151206 Thank you for the reminder to help the poor

At the retreat centre

Since I've logged back on Netflix, I've been watching a lot of documentaries. Last night, I couldn't fall asleep again even though I was tired. Plus, there's a documentary that I wanted to watch so it worked out, I guess. The film that I watched last night was called "Living on One Dollar" - I recommend that you watch it. It's about four college guys who spend two months in a poor village in Guatemala. They wanted to experience what it's like to live in the slums living with a dollar a day. They eat what the locals eat within their income ($1/day), and sleep on the ground in a small hut, getting flea bites.

What was good about it was that they did this experiment to think of ways to help the poor in a long term. I realized that, a lot of times we emphasize on helping the poor but it is for just a brief time. For example, if we make a donation, it will definitely help the family in poverty but it won't last that long.   We have to think about helping these people long term. Teaching and equipping them so that they can help themselves is what's needed, instead of us just helping them. It made me think about in what ways I can help them. These guys in the documentary have studied economics, and they were trying to think of ways for the locals to save up or help them get loans. There are doctors and nurses out there, who can give physical help to these people in poverty. There are architects and construction workers who can design and build a shelter in the poor neighbourhoods. But what can I do?

I think I had thought of this when I first went on missions a few summers ago. I felt like I didn't have any skills that will help the people in poverty, but God still used me. It honestly doesn't matter if I have certain skills or not. As long as I am willing and obedient to God's calling, then He equips me. I've experienced it several times on the mission field. However, it's so easy for me to forget this important fact because a lot of times, I depend on myself. I'm thankful that God reminded me to help the poor, but also thankful for reminding me that it's God who equips us to carry out the things we need to do to help the people in need.

151115 Thank you for the first service together

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I had an opportunity to visit a different church. Ever since I started going to my current church, which was about 4 years ago, I have been consistently attending my church. The three years that I've been attending as a member at this church, I grew the most spiritually in my life, I got to know and be in relationships with many great people who have now become my friends and mentors (including Mr. K), I discovered God's vision for me, and I now have a church that I can finally call it my "home church." Anyways, I've been going to the same church every week except for those days when I'm away from home. So it was a good break in a way to attend another church where the service is different, the people are different, the atmosphere is different, yet, the same God is worshipped. What was exciting was that today was the first service that Mr. K and I went together as a couple. I've always wanted to do that but we just never got a chance because he's always busy on Sundays with his service, so we had different worship time. It was good to sing together, read the Bible together and listen to the sermon together, sitting beside each other.

We were invited for dinner at the pastor's family's house that we visited today. They are a good friend of Mr. K and I. They are in their forties, and have been married for a while now. We had a good time of sharing our stories and listening to their stories. There are ups and downs in every relationship, and that's also the case in my relationship with Mr. K as well. But listening to the fun and sometimes not so much fun memories in their dating relationship, engagement, and now as a married couple, encouraged both Mr. K and I. We are so lucky to have friends and mentors like them. As an older couple, but also as more mature bother and sister in Christ, they teach us and provide insights for not only my relationship with Mr. K but also my relationship with others, and most importantly, in my personal walk with Christ. I'm really thankful for their family in my life. I hope to follow their example and be like them when I'm married and have my own place - to be hospitable, caring, loving, sharing, counselling, listening, guiding, praying, encouraging, rebuking, challenging the people around me, especially those who are younger than me.

no.473 140817 Thank you for the sing-a-long car ride

Pretty colours

It was indeed a very interesting Sunday. After the service, there was a life group outing so we went for lunch/early dinner. Then we decided to go to noraebang (karaoke) to sing our hearts out… which was pretty fun. I think it's nice to do something fun with my life group once in a while.

Anyway, my sister and I stepped out at night and we had a fun time sing some songs and reminiscing our childhood. I'm not sure why, oh I know what. I began the conversation by sharing what I did today, and how my life group sang "Let it go" at the noraebang and how much I hate the song. Then we were like, what other Disney movies have hit songs and we started going back in time. First off was the latest movie that we watched together that we actually like - Mulan, then the Lion King, then Aladdin, then the Beauty and the Beast and then the Little Mermaid. Th

Here is one of my favourite Disney songs - "Can you feel the love tonight" from the Lion King. I exactly know when I started liking this song and it was when I was in grade 5. I think the movie came out way before I was in grade 5, but that was when I was old enough to listen to American songs from Disney (this was when I was in Korea). I loved this song so much that I even purchased a sheet music to play the piano and get the lyrics. Back then, we didn't have internet so I could't look up the lyrics, let alone find the song and listen to it. The only way to listen to it was to purchase a cassette tape and I had no money to do that! So in order to sing along, I got my parents to read the words in English so that I can write the pronunciation and play the piano to remind myself of the melody. 

no.390 140525 Thank you for God's will

Summer fun party ideas:)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, 

but be transferred by the renewing of your mind. 

Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - 

his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

I had a pretty tiring sunday, even more than usual. When I got home from church, I ate whatever I saw on my kitchen counter and passed out on the floor. I had to get up in an hour due to a meeting, but it was a nice nap for sure.

Today's sermon, and the work meeting interestingly shared a similar point. I sometimes forget to as "why" I want and do certain things in life. For instance, as my pastor mentioned, why do I want to know God's will? I always, always, and always pray that in every single aspect of my life, that I want things to happen according to God's plan. I guess I never really asked myself why I so eagerly want this. I couldn't disagree with my pastor when he said how us wanting to know God's will is to benefit ourselves. This is very true because, life is full of decisions and many take a lot of time, thought, prayer and advice before coming to a conclusion. Many times I prayed to God to just tell me straight up because that will make my life so much easier. It is true that many times, I was seeking for God's will for my sake. I am reminded that the reason why I am pursuing God's will is to glorify God alone. So let's not forget to ask the question "why" in the things we do and what we pray about.

no.173 131020 Thank you for my upbringing

Oh Canada!

 

I had a really long day at church today. I went for my usual service at ten in the morning, when I came home and looked at the clock, it was around 10PM. My typical sunday schedule goes something like this: service, teaching at preschool ministry, lunch out with friends and basketball. By the time I get home, it's usually 8PM. What a long day, right?
 

Anyways, I couldn't go for basketball today because of preschool ministry meeting. The meeting went on for almost three hours? Some of the important aspects were covered today that I found really helpful - about the 3-5 year olds that we teach. How they are different from one another in various areas in their stage of their life. We also spend some time talking about about Halleluja Night that's coming up at the end of the month and a little bit about Christmas planning. Two months left til Christmas... can you believe it?
 

At the restaurant, there was a group of people who were sitting across from our table. It was a group of four - a mom and her two children in elementary school, probably younger grades, and another woman, who seemed like she would be their aunt. I thought it was weird for them to order alcohol, although it came with the meal (we went to a all you can eat sam-gyup-sal restaurant, and if there are certain number of people, you can a free bottle of alcohol). I mean, they could've gotten a pop for the children just like us, but the fact that they chose alcohol as their option... that was interesting, I thought. Because in my understanding, when a family goes out to eat, normally the parents or in this case, the adults don't order any alcohol. Especially a bottle. I think I can be more flexible when it comes to a glass of wine with steak for dinner, but I don't think I would order it unless my children are old enough to understand. Anyways, in my culture and in my family, I would not expect for the adults to drink in front of the children... especially not to the extent when the adults are tipsy...!
 

Well, I noticed that the kids were bored once they were done eating and curious on why the mom and her friend were talking for a while. Later, other teachers and I noticed the noise level from that table go up really high, we couldn't hear ourselves speak. It seemed like she was venting or arguing about something. Then I started hearing swear words... I got really shocked. The mom not having etiquette was one problem, but more importantly, she shouldn't be talking like that in front of her own kids. We got up around the same time to get the bill, and I made eye contact with one child. I could see fear and confusion in her eyes. I just wanted to take the children away from their mom, at least until she was calmed down. Could I have done anything for the children?
 

As preschool teachers, I think we all had a similar opinion about drinking and swearing in front of the children and our behaviour when we are in a setting with the children. It got me think about my upbringing, and how I will be when I become a mom.