Happy 2010!

Goodbye 2009!

Hello 2010.

I hear that in Korea, it’s a tradition to bid the ending year “goodbye”. They even have farewell 2009 parties. If I were to say goodbye to 2009, what would I say? What would I remember?

2009 was a year of rest. It was a year of brief unemployment, and the beginning of the Fbright grant year. It was a year of getting money for having fun, and serving the community.

Sabbath Year starting now.

My Sabbath year has begun. It’s the 7^th year since I began walking with God. It all started in November 2003. Full of regrets, self-pity, and low self-esteem; I found Jesus. My eyes widened as I stepped into a world where there was no condemnation, where I could have a relationship with the Heavenly Father. The Heavenly Father who loves me.

There were so many highlights in the past month: Conrad and Tiffany’s wedding, food with friends in Los Angeles, the KKOOM Christmas Party at the Samsungwon Orphanage, the last classes of the semester at Gakri Middle School… It’s been an eventful and fun month.

It’s a party in the USA

California – knows how to party. My brief two weeks in Los Angeles and NorCal was packed with hanging out with loved ones, meeting new friends, and relaxing at home with the family.

The weather was gorgeous – nice and sunny with the brisk cool of winter. I drove around for the first time in 6 months, and enjoyed checking out homes decked out with holiday lights.

When you go abroad for a while and you take a short visit home, you can identify the relationships that you truly cherish. The ones that need little catching up or explanation. Those comfortable places of trust. It went really fast, and I didn’t spend adequate time with people, but it was beautiful being together.

Deliverance for North Koreans and Robert Park

My friend, Robert Park, entered into North Korea on Christmas Day, because he was tired of waiting for diplomatic solution to the human rights situation in North Korea.

I wish I could say that I cared more, but I was too busy being merry with drink and girl-craziness. It reminded me of this passage from Proverbs 31.

The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.

O my son, O son of my womb,

O son of my vows.

do not waste your strength on women,

on those who ruin kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine.

Rulers should not crave alcohol.

For if they drink, they may forget the law

and not give justice to the oppressed

Alcohol is for the dying.

and wine for those in bitter distress.

Let them drink to forget their poverty

and remember their troubles no more.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

ensure justice for those being crushed.

Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,

and see that they get justice.

Robert Park is living this. He wants all the luxuries and pleasures that life has to offer, but he is more concerned about the well-being of those that are denied justice in North Korea.

Let’s pray for North Korea, and for Robert. This is his interview before going in.

I’m back in Korea

It’s snowing a ridiculous amount. My flight was delayed in Beijing for 4 hours because of bad weather conditions in Seoul. My poor aunt was waiting at Incheon airport the whole time.

Goals for this Year

My biggest goal for 2010 is that I can put everything under the sovereignty of God. I want to get tight with Him. I know that He has an opinion of the way I conduct every action, and I just want to hear from Him in everything that I do.

This is not about being a living sacrifice, or doing God some big favor, it’s about trusting in the One who knows what’s best for my life.

새해 복 많이 받으세요.

May 2010 be filled with incredible blessings and a deeper understanding of God’s love.