Time flies...

I can't believe I just finished the fourth week of my fifth year here at ICS. It seems like it was yesterday that I was boarding the plane to come to Korea for the first time. I was so scared then, I had no clue what to expect. My initial thoughts were to stay two years and then go back to the states and get a "real" job. HA! Now I can't even imagine doing anything different.

Sometimes it is very difficult to be here, so far away from my family. Other times, I don't even notice the distance. I can't begin to describe how blessed I am to be here.
Life in this community is not always easy, but it is something special that God has granted to us here. We are a very close bunch of people, yes we have our own lives and we have our own families, but we all share several common bonds that keep us together. We definitely are a family, of sorts.

My prayer is that I'll not neglect to remember how special this is, because I know when I move on from this place (I have no clue when that will be) I will be longing for this kind of closeness.

In this type of close environment, I am constantly being reminded of the need to love others. What I've discovered, is that I'm not good at it. I love those who love me, because that is easy. If it takes extra work and less pride to love someone, I have a terrible tendency to run away.

This tendency has been pointed out to me in a variety of ways over the past month. I have to quit. I should love because God is love - unending, perfect love. As a Christian, I should be becoming more like God. I should love like Him, but I can't do it on my own. I must look to Him as my example and offer my heart completely to Him. He will restore it and enable me to love as He loves.

This means that when something gets hard and I find it difficult to be loving to another person, for whatever the reason, I can't run away. I must get over myself, look to Him and love that person.

This may never be an easy task, but God has been showing me that this is of utmost importance.

If you are reading this, please pray for me and with me to love regardless and to not give up.

~Kristen

Pictures from the last few weeks: