God's Faithfulness

Thirteen years ago I filled out my application to attend the College of William & Mary in beautiful Williamsburg, Virginia. At the time I was a high school senior, and I wasn't really sure how I was going to cover the cost of school. Since college was the natural next step, the only feasible way for me to go was to take out student loans. I also applied for scholarships - scholarships that would cover the full cost of school should I win them.

In the end, my college application process went smoothly. I filled out one application, early decision and submitted it in November. One month later I received my acceptance package. I was going to William & Mary!

A few months later the news arrived that I was the runner-up in both large scholarships. I confess I cried. It was a disappointment, and it meant that my mom and I would be filling out the FAFSA form for loans. It looked as though the Lord was going to provide for college for me in another way.

This month, I just paid my student loans all off. 

And I can say joyfully that God has been faithful. While I would have picked another way for school to be paid for, God has always provided a way for me to pay my loans on time.

God is so good, and I want to take the time to praise Him!

You are my God, and I will give 

thanks to You; 

You are my God, I will extol You. 

O give thanks to the LORD, for He 

is good, 

for His steadfast love endures 

forever. 

- Psalm 118:28-29

Celebrating the gift of marriage

Last Sunday, Jody and I celebrated six years of marriage. I can't believe it. On the one hand, it has been the greatest gift and joy ever. On the other hand, it has been a tough six years.

I am so grateful for my husband. Jody is a gift from God, and I truly do love him more and more every day. He serves, sacrifices sleep and comfort and works so hard. But most importantly, he strives to obey the Lord in everything.

I could not ask for more.

Our wedding date six years ago was Saturday, August 25, 2007. And unlike anyone we had heard of at the time, we decided that we would wash each other's feet during the wedding ceremony. We felt - and still do feel - that marriage is best described with one word: servant, and Jesus best explained that Kingdom principle to His disciples in John, chapter 13, by washing their feet.

And while we had mentally prepared ourselves for the actual process, we didn't realize how cumbersome it would be during the wedding ceremony. Untying shoe laces. Taking off socks. Wetting and then drying the feet. Then trying to put the socks back on after you wet and dried the feet. Then we had to switch places! It took a lot more time than we thought. I felt so clumsy in my huge dress.

And everybody was watching.

Six years later, I realize now more than I did then that the footwashing during our ceremony truly is a perfect metaphor for marriage. :)

Life with Jody is wonderful, and I am truly blessed. But marriage can be hard and messy... and with social media and life in ministry, I am realizing how people are watching Jody and me to see how we will handle the stresses of life.
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Jody decided we should celebrate our anniversary with a wonderful surprise trip to Snooze, a breakfast joint in downtown Denver. It was so much fun to get out of our little bubble and to make the trip downtown. We never go into the city, it feels like, so I really enjoyed the novelty of a new area and, of course, the good food!

Then, Jody surprised me even more with such a great gift - the first three seasons of my current favorite show, Downton Abbey. The package was waiting at our door when we got back from Denver. I was so excited that I squealed and squealed and jumped up and down with excitement. It truly was not on my radar; I had no idea what he had up his sleeve.

Jody's response to my response was: "You didn't get this excited when I proposed." Hahaha!

And now, as I look to Year #7 of marriage to Jody, I am reminded of my calling as his wife - to submit to him, as I submit to the Lord and to pray for him.

I praise God for you, Jody Been!

Glimpses of God's Bigger Plan

Do you ever wonder what God is up to, and if He really knows what He's doing? I know I have. I like to say that sometimes I've got some really great ideas about how things should turn out, and that maybe He should listen to me. (Ha!) But usually those plans end up biting me in the butt, and I am reminded that God is on the throne; He knows what He's doing, and He really does have a 'Big Plan' that He's working out. Sometimes He even allows me glimpses of what He's doing behind the scenes. And - in the meantime - I must exercise faith and wait upon Him and His timing.

2007
When Jody and I returned to Korea in 2007 as a newly married couple, we settled in an international church called LifeChurch at the time that met at in international school in Suwon. The founding pastor of the church, Jack Reid had also founded an organization called MountainChild that serves the unreached people groups of the Himalayas. At the time, Korea served as his home base, and several teams from LifeChurch went on trips to Nepal to work alongside the organization. The church - now called The Nations International Church is still alive and kicking. Several of our friends still go there (We miss y'all!) 

But I digress... Back to MountainChild. So, a couple whose lives often intersected with ours in Korea - John and Soyon Thompson - ended up moving to Kathmandu and serving with MountainChild full time. The backstory on our friendship with them is here.

Fast forward a few years....

2010

I had been working at Southeast Christian Church, in Parker, CO for a few years, and I begin to see that the driving force of Missions here at Southeast seemed to align quite well with the work of MountainChild. I asked John and Soyon to send me some promotional materials for the work of MountainChild. They did, and those materials sat on my desk for probably a year, as I waited for the right time to present them to my boss Steve as a potential partnering organization for Southeast.

2011
Last fall, I finally felt peaceful about handing those promotional materials to Steve, praying that if it was right, God would make it clear if MountainChild would be a good fit.

2012
Jack and his family were in Denver for a short spell, and I was able to connect him with Steve and two young men in the church who are interested in the work of MountainChild.We had lunch and were able to hear from Jack all about the work that MC does in the Himalayas.

This November we're sending a small team to check it out. Yay!

I am excited and humbled that God would use me to intersect lives and ministries in His Kingdom. We'll see if it goes anywhere... but in the meantime, I am excited and slightly jealous. So wish I could go, too! :)

Bittersweet Goodbyes

Three and a half years ago, Jody and I first moved to Colorado and began to prepare for the arduous task of completing a degree at Denver Seminary. And though I was born in Colorado and spent the first few years of my life here, it is a completely different experience as an adult, forging your own way 'in the world' and establishing lasting friendships out of nothing.

We moved to Littleton after returning to the States from Korea, spending two months with my family in Virginia and two months with Jo's family in Texas. It was so nice to finally settle down. I changed my name officially to 'Been,' updated my license to an official Colorado one, got our plates registered. Every little piece made us feel more at home. Still, we knew no one. No church home. No connections other than my parents' friends from when they lived here back in the 70s and 80s. 

After using the first few weeks of our time in Colorado to adjust, it was time for Jo to get everything prepared for his first semester of graduate school. He registered for classes and got his books. The next step to preparing for school was to attend the New Student Orientation.

The day of, we drove to the seminary, parked and walked into the building that houses the chapel. There were round tables throughout the room, and so we picked our seats off to the southern side and began to chat with those around us. Then we noticed a couple walk in, and there wasn't a place for them to sit at any of the tables.

I remember it - as clear as day. "Hey, come join us!" Jody and I urged them.

We pulled up a few chairs next to us, and they sat down.

Three and a half years later, I miss them like crazy.

Sam and Britt became our buds all through seminary. California natives, from Day #1 I knew they would be returning to their beloved state. I just knew it was inevitable. But I still am so thankful for the time that we had together!

Their wiener dog Rustie convinced me that I wanted a miniature dachshund for myself. They went with us out to the home in Elizabeth where we picked up Eu-mi as an 8 week old pup from a litter of eight.

We had doggie play dates.

Worked out together.

Ate meals together composed of whatever was in our refrigerators at the time.

"You have carrots? Oh, great! I'll bring the lettuce and tomatoes."

"Game night? Sweet! I'll bring Settlers. Wanna bake some of your amazing cookies?"

We discussed the stresses of seminary together. Its' effect on our health, our marriages, our finances. Oh, what a blessing to have someone who could relate!

We played outside together... had snowball fights. Went biking in the mountains.

When they got another pup, Roxy, Jo and I decided that we'd need to get another wiener dog, too! I mean, imagine the play dates with not two - BUT FOUR - wiener dogs!

Yup! All 4 of them!

Even when Britt and I were working, Sam and Jo were always up to some mischief. Brewing beer. Debating Calvinism vs. Arminianism. Talking about life in ministry.

When Jo graduated in December, Sam and Britt were there to celebrate with us.

It just wouldn't have been the same without them.

I used to think that 'bosom friends' (as Anne Shirley puts it) were impossible to find. Now I know that they're not impossible to find... but they are rare and to be treasured.

Sam got a job at a church in northern California, and they moved last month. Before they left, they came over and dropped off all the food in their pantry.

Because that's what friends do.

We got take-out Panda Express, sat in the living room and talked about the future. And how they need to find us a job in California, so we can keep hanging out.

Dear Parsons,
We are so grateful for you guys. 
We miss and love you so much, and we pray God's blessings on your lives. 
Keep a room open for us in Cali! We just might have to come visit!!
Love,
The Beens

Victory over the Darkness

I can hardly believe it. Our class has ended.

It all started a year ago. I was driving to work one morning, listening to the local Christian radio station, and a song came on. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name of the song or the artist, but message was clear: "Don't expect others to do what God has called YOU to do." The lyrics stayed in my mind and thoughts, and I felt very much that the Lord was speaking to me. For several months, I had felt a that more intentional discipleship was needed in our church. What it would actually look like was yet to be determined, but I decided I needed to obey the prompting of the Lord.

So I began talking with the head pastor at our church and also with Jody about what that could look like. Big group vs. Small(er) group. Bible as curriculum vs. separate book curriculum with a heavy Scripture focus. Sunday morning vs. Mid-week evening. Shorter commitment/smaller workload vs. Longer commitment/greater workload. We went back and forth on ideas as to what would suit the Body here in Englewood best.

In the end, we settled on the book Victory over the Darkness, by Neil Anderson, and Jody and I decided that we would co-teach a small class on Sunday mornings. We started the end of September, limiting the class to under 10 people. We asked for commitment and a willingness to invest in the material during the week, to memorize Scripture that was important to the lesson and to keep confidential personal information that was discussed in the class.

Thirteen chapters later, I am so thrilled that I stepped out and obeyed the Lord. There's nothing like digging into Scripture in the context of a group and allowing people to process what the Word of God is saying to them. And perhaps the most thrilling part of it is observing the Word of God changing them as they submit themselves to His Lordship in their lives. And, as one of the teachers of the class, I marveled at how God began working in me, as well, as we went through the chapters. It reminded me again and again of what the writer of Hebrews wrote concerning the Word of God in Hebrews 4:12.

 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Definitely, if you are hungry to grow in your walk with God but you don't know where to start, I would encourage you to consider this book. It is easy to read, easy to understand, and so helpful in explaining the foundational truths of our faith. I personally recommend it for its heavy Scriptural emphasis. And even if you have been walking with the Lord for a long time, this book will renew your love for the Lord by taking you back to the basics.

We can never get too far from the Cross, right?

Well, if you have any questions about the class or the book, just let me know!

Graduation

It finally arrived.

This past Monday, December 12, 2011, after much blood, sweat and tears my awesome husband Jody graduated from Denver Seminary with his Masters of Arts (MA) in Leadership. I am so very proud of him!

The weekend started off very well, with a great surprise. Six weeks before graduation weekend, I got an unexpected call from Jody's best friend Dustin. He asked if he could fly up to be present for Jody's graduation. I was speechless for a moment but recovered myself enough to say, "Why absolutely! Jody would be thrilled to have you here!"

So Dustin bought his tickets, got his rental car... and we didn't really talk for a while. But when we were driving back from Pampa after Thanksgiving, Jody told me that he didn't want anyone coming to celebrate his graduation with him since he had SO MUCH work to do, and his final presentation wasn't until the Wednesday AFTER the Monday graduation. I started panicking, knowing that Dustin had already booked his flights. I got to madly thinking that maybe I should tell Dustin to cancel... but I didn't want to back down. So I responded by telling him that I really felt like he needed to get as much of his work done as he possibly could.

He was not happy. If it could have been possible, smoke would have been pouring out of his ears. He didn't say anything... other than that he was not happy.

So, fast forward a few weeks. It's Friday evening, and Jody and I are sitting down, eating dinner and chatting. His cell phone rings. He glances at it and turns it off, since he wants to focus on our time together. Then there is a knock at the door. Jody gets up, goes to the door and opens it. He looks at Dustin. He looks at me. He looks at Dustin again. Not a word. Just a confused look, as if his brain had shut down.

Surprise!

So that begin three whole days that the guys got to hang out together.

So proud!

With Dustin

Best friends!

With dear friends, Sam and Britt, who came to support us!

And on Monday, Jody graduated from Denver Seminary. Praise the Lord!

Anticipation

I love anticipation. The tingling in my stomach that comes with the knowledge of something GOOD coming. And there are three wonderful events that are, Lord willing, going to happen before 2012 arrives. They are the rope I'm hanging on to.

• We are going to visit Jody's family for Thanksgiving. Since we first got back from Korea in 2008, Jody and I have not been able to spend Thanksgiving together (with one another with one side of our families). But this Thanksgiving, we're making the trek down to the Panhandle to spend the Thanksgiving holidays with the Been side of the fam. I'm beyond thrilled. I am anticipating the good times and memories made. 

It won't ever be the same again, but still looking forward to time with the fam.

Maybe "help" Pam in the kitchen!

And see that beautiful Texas sky!

• Jody graduates in 8 weeks. Yes, 8 weeks. Every Monday I write on my calendar one number less. It builds anticipation and puts a song in my heart to carry through the week. Somehow, I can handle anything, knowing that he will be finished in just a few short months. God has been good and faithful, and I am looking forward to celebrating His faithfulness when this is over. The graduation ceremony is Monday, December 12th. It'll be a small ceremony in the seminary, for which I am very thankful. No need for a big May graduation ceremony at Southeast... I am content that we will be done!

Denver Seminary campus

• After graduation (yay!), we are heading to Virginia. YES! Jody, Eu-mi and I are flying back to Virginia to spend two whole stinkin' weeks with my family. I am on cloud 9. Jody has not seen my family since we first landed in America in 2008 from Korea. Three years. A lot has happened in three years. I am most excited for him to see Rebekah and Bryan's kids. He hasn't even met Jane, our youngest niece, and she's 2 years old (well, she will be next Tuesday)! I just can't wait to see 'em all! The best part of this is the timing. We will be flying out December 19th and returning to CO on January 3rd. That will give us 2 solid weeks over Christmas break to spend with the family. We will be guaranteed quality time with family, and maybe even some good friends. We'll see. So thankful for the chance that we'll have to spend Christmas with my family. I haven't had this privilege since the Christmas I graduated in 2004. That's 7 years!

See my parents!

Maybe hang out with some lovely ladies!

And see my  nieces and nephews!

Rejoicing

I am finally feeling better.

So let me explain. Last May I discovered that my thyroid levels were a bit high. In the initial test I discovered that my TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) was a 12.6. To be sure that the test wasn't a fluke, my doctor ordered the test a month later, and my level was 13.2. So my doctor consulted with an endocrinologist, and they determined that I have what is called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease and a type of hypothyroidism (which is a condition where the body does not produce enough thyroid hormone).

Just a few of the symptoms of Hashimoto's include:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Decreased appetitie
• Cold intolerance
• Coarse, dry & thinning hair
• Constipation
• Irregular cycles
• Infertility
• Puffy face
• Enlarged thyroid (goiter)
• Hoarseness of voice (LARYNGITIS)

.... and the list could go on.... It's really unbelievable. Who knew how much a messed up thyroid could affect your normal daily life?

When my doctor called me to tell me that I had Hashimoto's, I was definitely dismayed. There is nothing worse than being smacked with a label. However, I could not deny the test results. Also, as I 'took stock' of my health history (and the fact that 3 of my 4 grandparents are hypothyroid), I could see how several of those symptoms had displayed themselves and the diagnosis might be right. So, what to do? My doctor told me that I needed to start taking a little pill first thing every morning. He prescribed levothyroxine (LEE-VO-thy-roxine), which is the generic brand of Synthroid, and is a synthetic medication that replaces the thyroid hormone that my body fails to produce. So I began taking it, and within a few months, my levels had come down to a normal level.

Now, what is a normal level? Well, doctors debate about what is considered 'normal' for most hormones, it seems. Most doctors will say that the normal range for the TSH is 0.5 - 5.5. Some endocrinologists will say it is a much smaller range: 0.3 - 3.0. Since my husband and I are on a Kaiser plan, their current normal range is 0.320 - 5.500.

So, after taking the lowest dosage of medication for several months, my TSH levels came down to a very respectable 3.3. I was technically within the normal range.

The only problem was... the symptoms of hypothyroidism remained. So I decided to take the next step and talk with an endocrinologist. What he told me was quite shocking to hear. The optimal level for the TSH is .5 - 1.5.... or really .5 - 1.0. That was so surprising to me. How many other people must be like me? Within the normal range but still dealing with the symptoms of a hormone imbalance.

The endocrinologist I met with was a fantastic doctor. He upped my dosage, and I am so thrilled to say: I am finally feeling better. I have more energy and I can tell my body is starting to function as it was meant to. Six weeks ago my TSH came back at 2.5, and I go in again for more bloodwork in two weeks. I don't know what my new number is, but I can tell already by how I feel that the medication is finally working, and I am where I need to be.

I am so thankful for this experience, and I feel like I can sum up a few things that I've learned.

1. My OB/GYN diagnosed me with PCOS based upon a few of the symptoms. Since tackling the thyroid issues, the PCOS-related symptoms are gone. I don't believe the PCOS diagnosis is correct. I have learned not to swallow hook-line-and-sinker what a doctor/nurse says. They're people, too, and they make mistakes.
2. Be your own advocate. The healthcare system as it is currently is not really designed to serve the patient. Strange? Yes. Ironic? To be sure. But true, nonetheless. If you want something done, you have to fight for it. So don't play the victim. Grieve, but don't stay there. Move on and fight for yourself as much as you can handle physically, mentally, emotionally (and financially!).
3. Listen to your body. I began to be a student of my body. I began to watch what it was doing. Checking how I was feeling. I am amazed by how much I have learned by just paying attention.
4. Study! Do lots of research. Read everything you can. Ask lots of people about their own stories. Be shameless in asking questions and find out what they have done. That wealth of knowledge makes you that much better of an advocate for yourself.
5. Do not neglect the spiritual component of the physical struggle. It is more important to cultivate a healthy heart - one that is surrendered to the Lord and His plans and purposes for you - than to achieve any results you may be looking for. The Lord knows that we are but dust. But this is a whole different post for another day. :)
6. One step at a time. Right now I don't like that I'm taking a synthetic pill, but I just recognize that the goal for right now is to get my thyroid at a stable level. Once I'm there, I will look into replacing the synthetic medication for a more natural one. Baby steps. I can't get impatient with my body. Healing takes time, and I cannot have unrealistic goals for myself or I will set myself up for continual disappointment.

God has been good. I am so thankful for all I've learned, and I've still so much more to learn. But I just wanted to take a moment and publicly praise the Lord for healing my body!

Goodwill

There are some definite perks to living right next door to Goodwill. The best of all is that it makes a wonderful free (or cheap) date destination! Jody and I will say to each other on occasion, "Wanna go on a date to Goodwill?" We smile, nod our heads in agreement, and walk behind our house... and we're in Goodwill within two minutes. It's delightful. No car needed. No traffic. It's free! But then, there's the downfall. What if you find something wonderfully delightful there that you just must buy? And we all know that if you happen upon a sweet deal in Goodwill, you cannot wait. You cannot even trust stashing it behind some messy section in another part of the store. The odds are against you. You must get it right then and there.

That's what happened a few weeks ago. Jody and I decided to go on a date to Goodwill. We walked over and browsed, and lo and behold, what was sitting there on the shelf?

A Keurig Platinum B70 K Cup Single-Cup Brewer. 

Do you know what that is? Well, neither did I just a few months ago. But my sister-in-law Lindsey has one, and when Jody and I were in Pampa we got well-acquainted with the beauties of K-cup caffeine boosts. Jody came home from TX, boasting of its amazing-ness, and how he "needed" to get one when we were rich and had ridiculous excess income. Ha!

So, back to Goodwill. There the Keurig was, sitting on the shelf still in its box. And it was $50. You've got to be kidding me! These things are almost $200 brand-spanking new in the store. It would be difficult for me to imagine purchasing it, even if we did have excess income.

In the end, we brought the Keurig home, opened it up and still found the warranty inside.

God is so good. We love our Keurig, and I am once again reminded that God sees even our silly, small desires (like my love for Snickers), and He uses them as opportunities to shower us with His love. As I John 3:1, says, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" I especially love it, because it's not limited to coffee. It heats up water quickly, allowing me to steep my tea quickly. Apparently it also makes hot chocolate and other deliciousness. AND, now with our my K-cup filter, we can brew our own coffee, as well. It's silly how something so unnecessary could be such a blessing; nonetheless, I am thankful as I remember my little flat in Korea. I had next to nothing there. And now, I am determined that such little things as a Keurig will not spoil me or ruin my expectations of life or what I 'deserve' in this life.

It is enough that the Lord loves me, and yet He chooses to bless us with something as unnecessary as a Keurig. I am truly thankful.

P.S. K-cup donations are currently being accepted. :)

The end is in sight...

There is one lesson I have learned very thoroughly through this process called seminary: don't set your heart on anything too quickly.

When Jody began his degree at Denver Seminary over two years ago, we were shooting for graduation in December of 2010 (yep, the December that passed four months ago). But then life happened. (Of course it did.) A poor job market. Two moves. A car accident. Financial stress. Greater church involvement. Brad's passing. And so plans had to change. And through it all, God has been good. 

The latest challenge to graduation presented itself a few weeks ago. Jody needed to register for his last semester, and there were only 3 classes left standing between him and that stinkin' piece of paper. But one of those classes was not offered. Ha! Somehow, deep in my gut, I knew something like this was going to happen. Immediately when I got the text from Jody, my stomach sank. Graduation May 2012?? It could not be!

But we are rejoicing today. Jody and I put our heads together and decided the best step to take was to immediately speak with the head of the MA Leadership department, Dr. Lindquist and see what could be done. Praise the Lord, Dr. Lindquist was eager and willing to work with Jody, knowing a bit about the stresses of the past few months. He and another professor, Dr. Carroll, agreed to tack on an extra credit to one of the other classes, require a bit more work of Jody, and his requirements will be satisfied. Two classes. 5 credits. And 8 more months.

We are thrilled. God is truly good and merciful to us. Yay!

Graduation Date: December 12, 2011

An answer to prayer.

As many of you may know, Jody and I have been praying and looking for a second car. When we moved to Colorado almost a year ago, we heard that Colorado experienced 300 days of blue skies a year. It is a kind of boast here, we have realized since moving. However, as of yet we have seen such variance of weather that it has been hard for me to take our sole car to work, leaving Jody to figure out how to get to the seminary for classes, training and mentoring at Englewood (our church), or any meeting he would need to make.

As we have been discussing next year, Jody has expressed a desire to slow down (in the number of credit hours he takes) and to start working part-time. So that pretty much sealed the deal. We began the car hunt with much prayer and diligence.

The Lord has been so good! Yesterday we went to look at a few cars at an auto broker, and within a few hours Jody drove home in a new (to us) car! We chose a 2002 Toyota Echo... it's bright red, and the best way I can describe the way it handles is 'peppy'. It responds quickly, and it has fantastic gas mileage - 40 mpg. It will be perfect for my daily commute to work. Anyway, I just wanted to publicly praise the Lord for His wonderful provision, and that I'm so encouraged to see Him answer in such a wonderful way!

Praise the Lord!

God is good. The past three weeks have been challenging, but very exciting, as well. May 19th I was offered a job as the Missions Assistant at Southeast Christian Church in Parker, and though I was going through the interviewing process at another job, I decided to accept the missions job. I started two days later!

The downside to the job is that my commute is a solid thirty minutes, but the positive aspects of the job far outweigh it. I am able to see the inside dynamics of a larger church, especially their partnerships with local outreach programs and short-term mission trip planning and administration, Thus far I have only worked two weeks, but I'm learning a lot and enjoying the casual dress code, flexibility in my schedule and the warm atmosphere. I am also thankful that I have full insurance coverage. After being blessed with great insurance coverage in Korea and coming back to the States and being without insurance for 9 months, I am so thankful for God's provision in this job!

Meanwhile, Jody is in the midst of his one summer class - a class on the theories of leadership. It is only a two-week course, so he'll be done by next Friday. Woohoo! I am so proud of him. By then, he will be 17 credits into his 62 credit degree - the MA in Leadership. I am really proud of him for the path he is stepping out in.


Jody has also made a grand and glorious purchase. Last weekend, Jody completed a course to get his motorcycle license, as well as buying a 1985 Honda Shadow 500. Yes, Jody now owns a motorcycle! I confess as a wife I am a lot more comfortable with this development than I thought I would be, simply because I trust Jody to be as defensive a driver as possible. I know he will take every precaution necessary to stay safe. This knowledge, however, does not keep me from praying for his safety. May God put His angels around him and may the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep him from all evil, danger or harm.

I am also in the middle of doing the Beth Moore study on the book of Esther, and I'm really loving it. I'm studying along with ladies who are becoming very dear friends - Amber, Britton and Katie. All of us are wives supporting our husbands through seminary, all of us live off of the Denver Seminary campus, and all of us are far away from our family and friends. God has been faithful to bring us together, and I am praying that our friendships will deepen, and God will use us to spur one another on into a deeper, growing walk with our Lord. We are going through the study very slowly, so I am hoping that perhaps we can bring another lady or two along to join us as we delve into the book. I am reading Esther with a whole new set of eyes!

happy easter!

jody and i celebrated a wonderful easter this year. it was a wet and gray day, but it was full of love and joy! we went to church and heard the message that never gets old. Jesus has saved us from our sins. He is no longer dead. He is RISEN! it was so encouraging to be with such a wonderful body of believers and to celebrate. now, more than ever, i am thankful for all that God has done in my life.

the children performed a special song during the service, and i wish the video feature was working on blogger, because i was trying to upload it. but alas, a picture will have to do. their message was perfect:

God so loved the world,

that He gave

His one and only Son,

that whoever believes in Him

will not die
but have everlasting life.

i couldn't have said it better myself!

after the service, there was a baptismal service in the swimming pool (the perks of having church in an international school!), where three people shared how they decided to follow Jesus Christ and how they wanted to make a public confession of their faith in Him. it was so wonderful and exciting! what amazes me is that it never gets old. everyone's story is different. their struggles vary, but i am always encouraged to know that God is alive and actively working the lives of people. yay!

after the baptisms, there was a buffet lunch. good times, but i had to admit - it was a strange mix of korean and 'western' food. ha!

i know jody would dearly love for you to appreciate his korean bling. yes, the tie does sparkle. and yes, we match (sort of).

after that we went and saw a movie at the CGV movie theater in the shinsaegae mall in jukjeon (just a subway stop away from suji) with brad and belle. we got a few pictures out on the roof of the building in honor of the easter tradition of taking family photos.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Matthew 28,5-10

Praise the Lord, He is Risen!

home sweet home

thursday afternoon (US time) i touched down in chicago, not knowing the local time. walking through the airport i asked a man in passing. 'scuse me, sir. do you have the time?'

without batting an eye, he looked down at his watch. "12:30," he said, smiled, and continued walking.

i continued walking with the most euphoric feeling in my stomach. he UNDERSTOOD what i said! and he smiled at me - a total stranger! that man - whoever he is - was a welcome reminder of why i love the united states of america.

the chicago airport had been shut down for 3 hours that morning, so all the flights were backed up. people had been waiting all day. thankfully, however, i was able to get on an earlier flight to richmond (that had been delayed), and so i arrived in richmond at about the same time as planned. sitting in the plane on the last leg of the journey i felt such a sense of the Lord's presence and protection. He has been so faithful to me!

since then i have seen family, a few college friends, and beloved faces from WEAG (my church). i have gone shopping a little. i love TARGET and Wal-Mart. saw a girl from my high school there... we chatted for a while. she's getting married next year and will probably settle down in richmond and start having a family. craziness! i've eaten chinese food and good ol' mexican food. i've gone to my gym and gotten on that old bike i used to ride. ahhh. i went for a run to my favorite gizbo at the park and just sat, listening to the water. i took my sisters sarah and anna to starbucks and saw a few familiar faces there.

my sister rebekah has finally had the little one. little chloe hope was born saturday, 26.august, 12:00 noon. everyone is doing well, and i'll see them next week. God is indeed good!

tonight i had dinner with my old youth group pastor, his wife, and two little (hilarious) children. it was soo soo good to spend time with them, and i confess the fact that they are back at WEAG is a draw for me. tomorrow i am meeting with my church's missions coordinator to discuss missions in the future.

every day holds so much, and i'm exhausted tonight. but i'm really happy to be home. i am also encouraged to maintain an attitude of praise (regardless of the circumstances i am in) and submission - where i truly will jump up at the sound of the Master's call and run to obey Him with joyful abandon. keep praying! may the Lord accomplish all He desires during the remaining time i'm in the states.

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to go on the heights.

habbakuk 3,17-19

a little R&R, $1 bananas and mail-delivered groceries

in a life of grace there are those days where we enjoy the grace of the Lord, and then there are those days where we endure life by that same grace. i heard that on a CD i listened to this weekend. last week was an "enduring" week which i almost didn't survive. on sunday emily said i was stressed to the max and exhausted. i realized that it must be so, by the terrible attitude i had and the dreadful complaints coming out of my mouth. as my mom would say, i woke up on the wrong side of the bed... every day last week. i should not have been in anyone's company in that foul mood. but with 5 days vacation under my belt i am beginning to feel slightly human again and more able to brush aside the cultural differences. the knowledge of going home in 3 weeks hasn't helped, i confess.

a good portion of that recovery time was spent in seoul with daniel and emily. we had a picnic lunch in the mountains and went hiking. we watched cars, and emily and i exchanged back massages and talked late into the night. romania is always part of the conversation. we went to the doctors for me to get some medicine to kick this upper respiratory infection. good friends take you to the doctor when you're sick, i have decided. b/c, i mean, who wants to go to the doctor's just for the fun of it? we went to this cool place called T-Space in seoul, which was a coffee / art place. AMAZING. looking at the artwork, drinking the most glorious cappuccino, listening to the ecclectic music, and browsing through fashion magazines (a strange combo, i know) and laughing at models' funny outfits with emily did wonders for my bruised spirit. i also attribute it to laura listening to me bawl over the phone for a good hour and pray for me. and then she lent me that sermon on CD that i mentioned earlier, in which some guy (aussie? british? couldn't tell which) reminded me that God is GOOD. He's good. He's GOOD. all the time. everywhere. in all circumstances, He is GOOD... He can't be anything other than GOOD because that's His nature. and He never changes. He's always the same. and He's calling us to the desert places to woo us and love on us and show us His nature like He could never show in the places of abundance. i think i listened to the 20 minute message about 4 times sunday night, and i'll probably listen to it 4 times more. as laura said, "even though you feel like you've learned this lesson a million times already and you feel like you're backtracking, this is what it's all about. it's FAITH. this is our struggle." to trust the Lord's heart and His goodness, even when the grace seems to have stopped flowing.

and then there was my trip to lotte mart yesterday. for those of you who have a car, you just run outside, turn the key into the ignition and run up to the store to grab groceries. no problem, eh? well, like it or not, my trips to lotte mart are a little more involved. the store is just 10 minutes away - walking - but i have to factor in carrying those bags back... or sucking it up and paying w650 for the bus. and i still have to carry them from the bus stop to my apartment. not only that, but there is the constant knot in the pit of my stomach while shopping, knowing if i need help more than likely NO ONE will understand me. but yesterday God decided to bless me with evidences of His grace and kindness, which i know i never can or will deserve. these are gifts... good things from the Lord's hand that i will never be able to merit. i am finding greater and greater freedom in that knowledge.

unlike back in the states, where you just bag your fruit/veggies and the cashiers up front price them, here we have full-time fruit and veggie pricers who weigh the food and put price stickers on it. well, i seem to have acquired an admiring fruit pricer who is bold enough to speak english with me. he's so great! shy but direct... so yesterday he walked up beside me and said, "ahh. not see you long time!" he then proceeded to show me all the good deals and tell me if i buy this or that, he will give me a discount. five minutes later, i had a bag of about 12 bananas for the price of a $1 and a bag of tangerines for half price (w1800).

humbled, i paid for my groceries and left... i did opt for the bus, since it was sweltering hot.

and then as i'm walking back to my apartment laden with my 2 bags, i see the mailman on his moped. now this mailman has delivered letters and packages to my apartment over the past year, so he knows my face and my address. i often see him driving around delivering mail as i'm walking to work, and we always share a huge smile. he's one of the few koreans who smiles at me and we have this wonderful connection that is totally wordless. so yesterday he stops beside me as i'm walking home from the store and gestures for me to put my bags in his mail bag/box behind him. he then proceeds to speed on to my apartment (as i jog behind...) and leaves my groceries at my door.

the kindness of everyone towards me recently has reminded me of the wonderful position weakness can be. living in korea and operating alone requires constant strength, but i have been reminded lately that only when i am operating in my own strength do i run out of power. and when i'm exhausted and frustrated and feeling defeat like never before, the Lord comes up beside me and takes me hiking, listens to me bawl for an hour, sits with me as i drink my cappuccino, offers me $1 bananas, and carries my groceries home.

miss lindsey, masters of education

my college roommate just finished her masters. congratulations, windz! i'm so proud of you!!!

the sound of friends' voices is like healing water to this tired chikin. i love my lindsey. have fun with karen and christa! 3 weeks of teaching and then i come home for a break. pray i can make it without keeling over. lol.

can't wait to see you all!

hello, monday...

so, Daylight Savings Time has kicked in back home. i'm now 13 instead of 14 hours ahead of you guys. bear with me when it comes to Skype conversations.

friday night was pride and prejudice with esther. let me digress just for a moment. please. pride and prejudice is a literary masterpiece. and why, you ask? because austen manages to blend optimistic happily-ever-after with a remarkable dose of satire and realism all within the four walls of an 19th century english parlor. it is a perfect novel, and the characters she creates are perfect. i am "lizzy" as every girl is, and perhaps every young man "mr. darcy." but what magic when the right two collide! and who can forget such marvelous creatures as lady catherine de bourgh, mr. collins, and the ever-nerve-stricken mrs. bennet? ahhh. even though i know the story so well, my stomach was full of butterflies, excitement, joy, horror, and delight until the closing scene... and now i'll stop. haha.

saturday night laura and i had a movie marathon at her place. we saw the notebook - me for the first time. for those of you who have seen it already..... i didn't sleep well saturday night. lol. does such a man exist anymore? lol. i hear they're out there..... somewhere.

and now some laughs for you at my expense. sunday morning i did what i have not done in my 7 months here. i went to migeum, laden with my umbrella and several bags of books to give people. (the foreigners in church have developed a sort of library amongst us. the ted dekker books my mom sent me for christmas have been passed around 4 or 5 times, i believe!) so i sat down only to realize i was missing something. surely not my purse?! oh no... definitely not that. it only has my korean ID card, wallet, bank cards - korean and american banks, medical insurance card, keys, etc etc. (basically, everything short of my passport). it took me a whole 2 seconds to realize my purse was indeed on Bus 11. holy mackeral.

i went to one of the deacons, intaek kim (who, by the way, is awesome), and he called the bus company and was able to have them hunt for it and reserve it at the bus office. also, sean, a guy on the praise team, wrote down a little note in korean to give to the bus driver, so he would know that i needed to be dropped off there.

on top of that, i was so flustered about my purse that i left my umbrella at the restaurant where a bunch of us had lunch! so after retrieving my purse, emily and i had to return to the restaurant to retrieve my umbrella, as well. phew.

the prayers continue for the right english teacher who will take my place at ERC when my contract is up. mrs. kim and i are always planning and discussing.

tonight my step 3 boys were..... being 13 year old boys and doing what 13 year old boys do best: being immature and annoying. i was trying to explain the word 'serenade,' and so i told them that for my 18th birthday an accapella group at william & mary serenaded me with the song 'Lady in Red." i googled the song, found a site that played it, and could hardly hear it for the noises they were making. what was i thinking?

Sidney Poitier, i don't have it half as bad as you did (in To Sir, With Love) but i feel for you. sometimes you just want to choke 'em. but enough venting. oh the joys of being a student in the Lord's school.

but what a patient Teacher He is. Lord, may i never leave Your feet.

p.s. nothing was lost from my purse. God is good.

BIG NEWS: my washing machine is fixed. hallelujah! no more dancing machine in the laundy room. ^^ and guess what i have discovered? the heated floor makes a wonderful dryer. :) will post pics later.

my quads and hamstrings are killing me from my workout. arrghhhh. ^-^

tomorrow mrs. kim and i need to take a trip to the suwon immigration office to reconfirm that i am legally allowed to be here. thankfully i still have my original diploma. apparently, a few months back the korean government sent a fairly large number of english teachers back home, who were not qualified to be working here. many hogwans, eager to have foreign bodies standing in front of their classes, will sign on anyone who looks foreign. (financially their businesses will do much better with foreign teachers. parents like their children to study with foreigners.) anyway, the korean educational system makes america's look like the most ingenious invention of all time. :)

on saturday lauren and i are flying with mrs. kim and her son to jejudo (Jeju Island - a tropical island south of the mainland) - from saturday to monday for solal - the chinese new year. the holiday is actually a bigger deal here in korea than our new year. everyone returns to their hometown, and i hear there's lots of deep bowing to the grandmothers. more on that later.... we only get a 3 day weekend, though. bummer. :p everyone here in korea wants to go to jeju, so i am honored that mrs. kim would invite me and thrilled that i get to have lauren along.

will post pictures and exciting things when i get back. please continue to write, email, and skype. i love and miss you all!!