Love Love Love

Today is Mother's Day. I called my mom to wish her well, but my absence by living abroad leaves me feeling empty and powerless to actually let her know how thankful I am she's my mother. She's a wonderful woman who has always directly and indirectly taught me about life. There are moments when I realize I am becoming much like her and it always brings a smile to my face.


She's made many sacrifices that upon thinking about, choke me up because I realize I don't know if I'd truly have the courage or strength to pull through the way she has.

I love my mother and I gladly call her my friend.

That being said, I'm two weeks away from my big Europe trip and that much closer to being back in Boise to spend time with my family and friends. Destination?

Ireland

England

Netherlands

Germany

Greece

Italy

Spain

I'm also two weeks away from being finished with my job. I have been amazed at how wonderful it's been to work here; however, a few weeks ago I experienced frustration that has been somewhat of a challenge to deal with. The challenge has been a learning experience and overall positive, but I will be glad to move on to the next chapter, but will greatly miss many of my dear students.

I feel like maybe this challenge has a lot to do with what Mr. Oswald Chambers has put really well:

"Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, ". . . love one another as I have loved you" ( John 15:12 ). He is saying, "I will bring a number of people around you whom you cannot respect, but you must exhibit My love to them, just as I have exhibited it to you." This kind of love is not a patronizing love for the unlovable— it is His love, and it will not be evidenced in us overnight. Some of us may have tried to force it, but we were soon tired and frustrated."

I am sorry for the love that has not been true or genuine and am challenged by the reminder that God's love will not continue to grow in me unless it is nurtured.

What an amazing Lord I serve that deals with me in such a gracious way regardless of my faults, failures and insecurities.

Praying for authentic love,
- J.

Muuido for the weekend

Every time I take a trip like this, I feel like I become a renewed person. There's something about the adventure of traveling that quite literally allows me to be myself and feel free. I also can't help but appreciate new faces I encounter, special times of getting to know someone better and the many laughs to be had.

I proposed a weekend away to an island off the west coast of Korea called Muuido. I had gone there a time before on my own, but this time I was graciously accompanied by quite a few good friends.


To get to Muuido, we took a subway ride out to Incheon (airport area) and then took a ferry out to the actual island. It took us quite a while to get out there, but even the journey out there was a blast.

This is the type of hut we (Kristen, Myself, Mikey and Trevor) stayed in right along the beach. It fits four very tightly. BUT we fit and at 20 bucks for the night between four people can you really need anything more?

I spent some good (and exhausting) time playing with these kiddos. They were so full of energy and couldn't get enough playtime with Kristen and I.

We couldn't help but to take full advantage of the beautiful sunset:


There was much time spent exploring the ocean and some of it's fun little creatures. The tide goes out during the day so a vast majority of the beach is walkable.

Hello Mr. Crab with the REALLY cool eyes! If you touched him, they'd go down just like windshield wipers!


Saturday night was spent with many different people who had also come to the island alongside a big bonfire and singing songs with guitar and enjoying the night.

I also took some photos for the lovely Kristen and Trevor. They are newly engaged and we thought it would be fun to get some shots of them. They are such a fun couple and they love each other so deeply. I'm excited to be part of their lives here.


I don't have a photo to capture what happened the next day, but a few of us went out to do some crab digging to see if we could initiate a huge crab war. A lot of the older Korean men (Ahjuhshees) were really curious as to what we were doing. They were really helpful to aid in our collection of sea creatures, so soon we had a bagful of sealife. A little while later, I decided to walk up to their little group and see what THEY were up to. They were using their car keys and the like to pick at the life stuck to the huge rocks on the shore (which appear to be barnacles, by the way). The man shows me that they are eating whatever it is on the rocks. He tells me it's "very delicious" so in my mind I think to myself 'I should walk away before they find one and offer me one to eat'. Well I think I spoke to myself too soon, because before I know it, I'm offered a nice salty sea snack. I ate it without hesitating and although I was laughing inside, it was a great exchange and I was thankful to have done it.

Lastly, what adventure of mine isn't complete without some good jumps? Thanks Trevor and Mark for joining me in the excitement.



It's amazing to me that my time here in Korea is coming to a close. In just a short month, I'll be jetsetting to the next traveling adventure: Europe. For now though, I'm embracing and taking in all that my life here has to offer and the amazing people I'm completely BLESSED to know and have in my life here.

I am thankful. Thankful a lot for a lot of things.

I hope you are too.

All my love
J

In light of the current economy...

I thought this was a good quote:

This is no time for ease and comfort. It is the time to dare and endure.

Winston Churchill (1874–1965), British prime minister during WWII

Also. I'm really sick. It's bound to happen when you work with kids all the time :)