Let me tell ye of me adventures in the new world!

     Let us just fain for a breeze dat ye live in a new land an' ye don't speak t' language. Ye don't know where anythin' is and ye've almost no shipmates. So, t' first thin' ye do is... watch nextflix!!!

     But seriously, there is a lot of free time when you don't have people to go see. This is sad and also true, especially for and extroverted person who possess almost zero motivation for events that exclude people. I have been shown a way to convince my computer that I am either in the states or Turkey, on occasion (no idea why google thinks that I'm in Turkey, but you can take it up with them). This means that I can watch nextflix or cbs.com you know, stuff. I have been perusing a great deal of the West Wing, that aired a few years ago. In short I need friends haha.

     I am so thankful for the ways that God has provided me with friends and opportunities to spend time with people, over the last few weekends especially!

     My first weekend I was extended an invitation, from two of the women I work with, to go with them to Costco. Yes, this is infact the same franchise that we enjoy in the states. There are four or five of them in the country and I was bound for the nearest one. Olivia, Jessica (their English names), and I met at work at 4pm and the adventure began. Olivia has a car which made this trip doable because the nearest Costco is about thirty minutes away. When we got there, all of the first four levels of the parking garage were full so we managed to squeeze in on the top story. Every large store that I have been to here, has multiple levels for the store and the rest are parking garage. Costco was two levels with a hybrid escalator-moving-sidewalk to transport people and their carts from the first to second levels of the store. It was much like the US version, but with many more people and a greater population of fish. I saw a large area of Cheeseball containers, chocolate-covered almonds, clothes, and the lot. After nearly an hour of shopping we made our way out, having to wait for the elevator to take us to the 5th floor where our car was parked. We packed it all in and were off.

     We were all ready for dinner at this point and they wanted to take me to a traditional Korean restaurant. I was still pretty jet lagged and had almost no appetite for the first two weeks, but I was trying to rectify the situation. The restaurant was made from a house built a long time ago in the style of Korean houses that existed over 300 years ago. It was simple and beautiful. When entering a house, or many traditional restaurants, everyone is required to remove their shoes in a specific area by the door. We were then seated and able to order. Traditionally Koreans sit on mats on the floor cross-legged. The tables are suited for this and are also low to the ground. When our food was ready, our servers carried our table in. Yes, the whole table. There were something like fifteen to twenty small dishes covering the table and they were for anyone who wanted to eat them, so we passed things around. Everyone had their own rice bowl where you could set thing you were going to eat or what ever you'd like to do with it. The food was delicious! There are somethings that will take getting used to and somethings I may never like, but over all it was really good! We ate until we were stuffed and then headed home.

     I think we got back to my apartment at about 9:30 that night. I was actually quite glad for the company and opportunity to spend time with my coworkers; who, by the way, are all single females in their late 20s or 30s. Apparently Iris, my boss, hired a male teacher from the states when she first started the school, five years ago, but it didn't work out that well. She said that there were many reasons, but it was partly because he was a little lonely being the only male at the school.

The next day was Sunday...

     I might need to preface this with a reminder that I have moved a lot, I love Jesus a lot, and I need people a lot. Thus, I was excited to visit a church and hopefully join a new group of amazing people! There are many English-speaking church services in Seoul (the capital), but I was unable to find any online in Bucheon (my city). I googled for ages and finally chose a church that I would go to in Seoul. The service started at 2pm and I would have to take the subway into the city. I decided to leave at 12pm, to give me time to get a little confused and still make it one time.

     After an easy transition into the subway system I made my way, over the next fifty minute, to my stop in Gangnam, Seoul. If were wondering, I think this part of Seoul was made a little famous by the song and if it is now stuck in your head...you are welcome.

     Walking out of the subway stations many exits I began again to reread the directions that the church had posted online. My phone is not operational as a phone, but more like an ipod, and I was able to look at the church web page that I had pulled up earlier. I was then surprised to find myself suddenly sitting on the pavement...I had fallen down a couple of stairs and onto the side walk. I seemed to be fine, which was kind of amazing and more amazing still because I had a lot of walking to do yet.

     If I may summarize the next hour and a half. I got lost, accidentally erased the directions, and was so flustered in the heat and by the number of people, that I stopped to eat a waffle with ice-cream and use the cafes wifi. I was already thirty minutes late to the service and was considering forgetting about trying to get there at all and just wander the city until dark. I was really excited to meet new people though and I doggedly decided to try again. A realization hit me as I left the cafe and less than twenty minutes later I found the church. It was now 3pm, one hour after the service had begun and I heard them praying. "Great," I thought "the service is over. I missed it." I thought that while I was there I might still try to make some connections or get information, when I hear the pastor say, "The sermon today will be about an hour. I know this is long and it is okay if some of you have to leave in the middle." Far from missing it, I had arrived just as the sermon was to begin. I took a seat on an empty row, but feeling lonely I tried asking if a presently empty seat belonged to anyone. When the answer came back that it was already taken, I made my way to the bathroom and the heat, expectations of meeting people, and stress of getting lost, all hit me and I cried for a hot minute while talking to God about it. It happens. When I returned to the sanctuary I asked one of the greeters if I could be seated nearer the front so that I could see. I sat a few rows up between a few men, which didn't feel like much of an improvement, but I didn't feel so alone as I had in the back. I enjoyed the sermon. The pastor talked about a part of scripture that I hadn't heard much about and he seemed funny and personable. I didn't agree with everything he said, but he spoke a lot of truth which is always good.

     After the sermon I introduced myself to one of the men next to me, who I found out was from LA. He showed me to the welcome table, where I talked to two men, one from California and another from Nebraska. They said that a group of them were going to have coffee and asked if I'd like to join. Three more people were added to our group, two woman and another guy, who was also new. It was so great to spend time with them. They were really encouraging and we laughed a lot. We found out that the other man who was also new to the church, had not been to any church in the last eight years. Wow, this was his first time in eight years. We added another friend to our bunch and decided to grab dinner at a New York style pizza place. We hung out until 8:30pm, said our good byes, and they directed me to a book store that has books in English. I bought two books and took the subway home.

     Honestly, even now it seems hard to believe how amazing that was. It is so obvious to me that God worked out that whole thing for everyone that day. I was told over dinner that the grouping of people was odd because only two or three of them were good friends, the others had only met a few times. One of them is usually quiet around people he doesn't know, but he was joking and laughing with the rest of us. It felt like we had known eachother for aged. Thank you God, I'll never know how you do that.

     Seriously so blown away, I don't even have the right words to tell you how much that day meant to me, but I feel so blesses to have had it. I was getting discouraged, evidence by the tears earlier, and then all of a sudden, an unlikely group spends five hours together... God is so good to me, I don't know why I am always so surprised.

Love you all,

                                    God bless you,
                                                 Haley (still ginger)

And...now your a teacher!

It was my first day in South Korea...

     May plane arrived at 6:32pm, local time, on Wednesday, July 9th, approximately 27 hours after my departure from Greenville the previous day. I was paged over the airport intercom shortly after going through customs, while trying to decide if my bags had arrived with me. The lady at the desk informed me that my bags would come to my address, at school, the following day in the early afternoon. I thanked her, went through one more security check, and exchanged all of my money, before leaving the Incheon airport an hour later for a new adventure.

     A driver met me with a sign carrying my name and we were off. He spoke almost no English so our dialogue was virtually nonexistent. I was grateful for this, however, because I hadn't slept much on the plane and my ability to verbally express any thought was rapidly declining. I was enjoying the view of my new home from the car window, the ocean, the city, the street signs. After a little confusion we arrived at the school to be met by my boss Iris and her husband, who runs a math school down the hall from our English school. They were very kind and helpful. We transferred my bags into their car and we went upstairs to the school.

     The school is on the fourth floor of a building filled with at least four shops on each of the proceeding floors; this includes a Baskin Robbins on the ground level, holla back. It was now 8:30pm. I was to meet the teacher I would soon replace, Doreen from Ireland, and sit in on her last class of the night. I bought something to eat for breakfast and spent the night in a hotel. At noon on Thursday, I was recovered by Iris and her husband to eat lunch and go to the school again.  I sat and observed through one and a half classes and then it was my turn...

     When I stepped off the plane I had no idea what to expect, but it still had come as a surprise that Doreen was flying out of the country on my second day in South Korea. I would teach four full classes on my own, without any supervision or training, by the end of my first full day. This was intimidating, I must admit, but God has always had my back, and even if everything went wrong, I knew that he had gotten me this far because he had something in mind, something he would let me be a part of; he and I both like adventures. My survival of the first 27hrs in South Korean was nothing short of God carrying my through all the madness, like he does every day, but it is a good reminder when he sees me through a new, seemingly impossible, challenge. He is faithful.

     It has been three weeks and a routine has begun. I walk 30min to school, arriving at 2pm, teach for 8hrs, with time to plan before and after my 6 classes, and walk back to my apt. at 9:30pm. I will tell you more about work on a later date, but know for now that prayer for my middle school classes would be greatly appreciated! The older students speak less English than the younger one and have more difficult and less interesting work to do, but I want them to learn. This goal seems impossible some days, but God is into doing the impossible.

     I really want to be a good teacher. I want to make the most amazing friends who will challenge and love me. I want to be brave... But some days it's hard to be who I want and I have realized that I am not strong enough. I can never be who I want to be. I have a mental list of the person that I want to be and how I want to be viewed by other people, but I never make the cut. I am to selfish, to proud, I make to many mistakes, people take my actions the wrong way, I don't speak out enough, I don't hold my tongue enough or listen enough. I am not that patient and I am not very kind. I want to want Christ more than anything and know his presence every second, but I don't. I am not who I want to be and I will never be strong enough to get there. I am just not enough.

     But Jesus is strong enough. To some of you who have always thought that I was full of it when I talked about God or Jesus, this will probably only serve to confirm your suspicions haha. I was talking to my lovely friend a while ago, when I was having a hard month, and she pointed me back to a question that I still wrestle with...The Bible, the Gospel, Jesus, who cares?! And why does it matter to me, now? Part of the reality of Jesus' life, and death and life, is that every day when I am not strong enough I can put my weight on Him. When someone is taken from me and I feel like my heart and my identity were torn from me with them, He is strong enough. When I feel physically ill because of something that has gone horribly wrong and there is nothing anyone can do, He is strong enough. I don't mean this to sound cliche. And when things are completely overwhelming I almost never have enough cool headedness and optimism to think to myself "God is strong enough, he's got this, la la la la lah." But he doesn't need me to say it for it to be true. It is a fact and my thoughts and feelings don't change who He is.

     Thank you God for being strong enough. Thank you for you faithfulness without mine; for your patience with me when I can't learn. I am a lot like the middle schoolers in my class room. I want to sleep, talk, play, draw on furniture, and I some times could care less about things that might matter. I am at war with myself on that point, but God is still himself even if I am not entirely sure who that is. So, I'm learning.

     Sometimes my thoughts are king of rough and this may be one of those times, but I'm still wrestling. Thank you all for your prayers friends! I love you!!

                Because He is who He is,

                                  Haley (still the only ginger :)

Journey, Greatest Hit

(If this post is to long for you just skip to the last two paragraphs, they are a nice snippet.)

As I was trying to title this, Journey came to mind along with a flood of their song titles that would have been great names for this entry. These names will pop up throughout this post. I hope you find them all. Let me know how many you can count. Happy hunting!

     I have arrived in Korea and am currently sitting on my bed trying to get over jet lag by staying awake until dark. But let me begin this story by telling you how God has been saving my tail these last few days, before I even stepped off the last plane.

     I left early Tuesday morning...like real early. I set my alarm for 2am, but the goal was to leave for the Charlotte airport by 2:30. I went to bed around an hour before I got up, as you do before a long day. My friend Anna was sleeping faithfully beside me as I finished getting ready to go. I turned out the lights and almost before my eyes had closed, the alarm went off and I was up dressing and renegotiating my luggage to get everything to the correct weight. I said my good byes to my dad and brother, who had just gotten home (shout out to my Mother, Father, Anna, and Cameron, love you guy!!! Holla back!). I loaded up my two 50lb bags to be checked, one 20lb carry-on suitcase, and a 30lb backpack/personal item. Shortly after, my mum, Anna, and I were off.
Departure: 2:45am Tuesday, July 8th, 2014

Arrival: 4:20am Tuesday, July 8th, 2014
     After a short adventure in the parking garage, where we got lost, we arrived at the desk for United airlines. We shortly discovered that there had been a misunderstanding, on my part, about the luggage. I was allowed only one 50lb bag to check, not two as I had previously thought. But God showed a lot of grace and the intimidating woman at the desk allowed both bags to be checked without the usual $100 fee...few! Thank you God!

     We grabbed a little bit of food at the Starbucks in the airport. Then I was wrapped in Anna and my mum's open arms, giving our last several hugs before we went our separate ways. I joined the line waiting to go through security. I was fine until I got in line, then I started tearing up. God this is harder than I thought it would be, help me please. We waved back and forth until I couldn't see them anymore. Then they were gone. It really was just me and God now, but I guess it always is. People are there, but only some times. God is always with me and at the end of the day the reality of the Gospel in my life means that I can put my whole weight on God, any and all the time,  and he will hold me, because he is stronger.

Let me preface the next few paragraphs by saying that I was tired and emotional, girl can't help it.

     As I was going through the security line I forgot to remove my computer from my book bag before putting it on the conveyer belt. If you don't fly, and even if you do, this may not seem like a big deal, and it wasn't. Well, turns out it was a big deal to the guy behind me. They had to put my bag through the scanner again, which was taking a while, and the guy behind me was getting antsy. He became insistent with the security guys about moving things along...bad idea to get sassy with security, ALWAYS... they exchanged words and insults. It was getting tense and I was right in the middle of it feeling as though I could have prevented this happening by remembering to take my computer out. I finally got on my flight.
Departure: 6:57am Tuesday, July 8th, 2014

     My first flight took me to Houston, where, a few hours later I was on another plane leaving for LA.

                    Touchdown in LA: 11:35am Tuesday, July 8th, 2014
Arrival inside the LAX airport: 12:05pm Tuesday, July 8th, 2014
   Flight departure for Bucheon:   1:45pm Tuesday, July 8th, 2014

     I looked at the board of departures and rather than a gate listed by my next flight, I saw TBIT; I was thinking that meant something like "To Be Identified Terminal" or gate or something along those lines. There was no sense in worrying about it until the gate was posted which could happen anytime between now and boarding. So, I ate a little something to tide me over until could have my fill of airplane food, yum! Returning to the screen, it was the same listing as before, TBIT. I asked an employee who was passing by (thank you God!) what the initials meant and she told me that was the short had for the international terminal. I would have to take a bus, through traffic, to the terminal, go through security, again, and it had to be done in roughly one hour. Oh, God! I can't make it.

     My head was racing as I made my way over to the other terminal. Ok, so there is a chance that your bags won't arrive because your name label had your parents address written on it, incase it was lost. If you miss this flight, you will have to email the woman in Korea who booked them and tell her the situation. They may make you pay for another flight. The next flight to Korea, may leave a few days from now. What are you going to do then?... etc.

     Sigh...That's it. I missed it. Boarding is over. They closed boarding like 20 minutes ago. I must have looked really stressed out when going through security. It was a long line and they pulled my other bag this time, because of a to-large tube of toothpaste I packed. It will take a literal miracle for me to make this flight. I tried to tell myself it didn't matter because my flight was leaving in a few minutes, there was nothing to be done, but it still made me anxious. God please carry me, I don't know what I am doing. I want to trust that you will help me, but I know things don't always go the way that seems right to me. I know you can do anything, but I have a hard time believing that you will, for me. I know you are still good, even if I don't make it, but please let me get on they flight. Let it be delayed or something. Please help me to trust you.

     Almost out of the security area, I hear a man shouting "Asiana Air?... Asiana Air?!" That was my airline...I paused deciding if I was going to call after him, but though it better to just book it to my gate (whose number I still did not know). I ran and ran until I didn't know where to go. An airport employee was walking just in front of me (thank you God!). I asked her where Asiana Air was and she and I looked at the departure screen, which I hadn't even noticed until she pointed up towards the vaulted ceiling. The plane had already departed, they left early. A little defeated and breathless I turned to her and said "It's to late, I missed it." Quickly correcting me she said that it didn't say 'Departed', I had misread it. Maybe it was still here. She pointed in the direction of the gate calling "Go! Go!" and the gate number after me. I ran as fast as I could, with all of my stuff, down the long hall way. I jumped on a moving side walk to catch my breath and then started running again. Ahead of me I saw a few people in airline uniforms. Watching me run, they called out "Asiana Air?" "YES!" I shouted back. "We need your passport, quick!" I ran up to them, passport in hand and all five or six of them were hurriedly trying to do something on their computer. LITERALLY 30 seconds later they had printed and torn my new boarding pass and were ushering me through the doors.

     I made it. It was a miracle. I was the last person on the plane that day. God held the plane for me. 

     It is strange to think, but I often do, that God wants the best for him and for his kids. That doesn't mean that everything in our lived will be all hunky dory, but it does mean that he isn't holding back good things from us. He wants you to have his best, which means he wants you to have him. All the things we go through all the blessings are to bring us to him. He loves you, so let him.

     Skipping over my 12.5 flight (where is was thinking why can't this night go on forever, not!), I have much more to tell about my first few days teaching (already?! I know :); about my apartment, my students, my city, but I will save all that for later. For now I ask that you please pray for me if you think of it, that I would make good friends and learn quickly. Know that I love you, but God love you more than I ever could, and when I think of you I will be praying for you too! Please feel message me with prayer requests of updates about your life, I would love to hear from you! May God bless you all by bringing you closer to himself.

                                                 Cheers, Christ up!

                                                           Haley, the only ginger in Korea :)

p.s. Happy Birthday mum!!!! I love you!!!!!!!!!! Guys you have to meet this woman, if you haven't, you are missing out. She is wonderful, no joke!!!

Oh! The Places We'll Go!

Oh! The places we'll go! The thing we will see! 

Adventures are so exciting, but also sad,

because you cannot take with you all of the wonderful things that you've had. 

"You did not want to move here", "Maybe you don't want to go there"

but it is never waisted so do not despair. 

For you go, not alone, He is here; you're quite safe. 

He will never leave you, not once, for the rest of your life.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

                                                           Joshua 1:9 

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

                                                                       Deuteronomy 31:8       

I pray these things will be true of me, but for now the word that I bear is 'Terrified.' I am not worried, no. Traveling doesn't scare me and I am not even concerned by the distance. I have lived across the ocean from many people in my life whom I hold dear. My mum says "the world is small to us," because once you get off of a plane a few time you realize that the place where you have landed has oxygen and gravity, much akin to that of your own blessed Earth. Perhaps you have not even left the planet as you once supposed. No, this is only another city filled with people who's bustle harts different routes than what you have seen and in who's skip you find a captivating tune.

One Wednesday, I will have landed in my new home, for the next year, South Korea. I will, for the first time have a full time job; teaching English. I am a recent BFA graduate and, if you didn't catch that, I studied art...not English. I do hope that I speak enough English to make it worth their while. I am excited for this journey and would be so thankful if you and Jesus would have a chat about me. He knows what I need and he made a promise to me that He would be waiting at the airport when I arrived as well as getting off the plane with me.

If you think of it please pray that I would fall for Jesus again and He would help me understand the gospel again.

                              May God bless you enormously as you go on the adventures He is taking you on where you are, may you trust him with out boarders, and "Oh! The places you'll go!"

                                                         Until we meet again,
                                                                                       Haley