Yesterday was the lunar new year, which is a national holiday here in Korea.  After church all the children dressed up in their Korean formal wear (hambooks) and we had dumpling soup among other dishes for lunch.  Then all the children and staff (including me) took part in “saybae” where, in order of age, we would come before Pastor Chae and his wife (who everyone calls “Father” and “Mother”) and bow in a certain way.  Then Pastor Chae and Mrs. Chae gave each person an envelope of money and a snack.  After saybae we played a Korean game called, “Yoot.”  I won’t go into the details, but it was a good time.  Some former children of the orphanage returned to visit and everybody seemed to have a great day, including me.  I let the children use my camera and they took 138 pictures.  138 pictures!!!  About 3/4 of them were no good, but still, that is a lot of pictures!  Here are just a few…

Hae Hyun and Eun Ji

Yoon Ji and me

Some people like pictures of food, I don’t know why… but here are two pictures of some of the food we ate… I remember I used to not be able to eat most of this stuff, but now I can clean my plate every time.   

Mandoo guk (Dumpling soup)… I love this stuff…

Jiwon in his hambook

The littlest ones in line to take their envelope and snack (sorry for the blurriness, I think my camera is dying…)

The next oldest kids after they bowed, waiting to be able to receive their gifts

Some of the older kids with Pastor Chae and his wife… the top left boy (Jong Hyun) and the bottom right girl (Eun Jin) are two of my students…

Yoot!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures.  God bless!

This is a story I recently shared with my prayer supporters… hope it encourages you.

I’ve really been blessed by these kids.  The little ones will yell my name, smile, and run to me when they see me outside.  One of the little girls, Sun Hee, did not want to leave my side today.  A group of us went to the movie theatre and also out to eat tonight and she made sure she was always next to me.  The other night she visited me and spoke a bunch of korean to me… just nonstop korean.  She had a lot to say, apparently.  Its hard for me to have the little ones around my apartment because they are a little reckless (countless spills already, and its amazing my laptop still works)… so I tried teaching her a few things in English.  I pulled out “Green Eggs and Ham” and began reading it to her.  She sat beside me and she repeated every sentence that I said… it was really cute, I didn’t intend for her to repeat after me and she does not know a word of English, so when she repeated it was half English/half jargon.  But she kept repeating…  and the book goes on and on.  About halfway through I turned the page and there was a lot of English on it.  She sighed… it was cute.  I asked her (in poor korean) if we should stop, but she wanted to keep going.  So we kept reading until she had to go back to her room.  

I will say it again and again… these kids are hungry for love and attention, especially the little ones.  They are precious!

Sun Hee is behind me, Hae Hyun to the left, Soo Yun to the right

These are pictures taken by the children here… they love to take my camera and go crazy with it… most of the pictures taken were of themselves… enjoy =)

Soo Yun

Yo Han

Min Shik

Ji Hoon

Hyun Woo

Da Woo and Ye Rang

Dong Chan

In Chul (this kid speaks some hilarious English… not much is correct, but he cracks me up)

Choong Hyuk (a little blurry)

Sun Hee (lets keep with the blurry theme… and wow is she close to the camera )

Ye Jin

Jin Sul and Young Eun

Finally, Soo Yun, me, and Hae Ji

Joy Williams – Hide… what an AWESOME song… she sings the truth =)

I’m somewhat reluctant to post this xanga because I know it may come off as a bit harsh… but if it can encourage just one of you, then it is worth it.  Please read…

 

The differences between the kids here at this home and regular kids (whether Korean or American) is huge…  Because these kids have nothing… no family or relatives, no money… they must be content with what they are given.  They share their clothes with each other, sleep on the floor with each other, and gratefully eat whatever they are served.  They don’t complain.  They are actually happy!…  On the other hand, I see so many regular people “starving” for the newest gadget or clothes or car.  They are not content with what they have, they want the newest thing.  Usually once people get out of college and begin earning money, they can’t stop their lifestyle. 

 

I’ve shared my vision about having people come join me at the orphanage and nearly everyone has seemingly applauded it, thinking it would be great for more people to come and then later start new orphanages…  But so many of these same people seem to know in their heart that, like the rich young man who came to Jesus, they can’t let go of their possessions, their comfortable lifestyle, or their income.  The same “gifts and blessings” that they possess have become their own chains.  They feel like they can’t let go. 

 

Some of you are living the life.  Some of you want to, but are struggling and being choked by the world.  If this entry gave you feelings of guilt, perhaps you need to reexamine yourself? 

 

God isn’t going to take everything away from you.  But He wants your trust.  He commands us to tithe 10%.  And He asks us to give offerings from the overflow of our hearts.  God wants to provide for us and bless us.  He will even surprise us and give us amazing gifts.  He wants our faith to grow…  I praise God for the family he has given me, for the thunderbird I was able to drive, for the good education I received, for all the friendships I’ve made, and for my family’s nice house back home.  They were amazing gifts.  But I can truly say that His love is the best gift ever!  That is why I am here in Korea.  I know He wants me here and I want Him more than anything else in this world.  He is continuing to provide for me. 

 

I believe God is going to move a lot soon… but will you be ready?  Is your love for Him greater than any attachment of yours to this world?  Pray, and prepare yourself.  Ask Him to light a fire in your heart that burns so greatly for Him that you are willing to let go of anything to live for Him.  HE IS GOOD!!! 

 

Come, Lord Jesus.

 

Starfield – All For You

Everybody loves pictures, so here are some more… I try and go by the toddlers/baby room daily.  The little ones seem to understand me the best, since our communication is just through play and touch. 

Kang cracking up as I was about to tickle attack him. 

 

This is Yoon Ji. 

 

 

 

Yoon Ji loves to be picked up by me and point to pictures on the wall and try and say people’s names (she mainly just says “abba” and “umma”… daddy and mommy).  She called me abba during one of my visits; that cut to my heart.  All the children here call Pastor Chae their father, so I showed her pictures of him and pointed and said, “Abba.”  She got excited as she looked and said, “Abba!  Abba!”  Then just a minute later Pastor Chae actually came by to visit.  Yoon Ji was really excited and kept exclaiming, “Abba!  Abba!  Abba!” 

 

 

We’re meant to be loved.  I know so many who do not have a loving father or a loving mother, but I praise God for people like Pastor Chae and other people of God who provide such love and light to others lives.  If you’ve led a Bible study or helped at church or simply been involved in some children’s lives, then you are one of these people too.  God is pleased with you, you are sharing His love.  =)

Alright, here we go… the children of Geon Christian Children’s home.  There are 83 children in all right now.  I’m missing pictures of about 10 of them.  These kids are PRECIOUS.  Their ages range from 1 years old – 18 years old (seniors in high school).  Each picture is of an apartment of kids.  On average there are 12 kids per apartment.  There are two bedrooms per apartment, so about 6 of them sleep on the floor together in the rooms.  Needless to say, it’s a little crammed.  But the kids are happy.  Each apartment has a dorm mother or dorm father that stays with the kids.  The littlest ones have two dorm mothers.  Enjoy… =) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m missing a lot of boys in the last pic, in most of the others I am missing one or two kids.  They were in other rooms or at work at the time I came by.  God bless!

 

Matthew West – More

Nothing like a nice lunch of jja jang myun.  =)

 

 

 

That picture never fails to make me laugh.  I’ll be posting pictures of almost all the kids here (group shots) in a couple days.  For now I need to prepare for my classes.  God bless!

Yesterday I began teaching.  These kids are actually from the neighborhood around the orphanage.  I don’t have a complete explanation why I’m not teaching the orphans here, but I know everything will be explained in time.  I am still spending a good amount of time with the orphan kids too.  The little ones seem interested in me the most.  I think the older kids are a bit more intimdated by me, even the adults too. 

 

I love that about kids… the trust and the lack of fear.  I look forward to when Christ returns and we can all live like kids… no more doubt, no more scars, no more hurt… we can finally be free to be ourselves in front of everyone and have nothing and no one to fear.

 

Here are some pics from teaching yesterday… I’ll do another photo dump soon with pictures of kids from the children’s home… I need to take more pictures…

 

First is my pre school class… (I’m teaching in my apartment, which I actually had just moved into yesterday morning.  The apartment was the guest house for the orphanage, its a part of one of the dormitories.)

 

 

Playing a game  to learn each others names…

 

Class pic…

 

My next class, a mix of first – third graders…

 

A couple random shots during a class activity…

 

I close class by having them line up, then I shake each of their hands as they pass and tell them “Goodbye, God loves you.”  I don’t know if any of them understand yet, but they will in time… Tae also took pictures like this one to help me remember their names quicker…

 

 

Finally, here are a couple pics of the kids whose apartment I stayed in the past few days.  Their names are Ye Jin and Yun Ho.  Their dad is the manager of the orphanage and actually grew up here in the home.  Their mom has taken good care of me and even stocked my fridge in my apartment when I moved in yesterday.  I played a lot with these two the past few days…

 

Ye Jin and Yun Ho…

 

Ye Jin and me…

 

More pictures will come in time… God bless!

This picture has achieved me fame among the little ones…

 

 

You know Spiderman???  Does he really shoot web???  How does he do it????? 

 

Of course, all those questions are in Korean.  These little ones keep bombarding me with Korean.  They are oober cute.  Pictures will come soon… pray for me, I’m bad at remembering my camera… hopefully by Thursday I’ll have some up.

 

I’ll be teaching pre-schoolers for one class, first – third graders for another class, and then a class of mothers from around town.  My first classes are tomorrow, so please pray for me to be as prepared as possible and really love on the kids.

 

God is good!  And… I think I’ve gained weight!  I’ve eaten really good so far… this will probably change, but I’m thankful for the easy transition God has been giving me. 

 

God bless you guys!  PRAY AND READ YOUR BIBLE!!!  Put yourself in His Marvelous Light and watch the world melt away from you.  God loves you!!!

Song:  Paul Colman – The One Thing

Happy New Year!

 

I spent my new year’s eve attending the 11:00pm worship service at the orphanage.  I didn’t understand a single word, but I was able to at least sing along in Korean during praise.  I remember some of the children from my visit two years ago, some of them remember me too.

 

One of the boys, Ye Rang, had just joined the orphanage when I visited two years ago.  He was around six years old then.  His father had been terminally ill and either deaf or blind (I can’t remember which), and because his father had been so weak and handicapped before dying, the boy was extremely attention starved.  He was, to put it lightly, wild.  The orphanage staff had to give him extra attention.  Now he is a lot calmer and fits in well with the other boys.  Only love can cause such a change.  You can see love’s fingerprints all over these kids. 

 

I attended an English Ministry church in downtown Seoul today with Tae and Sonia (old school CCFers).  I’ve spent a good amount of time with Tae this weekend.  We decided today to read the Bible together in one year.  I put that in bold because you should do it too!  Check this link for schedules to go by… http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/journey/.  We’re doing a blended schedule.  And I definitely want to encourage you find some accountability brothers/sisters to do this with.  And don’t let excuses get in the way!  Satan would hate for you to know God’s word, so he will make up any excuse for you to ignore the Bible.  James 4:7.  Resist him and read the Bible! 

 

Tonight I visited one of the kids’ apartments.  13 young boys in one little apartment with their dorm mother.  I don’t know how the dorm mother can handle all of them, but she seems to be doing a great a job.  The kids called me ajashi.  They thought I was in my 30’s.  I had to correct them on that.  From here on out I will be going by, “JM.” 

 

Whew, so much more I can say here, but I’ll update again later and do a photo dump then.  I haven’t taken too many pictures yet, but I will.  I begin teaching Wednesday.  God bless you all!  Happy New Year!

Song:  Paul Colman – The One Thing (I love this song… its going to stay up for a while)

 

P.S.  Don’t forget to pray for Sam in Mozambique!