Korea Bound!

One of my biggest fears as I looked toward graduation this May was that I would get my diploma, move back home, and just get comfortable.  I love everything about home - my family, my friends, my church fellowship, the familiarity.  But I also know myself well enough to realize it would be easy for me to fall back into the mundaneness of life if I moved back to Maryland at this time.  With this knowledge I began asking God for opportunities that would grow and stretch me, my worldview, and my faith.

I had no idea what this opportunity would look like, though I definitely felt the tug of my heart toward youth and community work.  Looking into several different organizations and jobs/volunteer positions, nothing really stuck out to me at first, but I was encouraged to keep looking.  In January I got a text from my brother Aaron about a teaching position with a Christian organization in South Korea.  Connexus Language Institute has been teaching English to adults outside Seoul for years, but just this December started an after school program for children and were in of teachers who would commit for a year to developing the program.  Aaron forwarded me the information and I was in contact with Connexus right away.  I had so many questions for them, all of which they answered thoroughly and promptly - the more I found out the more it seemed too good to be true!

It took me nearly two weeks to send my application after I had completed it.  I'm not sure why I waited so long - whether it be fear of getting the job or fear of rejection.  Less than 24 hours of hitting the "send" button, I received a reply that the president of Connexus and his wife wanted to have a Skype interview with me!  Now it began to feel more and more real.  Though I still was not sure if this is where I was supposed to be - I always wanted to travel but not live overseas - I decided to enter my interview with an open mind.  The interview was complete confirmation; as soon as our conversation was over, I told some friends: "If they offer me the job, I wont be able to say no!"  Sure enough, after a week of waiting in anticipation (and not being able to focus on absolutely anything except Korea :), I received an email inviting me to join the Connexus community!

Knowing that I possess the sometimes terrible ability to talk myself into or out of absolutely any situation or feeling, I have been journaling throughout this entire journey.  As I look over the pages of entry I have written these last two months, I can find no error or doubt in this decision to go!  Of course, some of the gittyness has begun to wear off as I move from shock to starting the process of paper work, background checks, and looking into getting my visa.  There is so much to do and learn these next few wee and months in order to be set for leaving in August!

Please be in prayer for me, as though this is an exciting time, it would be a lie to say that my heart lacks fear.  The idea of living in a new culture with a language and people so unfamiliar (let alone teaching!) scares me, but it also ignites the fire inside my soul.  I just want to be His hands and feet, no matter in what corner of the world He places me!

Seeking Him, ~Katelynn

PS. If you would like receive email updates of my blog and journey to Korea, you can subscribe by entering your address in to the "Get My E-Mail Updates!" box on the upper right hand corner of my homepage (you will receive an e-mail and must "verify" your subscriptions in order to start receiving my updates). Thank you for your encouragement and support!  I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.

It's a Wonderful Life

How is it possible that another year has come to an end? But what a beautiful year it was! If I could sum the last 12 months in just a few words, I would say that 2011 was a year of rapid and irreversible growth. As with any growth spurt, the change was not always pleasant; in fact sometimes the growing cut deep, causing pain that seemed almost unbearable at the time. But through all the stretching and shifting, I have come to realize that the outcome is immensely worth it. God has taught me to trust in Him perhaps more that I have ever needed. He has proved faithful through and through!

Each day is a precious, unrepeatable gift.

This has been so heavy on my heart lately. As I look toward the light at the end of my undergrad-tunnel, the days seem to be slipping by so quickly. Though I am ecstatic about graduating in only a few months, I do not want to forget about the potential held by each and every day - even the days in which my to-do list consists merely of study, eat, and sleep! Life doesn't begin once I have a degree, nor will it begin tomorrow - life is happening right at this very moment. May I make the most of every breath given to me!

My (4) Little Life Lessons

I'm so thankful for the life lessons God teaches me through babysitting. Patience, humility and love never fail to be at the top of the list! The more time I spend watching kids, the higher appreciation I gain for parents who are truly striving to raise up their children in the Lord! It can be so easy to take shortcuts and compromise when you feel spread thin and are simply exhausted.

This weekend I have been so blessed to babysit 4 children on my college campus while their parents are away on a trip. Tonight the eldest of the 4 (11-years-old and the only boy) decided to take a break from video games and came to the kitchen to talk while I was washing dishes. From snakes, to food, to county fairs - we ended up talking for 2 hours!! And it is time I would never regret, even with the monstrous pile of homeworking waiting for me in the other room.

Time spent investing in relationships and in the lives of others is never EVER a waste!

Here is a little piece of what my days have looked like:

- Make breakfast, lunch and dinner for 5: CHECK.
- Play with play dough while listening to Disney songs on Pandora: CHECK.
- Hours of hide-and-seek: CHECK.
- Teach the an origami lesson: CHECK.
- Help the girls decide on a movie to watch (though it may take an hour to just agree): CHECK.
- Make muffins for tomorrow's breakfast: CHECK.
- Keep on top of the seemingly never-ending pile of dirty dishes: CHECK.
- Finish two loads of laundry: CHECK.
- Work on home work for this week: ....well, something had to slide, haha
- Get a shower myself: CHECK!
- Go to bed with time to journal and in the Word: now in process.

Desperate Times Call for Creativity!

What a busy summer it has been! With working my retail job, house and baby sitting, taking an online summer class, spending time with my family and friends at home, attempting to be prepared for an upcoming CLEP test, and trying to get everything lined up for my senior year at at Johnson University, "So much to do and so little time" is beginning to feel like quite the understatement.

Yet among the craziness these last few weeks at home have brought, I have been able to squeeze in some time to catch up on some of my favorite pastimes. I couldn't be more thankful for time to just relax my mind and body! As funds are rather low for school this year, I have spent some of my "me-time" sewing and it has been a blast!! (I know - I sound like a house-wife from the 50's ;) I've been able to sell a few of the purses I designed myself and took my first whack at making shorts out of an old t-shirt ealier this week. I always jump at the opportunity to make and save money! Here are just a few of the projects I've worked on recently.

I hope you enjoy and are inspired to be creative in your own unique ways!

I just sold this purse to a wonderful lady from my church: This one is the same design, just different colors :)
I found this t-shirt in the free closet at school last year (BEFORE): T-shirt AFTER - a comfy new pair of pj shorts! :)

Why?

* This poem was written as an assignment for my Hebrew poetry class and addresses the question of theodicy - how can a higher power exist when there is so much pain and suffering in the world? I wont go into all the technical poetic features, just please read and feel free to share your thoughts! Thank you!
~Kate

Once in a realm not so far away, there was world of pain and suffering;
A world surrounded by the shadow of dejection.
In that place of despair, were people of despair;
Seeking any way out, no matter the cost it bore.

Hearts hungered for something to fill their gaping holes
Uttering words of compromise, while
Rejecting the only glimpse of hope for fear of disillusionment.
Truth struggled to find its way inside the deepest of wounds.

There is another story this world had to tell;
A story of hope, freedom, and light of the most peculiar kind.
Many questioned its existence -
How could light be amidst such darkness?
Could not, should not, light have taken over the hopeless despair?
Perhaps this was a mystery the people were never meant to solve.

Though the whys may not have been for revelation,
There was a truth that stood for anyone who would grasp it.
The people of despair needn’t be anymore when they found light,
Accepting its peace among the whys.

Reasons to Smile

Motivation has been low and the ability to focus, nearly nonexistent. In the midst of a homework break tonight, I told my roommate that I'm just forcing a smile on my face. Being the wise woman that she is, she reminded me: "Kate, you do have things to smile about - you don't have to fake it." Goodness, she was very right. No matter how bad a day (or days) may be, I know that I always have reasons to be filled with joy. Here are just a few of those reasons:

1. I am surrounded by an incredible community of women who encourage me and build me up daily.
2. I have a family I can call up and talk to about absolutely anything at anytime.
3. Having the ability to laugh with my crazy yet wonderful hall friends!
4. Walks down to the river turned into hours of rock skipping and singing goofy old camp songs.
5. Having my finals so spread out that I will only have 3 of the 6 to do during exam week!!
6. Planning a super-fun weekend of camping and amusement parks with some great friends after exams next week.
7. At the end of the month I am blessed to be in two weddings of some of my favorite people in the whole world.
8. Both bridesmaids dresses are in and fit just right! (that was a bit of a scare for a while!)
9. I have somehow been able to find the time for a little bit of fun reading, which I didn't think was possible in college!
10. I have a Savior and Lord who loves me and has a plan and purpose for my life.

Reunited

I am somewhat ashamed by the fact that it has been nearly a year since my last entry. After 11 months of good intentions and failed attempts to continue my blog, I have decided it is time to reunite.

A few changes are in store: I vow first to not allow myself to become overwhelmed by other bloggers who post extravagant entries or more often than I do, and I promise to remember that my blog is what I make it - not what other blogs may look like! I'm not sure how this is going to come together, but I believe it will only be a matter of time before I find my own style and way (though ideas are always welcome of course :)

~Katelynn