Wow. God has really been teaching me a lot over this past week. Something so simple that I seemed to have been missing this whole time. I mean, I understood it and knew it, but I was somehow missing it completely.
"But you will receive power...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."~Acts 1:8
Coming to Korea as an English teacher is secondary. I came to Korea to attest to the Truth. I came to Korea because God has a plan and specific purpose for me here. I came to Korea to be a light: a light to the students, a light to the teachers, a light to the community.
If you ask me what my motivation is in learning Korean, one reason is to better understand the culture. One reason is to be better integrated into my community and show a level of respect and gratefulness for being here. When people come to the USA, we "expect" them to speak English with us. Why should it be any different? If I come to Korea, should I "expect" them to just speak English with me? NO. I am in their country with their language. I should be adapting to them. And yet...with all this being said, my biggest motivation (and sometimes the only thing keeping me learning when I feel overwhelmed or like my brain is going to explode or I just want to quit)...is that I want to speak to people and reach people in their heart language. When I get discouraged with language studying, I remind myself of that, and I keep pushing on. It might take me a lot longer to learn a language than the average person, but I have a heart to learn!
And yet, despite all this...over this past week, God has been speaking to me about something in regards to sharing that light...
Laura...I have already given you the power.
Wow.
And all this time, I had this power and never really realized how much power it was: English.
Yes, I came here as an English teacher, and I am clearly using English to help others, but I never realized how valuable I really was as a native English speaker. You know, the more I am outside of the country, the more I realize how blessed and appreciative I am for being a native English speaker. And so, being here, over this past week, I have had so many opportunities to talk with others...in English. It's always been that I want to try and speak Korean with them, and I never really think about the fact that there is so much power in English. I want to spend my time learning the language and practicing the language and sort of felt like I had had "enough" of the English speaking/teaching with my kids all day that I wanted to use my evenings to work on Korean. And yet...it is like in Daegu where our pastor used to go: many Koreans came to know the Lord through going to English worship services. It was a learning experience for them in more ways than what they had imagined! The same applies here, now. There are so many people that want to learn English (I kind of forget because I work with elementary kids all day!). I have been leading an English conversation group on Mondays with some ladies I Latin dance with. Mondays has always been a blessing for me, and no matter how tired I am going in or how long of a day I have had, I always leave refreshed and with a smile on my heart. Just last week, I started going to an English conversation group in Daegu, and it was some of the most fun I've had in awhile. It was so nice to just meet Koreans my age and hang out and get to know one another. Then, this week, I started going to an English conversation group that just started in Gumi at Teabum. (Search for Gumi talk on Facebook to find the group). Teabum also offers Korean classes and music lessons. You can find Teabum downtown. (*Directions from Gumi Station: if you are standing facing away from the Station, cross the street and turn right. Walk straight a few blocks until you see the GS 25, and turn left. Teabum is on your left. Walk up to the second floor of the building.)
The conversation group was nice. We had a good time discussing current issues and getting to know one another. (If you are interested in joining the English conversation group, it meets on Thursdays at 8pm at Teabum.) I am going to try to commit to this group as well. You know, some people may look at my schedule and think I am so busy (ok, maybe I am), but I am only here on this earth once. I am only given one of each day and one of each opportunity. I would rather get to the end of life and look back knowing I spent it well than look back and see that I just lived the "easy" life of teaching during the day and going home at night. I am not saying relaxing is bad, so please don't take me the wrong way (I sure love to sleep in a little on the weekends and have a free night every now and then!), but I am not my own. This body is not my own. This life is not my own. Check out this article from CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network)...it's really in harmony to this idea.
"I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own;
it is not for man to direct his steps." ~Jeremiah 10:23
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."~Galatians 2:20
Over these past 8 months, our prayer group has been doing a lot of praying for an awakening in Gumi--for an over-pouring of the Holy Spirit. We've been doing a lot of praying, and now, as the season of life is changing, we are realizing that He's calling us into a time of action.
And so I will leave you with a thought: are you living your life in a way that leads to eternity? What are you doing that requires faith? Are you even doing anything that requires faith? Is there room to be a "lukewarm" Christian? Are you living a life totally obsessed with Christ?
Yes, you are right.
ReplyDeleteI know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.