Still Standing

Hi there! I know there are still a few of you still reading, wondering what we're up to now, and how we've adjusted...so I will try to briefly catch you up to where we are and what we're doing now.
I am currently working as a paraeducator for the special education program in our area. I love it! I get the amazing opportunity to work with an autistic student...every day is so fascinating and creates an opportunity for me to learn.
Micah is currently in the process of starting a photography business. He wants to focus on wedding photography, but will still do other stuff too for friends and family. Things are slow, but we are hoping that they will pick up in the next year. Actually, if you think of us, we'd appreciate your prayers concerning our job and living situations. Things aren't as we pictured they'd be when we returned. We wanted to hit the ground running, and instead feel like we've been in an extended period of...well, the opposite of running:) It is hard to be patient; it is hard to wait for God's timing...ours just seemed so right! I'm sure many of you can relate to this:)
As to the process of adjusting back to American culture... ... ...this is difficult to express. We can never see things the same way we did before we left for Korea. Although we are very happy to be back, it has been difficult to really feel settled. Maybe we aren't supposed to feel that way. I think part of the reason we don't feel settled is that nothing about our job situations and living arrangements is settled. I'm learning to separate what adjustments are due to culture shock, and which are due to those other two items. I feel we've worked through most of the culture shock stuff, but there is a lingering unsettledness due to jobs and housing (I'm starting to feel like I'm repeating myself:). Although it would be easy to pray that God would just get us out of this situation, I felt today that God is challenging us to remain faithful with little, to be faithful during this "storm." It is my prayer that we pull through victorious, and with no regrets.
There is so much more that I could say, but it would turn into too much. Perhaps it would be best if I opened this up to questions. Are there any questions that any of you have been dying to ask, but just haven't had the opportunity to? Feel free to leave questions (and comments) in the comments section and we can either answer them in the comments section, or dedicate some posts to answering your questions. Good idea? I hope so:) We love you all! ~Sarah

Leaving Hurts

This is the last post that we will be writing to America. We are considering blogging to our friends in Korea after we get home.

I feel like Samwise Gamgee. I've come to the end of a grand adventure with my best friend and now I'm torn in two. I'm returning to the Shire, but I'm not the same Hobbit I was when I left. (and thank God for that).

I went to Sarah's going away party today. Many tears were shed. Students, their mothers, and Sarah's co-teacher were all saddened by the fact that we are leaving. Sarah put on a brave face and assured them that we were trying to obey God by returning home like Noah obeyed God by building the Ark. That last sentence was true except the brave face part. She bawled like...well, like she had spent two years with some of the cutest, sweetest, most loving students that anyone could ever ask for. The scene reminded me of more LOTR: "I will not say 'Do not weep', for not all tears are an evil." J.R.R. Tolkien

Next time you see Sarah, ask her about the 56 kids she's carrying around in her heart. My wife is so amazing. I sincerely wish that all of you could have seen her with her class. God has given me such a wonderful wife. I cannot even begin to tell you how proud I am of her. She loves like few that I've ever met. She has such a gift and a grace. I aspire to someday take photographs as well as she teaches and loves her students.

I'm sure we haven't seen the last of the tears. Leaving hurts. You'd think we might have gotten used to it after leaving everyone we knew and loved in Kansas. Now, though, Kansas isn't the only place that holds people we know and love. I thank God for increasing our family, our hearts, our understanding.

Our plane leaves here at 11:40 a.m. Friday.(which is 8:40 p.m. Thursday for Kansas). It lands at around 9:30 a.m. in Chicago then we connect at around 1:00 and land in Kansas City at 2:35 p.m. Friday. Please, pray for our health and safety on our long trip home to you. We cannot wait to see you.

Love,

Micah & Sarah

Last Sunday and Last Sunday

Last Sunday was amazing. Sarah led worship and I played drums. It really seemed as if God was working on people. It was such a great day. You can watch it if you have some free time. Just click on this: http://wonchon.org/broadcast/blue_broadcast_file.html?num=1457 and it should play.

Today was our last Sunday in Korea. We had another wonderful day. After our church service we went to dinner with our Vineyard group. We went to a restaurant that Sarah and I had discovered a few weeks ago. It was really good and it was so much fun to spend time with everyone for one last evening. After dinner, we went to our Vineyard leader's house and had coffee, tea, and cake. (It was a delicious blueberry cake from Paris Baguette)! First, we worshipped for a while and suddenly two large gifts were placed before us. They were beautiful matching hanbok or traditional Korean attire. Everyone had chipped in and Kate picked them out for us. They were the one thing that we had always wished we could get but never did. As you can see in the pictures, they made us try them on right then and there. It was great. Emotions ran high and close to the surface, at times spilling over. Sarah asked how to clean the hanbok and Kate said dry clean. "Go to A+ Cleaners, tell them Kate says, Hi!" The lady that owns A+ is Korean and they know each other! You must see the clothes in person. The pictures don't even come close to doing them justice.

We also found out that Kevin and Kate want to drive us to the airport on Friday. Otherwise, we would have to take a bus for an hour and a half. It's going to be a great way to say goodbye for now. I hope we can convey to you how much we have been blessed by the people here. And I hope that we have been able to let them know as well.

Another Saturday Night

This is our last Saturday in Korea. We spent the day with friends. John, Erin, and Men accompanied us to Seoul. We went to COEX mall and had lunch at On The Border. Before we headed home this evening we had dinner at Butterfinger Pancakes. The food and fellowship was so rich today and for the past two years for that matter.

We're about 80% packed. We have six suitcases and three carry-ons. Some of them are completely packed, but we have a few things left to pack.

We are trying to soak up all the Korea we can, but it's difficult in the midst of such a hectic schedule. Between work and packing, we haven't had much soak time.

Tomorrow we are having a farewell dinner and party with our Podowon. I will be taking pictures and trying not to think of the fact that this is our last Podowon meeting.

Bloggity-Blog Update

Our time in Korea is rapidly disappearing! It's hard to believe how quickly our time here has disappeared! God has been SO faithful to us!
Here's just a brief update on what we've been up to lately. Last Saturday we went into Seoul with Kevin and Kate because we had a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant that we won in our homegroup's white elephant gift exchange (SCORE!). And we just wanted to hang out:) It was much different than what Micah and I had been expecting - there was all sorts of seafood dishes, including raw fish. Yes, I tried the sushimi as well as jellyfish tentacles! And, no, I didn't really like either of them:) It was a texture thing! And it's all on vidya, but I think they're still on the camera, so I'll try to add them later:)
We started back to school on Monday, though students didn't come until Friday. We've had a few going away dinners for some of the teachers that are leaving, and our turn will be arriving soon. Tears will be shed. On Thursday, I met my replacement teacher for the bilingual program, and she is wonderful! I am so thrilled that they were able to find someone like her, and we plan to stay in touch, so I've also got a new friend! I've really been praying that the school would be able to find a good replacement, so this is really an answer to prayer.
Today is Saturday for us. We had worship practice with our homegroup and the worship team at the church. We're going to help lead an English worship service tomorrow! We're pretty pumped about it! After the worship service, Micah and I are supposed to get up and testify and share prayer requests, and I think they're going to pray for us right then and there. We only have one Sunday left here after this! For those of you who have been following our blog, God's goodness has been evident; however, the blog doesn't show the half of it! God has been SO good to us, and I don't think you'll be able to shut us up once we get home!
We're still busily packing and throwing yet more stuff out, cleaning and still more sorting looming ahead! I know that was pretty brief, but it's now after midnight here and I'm gettin' a little tired! Love you all! ~Sarah

Hairy Situations

Time to Check the Flickr

Hi, everyone! I put a bunch of pictures from Tokyo on flickr. Just click the link at the top right of this page and enjoy. I recommend setting it to full screen slide show mode. It's just fun!

We Love Tokyo

Here are only a few shots of our amazing trip to Tokyo. We had an amazing time. We're already trying to figure out when we can go back. (and who we can convince to come with us). We love Tokyo. I have so many pictures. I will be uploading more in the coming days. We saw so many great things. It's hard to pick out the best shots to show everyone.

The first picture is my lovely wife in McDonalds on our first night in Tokyo. It was right across the street from our hotel. We ate there 2.25 times and I don't apologize for it. The second picture is at Tsukiji Fish Market. This man is a cutlery specialist. Most of the knives shown are used in the preparation of fish. Big fish. The third picture is a famous statue of Hachiko. His story is a great one. Enrich your life by looking it up and reading it. The fourth picture is a fancy pagoda at Senso-ji shrine. We didn't participate in any of the prayer or worship being held there. I just thought the buildings looked pretty cool. The last picture is from our absolute favorite part of the trip. Mt. Fuji. It was truly awe inspiring. I couldn't quit taking pictures. In between shots I just stood and stared. We'll give you a more detailed description of our trip sometime soon. Until then, enjoy.

Tokyo Calling

We're in Asia. Asia is close to Japan. So close, in fact, that some say Japan is a part of Asia. But, enough with the geography lesson. My point is this, we are in the vicinity and we thought it would be a shame to be on this side of the world for two years and never see Tokyo. Besides, it can be a real drag to have nothing to do for a four and a half week break from school. Sleeping in until 11:44 gets boring. Only showering every other day is fun for awhile, but c'mon. There comes a time when enough is enough. We must get out if only for a few days. We are going to Tokyo in the morning. Our flight leaves at noon. We'll get back on Sunday evening. We are very excited about this vacation from our vacation. The only drawback is this: It has snowed so much here and I love the snow! It's well below freezing here and I love the cold! Tokyo is going to be 54 degrees. Oh, well. I'm determined to have a great time anyway!

Don't hate me 'cause you ain't me.