Not So Serene!

this is what my serene beach looked like yesterday afternoon!!! wow..what a difference. it was crazy. i think i know why. the last times i went was early in the morning or when the sun was out. because, a good tan is not valued, or even feared, no one was at the beach when the sun was out. by the time my roommate and i got to the beach yesterday, the sun was already setting. people come out at night to avoid the sun! they must think i'm psycho for sitting in the sun.

the other interesting thing was that there were tents set up all along the beach. i asked my roommate if people actually camped overnight at the beach. NOPE! tents are just set up for shelter from the sun.

in the busy streets during the day, you can also see umbrellas used as a covering from the sun. people wear long sleeve shirts in 90 degree weather! this is just a little glimpse into the many differing values between life in the states and life here.

Amazing

i still dont know how the noodles split like that!! it was amazing to watch. yummy too!!

My New Serene Place

ok, so one of the best things about being here so far is that i am just 2 blocks from the beach! a couple of days ago i went for a walk to just think and spend some time in stillness....this was one of my beautiful views.

My Love Language

there have definitely been some tough days for me emotionally in the last week and a half, being in a new country, but for the most part, things have been good. i miss my friends. in the last couple of days, i have been able to chat with some through skype and that has helped me feel not so far away. it seems like just a busy week in the states! :) unfortunately, at the end of the day, i still feel like there is something missing. one thing that i just realized about myself is that physical touch is a highly valued love language for me. even though friends are just a phone call away…..i really miss hugs!! i dont know anyone well enough here to hug. :) i wonder what my co-workers or roommates would do if i just went up to them and gave them a hug! haha! they would think that I’m a freak!!! i miss you guys!

Adjusting to My New Life

so....after about 30 hours of travel time, i have arrived at my new home for the year, safely! because of the power outtage at LAX the night i left, my plane was delayed for about 2 hours. that caused me to miss my connecting flight into my city too. the next available flight was not for another 12 hours, so i wandered the airport mindlessly during that time. my body is still adjusting to the time change. with the travel time and time change (+15 hours) i lost two days!!!

life is definitely different. it has been hard not being able to communicate with people. i have been attached to my roommates at the hip. they have been so wonderful in helping me to get adjusted to life here. hopefully, my language study courses will help me to not be so dependent on my roommates.

i am registering for classes today. it ends up that i will be taking 3 days of classes! argh! that is the university's minimum requirement! hopefully, i'm more diligent in language classes than i was back home! :)

thought you might find these things interesting:

• i'm having a hard time adjusting to this...

thank goodness my apartment has a normal western toilet. this type of toilet is at most public places!

• i know most of you would probably choose not to read this next one, but it is probably the hardest adjustment for me! because of the poor plumbing system here, we cannot flush toilet paper down. it gets thrown into the trashcan!!! ewwww!!! i want to gag everytime i go into a public restroom! use your imagination, i will not go into details!
• people drive like mad here! there are lane dividers painted on the ground, but it means absolutely nothing! i have to close my eyes everytime i get into a cab.
• taxis are the main mode of transportation. the city that i am in is very hilly, so it is not common to see people riding bikes.....besides, the cars may run you over!
• i also learned from someone at the airport that it is considered rude to tip the waiter or waitress. we dont tip for services either!
• i usually spend about $1 for each meal. food is very cheap here!
• there are now 3 starbucks in town!!! woohoo!

anyway, more later!

love to you all!

Last Blog in the States

the next time i blog, i will be on the other side of the planet.

thank you everyone for walking with me this far. in ANY correspondence (including this blog)with me, please remember to adhere to the guidelines i have shared with you.

i love you. i miss you.

loi

One Decade!

today was my 10th spiritual birthday! it was a great day of reflection for me. though i have done it wrong so often in the last 10 years, my Father in heaven still calls me His own and loves me! thank you, Jesus, for your unconditional love and giving me a life of adventure and faith, and not one of mediocrity.

Sandals

the last two days have been filled with fear and sadness for me. one of the hardest things for me is to leave my family at sandals church. sandals, thank you so much for loving me, challenging me, investing in me, and moving me towards real relationships with others, myself, and God.

my minister circle, you have blessed me beyond words. i was left speechless tonight. i love you guys and look forward to hearing all that God will do in and through each of you!

my women's leader's circle, thank you for serving in the ways that you do. i have learned so much from you! it has been an honor working with you in the last several months.

my small group families (thompson, martis, & higginson's), thank you for supporting me in so many ways. please keep me updated on your happenings! :) i appreciate your prayers for me as i step out in faith.

kim w, thank you for journeying with me through this process. i appreciate your words of encouragement and your heart for the world!

just a temporary leave,
loi

TRUST

i received a little bit of bad news two days ago. i went in to my orthopedic specialist appointment thinking that they would simply close out my worker's comp claim and tell me that the instability in my ankle is a normal part of the healing process with a sprained ankle. much to my dismay, it was the complete opposite. i was told that i have a grade III injury in which 2 of my major ankle ligaments (anterior talofibular & calcaneofibular) have been completely ruptured. the doctor has recommended surgery.

wow. with a little over a week left before my departure date, i am left with a huge decision to make. the doctor advised me that surgery was not absolutely necessary, it depends on how active i want to be. i also will not be able to wear any other types of shoes aside from running/tennis shoes. argh! worse case scenario, according to my doctor is that i will continually roll over my ankle and i may fall down the stairs and break my hip or something! (thanks doc!) so......do i have surgery and postpone my departure date for several weeks, or do i go ahead and go with limited activity and return in a year to have surgery?

the craziest part about this whole drama is that i feel like i am reliving a part of my past. seven years ago, i had applied to go to east asia for the summer. at my going away party a week before departure, i injured my knee and was forced to cancel my trip. i had two surgeries that year. it has taken me seven years to step out in faith again and attempt to go.

i need to trust that God has my best in mind. i need to call on the Lord in this time of confusion. please pray with me.