Jelly Beans and Four Years

Children's Sunday School and Worship
Jeon ha International Worship
May 20, 2012

Yesterday, we talked about how God plants seeds in us to produce fruit. Now, to a group of diverse kids who speak different languages, this analogy was kind of hard to convey. However, God works through obstacles.....even a language barrier.

He gave me a cute analogy that truly shined in that room yesterday. Our lesson had an object lesson where you put crushed oreos in a cup and plant jelly beans in them.

They may not have gotten the idea of God planting His seeds of wisdom and truth in us to produce fruit for the kingdom. But there were some shining, happy faces in that room. I will never forget the reaction when I told them we would use jelly beans.

See, jelly beans are pretty expensive here in Korea. Even the Wingfield's do not get them often. (If you know me and Mike, you know we love our Jelly Belly's!)

My plan was to teach this lesson on sowing and growing....but God's plan was just to brighten up the room....and let Him shine! And, boy did He shine!

Yep, it was messy. (Imagine JC crushing oreos in a ziploc bag and pouring it into a little cup??) But that is just life! Life gets messy. We screw up. We get prideful. We experience loss and sorrow.

However, God meets us in all that mess and pulls us out. He provides not one, but two vaccuum cleaners in your Sunday School room to clean up. He gives you jelly beans to brighten your day.

All this blabbering is just to say, let God in your mess. Quit trying to plan what you want to happen. Let go and let God work a miracle through you. He can "make your mess HIS message"!

And today, I am remembering the Chapman family, Steven, Mary Beth, and their children.....

Four years ago, their youngest daughter, Maria, who was adopted from China was taken home to be with our Lord. Their story is in this link.....

http://www.showhope.org/AboutUs/RememberingMaria/HerStory.aspx

They have reached so many and helped others through tragedy. Just taking some time to pray for this family (who has three Christian recording artists in it) and for their ministry for adoption and orphans.

Our "Godsend"

Micah has weak enamel, poor thing. He actually had to have caps put on his front top teeth this past fall. Well, last week, one of the caps fell off along with part of the tooth.

I was thinking of waiting until we got back to the states to have it seen about.....but I wanted to make sure he was not in pain.

That is where this person, who I now call my "God-send", came into the picture.

Mike takes a Korean class at work. His teacher is this beautiful Korean girl who lived in Canada for about 10 years. She had told Mike that she could help me with whatever when I came here. However, as independent as I am, I never asked...until now. Hannah was able to call and get me an appointment at a pediatric dentist near the compound. She even came and picked up us, took us there, went through the whole process and appointment with us, and then went out for lunch with us.

(We ended up having something temporary put on the tooth. They do not do evasive procedures on Westerners. Micah is very active.....and would have to be put to sleep to have the cap put back on. They do not do that over here on children for such procedures. So, I think I know what I will be doing in July!)

She is such a precious person. I was so thankful for her because of her help with translating!

God sends people into every person's life.............everyday. Don't forget to be thankful for the ones who are your "God-sends".

Thank you, Hannah! I am so grateful for you!!!

God's lovingkindness!

God has a way of loving us like no other!

I will never forget the day I found out about Maria.....................

May 22, 2008

Maria Sue Chapman (2003-2008)

Maria Sue Chapman, adopted and youngest daughter to Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman, was killed Wednesday night in a tragic accident in the family driveway on Wednesday evening. She was LifeFlighted to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital but for only reasons God can explain she went home to Him... not to Franklin as we all so desperately wanted.
Your prayers are needed for all in the Chapman family. This is a family who has so generously loved and given to so many. Just hours before this close knit family was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter Emily Chapman, and were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman's completion of high school. Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out 5 candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago. These words are unthinkable to type. And yet we trust in a God who was not surprised by this and because of Jesus I am certain through faith in Him we will see Maria again. - Jim Houser (Manager)



JC was a little less that two years younger that Maria. I was in awe of Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman. They had opened their hearts and home to three precious orphans from China. They were such a precious family. Steven Curtis Chapman had been one of my favorite Christian musicians for years! Mary Beth had battled so many issued and overcame depression!

And now THIS!

This was something that broke my heart like nothing had since my friend Dana had passed away.
It was not fair! But who knew, that so many would be reached because of this life that was cut short. There are funds that are being raised for orphans and adoption because of Maria!

And now, I find this clip from Beth Moore's teaching on Life Today with Jim and Betty Robinson.....God sure knows how to take care of His children.

Oh, Lord, you know right when we need your lovingkindness.!

I'll make another post to let you all know how God showered me with some of His love today!!!

Stronger | Seattle Childrens Hospital

This post to match this is below......

So much to be thankful for.....

Some people can take situations like mine.....and look at all the bad.

There are many who go into an expat situation and look at all the cons...being away from home, family and friends, being in a new culture, and even having to deal with foreign languages.

Or, some can think of all the pros....a new adventure, exposure to a new culture, making new friends, meeting new brothers and sisters in Christ.

Yeah, I chose to live on a compound in a smaller apartment. Yep, I chose not to get a car....so I walk everywhere. Now I get to take cabs for long distances.....but get to meet some really sweet people on the side streets of Korea.

There is one sweet couple that we see at least once a week. Sometimes they are in the food court at Hyundai Dept Store. But, most of the time, the husband is pushing his wife in her wheelchair on the main road that follows along Hyundai Heavy Industries. It is one of the sweetests sights I have ever seen. This husband does not care about the hills he has to conquer with this wheelchair, or the cold weather...or the soon to be hot weather. He's just happy to be with her. I pray my marriage can last like that...and not just "last".

I also saw a clip made at Seattle Children's Hospital. It was a video made to the song "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson. I was in tears watching this. It hit me like a brick wall.......

I am SO BLESSED! I am not with a child there. My two boys are healthy. (Yep, very healthy!)

I have complained that I wished my kids were not so hyper and active......I will never do that again! My child could be gone.....taken by some illness or accident. Or, I could be sitting by their side in a hospital.

I have NO reason to complain! Praying that my sons will grow to be strong men of God. Praying that I can be a light for others. Praying that I spread enthusiasm and joy to all I meet.

No more days of dread.....I will begin everyday looking at what I have!!!!

So, take a look at this clip and remember what you can be thankful for....and that if you are put in one of these situations....you can be a fighter too!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihGCj5mfCk8

Precious New Discovery!

This morning Micah and I took our regular route...

First, we follow JC to school. JC likes to walk on ahead....but this momma like to make sure he makes it there okay.
Next, we go to the small soccer field next to JC's school...and the playground next to it.
After playing for about 20 minutes, Micah grabs my hands and pulls me towards the road. He then repeats..."McDonald's!" over and over.
We take the walk....about .8 km to the McDonald's down the road. He orders his usual....hotcakes, hashbrowns and a cola. The girls there have his order memorized I think. They have a chart for us to point to which has pictures also of the toys for the Happy Meals. He gets to pick which one he wants, too. (I guess he thinks he is special or something!) :)

Then, we head to a little shop we call "dot.com". Not sure if that is the name of it...but that is what everyone calls it on the compound. We looked at the cars, of course, got JC a "happy" and headed out.

I remembered that we were probably almost out of soda, so I stopped by what I thought was a convenience store that I have never gone in.

It had the normal convenience store "stuff". But, it also had cleaning supplies (I was needing washing powder), toiletries, ziploc bags, and some groceries. It reminded me of a little shop that was in Carierre when I was little. Mrs. Seal had this store in Carierre, MS when my mom grew up there..and she would take me there when we visited there when I was little. The only difference here was that there was no butcher area. :)

The lady behind the counter could speak only a little English (a lot more than I spoke Korean, though.) She asked if I was American and if I had any more children. She asked if my husband was working here. I told her he was helping build drillships with Hyundai Heavy Industries. She replied that he must make lots of money. ........it made me stop and think.......

Most people who come here do come here for the money you can make. True, that was a big part of our decision to come here. We will be able to save a lot of money here. But, we prayed about it...and ask God to lead us to make the right decision. We feel God has put us here for a reason....and that He is going to do something big!

I don't think many of the expats go into the store....but I will be going back. It will help me out tremendously since I do not have a car and the nearest store that has cleaning "stuff" and shampoo doesn't open until 10:30 in the morning.

Funny thing is....Mike asked me last night again if I wanted a car....if I had a car, I would have never found this place...there is not much parking on these side streets.

I truly think God led me there. It may sound silly to some, but yeah, God led me there. Now I am going to put more time into learning my Korean so I can talk with this sweet lady some more!!! :)

Families through Christ

Today we spent some time with one of the families in our church here in Ulsan. Our pastor and his precious family invited us to join them at the Ulsan Botanical Gardens. JC was out of school because of the Korean Labour Day. They were sweet enough to pick us up from the compound.
Here are some pictures of them from Micah's birthday party in March....

Our pastor prayed for our sons at both their birthday parties. He prays for our family. We are praying for them. They have become our church family. This congregation has embraced us with open arms.....despite our differences, and active boys! :)

We are so blessed to have our pastor. He leads a group of us who come from different countries, backgrounds, and places. When I worship with our international congregation, I get a taste of what heaven would be like.....people from all over the globe....together for this purpose...to praise, worship, and serve our King!

Thank you, Pastor, for leading us. Thank you for your devotion and sacrifice. Thank you for your hospitality and support! We are forever grateful.

Here are some glimpses of our trip today.........

We look forward to more time with our church family.....those who will sustain us through this time away from home.....and provide us a home away from home in the house of God! :)