For those who may not know, Bradley and I have found ourselves in the great country of South Korea. How did we get here? I have no idea. I think I fell asleep, had a stressful nightmare, and awoke to find some of my luggage scattered about a somewhat familiar apartment. Was this a part of our plans? No. Did we desire to live abroad again? Not this soon, if ever. Are we happy to be in Korea? Like Paul, we are growing in our ability to be content, regardless of the state (or country) in which we find ourselves. We are finding the joys of this life change, and are again relieved to have technology to keep us connected to 'home.'
Willie Nelson has a song that expresses his desire to get on the road again, and I have always loved this song. My love for this song has more to do with Willie's voice, and the memories of listening to his music with my Mama (my grandmother). Personally, I have no strong desire to travel the world, making music, and going places I have never been. As an introvert and homebody, I would honestly be just fine burrowing into my cozy nest, wherever it might be, and only leaving for errands, worship services, and pleasant walks. However, the Lord has sent me down a different path than I had anticipated in this life. As a teenager, I had planned to marry an evangelist and travel to Russia, or some cold climate to assist my husband in sharing the gospel while we raised our five or more children to serve the Lord. Then, I married a middle school orchestra director, and was perfectly content staying on the same continent to share the gospel in our corner of America. This was a fairly easy adjustment. Discovering that at least for the time being, children are not yet a part of the Lord's plan for us, has been more difficult for this child-loving-type-A personality. With the Lord's strength, my husband's love, and the support of loved ones, this too has become something with which I have learned to cope.
Another curve ball was thrown when we were asked to move to Cambodia in the service of the Lord. Yet again, the adjustment to a new plan came, but only through a lot of strain and frustration. After enduring in vitro, the loss of our Bubble, and about a dozen failed adoption opportunities, the Almighty had better trained Bradley and I to better accept things not going according to our plans. Yet we were still met with disappointment as expectations were not met in the kingdom of wonder. Thankfully, though, the Lord was successful, as His church has found roots in the hot and pungent Cambodia. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to serve in that country, but when our time came to return to the states, I was happy to again be pursuing our dreams in entrepreneurship and hopefully adding to our family. Part of me wonders if the Lord shook His head as I set out to make our plans come to fruition.
Plans were underway for our coffee shop, and I was busy sorting through boxes of our possessions in order to downsize for the tiny house we hoped to build once we had the land for our business. We had just purchased my new computer in the attempt to craft Flirting with Fonts into the company I desired, when we received a call from the brethren in Edmond, Oklahoma. They were looking for someone to go to South Korea to help in the work there for a short period of time. From the moment we received the call, I began to stress, certain that my life was about to change...again.
The weeks leading up to our departure were not as enjoyable as they could have been since I allowed myself to worry about the less-than-certain direction of my future. Our trip to Korea was good for the most part. It felt familiar to be in a place where I did not understand the language around me. The Asian "flavor" was thick all around, but due to my time in Cambodia, no longer strange. Between the weather and the pedestrian-friendly culture, I felt like I was in a version of San Fransokyo: Los Phnom Pehngeles. From the moment we stepped off the train in Pohang, it was clear there was a desire for us to move to this seemingly little, coastal town, and during our third week, the formal request came from the Edmond brethren. We were torn. Our personal desire to live near family, open our coffee shop, and pursue adoption was so strong. Yet, the vision of judgement day, and souls asking us why we did not come felt stronger. Ezekial 33:1-6 comes to mind, and the image is too real in the spiritual realm to ignore. Although I was young, I still remember what it is to not know the Lord, and I hate to think of any one being in that position. I thank God for the 'watchman that blew the horn' for me, and I hope to do the same for everyone I meet. The request was for us to move to Pohang the first week of September. It was the second week of June. At that point in time, Bradley had already committed to a long-term substitute job for a director that would be on maternity leave during the first 6-8 weeks of school. After a day of fasting and prayer, he received an email that the director was leaving the school, and he would therefore no longer be needed for the temporary position. For us, the answer seemed clear.
Upon our return to the states, a whirlwind of packing ensued. After a minor meltdown, and an "emergency" call to Marissa and Krista for last-minute help with moving, Bradley and I were saying our goodbyes through tears and lingering hugs. Once more I find myself learning a new place, a new culture, a new language, and more. The task here is at times daunting, but I know that God is bigger than anything. He continues to work on molding the "I need to know the plan, and have the right answer" tendency out of me. I am honored that He finds me a worthy vessel for His crafting, and I pray that I will maintain the ability to be transformed into what He desires.
Before Cambodia, when asked our future plans, I could tell you what we would be doing in 10 years. After Cambodia, I felt confident sharing our intentions for the upcoming 1-2 years. Now, I simply answer, "I have no idea." We have not been established anywhere in over a year now, and selfishly, I am ready to be settled. I have found comfort in Proverbs 16:3, as we are doing our best to establish ourselves in the Lord, not in a place. So, although I hope we are staying put for a while, if the Lord needs us to, I am prepared to go on the road again.
