byes

Alrighty, so I have a bunch of a things to do but I figured I should get a goodbye in here too. I probably won't post for a couple or a few weeks, but don't give up on me. Please come back and read. I'll figure out how to post pics and probably have some real good stuff up here once I'm settled back in America. Oh man. God is already showing me tons of favor. I have a comfortable place to stay once I hit American soil...it's with the associate pastor's family from my church. I stayed in their basement one summer, awesome people and tons of fun. Weird thing is, they won't even be there until a few days after we get back from Russia. BUT one of the guys coming the second week of Russia who also works at church happens to live across the street from them and will have a key. How convenient, eh? There are a few places I could stay but obviously I don't want to be a burden and their house is easy to get to and pretty close to church so I don't have to worry too much about people finding me and driving me around...hehe. The best part is, they are so awesome that it's not even that they are just letting me crash there, but they have been overflowing with hospitality to where the pastor said they WANTED me to stay there. I guess they must really miss my scrambled pancakes. hahaha. It's good 'cause he just finished at Asbury a couple years ago so he can give me a bunch of pointers and hook me up with some people he knows that are still there. Plus, the wife/mom has a similar weird sense of humor and doesn't mind pausing the weird movies we watch when I gotta run to the bathroom after scarfing a bowl of ice cream...that's Christian love!

Another added bonus is Mike's doing. He even reminded me to contact the fam about staying there. He also got me some driving manuals so I can study on the plane ride back, what a weird way to come down off a mission trip high, huh? BUT I REALLY need to pass the tests right away. He's willing to provide a car for me to practice and use for the test and even giving me a temporary cell phone until I get hooked up. For reals. Isn't that insane?? I could easily just bow down to Mike and his coolness BUT I know it's God using Him. He's truly a man after God's heart and in him trying to please the Lord, he's helping me out SO much. I can't imagine this transition without him. And with the move back, if it weren't for Russia, I'd have had to cover my own plane ticket back and figured out all this other stuff mostly on my own. God provides, for real!

Anyways, just so you don't worry...I'm taken care of. I still need prayer to pass that exam, God's grace. It's been years since I drove and like 8 years since I took that exam! Ugh. But I trust God will sharpen my mind and let it all sink in, plus it's a good refresher so I'm cautious in my driving when I get back. That's not a bad thing. Honestly, I think I've forgotten some basic rules of the road. If I didn't have the test I wouldn't bother with checking the rules...God knows me. hehe.

The goodbyes are already sad. I finally sent a mass text, or a couple, and a few people called. I expect some more calls or whatever in the coming hours and day...I nearly cry after each one and realize that I really have to keep my Korean up to keep in contact with some of these guys. Thankfully the Korean education system and working world has caused most of them to at least have a grasp on written English. yay.

Tonight we're having a family worship time and I'll be sharing the message I'm giving in Russia, it's about the walk to Emmaus and how important it is to have the right understanding of who Jesus is. Most of my family members don't have relationships with Jesus. They had gone to church for a year or so but all seemed to have given it up. It causes my mom to struggle with her faith, I think...so hopefully God will do some convicting tonight and use these words to touch their hearts.

I need to write some letters and tomorrow it's time for packing and all that. Wow, it's almost over...crazy. Till we meet again in America (or maybe a quick note from Russia)...

An-yeong (Bye). ^^