Freedom

Faces I think of when I think of the topic of Freedom.  Here's some of my eighth grade students.

On Korean Independence Day, we had a special service at our church. A Korean man sitting next to me asked, "Where are you from?"  I said, "America." He responded, "Thank you for helping our country be free."  

Freedom.  Us Americans don't necessarily think about it every day because it's like the air we breath.  Travel overseas, say to a Communist country, or somewhere that hasn't always had freedom, and I quickly remember that not only has my country fought for this gift, it has fought so others overseas could have this gift, too.  I'm so thankful to be an American.

While I love having freedom in my home country, my husband reminded me of what true freedom is.  We can have freedom in Christ.  When we decide to follow him, we are free from many things, including sin, what other's think of us, religious obligation, addictions, and many things that can drag us down and keep us from the wonderful life God wants to give us!  This freedom comes from the gift we can have of a personal relationship with Him.  

Freedom through a personal relationship with the Lord has changed my life.  I have learned that Christianity is so much more than attending church and being a good person.  Jesus lives in us to change us to be more like Him!  I want to share this truth to my students.  God didn't die so we could have a religion and do certain things, He died so we could have a relationship, and from that relationship can come many awesome actions and attitudes.

Thanks for freedom, Lord. I want my life reflect what freedom in you can look like, and how wonderful it is!

The Best Things in Life Aren't Easy

Scuba diving with kids?!  Yes, in Saipan we did this.

So maybe we're not fearless, but we're going for it!

I've been a lifeguard, but I will admit I don't like being in deep water for long periods of time...something about being far away from a lot of oxygen...so I was a little scared. It was definitely worth it, and the kids loved it!

International living is on it’s best day, my dream come true.  I will be honest and tell you, though, that it’s not easy.  Experiencing the Asian flu, trying to teach children English while not knowing Korean, crying because I miss my family on holidays, and additional stress to my day-to-day activities, like grocery shopping in a beyond crowded grocery store on the weekends, are realities we face as well.

So why do it?  You might wonder.  Reflecting on this week and what the Lord did for me always reminds me.  Christ took my sins upon himself so that I might live.  He offers me eternal life with him, even now.  We can know Him and have a personal relationship with Him.  This reality changes my life.  He went through a horrifying death for me.  His best friends disowned him.  He was tortured, both physically and mentally, for me.  He conquered death, and he wants His message spread to the entire world.  His life-changing message has the power to raise the dead, heal the sick, reconcile relationships, and offer peace.  I want to know and be a friend to a God like that, the One True God. 

2 Corinthians 5:21:  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Thanks, Lord, for dying for me.  It’s my honor to serve you internationally, no matter what challenges I face along the way.

Faith Like a Child

Kids.  I am here to educate them.  Lately, though, they have been educating me.  They have this amazing ability to have a simple faith.  They trust their parents and many adults, including myself, to take care of them, provide for them, protect them, and love them.  Such a simple faith, with huge results.  We who love them know we will do everything we can to make sure they are happy, safe, and loved.  Our love will never be perfect though, as our heavenly Father's is.  He wants us to come to Him with faith like a child.  A simple faith.  One that says, I trust you will take care of me today, Lord.  I trust that you will provide for all of my needs, even though I'm not sure how it will happen.  I trust that you will give me strength when I'm weak and an extra bit of patience when I am out.  I trust that you will never leave me or forsake me, even in my darkest hour.   

Faith like a child.  When I was growing up, there was a popular song, called Faith Like a Child, sung by Jars of Clay.  Here's a part of the lyrics:

"They say that I can move the mountains
And send them crashing into the sea
They say that I can walk on water
If I would follow and believe
with faith like a child"

God, I want to have that kind of faith today.

Here's some of the kids and people who inspire me.  Aaron and I had the awesome opportunity to go to Everland, the Korean version of Disneyland, a few weeks ago with a family we met in America as they were living there.  What a blessing they have been to us, as they have adopted us as part of their family, and recently sent us blankets and some dishes to help us.

Danwoo and Gyuri.  I tutored them in America, and got to teach them about Jesus in church.

Danwoo loves Aaron!

Aaron sledding....what a cool amusement park ride to have in the winter!

One happy family!

Aaron bought the kids Dip N Dots:)

He's so cute, I'd love to take him home...but Aaron says we need to give him back:)

A Matter of the Heart

Aaron loves Korea!  In front of Olympic Park in Seoul, Korea.

One of the walls we redecorated at the Korean Church in Bloomington.

Dinner in America with our Korean friends!

Some of the painters at the Korean church in Bloomington.

I have a confession.  I (Steph) do not like to blog.  It's true.  So why do it?  Because you are important, relationships are important, and sharing what the Lord's doing is important because perhaps it will encourage and inspire someone else, as it does me.  So here goes.


Over the last year, Aaron and I have looked into different overseas opportunities.  While we said no to some and God said no to others, we will admit we were beginning to wonder if God wanted us to stay in the States.  I was sad in a way, discouraged at times, although I love being close to my friends and family.  I remember vividly sitting through a sermon on dreams while I was in the Philippines, and hearing the preacher talking about what's your dream?  God gave them to us and we should go for them.  My dream was to be a wife and possibly mom on the mission field.  Thanks God for making my dream come true!


I know it might sound strange, but my heart feels at home in Asia.  In America, we spent a lot of time with our Asian friends. and I spend a lot of time tutoring Korean kids.  It was through this time that God gave me more experience in teaching English and falling in love with Korean people and culture.  You see, my heart loved Japan, but it wasn't ready to convert to another country yet...it needed some time, and Aaron and I needed some time to do the marriage thing before we went overseas.  God knew that, and faithfully provided for us until the time He sent us.


Do we miss you?  YES!  Very much.  Could we do this without you?  I wouldn't want to try.  Supportive people who pray for us and encourage us are central to our work here at a Christian School.  We get to teach about Christianity, and I can't wait!  Thanks for being on this journey with us!


P.S.  I'm really not a big picture taker either.  Aaron has posted many awesome pics on facebook (he's our photographer) so if you want to see some, please befriend him there!