Blessed

As many of you may know I recently celebrated my very first birthday away from home. My birthday is not terribly important to me when I am home, but this time I was worried that being gone would make it a very lonely day. It was also a milestone birthday; I left my teenage years behind once and for all. It was kind of a funny feeling—to know that there was now a difference in my life but not feeling it. I'm the just the same old awkward kid trying to stumble my way through life. Only, as I am discovering more and more, the grace of our Creator makes up a lot for my clumsiness.

By that grace, I was allowed to have a really wonderful first birthday abroad. So many people showed so much kindness to me. The people here really are incredible! My friends here even conspired to give me a lovely little surprise birthday party, cake and all. That was a first. Also, one thing I really liked was getting to share my birthday with two other friends, so it was a birthday trio.

Although I did miss my family, I felt like I was part of a family here as well. In the end it was a very good birthday, and a good reminder of how blessed I am with the people I know. So grateful for the grace of God which allows these blessings to illuminate my life!

As a note, the Koreans count age differently. When you are born they say you are already one year old. So technically, by Korean reckoning, I am actually twenty-one. Aha! I get to celebrate my twenty-first birthday twice.

Okay, so hopefully I can write more blog posts soon about actual school and life here at Handong. I will also be writing about another day trip I took to Busan. I promise I am actually working hard at school—which is probably why you never hear about that. Anyway, thanks for reading!