Blessed

Wow...it's been awhile. Thanks to those of you who are still checking this blog. :)

Today I was thinking about how blessed I am. Most of you know this year started off a bit rocky, with my school having serious financial issues. There was uncertainty whether or not our school would be giving salaries this year, or even be able to remain open, meaning uncertainty about whether I would have a job until the end of this year or if I would be living in Korea at all. As you can imagine, this caused a bit of stress, but it also made me realize all the blessings I have in my life. God is so good!

Blessings
1. I am blessed to be working in a job I love, where I can save money, and where I get to impact lives everyday.

2. I am blessed to get to know and work with a bunch of really awesome students; I get to see them grow and mature as each year goes by. Because I'm in a Christian school, I have an opportunity to form relationships with them beyond the classroom. I get to know them as people and teach them more than just Spanish. And I learn so much from them, too!
3. I am blessed to be surrounded by such an incredible community. The staff and the parents at TCIS are truly unique. In the face of this crises everyone has seemed to band together rather than flee in fear. I think it is a testament of the faith of those around me. We as a school have no other options but to trust in the Lord and rely on him to get us through this. Because the financial problems are something that we all faced together, and they have weighed heavily on everyone's minds and hearts, it has made us even closer than before.
4. I am blessed to have so many people in my life who love me and would support me no matter what happened. Friends from GSIS (another international school), my church family, and friends and family back home in Iowa have told me they have been praying. It is so encouraging to know I have so many amazing people who I could turn to for anything.
5. I am blessed to be coaching the best volleyball team in KAIAC! Not just are they a talented team, but they are fun to be around and are genuinely good guys. We are now 6-0...it has been great to finally be playing like we knew we could! Conference championship, here we come!
6. I am blessed to have spent the past 5+ months getting to know the most amazing guy ever! :) Hopefully you Iowa people have a chance to meet by boyfriend, Rob, at Christmas. He is such a blessing in my life!
7. I am blessed to have a fantastic group of friends here in Korea who definitely keep me busy. We have been to Seoul, Busan, Yeongdong for the grape festival, to the 4-D movie theater, and to numerous dinners together just since the beginning of this year. It's difficult to understand without being here, but these people are like my family. I love them all!
8. I am blessed to have the opportunity to travel. I think I have surpassed 25 countries with my most recent trip to Bali, Indonesia. My roommates and I had a restful and relaxing trip a couple weeks ago and spoiled ourselves by spending all day laying on a beautiful beach, getting massages, and drinking fruit shakes. It was wonderful! Be sure to check out the pics here.

Well, I will try to keep you updated better, but know that I am optimistic everything will work out. I purchased a round-trip ticket home, so my plan is to return come January! :P Continue to pray an investor purchases our school. There are many interested parties, but one really matches our school's mission. If that is God's will, may it be so. Right now, it seems we are out of danger of closing down (Hurray! Praise the Lord!), but are still looking for funds so we can get to our new campus next year.

Ok, I've gone on too long. :) I hope this post is a blessing to you, also. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement over the past couple months!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:2-3