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 ^^

Happy Lunar New Year

Well Happy Lunar New Year to you all!!!


Yep it's today :D didnt know that well now you do :D
funny things happen on Lunar New Year. 1. In Korean age, Eveyone is 1 year older. they still celebrate your birthday on ur birthday buuuuut you are automatically one year older. Here's where it get confusing, if your Birthday isnt till say April like mine is well you may still be 23 but by Korean yrs you are actually 25 :P *they also count the time in ur mother's womb. so when you pop out you are 1 year old :D* so basically i aged 2 yrs in the last 6 days and still heavnt done much ha. 2. Everyone goes home. it's kinda like Thanksgiving for the states but eveyone travels to their nearest or oldest relatives. So Cheonan is Empty! 3. Eveyone eats rice soup. See Link at Bottom of page for a classic recipt :)


So what do most americans do on Lunar/Chinese New year?  Travel!! most everyone does haha most eveyone is gone buuuut i just got here and so that makes traveling minus to my appartment if u wanna nearly impossible. SO what Did I do on this Lunar New Year? weeeeeeell......I watched the Blind Side, Mem. of a Gaisha, showered, told myself 60 times I neeeeeed to clean my dorm room, layed in bed, played DAOC, and Finally got up and went for a wonderful walk. Found a park a good friend had told me about and worshiped God like there is no tomorrow. Then I came back to the dorms and made Korean Fajitas :D it was amazing I must say and now I'm on here chit chatting with you all amazing people. *see pics at the bottom* :)


But well all of you know me. I'm not one to just sit here and leave it at this breif summary of today. I want to challenge you. I want you to stop and look at your life. What does it mean. what does it matter? What impact are you having on those around you and the community that you live in? If you say idk or if you say nothing i want you to reallythink about it. God has placed us upon this beautiful planet to make an impact and if we are not making that impact then what is the purpous of our lives. we are called into a community with others. There should be a disire to help one another. WHY ISNT IT THERE? is it there in your life? Sure it's easy to say yes of course it's there i'd help an old lady whos' things feel on the bus or I'd help out a crippled man who is strugging across the street when then light is about to change. but that is just words. words are wonderful and powerful and can change lives but unless words are put into action all they are are whispers dancing upon the wind. I want you all to really think and pray about this. i know I am. What does my life mean if not I'm impacting those around me? 


Pictures from my walk :)

My dorm: 

View from my room:

Korean CHICKEN Fajias!!!!!!

Rice Soup ----> http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chinese-style-rice-soup-with-chicken-and-ginger-recipe2/index.html

So this is what Korea's been like :)

Hey eveyone :D 

I hope and pray that God is blessing you abundently :D I have been reading my bible a ton and these verses stuck out :D

Psalm 50:14-15

"Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

 it's been a huge blessing to me because so many times we bargin with God when things get bad or when we want someting or whatever but God is saying just BE THANKFUL for what I am doing and have done in ur life and keep the promises you've made to me and I will be with you and I will delieve you :) So awesome

Ok So to cont. Day 2

I got up and ate and did devos and got ready and was ready like 15 mins before we said we'd meet and Brandon was late but we went down got like a sushi roll with tuna for breakfast *awesome* haha and went to a coffee shop to meet the other two teachers. we met Joshua and Lauren there and took a taxi to work *they switch off who pays it's cool :D* and i meet a few students on the way into the building and then i met everyone haha i dont remember names but I met everyone haha. I went to a few classes and watch and saw how Brandon taught and it was cool. i'm diffeately goign to have to practice my Teacher's Voice. then I went and met the Princapal and the Vp :) Vp was awesome was very loving she was the first asain to touch me :) it was nice. she even gave Brandon a hug because he's leaving but she's kinda the one that really runs everything. but when i met the Princapal I jsut bowed and kept quiet and smiled and was very poilet. it was veryquick but we met :) and then I took a taxi to KNU *Korean Nazarene University* and found my friend, Sujin. we went t lunch and had this AWESOME meal. and then we went and got my few bags, saw her appartment, and then went shopping. I got a few things and then we went back to My dorm room and unpacked. we ordered some food for liek 6 bucks I got awesom chicken, coldslaw, rice, a little cup of soup and of course kimchi haha.it was good and then we crashed. I slept form 7/8ish till 6 am haha and I was still sleepy

It was a mushroom soup wiht those green roots and we boiled it down and then when it got down enough we added the noodles and then at more and when it got down futher they added the eggs, rice and green peppers and made like friend rice it was YUMMY!!!

Day 3

I got up hungry *i've become REALLY hungry since i've been here it's like 445am and i've been up since 3am just munching because i'm so hungry!! yay bananas and organges* and so i ate some cereal or went to the common room to eat and actually ended up cleaning it and then ate and then was able to meet a really aweosme Ameican couple from Tenn. here and they let me barrow their converter box so I could get on the itnernet and charge everythign and then I skyped with my mom and Jenny and Ryon and Dad and Josie and Wayne :) it was really nice. then we went and got Kimbop whcih is the Sushi rolls it was good well the beef ones were haha the cheese one :P not so much it was American Cheese it's like the only cheese they have here except at CostCo. And then we went everywhere haha we ended up going back to my appartment and I found out that Brandon is leaving Monday so the appartment is offically MINE and I have my dorm. awesomeness :D and then we came back closer to the dorms and went shopping for more food and stuff because since Monday is new years here, eveyone will be visisting family and going on vacation and we werent sure if the stores would be open buuut I know where the store is and i feel comfortable enough to go there by myself. I'm stil not sure how I feel about taxis or the bus but I can try...maybe or i will be hidding out in my dorm hahahaha we shall see :D but we came home and I made sticky rice but then realized i couldnt work the stove so I had ramen and went to bed :) and now I'ts like almost 5am On Sat. the 21st and i have been up for 2 hrs cuz i was hungry and jet lag haha. But I wanted to let u all know I love you and I miss you :) AND I AM PRAYING FOR YOU!!!!!

Traveling and First day In Korea ;)

Hey all!!!

First, I hope that you all are doing well :D I want you all to know that I miss you SO VERY VERY VERY VERY much!!!

Ok so what's been going on??
Flying:
I flew from Colorado Springs, Co to San Francisco, Ca and from San Fran to Incheon International Airport in Seoul. *korea*  The short flight i didnt have anyone sitting next to me which was nice  leg room ^_^ and I was able to talk to the lady across the way from me and her kids. they were nice. then when I got on the flight to Seoul there were three seat and I had the window seat. there was an america man who sat in the isle seat but that was it :D again noone sat right next to me :D LEG ROOM :D we chatted he was from Boulder Co haha go figure but he is going to be in Korea till Monday on business. I slept some on the plan off and on it was hard to sleep for whatever reason but i tried and I took pictures a pic or two *see at bottom of blog* and it was fine. i creid so hard leaving Colorado but i was ok when we took off for Korea...haha ok so funny thing. we were a little late for boarding because they were changing the tires haha and then we were taxiing FOREVER because there was something wrong with the engin haha go figure but they fixed it and we took off I actually prayed a ton over the plane and i know that there were some of you wonderful ppl praying over me too so I THANK YOU!! We landed about 4:57pm in Seoul *12:57am Mountain time* about 30 mins after we were supposed to.

First day:
I got off the plane and followed the crowd to immigration no problems there and then to the tram and then to the luggage. I had to get a cart which YAY was free!!! and i finally got all my baggage somehow i got it all stacked so it stayed haha and then I went through customs no issues I walked into the lobby and found my amazing friend Brandon who had an awesome Megan Jarrell welcome to Korea sign haha My name was in English and Korea ^_^ He helped me push the cart across the street to the busses. Taxi drivers kept honking and yelling asking me if i wanted a ride ha I kept saying no no no but they are pushy haha. we finally got across the street and to the ticket place. Brandon picked out what we needed nd got it and we only lost all the luggage once. it tipped over but we got to the bus finally and just sat for a while which was nice i was tired and almost fell asleep but we were trying to figure out what we were going to do and i have like a billion questions. And Brandon had stories. haha so we finally decied that since I will be replacing Brandon and His apparment will be mine and since it was closer, we would go there and I could leave stuff there. So we will and he headed out for a birthday and told me the place was mine and that he would crash at his friends. So i went through and set up two bags i could take to the dorms i'll be living in for the first month and left the rest there. I was able to facetime with mom and dad a little which was really nice and then i decied to shower. haha Ok soooo Korean showers are very different from america showers. American showers have a curreten. Korean showers are in the bathroom. buuuut there is tile everyone around so no paint on the walls just tile and it's just a hand held nossel haha well needless to say water got EVERWHERE haha but i was clean. Brandon and I had stopped at a bread store one the way home and got some bread so I went to bed with a 1/2 or the cheesey apple bread w/jelly on it in my mouth and my water bottle. Brandon and I had talked about me going and meeting eveyone i would work with and the school i would be working at so I knew i needed to be up dresed and ready by 815am. It was about 11-12 when I crashed...haha weeeeeeell Jet Lag is real i woke up every hr on the hr almost finally gave up at 7am and just sayed up go figure haha

Ok mom is skype calling me I will finish later :D

Rambligs from a plane*cos-San Fran*

So I'm flying over salt lake right now I think it's 740am mountain time :) I cried when we left from Colorado when we were taking off I really kinda fell apart. But there is no going back and I'm so glad that God did not change his mind. Because u know if we r freakin of God will wait till we are ready but I told Him that I knew that this was what He wants for me and so I asked him I was like even if I'm a balling mess of snot and tears please do not change your mind. If you God say that I can do this then I know that I can and I will. It's not easy though I miss my Family and friends so much so so so so much. But u know what I've  learned? If we are meant to do some thigh something so awesome and life changing it will never be easy if it were easy then it wouldn't be life changing and somethings God choose people that He knows can handle life changing over and over again in that persons life so he calls them to something well life changing. I think that's me. I've gone through so much and God has blessed me with so many families all over the world and I know that I know that I know that He is the one who is holding me and pulling. E through each and very hard moment. Because there will be more. But you know what? God works from where we're at and gently moves us into His plan. He gives us baby steps most of the time and I know for me that has helped sooooo much!  I think most of us would head for the hills of God showed us what His calling really is or where we fit into His plan 10 or 5 or even 2 years from where we are now. A calling, which everyone has be it to be a stay at home mom or a missionary, but a calling is not an easy thing. But God will never ever leave us or make us do more the He knows we can handle. Now at times it will feel like it is more but that would be because we are trying to do it ourselves or not God's way and it's like ramming ur head against a concrete wall. All that will happen is frustration and a headache.  I'm really beginning to understand what it means to surrender fully too. It means holding nothing back. Not ur family,family, future, past or anything.  Seriously ANYTHING. if we have an area of our lives that is just causing us pain there is a good chance that it's because we have not fully surrender that to God. We keep trying to take it back. Or something that I did for the longest time was I walked both sides of the fence. I could play Christian at church or when ppl where looking by then I could go and do whatever it was that I wanted but in all honesty, I wasn't surging God really. I was putting on a show and I was the one who believed the lies the most. See if satan can convince us that truth isn't truth its lies and that lies are truth then he's already won half the battle. It's very easy to slip and fall if you are already walking on ice in flats. So it comes down to what do we choose? Do we choose to REALLY Surrender it all or do we choose to believe the lies? I've also been noticing how when we are in the depth of sorrow or disparity  we tend to believe the worst about ourselves and think that everyone else thinks the same. Which IS NOT TRUE!!! God has given each of us such hope and value within our lives and who we are but do we listen to His truth or the lies?? We MUST listen to he truth otherwise we will fail and fall and become so wrapped up in despair that it will consume us. Each and everyone person on this earth is created to reach people and to love and to be who people need to see God but some of us and at times all of us choose not to answer the phone when God is calling. We make it so that we are too busy or distracted by the very divides that we're meant to make our lives easier. We being to answer the call of electronics and not the loving whisper of the one who is so passionate and in love with us. Yes we screw up but who puts the space between u and God?? It sure isn't God because He isn't mount away from u ever!!! Idk food for thought I guess :) landing in about 1 hr and 20 mins going to try and sleep know I love u and miss u so very much!!!!!

Waiting and crying

Hey all!! I'm sitting in the airport at Colorado Springs waiting for my flight kinda hungry but crying haha odd but yeah *sigh* I can't believe that I'm here already that God really meant I want u as a missionary, that it would be this hard.....but I guess that's a good thing it means that there are so many amazing people and relationships that have changed my life and I am deeply connected to you! I just keep telling myself you can do this you can do this. And with God I know I can but it's will hard to not know the future or where I'll b u know?? But God is good alway good