I arrived well yesterday morning (4:00am Korean Time). The flight was long and tiring and I cried like a baby for all the things I had to let go. In addition, I chose my seat by the window so that I can look down on the world from the sky, but that had its consequences. I ended up not going to the bathroom throughout the whole flight because I didn't want to disturb the other passengers and I sat in one position for 13 hours. How dreadful it was. Taking off was such an emotional moment for me. Everything I had known for the last 11 years slowly escaped from my eyes and it was too late for me to do anything about it. I couldn't hold back my tears. And seconds later, everyone that I held dear in my heart kept popping in my head one by one. I wanted to ask the flight attendant for some tissues but I couldn't show my bawling face. So I settled with my t-shirt. I looked out the window for a long duration of the flight, praying over cities we were passing over. I flew at night so the stars were out. I can't explain how beautiful it was to see each and every star so clearly in the sky from the sky haha. God breathed those stars into life and I was loved by that same God. How amazing. During the flight I flipped open the bible and read couple chapters here and there and for some reason (I honestly believe God spoke to me inorder to give me comfort during the flight) I wanted to look up a verse that corresponded with my seat number which was 43A. I landed on psalms and I flipped to chapter 43. And I wowed because there was the letter A next to the chapter number as an indicator to verse 1. So I read the chapter (It was only 5 verses) and it felt right, it felt good. I got that comfort. Here is what it said
43"Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men.
You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?
Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
I don't know if that means anything for you guys haha but wow it was HUGE at the time when I read it. It's still HUGE hahaha. I was so moved, so comforted, so at peace. And at that moment I said to myself, there REALLY is a God, THE GOD. Not that I've doubted God for all this time but it was another assuring moment that confirmed God's existence and his active Love in my life.
I got off the flight and I couldn't stop smiling and looking at everything and everyone. I couldn't believe it. I was here, back in Korea, where I began, where I started. I met up with my dad and greeted him with a hug. The drive home was so weird for a lack of a better word. It was different. The signs, the cars (which are mostly hyundai), and the architecture (although westernized, it still had a different feel to it). So the first day I visited my grandmothers from both sides of the family. I can't fully express how happy I was to see my family. For so long I've been jealous of those in the US that had their grandparents living with them and relatives coming over for dinner and the holidays. I was so happy, SOOOO happy to see my grandmothers. I gave both of them a big hug, held their hand, greeted them with all the love I had. A bit later, I met a younger cousin from my dads side. I was excited to meet him and I greeted him in the same manner that I greeted my grandmothers. Unfortunately he was a bit awkward or weirded out by my presence. I still held on to his hand and shook it and smiled, greeted. But he wouldn't even make eye contact. I was disappointed, still happy to see him nonetheless. I also heard he is a real genious. He is enrolled in a prestigious high school here that guarantees him a spot at the #1 college in Korea. How amazing is that? I was very proud to have such a cousin. But at the same time, I wondered if he knew of the treasures I had, greater than any guarantee to some big name college, my Father, my Friend, and my God, Jesus Christ.
Today, my second day, I've just been at my dad's office leaching off the internet on my laptop. I did take some time to stroll around town for a couple of hours. Boy that was interesting. I stopped by at Paris Baguette (in the US there is one up in palisades park and i think one in new york, I'm sure many of you know) and bought some iced coffee or atleast attempted to. I ordered what was on the menu board and it said, Iced Cafe Americano. It registered as american coffee in my mind. I don't even know what they gave me. It was black coffee with sugar syrup mixed in the bottom. It was really bitter but sweet at the same time. It was bittersweet in a bottle haha. Also, I was suprised to see that the food is ridiculously cheap in Korea. Or atleast the places I've eaten at. At Paris Baguette the bread or bbang averaged at about 80 cents. In the US it's like $2.50. And I ate at a Korean buffet that went for $3.50. LOL I couldn't believe it. But I also learned that minimum wage jobs in Korea pay $3.50 an hour. That is ridiculous.
All in all, it has been interesting and fun. God has been very good. I really miss you guys. All of you. I miss my old home, I miss the church building, and the dunkin donuts next to it. The simplicity of ordering coffee there. I miss Shane and Toby.. I saw a group of babies out by the park today.. I just though of Shane and Toby. I really wanted to be a part of their lives and to see them grow in to Godly men. Maybe I still can in spirit. I really miss our sanctuary. Gahh. I especially want to thank those of you that came out to the airport to say goodbyes. I was really moved. Thank you for everyones support and prayers. Thank you for the presents that I REALLY didn't deserve. Thank you for your love. And really... thank you for all the precious memories. Thank you thank you thank you. Thank you Basilea for being there for me when I needed it. Thank you KPCE. Thank you MKSN and JDSN for being such a huge part in my faith. I love you guys. I love you Isaac MKSN, Sarah SMN and Shane! I love you JDSN and Alice teacher! I love you Basilea, I love you YG, I love you KM, I LOVE YOU CHURCH!!! I LOVE YOU GOD! Please please, lets never lose touch. Sorry I wrote so much.
