TexAsian Teacha
Psalm 57:9-11Archive for July, 2008
And so it begins…
For our first official day in Korea, we traveled about an hour away from Suwon to teach in Gracie’s school. (Soong Duk All Girls School) With this being an all girls school, you can imagine how popular our boys were. I think the girls thought heaven came down. 
It was only a one day english camp and typically, the 1st day of teaching anywhere is a train wreck. If you can survive the 1st day, the rest is a piece of cake.
We actually had a pretty smooth day! There’s always the awkwardness of introducing yourself and waiting around to see if you will actually get a response or a blank stare. 9.8 out of 10 times, it’s a blank stare. Always fun for the new teacher. Luckily, we were paired up and had 2 teachers to a room of only about 10 girls. Deborah and I had so much fun with the 7th graders. Their english was really good and I’m not sure how much we taught them, but it was a great way to get the 1st day anxiousness out of the way.
Soong Duk 7th Grade Girls
At the end of the day, we did a giant ChaCha dance with the girls which was O-mazing.
After the teaching was over, we got such a special treat! Gracie’s mom and dad came and brought us KrispyKremes and some other treats. It was so awesome to get to meet them. Even though we don’t speak the same language, their preciousness shined through. I know now where Gracie gets it. Sylvia got a big hug from Mrs. Ha so she could bring it back to Gracie. Possibly the cutest thing ever.
Soooo cute!
We traveled back home and Ryan took us to a small korean restaurant for dinner and then we came back to the house to plan some dramas and chants for the VBS next week. Today we will travel to the retreat center where we will have the vbs. We hear it’s in the mountains and very beautiful. Can’t wait to see it!
Leavin on a jet plane…
In about 12 hours, I’ll be getting on a plane to Korea. This is the moment I’ve been preparing for for almost 2 years. I just can’t believe it’s finally happening! (I also can’t believe I’m already packed! A definite 1st)
As most of you know, I’ll be teaching at a VBS and then an English camp for Suwon Central Baptist Church. It’s the same trip I took last summer, but I think it will be just a bit different this time. Before the VBS and camp, we will have the opportunity to teach at Gracie’s school for a one day English camp. I’m so looking forward to seeing the school I’ve heard so much about. I think I might get to meet Gracie’s family while I’m there. Can’t wait to meet them!
After my responsibilities are over with the English camp, I’ll be traveling to Japan for my work visa and then back to Korea to teach at Central Christian Academy for two years.
Our camp last year was held at this school so I already know one or two things about it. I know that it is one of the best schools in Korea and I feel both blessed and unworthy to be there. I’m truly thankful for the opportunity. I’m not sure what grade level I will be teaching yet, but it really doesn’t matter. I’m just happy to be there.
I’m mainly just happy to be back in Korea. In some ways it feels like just yesterday when I was there but in other ways it seems like a million years ago. I am sad to leave Dallas, but I think the Lord has been preparing me for the last couple of months and helping me to let go.
As usual, I do have a couple prayer requests.
~traveling mercies for our team. We have a direct flight from Dallas to Seoul so that will definitely help, but we sure have a lot of teaching supplies that need to arrive safely in order for us to function as effective teachers. Please pray for safety and no lost luggage 
~Unity for us all. No matter how well we get along here, it’s always a struggle in the stressful circumstances that are surely waiting for us.
~That God would even now be preparing the hearts of the many children we will be ministering to. We have so many chances to be the light of the world for these children. Please pray that we will shine as God intended us to and that it will be Him that shines and not ourselves.
~For my Visa. Please pray that everything will go smoothly and my work visa will be quickly approved. I have to leave the country and go to Japan for a few days to process the visa. (SO excited about Japan!) I won’t have a lot of time between the end of the camp and when school starts. I need for things to move quickly and efficiently so I can get back to Korea and get settled a day or two before school starts.
I think that’s about it. I know there were more but my brain is tired of thinking now. I will let everyone know when I arrive safely. God bless you all and thank you for your love and support. I definitely couldn’t do it without you all.
