Humbled

that is my word for the day. i cant even seem to put all my thoughts into words, but i am extremely humbled. i am humbled by the people around me. not because they are great, perfect people (pretty close to it though!), but because of their caliber of faith. i had to do all i could at dinner last night, to hold back tears, as i sat and listened to a friend share about her faith steps...once again, i was moved.

this is just what i need. for the last several weeks, i have really struggled with faith and trust. i realize that many of you reading this would say, "yes, loi, but you trusted L to take you half way around the world." the reality is that it is faith with much hesitation-or rather just obedience-going because i know that i have to respond to a calling, because the the other option would not be better. but going, not trusting that He still has my best in mind.

having been away from home for almost 3 months now, i can honestly say that i have learned more in these short months, than i have in years. its amazing to think that L is so personable that He had to take me this far to learn the lessons i have learned. i needed this environment. i have needed L more than ever before.

so how do i fill the gap between being able to see how GREAT He is with my lack of trust still? how do i reflect the goodness of His love in my own relationship with Him?

sorry....this post was just for me to try to get my thoughts into words. i dont know if i still understand the mixed emotions in my mind and heart.

International Students' Day Out

this past saturday, the university took all of us foreigners hiking. after hiking, we went to the beach. it was a great day for me to just connect with other foreign students. i spent most of the day hanging out with my russian and kazak friends. they are so sweet. they even tried to teach me some russian, but i told them that i did not think i could handle learning two foreign languages at the same time!
some of my new friends

near the top of the hike

my teacher and i

shot at the beach

Compare and Contrast Lesson

using a venn diagram....

compare and contrast a water delivery truck in the states....

with one here...

Ethan Kelly Robinson

meet my new nephew, ethan! he popped into this world on october 16 at about 9:30am pacific time. 7lbs 7.2oz, 19in, healthy, and happy.

can't wait to meet this little one next summer!

A Couple of Homesick Days

though i have really enjoyed my new friends here and all the new things that i am learning, i am really feeling homesick. i miss community, i miss convenience, i miss Sandals, i miss "it's a grind", i miss Piper, i miss Cactus Cantina, i miss IHOP on saturdays, i miss my friends, i miss my car, i miss "wine o'clocks", i miss my 7am-10pm busy life. i feel like i can go on and on.

thanks for allowing me to vent.

I'm on Fire!!!

my recent dictation exam. according to california profiency standards, i would be advanced. woohoo! as much as i dreaded being back in school, i am still able to stay a little motivated. :)

school is very different here. its funny. sometimes i sit in class and just cringe...its the teacher in me. motivation is different...all the "no no's" that i am used to, being an educator at home goes out the window. teachers try to motivate students by embarrassing them...having students they know REALLY dont know the answers come to the board or read out loud. its almost a guarantee, that if anyone walks into class late, the teacher will call on that person for the next question. it might just be my teacher. but gosh! maybe that's why i'm doing well in the class. its also all about rote memory. i'm coming up with my own mneumonics and kinesthetic ways to learn the 20 or so new words each day!

What the Heck?

just one of the the many! wow.

i think i make the same mistakes in my language learning here! haha. language learning is tough! my fellow teaching friends...go easy on your second language learners!!!

Things that Have Been Tugging at My Heart

each day, within my peripheral, i see thousands of people…literally. i have never been in a place where i am surrounded by so many, all the time! much of it is overwhelming. i find myself desiring more quiet than ever. much of it is sad. all of it, reminds me of why i am here.

i walk through the streets, and i see poverty. the elderly, having nowhere to go, in the streets begging. in so many ways, this is different from poverty in the states. one of my friends here, has been such an example of compassion for the poor. i am moved by her heart. she purchases food and snacks and carries them in her purse to give to those she comes across. i have to admit, i have been scared. i don’t know how to respond.

i see people just going through the routines of life, with no purpose or hope. people labor endlessly to make ends meet. some, i believe, work harder in a day than i do in a month’s time.

students doing what they’re told and losing the potential to live a life abundantly in all that they were created to live.

i see people doing all that they can to make it, even at the expense of others.

loneliness, despair, brokenness, hoplessness are a reality. people searching for a place in society. people wanting to be worth more. people wanting to break through “stuckness.” people needing hope and purpose. people needing something greater than themselves to break though.

how do i put actions to these things that weigh so heavily and are tugging at my heart?


(my walk to class on campus)


(at a local store)

Just Rub Them!

this is a common scene in this country because dryers are a rarity. it was hard for me to get used to crunchy socks and underwear. solution from my friends here.....just rub them for a little bit and it will soften again! everything seems to take so much longer here.