I went to the Philippines for Christmas!

The Lord is full of surprises for his kids.  This Christmas was full of surprises for me.  I viewed Christmas weekend as a lonely, away from my family, why did I ever come to Korea kind of holiday, but the Lord has something else in mind.

Let me preface this by telling you that my family sent me some Christmas presents and when I opened them I cried (and I mean hard).  I was so sad to be missing Christmas at home and figured misery was my doom (okay, that's a little dramatic, I know...;).

A dear friend from church graciously extended an invitation to spend Christmas in Seoul with her, her cousin (and family), and another friend of ours.  My two friends are from the Philippines and told me I could be apart of their Filipino Christmas!

I want to tell you every little detail, but I know you probably have better things to do than read 20 pages of my Christmas.  So here are some highlights:

Our Christmas Eve dinner party composed of my two friends, friend's cousin, her husband, her two kids and me.  We played games (provided by each adult) and had prizes and sang the 12 days of Christmas and Jingle Bells (only the first two verses and the chorus--that song is SO long).  We had a fantastic Filipino dinner (SO YUMMY!) and went to a friend of the family's to have a Christmas Eve Bible study and MORE eating and talking ^^ We spent the night at the friend's house--it was lovely.

In the morning, we went to the Christmas service.  I (and three other) were first timers at the church and HAD TO GET UP IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE CHURCH TO SAY A FEW WORDS.  I didn't really know what to say and the others were speaking in Tagalog so I didn't have any type of reference of what should be said.  That was awesome.  Then everyone came around to shake our hands.  The church was SO FRIENDLY.  It was great.  AND THEN we ate again :D

In the afternoon there was a bowling tournament between a few Filipino churches.  I am not a bowler and decided to sit this one out.  Well...from about 3-630p I was bowling.  Girls against girls--we played against the Seoul team.  They were quite good.  The first set I got 99 (not bad for a person who is not a bowler).  The SECOND GAME I got a 46. Siiiiigh.  It was lots of fun though^^

My two friends and I started back home at about 9p...got to bed a little past 1a.  I can't explain (maybe I can, but that would take 20 pages) how wonderful a day it was.  I was just expected to cry a lot (I only cried a little) and the day turned out to be so great.  I met so many people and they were all so sweet.  I've made some new friends and all in all it was a awesome weekend.  My God will never leave me or forsake me (even on Christmas when my family is far away).

Deuteronomy 31:6

New International Version 

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Ondol, how did I live without you?

The heating systems in Korean homes (I think most) are called ondol. They heat the floors and are completely wonderful^^ This is nice to come home to because it is getting quite chilly here. I have never lived in a place colder than the Pacific Northwest, so I find myself questioning the weather. "Are you kidding me?" being a popular one. Though it is humid in the summer, it is very dry in the winter (making it feel colder). I see so many of my students in these big, puffy down coats (adorable, btw) and I think it's probably time I invest in one, too. The mountains are lightly dusted with snow, a preview of whats to come in the lower city(?). I love the fall, but winter is perfectly wonderful because it is cold outside, but warm and cozy inside. Happy wintery season from Korea!

the people I work with

Okay, so I work in an all girls middle school 4 days a week and they are so precious to me.  Sometimes we have...HARD DAYS, but I really care for them^^  It's amazing how much you can care about people (hundreds of them) even though you may only exchange "hello" every once and a while, small chitchat or nothing at all (b/c of the language barrier--or maybe they just don't want to talk to me, okay, that may be it).  I'd say there are about...10-15 students that are fairly confident in their English and are not too afraid to talk to me (yay!).  The street does go both ways though; sometimes I am intimidated to talk to them.  What an honor to have the opportunity to be around and encourage this generation--they were made for greatness.

We (English teachers) were told at orientation that middle school is the "most difficult" grade to teach.  When I heard that I thought, "well, my first choice is elementary, so I don't have to worry about that..."  Well, here I am.  Students have to make a lot of adjustments from (relatively care-free) elementary school to middle school and then having to think about high school, which, in Korean is sometimes thought of as harder than college.  They must take an entrance exam for high school and in high school, they must take a VERY INTENSE exam for college.  AND on top of all of this, they are going through puberty.  This does not even include family life and friends.  Sometimes I think "what IN THE WORLD is going on with this girl?!" and then I am quickly reminded that I was not the most pleasant person to be around in middle school (or high school and some of college for that matter--just ask my mom.  Poor mom, what a trooper).  I think "why don't they just STOP talking?  It's WAY easier than arguing with me."  Then Callie reminds me that I found it necessary to argue with our mother even though I could have just kept my mouth shut.  Well, there is a reasonable explanation for that:  I was RIGHT and NEEDED my mom to understand that fact.  By the grace of God (and my mother) I am still alive today.

The gals who have a hard time listening: I have a fight in my spirit for them.  Of course, this is a bit easier to say when I am at home sipping my rosemary tea, BUT I must choose to fight and not stay angry, give up on or ignore them.
I am not fighting against them, but against their anger, depression, hopelessness, sorrow, fear, insecurity--something deeper than outward behavior (Ephesians 6:12).  And I GOT PICKED, hand picked to tell them the truth (Isaiah 61) about themselves:  they are beautiful because God made them--fact, no opinions aloud.  Their thoughts and ideas are important NOW, not just when they're older (1 Timothy 4:12).  They are not a mistake and they can do ANYTHING (Psalm 139:14 and Philippians 4:13).  There is the practical discipline side of this when students don't listen and definitely times when I just break down and cry (don't worry, I wait until they leave the classroom) because of the stress, but I persevere by the grace of God (and wisdom from friends and family).

Sometimes...okay, a lot of the time, we will do some sort of art project in English class (it's like an art class with an English speaking teacher ;).  There is something about art that let's people do whatever they want and it will be right.  "No! Blue?! Are you kidding? That's wrong!"--that doesn't happen.  I picked blue because I like it and if you don't like it, you can deal.  There is a freedom.  It's so fun to encourage them in their creativity--oh, my, they are SO creative.  It's fun to get to know them and encourage them in their future hopes and dreams (doctors, fashion designers, teachers, moms/wives, or one of my favorites and very close to home: undecided :) I don't know why, but for some reason society doesn't appreciate the "undecided."  Undecided is a great place to be--discover, explore, think...no pressure if you don't know what you want yet to do in college :D  I just feel like a big sister or aunt or SOMETHING.  Of course, some still laugh (a nervous, worried laugh) and quickly walk/run away from me when I try to talk to them (English can be intimidating, you know).  There you have it.  The people I work with.

Saturday Rest

Today, Christmasy Korea surrounds me and I LOVE IT. I'm in Hollys Coffee sketching with wonderful Christmas music being played in the background. I easily fall victim to distracting sights and sounds (I blame my awesome attention to detail) so I must turn to podi the ipod. Then it happens--sketching nothing in particular, I get lost in my drawing. Time slips away from me and before I know it I have a sketch in progress and a forgotten (now cold) americano. Saturdays have become my "day of rest"--a relaxing, no plans, Lord what do you want to do today?, get the laundry done (laundry and a movie is always wonderful) day. I hope you are all having a wonderful, relaxing Saturday. ^^