Pre-field Orientation (PFO)

As many of you know, I was back in Southaven from the 23rd of June until the 4th of July for PFO. I was not overly excited about getting there, b/c quite honestly, nerves started settling in a couple days before I had to leave. I think the reality of moving "to the ends of the earth" began to sink in. However, it wasn't long after my arrival that I began to feel comforted. I soon met fellow PFOers that were from all over the US and from different countries who were feeling a little like I was---stressed, unprepared, uncertain about what to expect at PFO and upon arriving in our host countries for the next couple of years, yet certain that GOD had called us to the place that we were headed for HIS purposes. Listening to others soon calmed my nerves and made me feel somewhat 'normal.' I felt normal, all except for my southern accent which won me the nickname Alabama, for about the 1st week of PFO. The second week I began to feel overwhelmed with the huge responsibility and task before me. I was on information overload (host culture vs. school culture, working with and understanding third culture kids, integrating the Bible into core subjects, embracing the host culture both old generation and new, etc...) and the truth of the challenges of transition that lie ahead where a tad bit scary. I was thinking, "I must be an idiot, b/c I definitely had not considered all of the things that I would be dealing with once I arrived in Korea."
I think that I had been somewhat in fantasy mode up until I got to PFO. I was on a Seoul mission destined to reach the lost for Jesus. Glory be to HIM---with HIM all things were going to be easy and adventurous! (haha---true but not everything is going to be so rosey) OK ok...I did realize that there would be tough times ahead. What I didn't fully realize and probably still don't is that the little, everyday things will be different and might serve as a test of my faith on more than one level.
What I do know is that HE who called me will be faithful. It will be HIS identity, not mine, that will make the difference! I also know that HE has already provided me with a great group of friends that I will be working with. I was able to hang out with quite a few people who will be working at my school which was a blessing. I was also able to meet some incredible people who will be serving Jesus in other parts of the world. I've posted some pics below.
These 2 girls are my "Korean" buddies or role models. They know it all, so I'll just follow them. Right? I'm sure they secretly refer to me as "Alabama, the village idiot."
These are my "non-Korean" buddies. We're the blind leading the blind, but boy do we have fun!
This is my PFO small group, minus Mallory who left early. Our group represents S. Korea, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and Germany.
Our first Korean restaurant group experience. It was delicious! Our girls did a great job ordering for us. I pretty much liked everything.
Don't let Julie's beauty fool you. This girl is very deceitful. haha I chose her as my 'leader,' and she tricked me. I am not a confident chopsticker, and I expressed my lack of skill before eating. She served me stew and told me to eat the solid chunks with my chopstick. She told me that when the chopsticks hit the broth they would expand into straws, so I could suck up the broth. She kept looking at her chopsticks funny when they didn't 'expand' and said that the restaurant must not have authentic Korean chopsticks. I totally fell for it and began talking about how cool the chopsticks must be in Korea. Can we say: A-L-A-B-A-M-A? I'm never that gullible. I was trying to learn so much about the culture that I forgot to have a sense of humor or discernment of character! It was hilarious.

Prayer Support

Thanks so much to all of you who have been praying for me and have committed to praying for me as I live and serve overseas! I have already felt and witnessed the results of your prayers! I know that I can't carry out the task that the LORD has set before me without HIS help and your continual prayer support. There are quite a few challenges and adjustments that I'll be facing shortly, and it means the world to me to know that friends and family are interceding on my behalf. I am so excited about the opportunity that God has provided for each of you to be involved in my ministry through prayer. Isn't it amazing that the LORD hears and uses the prayers that are lifted up right here in the USA to influence and impact what HE's accomplishing on the other side of the world? That is so exciting to me! With that said, I would like to hear from you and be able to lift your prayer concerns to the LORD from Korea. Please keep me posted.

My dear friend Willie T. in Southaven designed the prayer magnet below in order that you here in the good ol' US of A would have a visual reminder to pray for me. Many of you have one already. However, if you do not have one and would like one to use as a reminder as you commit to pray for me, please email/facebook/myspace me your address, and I'll send you one.



Thanks in advance for the prayers you will lift up on my behalf! I am so overwhelmed by the power of prayer and can't even express in words what your prayers mean to me as I trek out on the adventure God has called me to. May you be blessed beyond your wildest imaginings as you seek the LORD in all things and commit your own lives to HIM through prayer! I love you and can't wait to testify to the things God accomplishes through me because of your prayers in the days ahead!! WOW, I'm excited!