some kinda mineral in it. there were ladied old ladied in like bra and panties scrubbing down ppl and Amanda and I were like well we've come this far so we got in line and paid and got scrubbed down like 7 times from head to toe and yes I mean from HEAD allllllllllll the way to TOE and it was akward at first but ti's only as akward as you make it  :) they were laughing and having a blast as the Monguke *Americans* were getting a scrub down and giggling and being embarrised :P they talked to me in Korean and I tired my best to understand and i got a little they scrubbed all the dead skin off and then put oils on me and then gave me a face message and washed and conditioned my hair and then put a face mask on me. it was awesome!!! and they made me promise pinki promise to come back :D i did and I plan on it I"m so relaxed right now and I'm just at peace.

Pictures
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150505849050666.368254.572395665&type=3

God knew i needed this. I've been stressed about so much and just getting drug down. God knows where you are and what you need the moments we need it and I'm so thankful that he never ever ever lets go of us! i dont know what's gone on in each of ur lives but I pray that God blesses you and that He brings along the right things right when you need time. I love you all class in the mornig ":D nighty night ^^