How do you get together such a fun and loving group of individuals? It was completely worth losing my voice over and dragging my overpacked suitcase to 회기 every other day haha~

Trying to keep up with a crazy schedule though, made me devote less time to prayer and devotions and I made so many mistakes thinking it was for the best for myself and the people around me. So much more wisdom needed~ so crazy much. But I've been blessed to finally, FINALLY see what seems like my citizenship issues winding down. Whaaat a week~

And so as I begin part II of this summer, midst trying to juggle family, classes, teaching, translation, and grad school applications- I pray that even in the process of trying to put my desires second, I'll be able to do it in a Christ-like manner. Then hopefully when/if I come out alive by end of August, all of this craziness would have been worth it, and I can jet to the millions of places I want to visit :)

Jon Foreman's been on repeat all week:

So why do I worry?

Why do I freak out?

God knows what I need 

You know what I need

Two things you told me

That you are strong

and you love me

Yes, you love me

Your love is strong

Our plans are not always God’s plans. He may see that it is best for us and for His cause to refuse our very best intentions, as He did in the case of David. But of one thing we may be assured, He will bless and use in the advancement of His cause those who sincerely devote themselves and all they have to His glory. If He sees it best not to grant their desires He will counterbalance the refusal by giving them tokens of His love and entrusting to them another service. – {HDL 12.1} In His loving care and interest for us, often He who understands us better than we understand ourselves refuses to permit us selfishly to seek the gratification of our own ambition. He does not permit us to pass by the homely but sacred duties that lie next us. Often these duties afford the very training essential to prepare us for a higher work. Often our plans fail that God’s plans for us may succeed. – {HDL 12.2}

"너는 기도하는 할머니의 손녀라는 사실을 잊지 말아라."

Don't forget that you are a granddaughter of a praying grandmother. 

祝福

I found myself beginning my second morning in 고시촌 at Dunkin Donuts again. I was nervous for having left the room 10 minutes later than planned, but it was still an hour (probably more), before classes would start. Still fidgety on the inside wondering how packed the bus would be and if it would stop at all the stops it made us believe to stop at and if my welcoming American exterior towards strangers would get me taken advantage of today...

Along with my blueberry bagel, the girl at the counter handed me a free cup of coffee saying she had made too much today. Anddd all the lecturing my relatives had given me from the moment I landed about accepting things from strangers in Korea flew out the window.

My time in Korea so far has basically been characterized by instances like that where in moments of despair or loneliness, God's introduced people into my life to let me know that He's still with me, understanding that I needed an extra boost. A halmoni struggling past me on the subway when I was at my wit's ends about public transportation here, being introduced to an unni in the history program that was accepted with the same profile as me when I was stressing about my future, or a text message from a friend at just the right moment..the list really keeps going on. I don't know if it's reflective of how weak I am in new surroundings for God to provide for me in quite nearly every situation I've been in, but God has been good.

And I swear I've only been drinking free coffee. It's pretty much the last dietary taboo I want to break before I'm completely ostracized from Korean society heh;;