Experiencing the SEOUL of Korea

I'm really just blogging in hopes that xanga will start sending me my subscriptions digest. But hey...I visited Seoul at the end of March, and surely that is worth blogging about right?

On March 26, Faith and I took off for Seoul, Korea. We spent about 3 full days there: seeing all we could, eating all we could, and buying all we could. It was quite refreshing being in a country where no one understood you, where you couldn't understand anyone else...Body language worked for the most part. Although, the point and order didn't work so well sometimes. Overall, we had a grand time hitting all the tourist hot-spots. Seoul is an absolutely fascinating place, and I'm so glad we went.

Here are some pictures to commemorate our visit:

I've lived a year in a week...

On December 27th, my sisters hopped on a flight bound for Arkansas. Meanwhile, I sat in the office and felt incredibly sorry for myself as I answered the numerous phone calls that came in. To make myself feel better, I bought myself a drink from Starbucks, and counted the numerous things that had to happen before they came back. It didn't make me feel better.

Nevertheless, I had a great New Year's week...The first item on the agenda was a small group party at my house on Sunday, December 30th. The chef? Tai Yian, our small group leader (from 2007).  And yes...Yian can cook!

After playing wii, dutch blitz, heart attack, set, and phase ten for hours...dinner was finally ready. Our small group leader outdid himself with all of the dishes that he prepared. It was yummy! (Um...should I also mention the yummy tomato/plum powder dish my mom made, and the pork and fruit tart that I made?--the pork and fruit tart are two separate dishes. To combine the two would be GROSS!)

Hmmmm...I can't seem to figure out how to rotate the pictures so that they're the right side up.
Oh well. Turn your heads sideways.

God has really blessed our small group last year. And now, we embark on a new journey as I take up the position of small group leader in this new year. Please pray for me...I think I'm going to need it.

On New Year's Eve, I went out for dim sum with Tom and his family. We ate from 9:00-11:30...and then we went out on the restaurant's balcony to watch the fireworks. It was coooold!

I didn't get home until 2 am--thanks to the ever so crazy traffic in Taipei. I quickly went to bed--and woke up early the next day to prepare for the VOICE reunion! Yup--since Faith and Karen weren't around, it was up to me to make sure that lunch was served at 12. Thanks to Juliana (and a little of Wes' and other people's help)...we were able to serve the meal on time. We served spaghetti [with specially prepared noodles], salad, the tomato dish again [we had an overabundance of tomatoes, obviously], garlic bread, cooked vegetables, and brownies. And yeah...everyone was full. And everyone is still alive. So...I guess the reunion was a success. I don't have very many photos to document the reunion (not even any pictures of the food), but I do have one...a group picture.

You would think that would be the end of a crazy few days...But alas, I had to rush off at 5:00 to meet up with my small group to watch National Treasure II. An entertaining movie it was...I was just glad to be able to sit still for about 2 hours without having to move.

Of course, there were other fun things--like having Lauren and Corrie stay with me for two nights, hosting Wes and Junes for a night...Austin for another. Taking year end inventory and being in such a rush, I'm not even sure our numbers were correct; surviving part one of our financial audit; going to Curves (gotta exercise still!), answering a TON of phone calls about the upcoming seminars; drinking lots of hot water because it was freezing cold; trying to work through piles of paperwork and receipts...Having Jenny and Joyce and Angel come help me stick labels on 1300 Character First binders...AND trying to prepare for small group. So yeah-I think I'm tired now, and I would love to just take a nice long nap and do absolutely nothing for awhile.

So that's my life. How has yours been? I still love reading everyone's updates, so keep them coming.

And last but not least...

Happy 2008, everyone!!!

VOICE is over...

 The battle was intense this year...I felt like I was losing, barely surviving.
     While it was going on, I couldn't wait for it to be over...
          When it was over, I wished so badly for another few days...
               Maybe then, God would break these students. Why was He waiting so long to work?

Yes, this year's VOICE was not quite like the previous years. It was hard. Harder than anything I've ever done. Yet, isn't that what VOICE is all about? This year constantly brought me to my knees in prayer. The most amazing times were prayer times with the staff. Did God let us down? Did He not come through for us?

I believe God heard our prayers...and I believe that He has answered them.
God isn't limited by time or space...and so while we may not have seen any change now, I know that He is pursuing them--HARD.

So...it was a good year. It was a challenging year. It will take me more time to digest everything that's happened. So for now, I'll just leave you with a few pics of fun friends we were able to see in Chicago...

VOICE Returns...

These last few months have been busy ones...and now, I find myself smack dab in the middle of VOICE. It's been good though--except for the attack of the pecans the other night. God's given us a good group of students, and we have yet to see where this year's adventures will lead us...

But first...a few pictures...just to give you a glimpse.

Here are four of the five girls on my team. Pictured left to right (after me...Jocelyn, Lillian, Angela, and Jamie)

And here is Joanne...Another girl on my team.

 Of course, one of the highlights is seeing Audj again...

And Davina who dropped by for a visit this weekend...

Johnsons will always be Johnsons...It's been great having Seth join us for V2. 

Here we are in front of the State Capitol--with Jamie and Jocelyn.

So yeah...VOICE has been fun. Challenging, but fun. It'll be neat to see what God does in the days ahead...

And on a side note...Here's someone that I miss:

Life just isn't quite the same these days...

Vienen Consiguen Gordos!

On Sunday, we had some friends from church over for a Mexican fiesta...Who could have asked for a better time of food, fun, and fellowship? Here are a few shots from the evening...

I think we all had a great time: whether it was cooking together, smashing the pinata (that refused to break--hence Boba's annoyed expression), talking, eating, laughing, singing, or listening to Oliver's testimony. God has definitely blessed me with many great friends from church. What more could I ask for, right?