I may not say a lot... but at least I will speak my heart.

Hello.

Korea is still amazing... and God is still faithful and is continuing to work. DUH!

It has been really cool to see people who have never had dreams of their own... who have been oppressed their whole lives, and who had to FIGHT and risk their life for freedom... cry out to God and worship HIM freely. Now, these children of God are realizing that all their dreams and goals can become reality when they have life in Christ. For, it is God who put those dreams and desires in our hearts in the first place.

I totally take my freedom as an American for granted... and I find myself seldom thanking God for the things He gives me daily... and for LIFE!

Now... because of hearing testimonies from people who have have lived a more difficult life than anything I could ever imagine... WHO AM I TO SAY I HAVE A HARD LIFE, when I have been given everything I could ever desire or need. I have ALWAYS had clothes to wear and ALWAYS had food to eat. I have always had the freedom to worship God.

Who are we to whine and cry about our lives when we do not even know the meaning of hard... or difficult... or strife... oppression?

I am done taking my life for granted. We should be thanking God for every breath.

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." Philippians 4:11-12

"Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed (and though you get praise when you do well for yourself) his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see the light. Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish." Psalm 49:16-20

I think these verses pretty much speak for themselves. On my behalf, though... i WILL NOT waste my life. I am not on this earth just to go to college, get a job, have two dogs and a white picket fence... get married and have children. LIfe is SO MUCH MORE! I want to be on my death bed with the assurance that I gave EVERYTHING to the Lord... no matter what the cost. Everything I have belongs to my Father.

Thanks for praying.

God's heart

WOWOW!

Last night was the first time we performed The Clincher drama. It was amazing... God totally used it to show His love for His children... how He would do ANYTHING for us... and He desires relationship with us SO BAD. I am glad that God shined through...

God's love is so powerful. Just to know that the creator of the universe and everything in it loves us as a father, really overwhelms me with Joy. I am writing this in the midst of class... people crying... people praying. The topic is the father heart of God today... and Sid (the speaker), Josh, and pastor Sung are praying blessings over the students... and standing in the gap for their earthly father. They are praying EXACTLY what God would say to them... what their earthly fathers should have said to them... how they should have loved them if they were filled with God. I am sitting two feet away from a girl who is just weeping... because her earthly father couldn't give her the love she deserved... the love that GOD gives to her.

Sid told a story about his daughter that really made me appreciate my family's love. Just before Sid and his wife Janey left for Korea, their daughter had her first soccer practice. Every time she kicked the ball, she would look at her parents for approval... "did you see that... did you see that!?". She wanted to know her parents were proud of her... that they approved. She wanted assurance of their love.

That story makes me realize that I want my parents to be proud of me... and I know they are. So I am sitting here in Korea... and I didn't take the traditional life route by going to college... I didn't do what the world wants me to do. But it feels GREAT!!! God blessed me with an encouraging family... and loving parents that want God's will for my life. What a gift. Thank you so much mom and dad for your love and encouragement... I am glad that I have parents that want the BEST for my life... God's heart.

Thank you everyone for praying...

The last few days have been amazing... to say the least. It seems as though everything has been anointed by God. I can really see (REALLY) His hand in everything.

We arrived at the retreat center yesterday... and had to walk about 30 minutes up the mountain to reach our destination. It was fun... just looking at the mountains reminded me of how BIG God is. Everything here is so beautiful!

I have been listening to the band Take It Back a lot lately... and all of their lyrics seem to explain my mind perfectly! Especially the following...

"I will love the unloved. I will cherish the hated ones. I will welcome the shunned, with my sweat and my blood."

I want this to be my anthem as I love these Koreans for the next 6 weeks (and for the rest of my life). I do not know them personally yet... nor do I know their past or anything. But... I love them as my Father loves them. EVERLASTING... NEVER CEASING... NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES. If I am created in the image of God... then I NEED to do my best to strive to live as He did on this earth. This... to me... means loving people, His children... unconditionally. I just want to let Jesus shine through me...

During the last worship... I was jumping up and down during the song, and two Korean guys came over to me and stood beside me. They wanted to praise the Lord by jumping and shouting! So... when the music picked up again... I started to jump... and they did too! I could see the joy on their faces as they praised the Lord FREELY... FULL OF JOY! I am honored to be used by God in this way.

I would right more... but the internet is slow and not very assuring. I do not want to loose what I already have written. I have way more to write, but it will have to wait until next time.

Just to let you know... the schedule here is very tight... and there isn't really any time to be on the computer except for now (permitting the the internet is working). I will try to get on as much as I can.

My first day in Korea...

was amazing. Despite my lack of sleep last night (because I kept waking up every 45 minutes) everything was priceless!

We are staying in the Good Shepherd church which is just outside of Seoul... sleeping on the heated floors! We got to walk around the area today for about six hours... and that was sooo much fun! The people here are so cute and loving and friendly. AND THE ESPRESSO AND COFFEE IS AMAZING.

I will upload pictures soon, but I have to find a more efficient was to do it. If you have facebook, then you could add me and look at my pictures that way. I will also find another site to upload them to, as well.

This morning I read Jeremiah 1, and the whole chapter described my journey to Korea. It was totally of God, because I just randomly decided to start reading through Jeremiah. And, what do you know... the very first chapter describes exactly what I am feeling... and exactly what I feel God has been telling me lately. READ IT hah! It is just so cooool WOWOW.

⁹ Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me,

"Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down,to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

I love this. God has put HIS words in my mouth... I don't have to worry about impressing anyone. So why do I? I just need to focus on the Lord... and letting Him and only Him be shown in everything I say.

More to come... but I better get some sleep.

I AM IN SOUTH KOREA

YUP... IT IS TRUE! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

I WILL POST MORE LATER, BUT I AM IN THE AIRPORT RIGHT NOW.