The Been Briefing

Christmas Eve at the Orphanage. The Pitmans. Teaching.

i confess i'm thorougly exhausted, so i just wanted to post some pictures! here is lauren in all her christmas eve glory. :)

at the orphanage... there was lots going on, as we were all coming in and bringing the gifts that GEM members provided for the children. sorry for the blurriness! in the center of the shot is the orphanage "momma." she's a rock.



here's intaek kim playing with one of the boys. i have found during my visits that the surest way to win their hearts is to tickle and rough-house. they need a horse, they need someone to chase them... they need someone to play with them in a way that does not involve performance. please continue to pray for wisdom for the most effective way to reach these little ones.



markus and david. markus is the 2nd oldest at the orphanage, and the most gentle boy ever. so kind and capable. like a big bear! yesterday he told me he wants to be a neurosurgeon. i immediately began thinking of ways i could help make that possible.... if anyone has contacts with dr. ben carson or somebody, just let me know. there's a boy here in korea who has a dream. david is a graduating senior here in korea and a member at GEM. great guy!



here i am with kim yaesl. she was the first to reach out to me and climb into my lap my first time to the orphanage. isn't she absolutely beautiful? those eyes. of all the younger children, she shows the most interest in singing songs and writing her ABCs. we haven't quite moved to the stage of systematically practicing english, though. we really need the Lord's direction for how to best use the time we spend there. most of these kids show little interest in learning english, and i certainly don't want to force that on them. other than that, we just play inside with them, and even that can be hard with 20 people crammed in a small apartment.
i apologize for the bad lighting and overall poor quality of the pictures, but our visit was not long, and the pictures were taken in haste.



i am sorry to say that i don't remember her name, but here i am with the "momma." she's so amazing, this woman. and did i mention she has a beautiful voice? also worth mentioning... the shawl i am wearing is a gift from sehwan and phil for christmas. at first i didn't know what it was! if i were to wear it in the states i would be taken out of fashion city and stoned, but here it's actually quite fashionable. i figure i'll get my use out of it while i can. :) and the cards that the boys wrote to go with the present were priceless. lol



christmas eve. dave played christmas carols on his saw for us. pretty amazing, huh? yeah... i love dave and winnie so much!


the starbucks travel coffee press is an absolutely heavenly gift from rachel, my starbucks shift from back home. thank you, rach. i use it all the time and love it! the card is from danny in my first class - in the same font (comic sans) that is used for english on all cards and stationery here in korea. :) the tangerine is basically like our clementine, as i mentioned in the last post. i LOVE them (as my roommate linds would say, like nobody's business)! and this drink is a peach juice, which actually has peach chunks in it. i was a little surprised when i took my first sip!



i love my pencil sharpener. i'm considering smuggling it home with me. my kids know i love using it, so they've taken to giving me their pencils so i can sharpen 'em for them. lol. and to think i thought it was hideous when i first saw it. amazing how something can grow on you. :)



here's esther in my pajamas. :) cute, isn't she? we're about to watch the first half of the long Pride and Prejudice, complete with subtitles. i was impressed... really impressed with her level of understanding. we have yet to finish the second half. but that's for another sleepover!



wendy is absolutely engrossed in watching a bug's life on my laptop while waiting for her dad to come pick her up. i have seen tremendous progress in her english since she started 4 months ago. i love this girl!



there's only one word for this boy. ridiculous. but you have to admit, he's a pretty smart kid. btw, the sign he painstakingly prepared for me reads, 'miss ruth! on friday i will go on a trip. but i'll go to ERC.' not bad for a 6 year old, eh?

ok, i'm falling over in my chair. goodnight.