The Strongest City

So here are my thoughts.

I have been growing a lot this past week.  I am learning who I am in Christ.  I have been learning that I am not disgusting, not shameful, not despicable, and not able to call myself these things.  I am God's child, and I need to start acting like one.  I need to stop believing the lies of the evil one, and I need to start living in the redeeming grace and authority of God's love. I AM GOD'S!  He is patient, and what he declares clean, no one can call unclean.  So my past sins and even current struggles are covered.  Anytime I feel guilty or "screwed up" (as I like to say)...I have to remember that God tells me who I am...and I have no right to argue.  I am HIS!

You know that with this past couple months, I have struggled with depression and anxiety.  The evil one was stealing my joy.  THINK OF IT THIS WAY:  An enemy doesn't attack a weak little city in the middle of nowhere.  An enemy will send his army to the capital city or the strongest city in a nation.  That is how the war is won.  As for me...he attacked my joy.  This was my strength and I didn't even know it.  Satan attacked my joy because my joy is a gift to myself and others.

Here is an excerpt of a note written to me by my teammate from my mission to India (before all the stuff with the attacks when down): "You are one of the most kind, caring, and genuine people that I have met.  You have such a servant's heart and truly put the needs of others before your own.  You have been an encouragement to me this whole trip!  Always giving free back-rubs and your bubbley personality is so contagious."

I remember reading over this in my lowest points of depression.  I was so mad, so disgusted with myself.  I always said that I was not that girl anymore. BUT THAT WAS A LIE!  Satan stole my joy and lied to me...told me that my greatest strength was no longer mine.

I declare the truth!  That my joy is my strength.  That the girl who served in India is still here and she is as amazing as ever (not on her own strength but on that of the Lord's).

I want to encourage you!  The thing that you struggle with and feel you will never have.  THAT IS YOUR STRENGTH!  Claim it and stand on that truth!

Running, Running, and Running around.

I have been doing a lot of running lately in preparation for my upcoming 10k. It's actually very good for me.  We all carry around a pharmacy in our heads and running activates the anti-depressants.  :-)

So, needless to say, I am feeling much better about life.  But, with all the running and the usual running around, I have been so tired lately.  Everyday this week was taken by something (usually somethings-more than one), and my Saturday was busy too. So this Sunday morning I slept in ALOT!  I got out of bed at 10:00am compared to the usual 7:30am.  It feels so good but I feel like I have wasted some of my day.  Perhaps it was needed though.

Anyway, I want to tell you about my yesterday.  I woke up, had my Skype date, did Zumba and then went to a Orphanage to volunteer a bit.  This was my first time here, and it was an all boys home.  Boys are soooo much fun.  They are rough, but awesome.  I spent the morning teaching them the card game, SlapJack, and they loved it!  They got so into it...and they want me to comeback so they can try to beat me at it. :-P  In the afternoon, we played basketball.  Earlier in the week, hyper-extended my arm and playing B-Ball was probably not the best thing I could do....but, my team won!  And we were two western girls and two middle school boys, verses the highschoolers.  WHAT!?!?!?  WE ROCK!

I am so blessed that God has given me the opportunities that I have.  And sometimes I take them for granted.  But, I am just trying the best I can.  Thanks friends and family at home, I appreciate your prayers.

"You're killing me, Smalls!"

So if anyone knows the movie "The Sandlot", then you know that famous line that occurs during the S'mores scene.  Our lovable kids are exasperated by Smalls' lack of grasping the simplest of all concepts....the S'more.

And as for me, I spend a good deal of time exasperated.  According to the online dictionary that means,  I am made very angry or impatient; annoyed.  So quite often when I am alone in an elevator or at my desk, I mouth "You're killing me, Smalls!" to the sky in the the "Why Me, God?" fashion.  (Secretly I mean, you're killing me Korea)

Plans are not coming to fruition, lessons are failing, I am as homesick as ever, there are racists mocking me on the bus, and the co-teachers don't understand what in the world is wrong with the crazy foreign girl they hired.

I am overwhelmed.  And overworked.  And over demanded.  And overly tired.  And ready to sleep...right here at my desk.  But I can't, because I have a lesson in six minutes.  Wish me luck friends because I sure need it.

"YOU'RE KILLING ME SMALLS!!!!!"

Photo Update

 So this is our Photo Update.  Eliza and I have sure been busy.  Check out all that we have done this week.


To the left, you can see us during our day trip to the city of Gyeong-ju, (the old capital during the Shilla Dynasty).


Behind us is Bulgoksa temple.  It's a UNESCO world Heritage Site.










To the right, the Jagalchi Fish Market.  This place is famous for it's fresh caught fish.  Together we enjoyed some very nice fried fish, eel, and rice.

We also happened to be walking in the market during the second typhoon of Eliza's stay.  Eliza was hit by a leaf...it was sad.

Here we are enjoying dinner at the restaurant owned by one of my co-teachers.  Eliza is improving with her Chopstick skills!  This was her first time to try Quail Egg, Pig's Feet, and Marinaded Octopus.

You grab the meat and wrap it in the leaf, then enjoy.

Sunset at Dadaepo Beach

After a long day of hiking, we came to the South Gate of the old fortress of Busan.  Eliza took this awesome photo from the ramparts of the South Gate.  You can see the recently restored city walls complete with flags.  So nice!

Eliza loves me!

At Seokorim Grotto Eliza got the opportunity to ring the monk's ceremonial bell.  She had to lift this really really heavy log and let gravity do the rest.  The bell continued to ring for quite some time afterward.  And you could feel the vibrations.  So cool!

Lastly, we visited the beautiful Summer Palace at Anapji pond.  Can you just imagine visiting as royalty one summer night and seeing this?  Ooooh!  So jealous.

The Palace was designed to have a perfect reflection off of the pond after dark.  And I think they were definitely successful!