Oh where Oh where has my...

... Summer gone?
It seems like just yesterday I got home from Korea, but that was about 5 weeks ago. Seems unreal. At this time next week, I'll be somewhere over the Pacific on my way back to Korea for my 7th year of teaching. That's also hard to believe, it seems like just yesterday I was just beginning the journey. Thankfully this journey has grown me and stretched me in ways that I couldn't have imagined. I also have learned alot about myself - good and bad. The most important lesson that I have learned is that God makes it possible to do the things that I think are impossible. Only through Him am I able to continue down the path of this life in which He has called me. He has enabled me to do many things, that never could / would have happened without His direction and guidance. He has also provided for me in so many ways, not just financially. What a good God! He knows what is best and gives that to us. At times we may not understand what His best is, but we can always rest assured that it is best.

Speaking of not understanding what is best, recently I was faced with the decision to go on a mission trip to Nebraska, with a group from my church here at home. When I first heard about the trip, I was interested in going, but was not certain that I was willing to give up another week of my summer at home. I told the minster in charge of the trip that I was interested in going,b ut wouldn't know for sure until I returned from a trip a couple of weeks later. I decided that I needed to pray and seek God's direction and asked my friends to pray as well.

While I was gone to Florida, I was given clear direction that I should go and I am so thankful that I did. Sunday morning, prior to leaving for the trip, my pastor spoke about being a servant and humbling ourselves to serve others. It was so appropriate for our trip. It was so wonderful to be with this group of adults and kids who were willing to serve regardless of what needed to be done. it was such an encouragement to me and a reminder that because I have been called to be a servant, I need to be humble enough to serve others without complaint. To easily, I fall into the trap of thinking that I deserve something or that I am better than someone. What a terrible place to be. Clearly, my thoughts are on self rather than on Jesus and His calling in my life. My prayer is that as I continue my 7th year of teaching, that I will be willing to be humble enough to serve others, despite my thoughts and feelings.

This summer, I've had several instances where people have asked me, "When are you going to come back to America and get started with your life?" It is hard to explain to them, that this is my life. God has called me to be a servant and for now, maybe permanently, a servant in South Korea. Although I miss my family, friends and American "stuff", I am living the best life possible, the one that I have been called to do. I'm pretty certain that if I was doing anything other that what I've been called to do I would be pretty miserable.

If you read this, please pray that I will always be willing to serve as I have been called, that my focus will not be on me, but on Christ and loving others as He loved me.