40 days - goodbye november, hello december :)

Hello, final day of November today and also 40 days more to home :)

Been a good past ten days :) Did some shopping to which my mom replied,"Great! This will keep you warm and happy and smiling." :D Bought three jackets and a pair of boots for the winter in less than two hours! Not bad for a person who doesn't really fancy shopping :P

Also, the snow came again :) And so we played with the snow, made a snowman and also my first snow angel!

Also, got to spend more time with friends here. Trips, coffee dates, homecooked dinner by the boys from IVF, a Korean movie with no subtitles but which we could understand (improvements!) and a lot of meet ups over some sort of food or coffee :) I'm going to miss the friends here and even some have become family. The conversations, the experiences, the lives.

This month has been teaching me where to put my focus on - Christ. And that as I look to Christ, my perspectives change which in turn affects the way I think, feel, act, speak, etc. However, I've stumbled about so many many times. Getting distracted, losing focus, messy emotions, and so on. :\ But His grace always finds me, picks me up and shows me again and again the way I should go. It's been humbling.

I miss home a lot, though.

Also there's been quite a number of people who have lost loved ones :( And it just keeps reminding me: Life is short. Time is so limited. You never know if today is your last day on earth. Are you living a life that is to His Kingdom and glory? And also the people in our lives, are we loving them?

Aww.. shucks. This made me emo.

Goodbye November, Hello December :)

50 days

So, I've been here in South Korea for almost three months now. And as I've said it so many time before (because it's true and it's a good reminder to myself) that this place and her people are beautiful in so many ways :) But I also miss Malaysia and her people very much, and my heart is definitely there. :)

So, here's the countdown! Fifty days till my flight home. FIFTY! 50! Five-Zero! (Haha, it's not really that big of a deal :P Every single day is indeed precious.) Fifty days till home, family, loved ones, friends, and so much more. I'm excited but I'm also so aware of how much I'm going to miss Korea.

I want to make each day count. Bless someone, do something meaningful, try something new, grow in faith :)

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

- 2 Peter 1:5-8

I want to be prepared to go home, refreshed in God. With the knowledge and assurance that He is enough. :) I want to look back at these days and thank God for them and for what He has done and is doing in me. 

So, here's to 50 days to come, with God, here in Korea! :)

Picture taken from http://blog.connectionthebestmedicine.com/?p=1674

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Oh! Yesterday was my dad's birthday :) I am thankful to be able to call him "Daddy" and am blessed to be known as his daughter :) 

I love you, Daddy :) And I miss you truckloads here in Korea! Thank you for providing and caring for me all these years! For teaching us through your words and actions and for inspiring us is so many many ways. I love your heart for God and your compassion for people and pray that day by day you will continue to grow in His grace and refining. You're my hero, Dad! And one of the most important men in my life :) *BIGHUG* God bless you!

I love you :)

First Snow :)

There are moments in life that are precious and amazing. They make you bubble over in excitement just thinking about it. My first snow experience is today in Cheongju, South Korea :) And it was beautiful, amazing, exciting, fun and everything wonderful!

The first sight of snow from my room's window :D Excitement was unbearable!

Look at that :)

The changes I have been allowed to experience :)
Summer, Autumn, Winter :)

A place for my time alone with God :)
Now, too cold. But I'll find somewhere else.. :)

First touch of snow :)
Was so excited I went down in shorts and slippers :)

Thank You, Lord for such experiences! Lord, I'm amazed by You! Day by day, Your glory and wonders continues to amaze me. And thank You for the people I was able to share these moments with. Thank You for such moments and for being with me throughout :) I love You!

time to change - preparations

Changed the name of this blog from "Faith, Hope and Love" to "Preparations".

And the verse from "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13) to "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). 

As a reminder to myself to live for Christ and for the things that really count. To always have eternity in mind and to always be in preparation for it.

Coming to Korea has allowed me to take a step back and take a good look at life, my worldviews and perspectives and the environment and situations I'm so used to back home. Makes me realize the need for change and am praying that day by day, bit by bit, the Holy Spirit will work in me to change me and prepare me for when Christ comes again. Less of me, more of Him. 

Also, the loss of loved ones has also reminded me that life on earth is temporary yet the way we live is important. It's important that our lives glorify God and touch the lives of others that they too may know God. Reminds me that my time here on earth is not forever and neither are the times of people around me. There is an urgency.

And so, it is a time to change. The very safe and comfortable way I've been living in. The very self-centered and me-first mentality. The selfishness and indifference in me that tells me that it's fine to keep the truth and good news to myself. The hypocrisy and double-mindedness of my being. 

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do:

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 3:12-14)

And I pray that more and more Christians will continue in fervent preparation for our King's coming.

people, places and seasons

We only get two types of weather in Malaysia - sunshine and rain. I've gotten to experience autumn here in Korea and though I'm not very accustomed to the cold, i love how beautiful autumn is :) The leaves are starting to change their colour and some trees have gone bald bare. (is bald the right word for trees? maybe bare is better.) 

Beautiful Autumn :)

Well, it's been exactly two months since I got here. And it's been quite a journey of learning and experiencing new things. Been travelling a bit more this month - a temple stay in Boeun, a day trip to Daejeon, Seoul to meet Nie Nie, Busan to meet Adam and also to watch the 9th Busan Fireworks Festival, and also around our beloved city of Cheongju. :)

Thank You, Lord, for bringing me to this beautiful place :)

Suam-gol, Cheongju

And for all these wonderful people :)

Trip to Daejeon with these girls and Jake from IVF :)

Who teach me so much :)

Temple Stay at Boepjusa Temple, Boeun

Who love me and whom I love :)

Meeting Nie Nie in Seoul :) Was such a blessing and encouragement.
Insa-Dong, Seoul

And who take good care of me :)

With Adam Choi in Busan for the Fireworks Festival
Gwangan-ri Beach, Busan

There's so much to see around here. But I think the thing that makes all these trips and places really special to me are the people I encounter or am with in these places :) Thank You, Lord for each and every one of them :) I hope that I too will be a blessing to those around me. But more than that, I pray that I would be salt and light wherever I am, a witness for Christ and one who is not ashamed of the gospel.

Lord, help me. I really want to follow you and be obedient to your Word. But many times, I'm afraid and I fail so many times. Help me to love you with all my heart, all my mind, all my soul and all my strength. Help me to live a life that is pleasing unto you. I need you, Lord.

a month in korea

I had coffee with God :) Which consisted of a nice hot cup of coffee, bible, journal, highlighter, pen and a seat near the window on a rainy Sunday afternoon. And the guy in white in front of me is quite cute :P Hee. Just kidding, I'm more focused than that.

The coffee date has been one long overdue and it was good to just spend time reflecting and spending time in His presence. A lot of questions and situations got clearer as I looked back through my journal entries. And though not everything is crystal clear, I'm assured that God is with me and will bring me through. He is enough. One of the big questions is why am I here? What is the purpose of me being here? Though it's still not entirely clear, I trust that God has a purpose and a plan for me here.

It's been a month since I flew away to this foreign land and I have experienced so much. I'm slowly getting used to it but I know there's still so much more to explore and discover. I know I can't experience everything, but I hope that the life I live will be one that is pleasing unto God and that would glorify Him. And that is my prayer for the remaining three months here in Korea. My journey here so far has been marked by the grace, blessings and favor of God. And truly without Him, I am nothing. Thank You, Lord :)

Here comes Week 5 :) Let's go!

pfft, yea right!

a blog post a day for when i came to korea :P

pfft. as if that would happen! :D

well, just a little update from Korea :) it's been a good three plus weeks thus far.

off the top of my head:

i love the weather here! and the nature, so much trees and green :) the sky is clear and blue and the air fresh and cool :) mmm.

i've met amazing people here and realize how wonderful it is when someone offers a kind welcome and genuine help to someone who's feeling a little lost in a new place. a little kindness goes a long way.

People I've been blessed to know here in Korea :)
(Okay, so there are a lot of pictures of recurring people :P but it's not easy to have pictures of every single person you meet...)

food. food's good :) healthy and yummy. but i do miss the malaysian variety and cheapness! haha. :) no food pictures as i'm not a fan of taking food pictures. they all come out looking the same anyway :P eww, sorry!

it's also been a refreshing journey with God. but it has its ups and downs. lots of questions and struggles but am also learning and re-learning a lot of things. there's a tendency for me to want to get lazy and distracted with doing my own thing, since i'm away from home and stuff. but God is reminding me His Kingdom is first wherever i am. He also reminds me that He is enough, especially when i miss the comforts and security of home. i hope to keep growing closer and to keep knowing Him deeper.

He is enough. God is enough. :)

Goodnight and Happy 추석 (chusok - Korean Thanksgiving)
*we've got three days of break :)

Day 2 - The Arrival

Arrived in Incheon Airport feeling oh-so-excited :D And the feeling is still growing as I look around and take in the unfamiliarity of this new place. South Korea is beautiful :)

The university we're in is also pretty amazing too :) But I'll save that for another time when I've explored more of it.

So, here's to an awesome next four months of learning, exploring and discovering :) Committing each of these days to my Father in Heaven and thanking Him for this opportunity to be here.

Day 1 - Leaving Home

Never been so far away for so long in my life. Of course, there'll come a time when this will seem so trivial, but for now, it's quite something to me. 

My parents, Yew Leung and Ernest were at the airport to see me off. It was quick goodbyes and constant reminders to be careful and wishes for have a safe journey. I really love and miss them all :) Oh, and the night I flew off was Yew Meng's birthday too. Happy birthday, rounds. Am going to miss kacau-ing you these four months!

Leaving home makes you appreciate and miss your loved ones back home :) 

leaving on a jet plane

So, I'm flying off to Korea tomorrow! Wow, that's fast :\

In the past two weeks, I ended my teaching practice. It was bittersweet. Learnt a lot being in the school for about eight weeks (two weeks of Raya break do not count, haha) but there seems to be so much more to learn too. Was very touched by the efforts of my students in saying their goodbyes. I'll miss you, girls :)

Fellow Trainees :)

Had a family dinner on Monday - farewell for Yew Leung and I + Birthday celebration for Yew Meng and Sieh Ping + Celebration for Yew Kong's thesis successes (speaking and writing) I'm going to miss home :)

Tuesday was debriefing and reflection in UM about our teaching practice. Insightful and inspiring :) It was good to see everyone again. We laughed, told stories, encouraged each other and for Vindy and I bid farewell to our beloved coursemates. Had a makan-makan with Dr Visha and the Moral bunch :)

Dr Visha, Hanan and Vindy :)

With Shikin and Kat :D

All together now :D

Banana leaf - Yay! :)

Also got to meet up with Huey Lin, Jared and Ernest at The Grind :) It was good hearing from the working and the fresh graduates. I felt like a kid :P

Huey Lin, your perseverance and work inspires me. And when you ask, "So, what can we do?" It reminds me to keep asking that question too. 

Jared Koh, thank you for sharing and challenging us to become missionaries, teachers, politicians, people who make a difference. hope you get your call one day! heheheh. 

Ernest Lee, thank you for journeying with me and always showing me what it is to put love into action. Keep doing that, keep reminding yourself that God's call is better than what the world expects you to do/earn/be. 

 *To these who inspire and encourage me to make a difference in this broken world*

SWEEPers :)

Favorite boy in the whole wide world! :D

Today, we went back to the refugee school for awhile. I missed the kids. :) Hugs and high fives given. And was reminded at the end of the day how blessed I am to have Ernest in my life, such a BIIGG heart he has! :) Ernest, thank you for being patient, understanding and loving towards a broken, sometimes confused and often times confusing girl. I love you.

So anyway, all my bags are packed...

*starts singing*

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go

...

Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane (aeroplane)

Don't know when I'll be back again (9th January 2013)

See you soon :) Hope I'll blog more when I'm there!

New chapter of my life, here I come :D