I have been here in SK for one month. Today is Fourth of July! So many things have been happening here. We are preparing for camp and I am teaching English everyday. I'm tutoring the teachers as well in English. I love the kids so much. I am sad even on the weekends when we leave them to go to Seoul. It is going by really fast. I haven't had time to catch my breath.
So last weekend there was a typhoon here. What that means is a lot of rain. I had to travel from Cheonan to Seoul and back to Cheonan while the rain was pounding, but luckily my umbrella nd rainjaket handled it pretty well. This past weekend the Seoul team came to visit Cheonan. It was an awesome experience for them to see how we live and what we have to travel every weekend. I'm so glad they came. The kids really enjoyed meeting them. They left yesterday and I remember thinking the last time they will see these kids we will be at ERC. Then I realized how close it actually was.
Yesterday I lost my umbrella. I will have to invest in a new one. It rains a lot here, but I love it. Today is nice, cool and sunny though. I have been to the Pinnacle Gardens, Independence Hall, the first Taco Bell in Korea and an ancient Confucianist village. There are many other places I want to go though. Especially the DMZ. It would mean so much becasue of the kids and know all of their stories. It's hard to even comprehend all they have gone through, yet they have so much joy. They teach me everyday what it truely means to have joy.
Though I came with the purpose of sharing the gospel and teaching them English, I feel like sometimes I am being taught more than I can ever teach them. God has been doing an amazing work on my life. I am finding out the true meaning of being called and having a heart for missions. I also am finding out what people in the past have done so that I can look forward.
We reached a point last week where we had to lay down everything and pray for what was happening. We pray everday, but the urgency and the spirit of our prayer was so intense. It amazes me how God works because that same night the spupervisor in Cheonan was separately praying for the same things. We all could see the change the next day. Please pray. Prayer is essential to our ministry. Please pray for my team not to get weary. Please pray for our discipleships that we have. Please pray for our teachers to be encouraged by us. And please pray for ERC camp. God is doing big things. I have come to the realization that I should not be discouraged if we see nothing friutful. It is not me who is going to do the work in them. It is God. He is the one they need. I have obeyed to His Spirit and He will use that to help these kids.
Love you and please be in prayer.
Jennifer
Monday, July 4, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Hey Seoul Sister
First off...I've been in Korea for almost a week and I finally found time to write. I think now that I am settled it will be easier to write. Hey Seoul Sister is actually the Seoul girls theme song...we decided to exclude the boys on our team from this song plus I don't think they would like making that their theme song. My team is really bonded together. (anyone get that reference?) I'm so thankful for the Lord putting us together. We are so focused on why we are here. I love these people so much.
I just got to Cheonan. It is beautiful here. I will take a lot of pictures. It actually wasn't that difficult to get here by bus. I already have it memorized haha. It took about an hour bus ride from Seoul to get here.
The kids here are younger than in Seoul. The oldest here is 21 and the youngest is 15, but they all look younger than their age.
Today I had a lot of Korean food. Tonight though they served Spaghetti with kinchi and rice. That was an interesting combination. They have been giving us some American food(McDonalds, fried chicken, spaghetti) but we keep telling them we like Korean food. I think they think we don't like their food just because last year's team had a tough time with the food. Their culture is very special to them as well as their food so I don't want to find them offended.
On Friday they took us to a Baseball game in the Olympic Stadium. We rooted for the Dooson Bears (which is the Seoul team). They kinda looked like the Braves. The other team looked like the Astros and I wanted to root for them, but didn't want to be a sell-out. lol. The Bears won though.
Saturday we spent with the team and walked around Seoul. I felt cool cause we went to this place at night with the entire team and I knew how to get back to the apartment because I went to a bookstore one or two blocks away earlier in the day with two other girls. I felt bad for Emily today becasue I have been navigating everywhere the three of us girls (Emily, Andrea, and I) went and now she is still in Seoul and Andrea and I are in Cheonan. Luckily she wrote everthing down. BTW just so you're not confused my team members names are Lyndsey, Jessica, Samuel, Andrea, Emily, Rachel, Josh, Matt and Jordan. They are all awesome. :) So Saturday night we went and got coffee at this awesome place that is called Dr. Fishy. The reason it's called that is becasue after you have your drink they have two ingroung tubs on this pation insde that has fish in it. The fish eat the dead skin off your feet. Eight of the team members tried it. It was awesome and it ticked a lot. I will definitely try it again.
Last night the girls that I stay with in Seoul when I'm there on the weekends gave me a birthday party last night. They are so sweet. They cleaned the apartment all night. I got an ice cream cake! It was delicious.
Everyone here is so nice and the crime rate is super low. I've seen Ffive year old kids walking to school and my team is always like "Where is that child's mother?!?!" lol It's also suprisingly quiet in the city. The people are quiet on the bus, quiet at school, and quiet on the streets. We are loud and obnoxious Americans.
Please pray for the time in Cheonan and for unity in our team even though three of us are in Cheonan. Also for the teacher. They give up there lives for their students and need prayer and encouragement. Pray for wall to come down for the students and Pray for our hearts to be molded like Christ.
I love you and Miss you guys!
In Christ,
Jenn
I just got to Cheonan. It is beautiful here. I will take a lot of pictures. It actually wasn't that difficult to get here by bus. I already have it memorized haha. It took about an hour bus ride from Seoul to get here.
The kids here are younger than in Seoul. The oldest here is 21 and the youngest is 15, but they all look younger than their age.
Today I had a lot of Korean food. Tonight though they served Spaghetti with kinchi and rice. That was an interesting combination. They have been giving us some American food(McDonalds, fried chicken, spaghetti) but we keep telling them we like Korean food. I think they think we don't like their food just because last year's team had a tough time with the food. Their culture is very special to them as well as their food so I don't want to find them offended.
On Friday they took us to a Baseball game in the Olympic Stadium. We rooted for the Dooson Bears (which is the Seoul team). They kinda looked like the Braves. The other team looked like the Astros and I wanted to root for them, but didn't want to be a sell-out. lol. The Bears won though.
Saturday we spent with the team and walked around Seoul. I felt cool cause we went to this place at night with the entire team and I knew how to get back to the apartment because I went to a bookstore one or two blocks away earlier in the day with two other girls. I felt bad for Emily today becasue I have been navigating everywhere the three of us girls (Emily, Andrea, and I) went and now she is still in Seoul and Andrea and I are in Cheonan. Luckily she wrote everthing down. BTW just so you're not confused my team members names are Lyndsey, Jessica, Samuel, Andrea, Emily, Rachel, Josh, Matt and Jordan. They are all awesome. :) So Saturday night we went and got coffee at this awesome place that is called Dr. Fishy. The reason it's called that is becasue after you have your drink they have two ingroung tubs on this pation insde that has fish in it. The fish eat the dead skin off your feet. Eight of the team members tried it. It was awesome and it ticked a lot. I will definitely try it again.
Last night the girls that I stay with in Seoul when I'm there on the weekends gave me a birthday party last night. They are so sweet. They cleaned the apartment all night. I got an ice cream cake! It was delicious.
Everyone here is so nice and the crime rate is super low. I've seen Ffive year old kids walking to school and my team is always like "Where is that child's mother?!?!" lol It's also suprisingly quiet in the city. The people are quiet on the bus, quiet at school, and quiet on the streets. We are loud and obnoxious Americans.
Please pray for the time in Cheonan and for unity in our team even though three of us are in Cheonan. Also for the teacher. They give up there lives for their students and need prayer and encouragement. Pray for wall to come down for the students and Pray for our hearts to be molded like Christ.
I love you and Miss you guys!
In Christ,
Jenn
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
16
Sixteen. A number. Seemingly insignificant unless you know the meaning.There are sixteen more days until I take a drive out of my home of Houston, Texas and into Rainsville, Alabama for training. I anticipate what awaits as I gather my precious items that I will be able to take with me. Five shirts? Five...for two months. Decisions. I have to decide on five shirts. This will take sixteen days. The fact that everything is boxed up from moving back home from college will be a chore to look through. I have more things than I realize. Of course, my mother knows different (Shout out to you Mom!).
Aside from the trial of packing, I have an overwhelming joy that is flowing from me. I am excited! ...and a little nervous. Considering I've been on a plane four times and this will be my first international flight, I don't know what to expect. I will be in the plane almost all of my birthday which is very weird to me. I'm used to two to three hour flights, not eighteen to twenty hour flights. I can't wait for this new experience God has for me. He is with me every step of the way so I take comfort in that.
I am in constant prayer for the people of South Korea. I know that God is going to impact the lives of the Korean students whether it is through me or through one of my team members. His plan is so vast and endless and perfect. Though I have no idea what to expect, God has it in His hands. He knows everything about me, but also everything about the Korean people. He will bring us together. I want to thank you for reading my blog. I can let you know how to specifially pray for things that are going on in South Korea. Please be in prayer for these students. All of your prayers mean so much to me. Also if God has laid it on your heart to "send" me, I still need financial suppport as well.
My summer has just begun and God has already impacted it. May God bless you with peace. Thank you again.
In Christ,
Jenn
Aside from the trial of packing, I have an overwhelming joy that is flowing from me. I am excited! ...and a little nervous. Considering I've been on a plane four times and this will be my first international flight, I don't know what to expect. I will be in the plane almost all of my birthday which is very weird to me. I'm used to two to three hour flights, not eighteen to twenty hour flights. I can't wait for this new experience God has for me. He is with me every step of the way so I take comfort in that.
I am in constant prayer for the people of South Korea. I know that God is going to impact the lives of the Korean students whether it is through me or through one of my team members. His plan is so vast and endless and perfect. Though I have no idea what to expect, God has it in His hands. He knows everything about me, but also everything about the Korean people. He will bring us together. I want to thank you for reading my blog. I can let you know how to specifially pray for things that are going on in South Korea. Please be in prayer for these students. All of your prayers mean so much to me. Also if God has laid it on your heart to "send" me, I still need financial suppport as well.
My summer has just begun and God has already impacted it. May God bless you with peace. Thank you again.
In Christ,
Jenn
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Greetings!
Hi family and friends!
It's my first post. This blog is to let you know what is happening in my life as I prepare and travel to Seoul, South Korea this summer. I will try to keep it updated, but no promises. I really want to share with you what God is doing in my life and in the lives of those around me. Happy reading and God bless.
I love you all!
Jenn
It's my first post. This blog is to let you know what is happening in my life as I prepare and travel to Seoul, South Korea this summer. I will try to keep it updated, but no promises. I really want to share with you what God is doing in my life and in the lives of those around me. Happy reading and God bless.
I love you all!
Jenn
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