Heavy Heart

Thank you GOD for keeping my family and friends SAFE! 

Yesterday was a day I can't fully describe. The place where I grew up was slammed with brutal storms, heavy wind and rain and tornadoes. Growing up, I was completely "enchanted" with severe weather. It's my dad's influence on me. We loved to watch storms off the coast during hurricane season or watch lightning light up the sky during tornado season. But, yesterday, we love for those storms morphed into staggering fear.

Being in Korea and watching newscast of meterologists ordering people in my small township of Meansville to take cover, a tornado is heading your way RIGHT NOW was indescribable. Thanks to God's blessing of Skype, I called mom who works late. She was leaving work. It was midnight. I prayed she would get home before the worst of it hit. She did Praise God! My family was accounted  for safe at home with a storm shelter in a basement not too far away. They lost power, but - again - thanks to God's abundant provision, their cell phones worked. I called mom again on skype and told her to take cover. The tornado was only 1 mile from them. The did take cover. And they were okay. My grandmother, however, was in the direct line of the funnel. After the storm passed my family's home, my parents drove to my grandmothers. They couldn't get there. The roads were blocked off. After much calling, my grandmother answered. She was okay. By God's grace, she slept through most of it.

Other family members, however, lost their home. They rode out the storm in their basement only to emerge to the upper story completely destroyed. Our cousins are now salvaging what is left of their belongings, but praise God they aren't losing loved ones. Four people lost their lives in my area.

Another praise is God's protection over my dad! How awesome are you Oh God to hear that prayer and deliver it! My dad is a fireman and so he was on call all night answering distress calls from the wounded and effected. He was on search and rescue and coordinating emergency services to deploy to the area hit by the violent tornado that hit Griffin. I'm so proud of him. AND I'm thankful he answered his phone even if it was to yell at me that he was busy and had to go. I heard his voice and it was enough!

Now Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, the Carolina's and other parts of the South are crawling out of the debris. So many people died. Our prayers are with their families. We pray God would envelop all of those seeking comfort and understanding. I want to go home and help!

I watched the news reports unfold while at school yesterday and felt completely helpless. But, I'm so thankful that I was able to call home and get in touch with everyone. I always thought living away from home would be easy, but now I know that it's so hard.

A picture of your favorite memory...30 day challenge

Not our engagement night, but the night D gave me a ring

We don't actually have a picture of our favorite memory. But, when I asked Derek what he wanted to write for this post challenge, he said the same memory that I had in my head...it never gets old. 

Our favorite memory is the night that Derek asked me to be his wife. Such a sweet moment for us. My memory of the night goes something like this...

After being gifted two early weeks of paid vacation from my school, giving us a total of 20 days together in American, I thought, "we could possibly get married this summer!" We were battling when that would become a reality - if we would have to wait a long, agonizing year or if we could go home for winter vacation and get married then. I called Derek insanely excited thinking the thought would dawn on him...well, much to my disappointment, I didn't. His reaction in no way mirrored mine, so I was brought to a low place of "it's mostly me." That night, I had women's group. I shared my desire to be married with them and my need to leave it to Derek and Christ. I asked for prayer to stop thinking about it. One lady said, you're going to get married this summer. I thought, man, that's not what I needed to hear. After, I was going to Derek's to talk about our summer plans. I was worried. I was fearful that he would tell me to put it out of my mind, so I went to another friend's apartment and waited until Derek was ready to talk. It was 10pm. My friend and I started praying that God would take marriage off of my heart and give me peace. At 10:15 Derek sent me a text message that said, I'm working on things, just trust me...a little more time. He said he was skyping with Ryan. Low and behold, he was actually waiting on my Dad to answer his phone to ask if he could marry me. 

After that disappointing conversation on the phone, it "hit" Derek that we really could get married this summer. He, without my knowing, had already requested extra time off this summer to fly to Georgia and talk to my parents AND for another week to get married in September...Now, we had enough time. Derek had some thinking and praying to do. So, he did. He went on a 4 hour walk - I think - prayed and committed. After talking to my dad - who cried and said yes with a blessing - Derek came and got me.

It was 11pm. I lived in another city so I had to be on the train no later than 11:20 to get home or else I would have to take a taxi. I thought if he isn't sending me home on the train it has to be really important. He came in smiling. He told me to leave my purse in his apartment and let's go for a walk. My heart was beating and my mouth was running full speed. I couldn't stop talking thinking he was going to tell me to put marriage out of my head. Well, after I rambled on for a while, we went to the park where we had our first kiss, sat down at the gazebo and Derek silenced me. He said...

Two things...first, I wasn't skyping with Ryan. I was talking to your parents. Second, (he got down on one knee) will you marry me?

This is the point when I began jumping up and down for 30 minutes saying "REALLY, really, really, REally?" UH YES! We called that sweet friend that had been praying with me minutes earlier and told her the news. Then we called home. Putting me in a cab a 2:00am with the biggest smile on my face is our favorite memory! 



day 01 - a picture of yourself with 10 facts
day 02 - a picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
day 03 - a picture of the cast from your favorite show
day 04 - a picture of your night
day 05 - a picture of your favorite memory
day 06 - a picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
day 07 - a picture of your most treasured item
day 08 - a picture that makes you laugh
day 09 - a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
day 10 - a picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
day 11 - a picture of something you hate
day 12 - a picture of something you love
day 13 - a picture of your favorite band or artist
day 14 - a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
day 15 - a picture of something you want to do before you die
day 16 - a picture of someone who inspires you
day 17 - a picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
day 18 - a picture of your biggest insecurity
day 19 - a picture and a letter
day 20 - a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
day 21 - a picture of something you wish you could forget
day 22 - a picture of something you wish you were better at
day 23 - a picture of your favorite book
day 24 - a picture of something you wish you could change
day 25 - a picture of your day
day 26 - a picture of something that means a lot to you
day 27 - a picture of yourself and a family member
day 28 - a picture of something you're afraid of
day 29 - a picture that can always make you smile
day 30 - a picture of someone you miss

8-Months-of-Marriage Photos

 

 

 

Something Sweet

30 Day Challenge...here you go...here is a picture of our night...our 8-month-late engagement session.
For my birthday, Derek asked a friend who is really into photography to take some pictures of us while the cherry blossoms were in bloom. They were so much fun. More to come! Just a preview! Thanks D and Todd!

Salvation is like a combo meal

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. 

Joyful Resurrection Day!  We found ourselves not "feeling" Easter as a holiday this year. Instead, we felt slightly awkward at the thought that we aren't joyful in our worship everyday. Everyday is a celebration of Easter, right? So, why do we put on our finest and cook a big ham for this particular Sunday celebration? Maybe we are far removed from the traditions that we grew up with. Here in Korea Easter is not celebrated the same. We did have a boiled egg, but it wasn't died. There were no egg hunts. No Easter baskets. (Although, I find myself really missing my mom's Easter baskets.) We had Indian curry for lunch with friends. We had an hour of worship together just singing out about how awesome Christ is and then we took some more engagement photos.

What we have noticed lately is that Easter is more than a day. It's more than a holiday, a season, but it's life and death. We are so thankful that we serve an awesome God who made his mortal body die on a cross so that we might be his children.

Derek played in the worship band on Easter Sunday. Nothing out of the ordinary for us. We sand the usual songs and had a message. One of the praise leaders shared a short message before we began worship from the daily devotional at our church. Without her soft voice, I might not do it justice, but just to share...

Imagine one sin that you have committed...now imagine that sin combined with the sin of your family. Now, imagine your combined family's sin along with your neighborhood...add that sin to the sin of your community...to your city...to your nation...now the world. Now, I want you to try to imagine the sin of all the ages...that is sin that Jesus died for...that is the weight of the sin that pierced the hands of God's son.

Wow, right? Our pastor gave a pretty great illustration of salvation this Sunday. He said salvation is like a combo meal that you get at McDonald's. You don't just order a hamburger (crucifixion). You always get fries (resurrection) and a coke (ascension). He said that salvation is not complete on the cross, but on the ascension of Christ into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of God the Father. YUP!

Words from Us: When you are in the Word, you live the Word, the Word changes you and it grows you. As we read the Bible together and in our alone time, we really see the passion that Jesus loves us with. That begins to emanate into all of our other relationships and we begin to see the passion that Jesus has for all his children. This daily helping of humble pie is so good that we begin to crave it every day with every meal!

This marks our second and what we hope is our final Easter in South Korea.With much love from two crazy lovebirds in SK, D & A

30 Day Picture Challenge {day 4}

Sorry to be a slacker. I would give you a picture, but we have to wait for it...

Yesterday, we took "engagement photos"...since we didn't while we were engaged...so, I guess you could call them 8-happy-months-of-marriage photos. A friend of ours is a really great photographer. We would call him professional, but he wouldn't. He took us out yesterday for some candid photos with the cherry blossoms in bloom and D's guitar. It was really fun.

Lesson learned...we are not models...we never could be...we make more goofy faces than cute ones...and we like it that way. We'll post some pictures soon.

30 Day Picture Challenge {Day 3}

Before we were married, Derek had never seen Friends. Now, we have been married 8 months and we are two episodes away from finishing the series! Friends are now friends of ours. We quote them often. Moral of the story...Friends has taught us how to relax each day with each other and de-stress from teaching. 

day 01 - a picture of yourself with 10 facts
day 02 - a picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
day 03 - a picture of the cast from your favorite show
day 04 - a picture of your night
day 05 - a picture of your favorite memory
day 06 - a picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
day 07 - a picture of your most treasured item
day 08 - a picture that makes you laugh
day 09 - a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
day 10 - a picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
day 11 - a picture of something you hate
day 12 - a picture of something you love
day 13 - a picture of your favorite band or artist
day 14 - a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
day 15 - a picture of something you want to do before you die
day 16 - a picture of someone who inspires you
day 17 - a picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
day 18 - a picture of your biggest insecurity
day 19 - a picture and a letter
day 20 - a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
day 21 - a picture of something you wish you could forget
day 22 - a picture of something you wish you were better at
day 23 - a picture of your favorite book
day 24 - a picture of something you wish you could change
day 25 - a picture of your day
day 26 - a picture of something that means a lot to you
day 27 - a picture of yourself and a family member
day 28 - a picture of something you're afraid of
day 29 - a picture that can always make you smile
day 30 - a picture of someone you miss

30 Day Picture Challenge {day 2}

We decided we didn't like this challenge. 

We've had many amazing friends more years and some for only a short time. 

Some we get to talk to a couple of times a week, others every few months. 

And some even change with the seasons of our lives.

So, in honor of all of those amazing friends we count as blessings, we aren't going to post a person. 

But, for fun, here is some fun times had with great friends that were randomly on our computer...

day 01 - a picture of yourself with 10 facts
day 02 - a picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
day 03 - a picture of the cast from your favorite show
day 04 - a picture of your night
day 05 - a picture of your favorite memory
day 06 - a picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
day 07 - a picture of your most treasured item
day 08 - a picture that makes you laugh
day 09 - a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
day 10 - a picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
day 11 - a picture of something you hate
day 12 - a picture of something you love
day 13 - a picture of your favorite band or artist
day 14 - a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
day 15 - a picture of something you want to do before you die
day 16 - a picture of someone who inspires you
day 17 - a picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
day 18 - a picture of your biggest insecurity
day 19 - a picture and a letter
day 20 - a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
day 21 - a picture of something you wish you could forget
day 22 - a picture of something you wish you were better at
day 23 - a picture of your favorite book
day 24 - a picture of something you wish you could change
day 25 - a picture of your day
day 26 - a picture of something that means a lot to you
day 27 - a picture of yourself and a family member
day 28 - a picture of something you're afraid of
day 29 - a picture that can always make you smile
day 30 - a picture of someone you miss

30 Day Picture Challenge {day 1}

Okay, we are going to do this. I need a challenge. More discipline I say! But, we are going to put a twist on this viral challenge. We are doing this husband and wife style. 

10 facts about Anlee by Derek:

10) She loves dogs (really, if you didn't know this you should be ashamed)
9) She loves babies
8) She has a heart for pregnant women
7) She loves chocolate
6) She is an amazing wife who really seeks to care for and support her husband selflessly
5) She could spend full days on end on cuteoverload.com
4) She is great at being a friend (as many can attest to)
3) She loves Jesus and seeks after him with all her heart
2) She hates it when people are tied to their cellphone
1) She is a quick learner and really loves learning to play guitar and piano (if only a certain someone had more time to teach her)

10 facts about Derek by Anlee:

10) He loves Jesus with a passion that leads his life in everything. His heart is for the church.
9) He loves people. Relationships with real broken people are his thing.
8) He can hear a song and later play it on the piano, guitar or drums. 
7) If he learns anything new, he immediately goes to Wikipedia to read more. 
6) He makes the greatest sea lion impression and has a pretty nice rooster, too. 
5) He loves to read books about theology - he's a deep thinker.
4) He smiles with his teeth when he's really happy.
3) He's an amazing friend that is great at keeping in touch, loves his family, honors his parents.
2) He loves cheese, MEAT, Kettle chips and fish tacos - he's a great cook.
1) He's an amazing leader (finances, future, spiritual life). ...he's a keeper...

10 facts about us:

10) We met in South Korea while teaching ESL.
9) We have spent a total of 20 days in America together.
8) Out of 12 flights on trips we took together, 4 have been on the same plane. 
7) The first time we said "I love you" was Valentines Day, Manila, Philippines.
6) Derek proposed after praying about it on a random day for 4 hours. 
5) Combined, we have 8 brothers, 2 sisters-in-law, 1 s-i-l on the way and one nephew.
4) We have a date night every other Friday that requires us to get out of the house and sometimes the city we live in. 
3) Before we were married, Derek had never seen Friends. We are now finishing the last 3 episodes of season 10. 
2) Our next adventure is Living in America together, working in a church and training our future dog Kimchi. 
1) We live our lives in the grace of the blood of Christ. We live our marriage by Ephesians 5:22-33. Romans is our favorite book of the Bible so we wrestle with it daily.

day 01 - a picture of yourself with 10 facts
day 02 - a picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
day 03 - a picture of the cast from your favorite show
day 04 - a picture of your night
day 05 - a picture of your favorite memory
day 06 - a picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
day 07 - a picture of your most treasured item
day 08 - a picture that makes you laugh
day 09 - a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
day 10 - a picture of the person you do the most ****** up things with
day 11 - a picture of something you hate
day 12 - a picture of something you love
day 13 - a picture of your favorite band or artist
day 14 - a picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
day 15 - a picture of something you want to do before you die
day 16 - a picture of someone who inspires you
day 17 - a picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
day 18 - a picture of your biggest insecurity
day 19 - a picture and a letter
day 20 - a picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
day 21 - a picture of something you wish you could forget
day 22 - a picture of something you wish you were better at
day 23 - a picture of your favorite book
day 24 - a picture of something you wish you could change
day 25 - a picture of your day
day 26 - a picture of something that means a lot to you
day 27 - a picture of yourself and a family member
day 28 - a picture of something you're afraid of
day 29 - a picture that can always make you smile
day 30 - a picture of someone you miss

Dialoguing Wives

Dear Lady Friends,

Lately, I have been reading a blog from Mars Hill Church. The name is Dialoguing Wives. Basically, it's two woman - one, a mature Christian who has been married for many years and another that is a Christian in a new marriage. The younger writes the older one letters about marriage and "working it out." Working out faith in marriage is a really amazing thing for me. Daily, I'm challenged to go deeper in "wrestling with my faith." I'm also challenged to break the ugly face of pride and put on the face of humility. IM LOVIN' IT! It hurts...it's painful...it's uncomfortable...but it's AMAZING! Being here in Korea, I've been longing for a married mentor. Well, God heard that prayer and gave me an interesting medium for that mentor. Dialoguing Wives has been enriching me, so I suggest married or not, you check it out! If you are in a relationship or considering being in one and you want it to be God's place, read up! Dating "sucks!" Derek and I both agree on that point. But, it's training ground for learning how to care for God's sons and daughters. Here's an excerpt from the blog that I really liked reading this morning:

“How have you used prayer as a tool … so that you are supporting him all the days of his life?”

Looking back at all the times I’ve tried to pressure Gavin [husband] to do something like go to that men’s group, I can see clearly see my sin. The more I focused on what he wasn’t doing, the angrier I became, and the further away I got from hearing God’s voice of reason. In the times that I have intentionally prayed about my irritations and sought out God’s advice, I have been able to reject my wrongful thinking and effectively pray for Gavin.
Going to God first really does work because it means my thinking will be corrected and I will hear God’s leading. (“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26) My words will come out surprisingly gentler, and sometimes I won’t say anything because I’m able to peacefully let it go. (Ecclesiastes 3:7)
You mentioned something else I thought was important: “… the Holy Spirit and Ryan are using these situations to get my attention for a deeper issue.” What is the Holy Spirit revealing to you in your heart about this? What would you list out as small frustrations? How have you used prayer as a tool to change your attitude towards Ryan so that you are supporting him all the days of his life? (Write it all down.)

 Proverbs 28:26 is really speaking to me. And, in praying for peace recently, I've been given peace. Peace with God means peace with my amazing Husband and it overflows into all other relationships. 

If you want to be a dialoguing wife with me, I'm completely down for "working this out" together with my sisters in Christ.

Spring Update:
Last night, we visited a Mongolian BBQ. If you have never experienced this type of cooking before, google it and GO! You choose a type of meat; chicken, pork, beef or seafood. Then, you get a bowl with your uncooked meat in it. You choose from a salad bar style set-up all of the vegetables that you want. I chose chicken with carrots, broccoli, peppers, cabbage, spinach and zucchini. Next, I piled my overflowing bowl with noodles. Last, I added a spicy mustard sauce, some hearty wine sauce and another I'm-not-sure-how-to-describe-it sauce. To finish, I gave my bowl to the head chef who then threw it on the flat grill. It came to the table on the largest plate I have ever seen. The total cost was 11,000W ($9.40) with all of the proceeds going to North Korean defectors. 

So, here's the awesome story. A South Korean-American moved back to South Korea about 3 years ago. He started attending a church in Ansan and became a Christian. He and his pastor have a heart for North Korea and all their defectors. They began fundraising in America and recently used the money to open this Mongolian restaurant in Ansan (where we live). They employ North Korean defectors, (people who have escaped NK in order to obtain a better life for their family's). One of the first employees escaped famine and poverty 3 years ago. A year later his wife and son joined him. Only recently could his little girl also escape to reunite their family again. 

All NK defectors are given a unique opportunity in SK. The government sponsors a business learning and skills program where defectors are taught skills to help them acclimate to SK. They also have programs with churches that sponsor defectors in home-stays. Regardless, the average income for defectors in SK is still way below the national average. The pastor and chef at this restaurant are praying that by employing NK defectors in the restaurant, they will learn valuable skill sets that if and when there is reunification, the defectors could then return to NK with business skills that would be useful. Planning the menu was key to this endeavor. What food could NK defectors take back to NK and be successful with. Mongolian BBQ is just right. All the same ingredients in NK food with similar cooking methods. 

The best part is that all proceeds are benefiting NK defectors, their families and their futures. Also, it aides the fight to reunify the pensuila and to bring the name of Christ to NK. 

The world's most persecuted Christians live in NK...

PS...the food was GREAT! 

I (Anlee) lead a girls prayer group at school that consists of about 10 girls. Every Monday these girls come to my classroom to pray over NK. Their hearts yearn to stand with their brothers and sisters and to see the injustices cease! Derek, the amazing husband that he is, is going to take this group of prayer warriors to dinner at the restaurant as soon as they finish their midterms. The girls are excited that they have others to stand with them in prayer for NK. 

My sweet friend and bridesmaid, Mary Hooke, also has a heart for NK. So, in the fellowship of the body of Christ, would you guys pray over this ministry! 

We hope to be regular attendants at the Mongolian BBQ here in Ansan!

Oh, and it's SPRING!

I know I'm long-winded, but we want to keep you updated on our lives here.