A time of transition is once more upon me. In two short weeks, I will be boarding a plane and most likely saying a permanent goodbye to South Korea. This saddens me for many reasons. I have grown to love this country in the two years (total) that I've spent here. I care deeply for its people and the welfare of its youth growing up under the distinct pressures of this society. I will be saying goodbye to over 70 students that I've had the honor and privilege of teaching at different times over the past year. I will be saying goodbye to my church family at Onnuri English Ministry, a beloved community of dear friends. It will hurt to leave and it has already begun to tear at my heart. As I've prepared for this upcoming transition, the realization occurred to me that “goodbye” is the hardest thing I've ever had to say.
And yet, as a dear friend reminded me, how wonderful to look forward to heaven where we will never have to say any more “goodbyes”! On Good Friday of this year, a sweet, precious friend of mine, Erica Geary, died suddenly in a car accident as she was en route to visit her family for Easter. When I received the news, my world felt very much shattered. My perspectives on everything were once more adjusted and patterned around this undeniable reality that life is incredibly fragile and fleeting. As I've struggled to say my own goodbye to a friend I'll never see again on this earth, I've been comforted by the knowledge that Erica loved Jesus more than anything and that we will meet again in a different place to once more worship and glorify our Savior side by side. ...in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52. Oh haste the day!
Another dear friend has also reminded me that sometimes a “goodbye” is necessary in order to say a “hello” to others. This is exciting and gives me hope and joy! When I leave Seoul on May 19th, I will fly to Madrid, Spain to spend a month with my parents. I am overjoyed to be seeing them soon. While my mother visited me this past September in Korea, I haven't seen my dad since January of 2014. It will be wonderful to spend quality time with them. I am praying that we will use the time wisely and that we can be mutually encouraged during our time together.
Then on June 21st, I will be returning to U.S. soil after being 13 months abroad! I will spend a few days in Harrisburg, Virginia with my sister and then will be participating in Flood Philly, a Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) ministry in Philadelphia. My primary responsibility will be helping to oversee a group of youth who will be receiving training in sharing their faith with other young people and getting a chance to put that into practice. After that event, my plans are less firm for the time being, but there are some good possibilities shaping up. Most of all, I am really looking forward to catching up with friends and family as much as possible!
I am grateful for everyone both in Korea and back home in the U.S. who has reached out to me over the past year via email, Facebook or phone in order to keep in touch and also everyone who has prayed for me. This year was full of very great and trying challenges for me, mostly related to my job, but through each circumstance, God gave me grace and strength to persevere. I have often been physically exhausted and mentally overtaxed which has resulted in my not keeping in touch well with many people I care about. I am sorry for this and wish it had been different, yet I am thankful for the understanding that so many of you have shown and hope I can find some ways to make it up to everyone!
Looking back I am truly astonished at just how much has happened in my life over the past year. The greatest changes are deep within, as God has uprooted many fears and wounds from my past to help me finally put them to rest. Through the hearing of God's word, and the grace and power of the Spirit enabling me to put God's word into practice, I have seen my faith be made sight as God has poured out His love in my life and given me many joys and triumphs in previously dark areas of my life. Praise be to God!
PICTURE TIME
Dinner with friends after church
Street worship with choir group
Bike rides in the countryside
Short but fun time with my uncle, Ray, visiting from the states
A fine, spring day in the schoolyard
Some more amazing kids I’ve had the joy to call my students
~~~
Psalm 107:7-9
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
Amen.
