(H)aleluia!

Okay....! That was quick! I was about to share a prayer request / piece of news. I was about to talk about the adult class I teach at the Science and Technology Library here in Gwacheon. It is a great class, as far as I know, but there had been one problem up until now (and I mean right now): I had no books! They had been doing American Headway 2, and when I came in to teach the class (after the previous teacher quit), I had no books! So a student graciously lent me hers. This was
fine for one class, and even for two. But yesterday, it was clear that I had better make sure I get my own book (if not books and a tape). The problem was (and still is to a degree), the previous teacher appartently did not even leave the books she had been using at the school. So, what was a new teacher to do?

I had asked Diane, my supervisor, about it, and she had said she would try and look into ordering more books for me, but the situation got neglected and - again - yesterday, in my third class at the library, it was obvious that I needed to get at least a student book for the next class. Well, I was all ready to start typing this, when, out of the corner of my eye, next to the computer, on one of the other teachers' desks, I saw a book - an American Headway 2 student book! Talk about "Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will
hear" (See Isaiah 65:24)! Now, I still need either a teacher's manual, or a cassette tape (and both would be really nice) - but at least there is an American Headway 2 Student Book around here! Alleluia!

Daniel

P.S. I just talked to Diane, my supervisor, and she said she had ordered a book and a tape already - so it should be arriving today. So it sounds like I will have all I need for the class tomorrow.

Tantrix

I am working some overtime until our two new teachers get here, if God will. The new teachers are a married couple, and I attended the TESOL institute at Providence College with the husband. I think it may be good to work a little harder, because it is either work, or "What to do?" - being relatively new here in Gwacheon city, and Korea, for that matter. After two four-day weeks, I figure, if it's time to work hard and earn some extra money, so be it.

I just started using "Tantrix" in class. What is Tantrix? Here is the website: www.tantrix.com. I give them three tiles, get them to make a "triangle that works" with them, and then give them three more. It sure gives them some "mental food" to chew on ;).

Daniel

Teacher needed

One of the teachers here "took off", so we need another "native-speaker teacher" yet again (a classmate from my TESOL class and his wife have agreed to come in a month or so, which is good, but this new situation has created yet another "gap"). I would both appreciate you referring this to anyone who might want to teach here (who has a degree), and praying about the need (if you pray).

I recently met a Korean man named "Moon-Ooh", whom God obviously sent into my life. I met him at Dongsan English Worship, and he said he was new to the church. In the last two weeks, he has come over two times to help me get my appartment in order. It has been an utter transformation. This is what I really like about Koreans - they have no problem with making your problem their problem. If you have a dirty, messy appartment, and they can do something about it, they will! Bye for now.


Sincerely,


Daniel

Koreans!

This week, we had a day off halfway through - yesterday. I was really thankful for that, because I was really "working out my salvation with fear and trembling", as a Bible verse from Philippians 2 says to do. The day off was an absolute life-saver. But I tried to take the train home last night, and got "kicked off the train" before my stop. There were no more trains, so I had to take a taxi, but I had no cash. My bank card would not work, so an employee at the station lent me 20,000 won (about 20 dollars)! Koreans! You have got to love them!

Daniel

"Judgement" - good news!

Am I ever glad for yet another weekend! I discovered a student had been saying a Korean word with a foul meaning - which helped explain why the other students had laughed when he used it. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper, and let him know. I said if he ever used that word in my class again, I would write him up a "yellow card". He certainly knew I was not impressed. And it is this kind of thing that really makes me happy when I get to a weekend.

On the bright side, I had the privilege of sharing the good news about God's coming judgement with my last class. "Good news?", one may ask. "Yes", I would reply, "good news!" I was explaining that I would be happy to leave this world and go home (i.e. heaven), when a student said, "Don't you Christians say that unbelievers will go to hell?" I explained, "Well, I simply believe that, as sinners, we need our sins paid for. If our sins are not paid for, then we have reason to be concerned." I also recommended Psalm 96 and 98 for reading on the topic of why God's coming judgement is such good news. And I recommend it yet again, to anyone interested.

You see, we all suffer wrong, and we all know it ought to be judged. I ask, however, do we know that the judge of all the earth will, indeed, settle all accounts perfectly? According to the Bible, we ought to.

Sincerely,

Daniel

"Bokbo"!

I finally got to the weekend! Am I ever happy about that! I had no idea how I would make it, when the week started - but God saw me through. I am happy to say that it no longer looks like I have been "putting on weight", and my face has shrunk back down to its normal size. One positive outcome, however, was that Alice, one of my Kindergarten students, seemed to take a liking to my "chubby right-side-of-face" look, and even taught me the word "bok-bo!" Which means, "Kiss"! ;) She said my face was "Yae-poo-dah", which means "cute".

She said, "Bokbo!" and then when I went to get my hug (which I usually get)... smack! She kissed me on the cheek, and got a kiss on the cheek from me! So, let's just say - while I was not a fan of the "putting on weight" look, per se - I enjoyed the "bokbo"'s while they lasted (and they seem to have "dried up" since my face shrunk back down). Thanks for the continued prayers that have been offered on my behalf.

I learned something else today: when people park, sometimes they "block off" certain people, by parking directly behind them, and perpendicular to their vehicles. So, I wondered aloud as Nick, my Korean-born friend did just this, how would these people get out if they needed to. Nick explained that, because he was "blocking those people off, he followed the protocol of leaving his car in neutral, without the parking break on. That way, if someone needed to push his car out of their way with their hands, they could! Also, Nick explained, his "hand-phone" number was on the rear-view mirror, visible to the outside, so people could also phone his handphone if they needed to talk to him. Neat, eh?

Sincerely,

Daniel

"Fix me"

I am over my sore throat, but now the right side of my face is swollen, and the doctor figured it was my right tonsil. He gave me antibiotics for two days. This last weekend was primarily spent in bed. Now, God willing, I have to teach another week with my health not at 100%. Your prayers for me would be appreciated. Some other possibilities for what might be wrong with me are: a right jaw that is out of joint, and a wisdom tooth that is still beneath the gums. Ultimately, God knows what is wrong, and I pray that he would "fix me".