World Cup 2010

Admittedly, I've NEVER had an interest in the World Cup. I think this is mostly due to the fact that I grew up in America, a land that seems to have little interest in soccer (although soccer does seem to be growing in popularity). However, the excitement surrounding the World Cup 2010 here in Korea has been contagious and I've found myself quite intrigued over the past couple of weeks.

So, I decided to teach a lesson on the World Cup, knowing that my students would immediately be interested in the topic AND that I would be forced to get myself educated about this current worldwide event. I'm pleased to report that both goals were accomplished. My students seemed to thoroughly enjoy the lesson last week (which I completely loved teaching). Also, it was definitely beneficial for me to add some general facts to my very limited knowledge of South Africa, FIFA, Korean soccer history, and random bits of World Cup trivia. For example, did you know that the Waka Waka,(sung by Shakira) is the official 2010 FIFA Theme Song? Did you furthermore know that the official mascot is named Zakumi, a cute little leopard packed with symbolism in his name and appearance?*

Since I was learning so much about the World Cup, I decided that I simply had to watch at least a couple of the games. So, last Thursday night, I headed to City Hall (one of the most popular and crowded places) to watch Korea play Argentina. It was definitely a memorable experience!

My friend Liza and I arrived about 2 1/2 hours before the game started, but there was no grass left in front of City Hall. So, we spread our blankets out on the street with everyone else and had a nice little picnic dinner while we waited for the game to begin.

Note the sea of red. The Korean team is nicknamed the "Red Devils." Thus, everyone must wear red to support the team.

Daniel, me, Liza, and Paul - Dae-han-min-guk!!! (the official title of the Korean nation and most popular chant at the games)

Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my little Want to Sound like a World Cup Expert? notes. While doing research for my World Cup lesson plan, I stumbled across this amusing article and printed it out, fully intending to bring it to the game. Although my knowledge about World Cup facts increased somewhat last week, my knowledge of the actual game of soccer is still very limited.

Tried to give you all an idea of how surrounded we were by red. Even if I wanted to escape, I don't think it would have been possible...

Finally were able to meet up with some other OEM friends toward the end of the game. Trying to give them directions to find us during the game was basically impossible.

Sadly, the final score was 4-1, Argentina. After Argentina scored the fourth goal, the crowd started to clear up rather quickly. However, we stayed and supported our team to the very end!

At 3:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, Korea will be playing Nigeria in the World Cup. This game will determine whether or not Korea will make it to the semi-finals. It's a pretty big game. Although I've grown in my love for Korea and my appreciation of the World Cup, I'm afraid that sleep is going to win out over the game... hopefully Korea will forgive me.

*If you're interested in learning more general facts about the World Cup, I'd be more than willing to share my PPT file with you. Just shoot me an email!^^

Psalm 91 - Encouragement for my friends going to the Nations this Summer

To my incredible friends who are obeying God's command to GO and serve (to Zambia, Kenya, Haiti, Nepal, El Salvador, Ecuador, Ohio, etc. to name a few) this summer:

You all have been an incredible source of support to me in SO MANY ways and I'm so thankful to finally be able to play the role of supporting YOU this summer!!!

When Sara and I were in China this past February, we decided to memorize Psalm 91 due to some circumstances that really kind of scared us. It's taken awhile to actually follow through with the memorization, but our most recent goal was to finish memorizing before she leaves for her trip to Kenya this week. I was afraid I might not meet the goal again, but praise God, this morning, I finally finished memorizing, with only a few minor mistakes!

As I was typing it out and testing my memorization to share with Sara, I decided that I wanted to share it with the rest of my friends who are also serving the Lord on mission trips this summer. So, may this be a source of encouragement. Regardless of where you're going, what you're doing... even if you're staying home and serving the Lord in your local community, BE ENCOURAGED:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress,

my God in whom I trust."

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his pinions

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place,

the Most High, who is my refuge,

No evil shall be allowed to befall you,

nor plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands, they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder,

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him.

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him.

I will be with him in trouble.

I will rescue him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him,

and show him my salvation."

Something that kind of struck me a few days ago when I was meditating on this... perhaps this psalm is somewhat evangelistic? This thought came from the different pronouns - switching from I/my to you/your. It's as if the psalmist is trying to convince his reader to hold on to Jesus - to trust Him completely, no matter what.

I love the words of our Father at the end in quotes. It's like his sweet affirmation of everything that was just said.

What sweet promises you have to take with you, my dear friends!

Praying for you...

MY Pacific Ocean List

Six months before Sara left Korea, she began making a "Pacific Ocean" list - things she wanted to do before crossing the Pacific Ocean to go back home. I really liked her idea and have been inspired to do the same. Rather than sharing my whole list now, I'm going to share what a few of the things on my list that have already been accomplished (in no particular order):

• DMZ Visit (5/29) with Liza, Marika, and Gabbi
  
  
• War Memorial (5/21) with Makeeya
  
  
  
• Learned how to make bulgogi with my Korean mother
  
  
  
• Jimjilbang/Sauna (5/21) with Makeeya & Steph
  
  
  
• Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival (4/20) with one of my co-teachers
  
  
• Went to the top of Namsan Tower (4/24) with Jennifer W & Jennifer K
  
  
• Started language exchange (4/24) with my "big sister/oenni" Jina
  
  
  
• Finished Experiencing God study with my small Group
  
  
• Half-finished with memorizing Psalm 91 (with Sara)
  
  
• Read English Teaching as Christian Mission (6/2)
  
  
• Took the GRE Practice Exam (6/2)
  
  
• Hosted a game night last month (and planning to continue to have one each month before I leave
  
  
  
• Received a hanbok from my Korean parents!!!!!!!!!!! (I had been wanting a hanbok for a long time, but figured I probably wouldn't get one because they're so expensive. I love how God really knows the desires of my heart - even seemingly small, insignificant ones)!
  

If you have any questions/would like more details about the things listed about, I will accept requests (although I cannot promise great expediency in responding)... ;-)

Perhaps I'll share more of my Pacific Ocean list at a later time. It is still under construction, so if any of you have any suggestions, I will take them under consideration. ^^

Korean Election

I'm SO glad the elections are finished here in Korea! It was really interesting to be able to observe the way elections are held in Korea and I'm thankful for the educational opportunity and cultural experience. However, as you can see from the cartoon below, I'm definitely not missing the campaigning!

*For more fun cartoons that will give you a little bit of an idea of life as a foreigner here in Korea, you can check out this website: http://www.roketship.com/. I find myself LOLing. The artist really captures life pretty well here.^^

Tensions with the North

Over the past couple of weeks, I received a few emails expressing concern over the relationship between North & South Korea, which had been receiving a lot of attention in the news. For those of you that aren't aware, on March 26th of this year, the South Korean's Cheonan warship was broken in two and sunk near the North Korean border. On May 20, South Korea officially accused North Korea of launching a torpedo to attack.

When I first heard about this, I thought it might be possible for the Korean War to resume (it is really only at a cease-fire, from what I understand). This thought was fueled primarily by the American news media (particularly CNN).

However, after talking this incident over with several of my Korean colleagues, I realized that very few (if any) of them were concerned about it. Of course, they were grieving the loss of the members of the Cheonan, but did not feel that their national security was threatened in any way. They are accustomed to the North making, as they refer to it, "empty threats." This attitude really surprised me last year when North Korea was planning to test their missiles. However, I can somewhat understand the so-called "complacency" of most South Koreans, since many of them have never really known life without the North throwing out threats.

I thought that the most recent incident with the Cheonan warship was more serious than all the other threats, though, particularly since 46+ soldiers lost their lives. However, several Koreans that I've talked to seem to think that the South Korean government may have even had something to do with the incident, since the timing coincided quite nicely with the most recent election (which took place last Wednesday). Numerous political candidates used the situation for their own benefit. Apparently, the subject of national security (and drama with North Korea) often comes up whenever election time is close, much to the dismay of my co-workers.

Honestly, I'm not exactly sure what to think. Like most Koreans, I don't really feel like my safety is in jeopardy. (Believe it or not, my trip to finally visit the DMZ was actually scheduled in the midst of all of the drama. I promise, it was not intentional!). Reading the American news definitely had me a little more concerned a couple of weeks ago. It is interesting that things seem to have died down in the news now that the South Korea elections are over. The thought of the South Korean government being behind the Cheonan incident is incredibly unsettling and I just can't buy it.

Regardless of who is responsible for the torpedo that allegedly caused the Cheonan to sink, as Christians here in Korea, we are continuing to pray for the re-unification of the North & South. In order for that to happen, I suppose some dramatic events may need to take place. I'm thankful that regardless of what happens, GOD is still ALMIGHTY and holding us in His hands.

Blast from the Past - 1996

Now that Sara is back home and I'm still here in Korea, we've started writing letters back and forth again (the old-fashioned way). We first started exchanging letters way back in 1996 - when our friendship was just beginning. In the package she recently sent me, she included a bunch of old letters that I sent to her. As I started reading through the things we used to write back and forth, I could hardly contain my giggles. Fourteen years brings a lot of changes...

Here's the first letter I ever wrote to her, postmarked May 15, 1996:

Dear Sara,

I hope you like our school next year. We had a lot of fun with our teacher this year.

How many brothers and sisters do you have? I have 3 brothers. Zachary is 8 years old and in 2nd grade. Joshie (I forgot we used to call him that!) is 4 years old and Caleb is going to be 3 in August. I don't have any sisters (Emmie wasn't even born yet!).

What church do you go to? We go to NLCF.

Do you play an instrument? I play the piano and Mrs. Sherill (our music teacher) made us learn to play the recorder.

I have a piano recital at school May 16 (tomorrow). I hope I do a good job and don't make any mistakes. Last year I made a mistake. This year I'm playing 2 songs from Little Suite in Baroque Style. There is four songs in it, but I didn't get to the other 2 songs this year.

I have a softball game Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and a game Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

What kind of books do you read? I like to read mysteries, Mandie books, Anne of Green Gables books, and books by Janette Oke, June Masters Bacher, and Lois Walfrid Johnson. I like to read Elizabeth Gail books too.

When do you get out of school? We get out May 30, Friday.

Do you have an American Girl magazine? I have a bunch of magazines you could borrow them if you want. Do you have the calendar and posters? I do, you could look at them if you want to.

What you like to spend your time on? I read, play with a girl in my neighborhood, help my mom clean, watch movies and T.V., play school with my brother, and play office with my friends or brother.

What are your favorite T.V. shows? Mine are Full House, Family Matters, and Hanging with Mr. Cooper. I sometimes like to watch cartoons. What are your favorite movies? I have a lot of favorite movies, but I don't know if I could tell you all of them, it would take forever.

Does your mom work? My mom doesn't work. Well, she works at home. She likes to be there when we get out of school or if we need her to come to school if we forget our things, she can most of the time come if she does not have a really busy day.

Do you buy your lunch at your school? We only can buy our lunch on Fridays at school. We have to turn-in our order form by Wednesday morning.

I hope we can see each other soon!!

Your new friend,

Holly

P.S. What is your middle name? Mine is Nicole. Bye :)

Never in my wildest dreams (especially at 10 years old!) would I have dreamt that 13/14 years later Sara and I would spend 18 months together in South Korea, of all places. God has truly blessed me with a treasure of a friend! Although I sure do miss her now, I cherish the time we were able to spend together in Korea and look forward to spending more time together again soon!

Hanging by a Moment

Over Christmas, Kate and Paul sent me a mix of fun songs, one of which was titled, "Hanging by a Moment" by Lifehouse. The lyrics of the song finally sunk in this evening, as I was hiking around the lovely little mountain behind my apartment building.

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I'm closer to where I started
Chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

Forgetting all I'm lacking
Completely incomplete
I'll take your invitation
You take all of me now...

I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

There's nothing else to lose
There's nothing else to find
There's nothing in the world
That can change my mind
There is nothing else
There is nothing else
There is nothing else

I'm so thankful for these sweet moments to hang onto - falling more in love with HIM.

O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.
-Psalm 59:17