ARRIVING IN IKSAN

My first week here is coming to an end, and I'm beginning to get settled in--almost. I need my own nest. My apartment won't be ready for a couple of weeks. So until then I'm living out of 4 suitcases. Yes, four! I just couldn't narrow it down any further. I'm still getting tired early in the afternoon and getting up early in the morning. But day by day it's getting better.
I've had two observation days at school and will begin teaching next week sometime. Koreans are very study oriented. I'm amazed how these little kids go from class to class with only an hour lunch break. The meals are large with lots of Korean variety. They all eat everything on their plates. Then they can play until the next class. Everything is in English. We don't speak any Korean to them. However, Bible class is interpreted. The children take turns saying the prayer for each class. The classes are only 30 minutes long; then they change. The teachers teach 13 classes a day. You have to be very organized to get everything in that needs to be covered. The children range in age from 3 to 7 years. However, here their ages start from conception, not birth. So, it is difficult to understand. I guess they have a conception day?? Anyway, once a month the school celebrates birthdays for those born in that month. It's a really big deal. I did a video of the celebration yesterday, but can not post it yet as I don't have my laptop hooked up to internet yet. I'm using my roomates computer now.
Today is a Saturday. I went shopping for a few necessities and cleaned the apartment. Carrie is busy with her Church all weekend. I may go with her tomorrow, but I want to go to the church in Kunsan eventually.
I will be writing again next week. Everything is so new right now. I'm sure I'll have alot to talk about with my new adventure. See you then!

SEARCHING FOR MY PLACE

Two days to departure. I leave Monday morning to San Francisco where I will connect with Singapore Airlines to Seoul, Korea. I've been so stressed out the last two weeks getting everything done to leave. These last two days I'm staying with Tommy and Stacey and the girls. Samantha is being baptised Sunday. That will be a fun day. I'm so proud of her. Leaving is bittersweet. I'm excited to begin this new adventure, but sad to leave my family. I will miss them so much. I wish I could be happy here in Atlanta. I'm not. Cities are lonely places for me. I pray for guidance in finding my place in this world.

Trip to Arizona

Oh, I know, alot of time has passed since my last post. What a roller coaster I've been on! Not surprised? Me either. Seems par for the coarse in my life. This week I had a 3 day estate sale, a farewell party, rented my house, sold my car, borrowed a car, cancelled my utilities, OH, and had my debit card number stolen. And I booked my ticket to South Korea! Yep, I'm really leaving on March 23rd. My grandaughter, Sam, is being baptised on the 22nd, and I have to be there for that. Saturday the 14th we move the last of my things out of the house.
BUT--two weeks ago I was in Arizona. I flew out to see and say goodbye for now to family and friends there. I stayed with Laura, my good friend and ventured out from there. She and I went up to the White Mountains to see another good friend, Mike McMillan. He lives in Luna, NM which is a tiny village of 190 people. He's pretty much a hermit up there. He lives in a small cabin (3 rooms) in a forest on a ranch. It was really great-so quiet and peaceful. He has a big beautiful white dog, Velvet, that was amazing. He had his own cot in the living room. Mike also has a cat named Callie Kitty who was pretty big herself. And two horses-also pretty big. Needless to say, we ate very well there. I used to live in this area, so we did alot of visiting local sites. We found some wonderful pottery shards down on the Blue. Since it was winter, there weren't many people roaming around, but I did see some old acquintances in the Bear Wallow Cafe. The weather was beautiful and the air so fresh--pine scent in the air. Great!
Back in Tucson, Jolene and I did alot of running around. Josh took her and I to lunch one day. We had dinner for 10 people at my sister's place. The whole Kucko family was there, and I had to cook. It was so much fun. Jody and I went fishing at Parker Canyon Lake down south one day. It was really the first time I've actually fished from a boat. It was so relaxing. We caught 15 rainbow trout. We could only keep 6 so we did some catch and release (which I'm not sure I understand). Fish dinner that night.
I really had a great time , and it was hard to leave. Thanks Laura for being so hospitable!

PREPARATION

Well, I'm back in the processing stage to go to Iksan. I've sent documents, but I had to redo one form and get an apostille (an authorization of authenticity needed by Korea). So, I'm waiting for that. I'm trying to rent the house now since I won't be coming back to it. I've decided to give up all my possesions. My pets are still a problem. I can't find the friend that was suppose to take them, shelters are full (which I don't think I can do anyway). Cindy is not considered unadoptable. Horace is hard to place because of age. But he's very healthy. My kitty will go to live with Stacia. I think I've found homes for alot of my furniture. I'll have a yard sale soon, and the rest I will donate to the Union Mission. Oh yes, I still have to sell my car. Not much!
I'm communicating now with an American woman at the school. Hopefully, I'll get a better insight into things. The director of the school is Korean and doesn't speak English well. I pray everyday that I am following God's Will. There's been many setbacks. They tell me that is to be expected. My ankle is healing well. It only bothers me when I'm tired or it's tired. I wish it would warm up a bit--I just want to stay in my bedroom and curl up with a blanket.

Follow the Coarse

What a day! I was glued to the television all day for the inaugeration. It was so wonderful to see how many Americans pulled together, celebrated, and praised the day for our new president. This won't be any picnic, and we need to do our part. Me, I'm going to Korea to teach. Well, this I'm doing at God's request. There are things I still need to learn and hopefully teach to others. I should be ready to go in March. My ankle is healing nicely. I have arrangements to make. I look on this adventure as a time for growth. I've decided to give up all material possesions and follow the coarse. Who knows where it will lead me.

HITTING THE BOOK

Hey guys! I started back to class tonight for Bible Training for Christian Leaders (BTCL). This coarse is New Testament Survey which will last a year. I really enjoyed class tonight even if I had to go on crutches. My foot got a bit tired after 3 hours, but it was great to see everybody. I had several "AHA MOMENTS" during our discussions. Studying the Bible to this extent has been great for me. I feel like my head swells everytime I go--I learn so much! Anyway, I've had a month off, and it feels great to be back to the book.

Wishing all my friends a blessed New Year!

Christmas has come and gone. I think I almost missed it. I spent the night at my son's house as did Stacia and GG. It was lots of fun--family dinner, Christmas Church Service, getting ready for Santa. Watching the kids open their presents in the morning was great too. Then I come home, and I'm all alone. It's been raining for days. It's dark in the house. Nothing on TV. It feels like death around here. My son and the family are off on their boat sailing to Bimini. I have too much time to think. I have come to a decision. I will give myself 5 years. Then I will move to Belize. I've been doing some research on the subject. You can live pretty cheaply there. It's a beautiful place--nice and warm. I will need to go down there and travel around to see what area I like. But I think I'll like it alot. I'm pretty excited about this. I wish there was someone to share it with, but you never know. Maybe that could still be in the cards. It'd have to be someone as crazy as me.

MISSING IN ACTION

I thought I had better check in with you guys. I'm on the mend-SLOWLY but surely. I've been going to physical therapy where they're trying to get my foot to bend. I still have another month of no weightbearing. In the meantime, I've been watching lots of movies, reading, studying Korean and generally messing around on my laptop. My dogs don't get it. Mom's around alot more, but she's not doing much ball playing. I'm missing all the Christmas crowds. Maybe in some ways this economy will get us back to basics, and we can remember what Christmas is all about. With that I will close:

Be kind to others, honor your family, and pay it forward to those in need.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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SERVING THE LORD IN ATLANTA

I was checking out my church blog this morning (www.buckheadchurch.org) and saw all the wonderful things our church community have been doing this Christmas season and was overwhelmed with pride and joy! I have not been able to participate in any of these things due to my broken ankle, and I realized how much I've missed this holiday season. It's ironic that I have been searching for different ways to participate in glorifying God's name in ways that help those in need, and I find myself the needy one. So many things are put on hold in my life, and I have no idea where God is leading me. I guess I was taking too much control. So I have been forced to back off and watch. I want to say that I am so proud and honored to be a member of Buckhead Church and their continuous outreach to serve the Lord and help those in need in Atlanta and around the world.