*sheepish grin*
Have I ever mentioned that I love my job? God has been so good in
giving it to me. Oh, yes, there are the times when I want to strangle
myself, but there are more times when I want to tear up and when I'm
so joyful. Little ways that they grow and amaze me and how I can see
that God handpicked this position for me. I'm so thankful that I can freely speak of my awesome amazing God. It's a huge responsibility, though. I have these kids for
7+ hours a day and I have to constantly ask God for help so that I can
be an example of Him to them the whole time, 5 days a week. I mess
up...a lot...but God gives grace...a lot. More than a lot. Copious
amounts!! More than that actually...but you get the picture.
So, lately...oh yes, that part. The long awaited, much anticipated,
greatly desired Christmas break has come...and gone. That's right, big
schocker that time continues to move on. We're all bundled in our
coats, sweaters, scarves, tights, and leg warmers over here in frigid
Seoul. Snow and ice are piled up in every corner and on the streets,
and the clouds threaten to dump more. Several days of post-break
school have passed, and one of the first questions asked by the first
student to enter the class was "when is spring break?" I have to admit
that the question did cross my mind at one point when I was dealing
with the ever dreaded jet lag insomnia.
Christmas break was wonderful and relaxing! It started with an 8 day
trip to warm Taipei. The weather cooled down considerably over the course of the week, and that made Christmas day feel a bit more realistic. Christmas dinner
consisted of rice (in Asia? You never would have though) 2
dollar lean beef, and ice cream. There was no snow, tree, or lights,
but there were presents and much laughter. I toured an...interesting...Science museum, explored using the free transportation system which is actually quite extensive (aka my feet), climbed a mountain in the pitch black of night, met many interesting people, rode a glass-floored gondola a million miles up in the air over the side of a mountain and thought I would die because it was blowing in the wind but lived to tell the tale, and got much needed rest. Christmas night I slept
for only 30 minutes in order to try to force my body to adapt to North
American time. It worked! The jet lag in America was minimal which is
unusual. Now I know how to work the jet lag system.
The wedding...simply scrumptious! A wedding fit for a queen. The
bride was radiant and happy, and all the hours of cutting, gluing,
tying, hanging, folding, lightning, draping, cleaning, sprucing, and
twirling paid off. The theme was snow flakes and a winter wonderland.
As the maid of honor (I was tickled pink that she asked me!) I was to
give a speech. Though I thought I would pass out or worse...I didn't
die! People enjoyed it, I didn't speak too fast, and I didn't tell my
life story (which sister is always cautioning me not to do.) the
atmosphere and food was wonderous.
Seeing family was probably the best part. Although too short, it was
worth the money, long trip, and loss of sleep. More than worth it!
Just getting to hug my parents and laughing for hours with my brother and
sisters. A-mazing!!! I wished time could slow waaaay down or stop, but God gives grace. Absence really really truly does make the heart grow fonder. That is the truth. I just keep reminding myself that in Heaven we'll be able to catch up and never have to stop catching up.
So my life is taking some curves. Next year, unless God changes my
course, I won't be in Seoul. Instead I'll be back in Canada preparing
to raise support to go to China. The more I dwell on this, the more
elated I become. I grew up in a valley, and I've seen towering snow
covered mountains. This task is bigger. Bigger than Everest. But
didn't my massively larger God say that even tiny faith can
move mountains? Yep. So, here I go, hand in hand with my ALL powerful
God. Yes, folks, He's UNSTOPABLE. Told it can't be done? Many times.
Reminded about how impossible it seems? That too. Cautioned that it
won't be easy? Oh yes. Reminded of God's amazing power, will, and
promises every time I open His word? Let me tell you that this trumps
all negative thoughts. I get butterflies just thinking about the final
product. Just thinking about going with God all the way without fear (well, maybe some) and fighting until the job is done. But whether or not this will
actually happen, my ultimate goal is to glorify God and to see Him
exalted, myself humbled, and souls saved. I'm prepared to fall...many
times. And I'm sure that I'll get angry, frustrated, lonely, worried,
but I know that each time I sin God will be there ready to forgive and
to remind me who he is. I'm very excited for the hard times to come because I know that they'll turn out amazing. If you can't open the lock, take the door off the hinges.
God was very good in 2010, and He will continue to be good in 2011. I'm happy that I can look back and see how He's added more pieces to the puzzle so I can see a bit more of the bigger picture. I'll keep those answered prayers and fulfilled promises in my heart so that I can remember them in the future and remind myself that He is always faithful. He will always be my strength, my real joy, my complete peace, my best friend, all I need and all I want.
I'm posting this at 11:11 on 1/11/11 just for fun.
