Malia heads up a quarterly publication for the playgroup, Naptime Reader. This winter edition includes a Christmas poem, craft, and focus on why Jesus came.
December 23, 2013
Playgroup's Winter '13 Newsletter
Seoul International Playgroup continues to meet weekly, providing a meeting place for moms and caretakers and teaching Godly character traits alongside crafts and playtime.
Malia heads up a quarterly publication for the playgroup, Naptime Reader. This winter edition includes a Christmas poem, craft, and focus on why Jesus came.
You can see this newsletter highlighted on our playgroup website or view it in its entirety here.
Malia heads up a quarterly publication for the playgroup, Naptime Reader. This winter edition includes a Christmas poem, craft, and focus on why Jesus came.
'13 Fall: Volleyball
Our fall semester is our busiest as we jump right into volleyball season. Tryouts are in the first week of school; then we begin a rigorous, demanding schedule of practices and games. Through it all, though, we find that coaching is one of the best ways to encourage and influence teenagers. When they are doing something they love, with their friends, and getting better at it, they are much more teachable and open to truth. We do our best to exemplify good character and teach them much more than the sport. We pray that these volleyball players will see Jesus through their time with us on the courts.
The season itself runs from August through the end of October. Within that time, we also participated in two tournaments--one hosted by our school and the other was located in Bangkok, Thailand. We couldn't believe it when we heard that we would get to take our team to our "home." What a blessing it was to make that trip together as a family--to a place we know and with a language we can manage. Our friends in Bangkok also came to see us and offered their help with our children. Overall, it was such an inspiring time for everyone. We enjoyed the tournament as well as the city, our players as well as our family.
Besides volleyball, Mark and Malia jumped back into the normal routines of the school year. Mark began teaching his classes of computer and digital media, and Malia began volunteering at Seoul International Playgroup. Together, we volunteer at AWANA as well.
Our children are growing and learning. Mika and Coby began preschool at home with Malia, and we go through a new letter each week. They are learning eagerly, working as a team on projects and practicing their writing. It's a privilege to spend this time with them at home.
Our baby Konane is now a toddler. She is walking around and learning to speak. Thankfully, it seems her screaming spells are on their way out, but her strong will is around to stay. We pray that she will use her determination and volume to direct others to Jesus and speak truth plainly and boldly. Already, she brings much joy, and we also pray that she will continue to shine with this quality.
Thank you for praying for our family. Here are our specific needs as we enter winter:
Merry Christmas, everyone!
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| Coby helps carry the team's water bottles. |
The season itself runs from August through the end of October. Within that time, we also participated in two tournaments--one hosted by our school and the other was located in Bangkok, Thailand. We couldn't believe it when we heard that we would get to take our team to our "home." What a blessing it was to make that trip together as a family--to a place we know and with a language we can manage. Our friends in Bangkok also came to see us and offered their help with our children. Overall, it was such an inspiring time for everyone. We enjoyed the tournament as well as the city, our players as well as our family.
Besides volleyball, Mark and Malia jumped back into the normal routines of the school year. Mark began teaching his classes of computer and digital media, and Malia began volunteering at Seoul International Playgroup. Together, we volunteer at AWANA as well.
Our children are growing and learning. Mika and Coby began preschool at home with Malia, and we go through a new letter each week. They are learning eagerly, working as a team on projects and practicing their writing. It's a privilege to spend this time with them at home.
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| Mika's Jungle Party for her 5th birthday |
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| Kona Mae shows us her sour face! |
Thank you for praying for our family. Here are our specific needs as we enter winter:
- Now that our volleyball season is over, we host occasional events for our team, meet for open-gyms weekly, and plan to disciple them once the new semester begins in January. Please pray for our influence on these teenagers--that they will see Jesus.
- We will be traveling to Hawaii for our Christmas vacation. Please pray for rest as we visit family and celebrate this special season.
- Malia has begun a new blog to reach women in cross-cultural situations. Please pray for wisdom and connection as she pursues this writing opportunity. You can read more about her blog here.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
December 11, 2013
At Home Abroad Blog
Recently, I've felt a strong desire to reach out to other moms like me in cross-cultural situations. There are many resources online to help wives and mothers, but hardly any of them also include the struggles that come with living overseas or living with cultural differences. It was out of this unrelenting urge to belong to such a community online that I began a new blog: At Home Abroad.
My purpose is to encourage women to prioritize family, embrace culture, and abide in Christ wherever they are.
You are invited to walk alongside me on this journey of learning! You can follow my blog or join the community on Facebook or Google +. I'd love to get to know you and hear your feedback and insight on important topics, including these: TCKs, culture shock, acclimation, homesickness, cross-cultural marriage, and foreign religions. If you know someone who may connect with this type of writing, will you invite them along too?
Excited and blessed,
My purpose is to encourage women to prioritize family, embrace culture, and abide in Christ wherever they are.
You are invited to walk alongside me on this journey of learning! You can follow my blog or join the community on Facebook or Google +. I'd love to get to know you and hear your feedback and insight on important topics, including these: TCKs, culture shock, acclimation, homesickness, cross-cultural marriage, and foreign religions. If you know someone who may connect with this type of writing, will you invite them along too?
Excited and blessed,
September 1, 2013
'13 Summer: Thailand
During our summer break, we spent 6 weeks at our other home abroad: Bangkok, Thailand. It was the perfect family getaway, and we thank God for all the memories we made, the friends we saw, and the food and sights we experienced. Here are some of the highlights from our time there.
We went on family outings every few days. Our destinations included the Grand Palace, Jatujak Market, and Paragon's Kidzania.
While it wasn't a "highlight," Mark's broken nose did show us God's sovereignty and protection. You can read more about that experience here.
Having lots of family time brought us closer together. It was lovely.
A bus ride took us up to Khao Yai, a natural reserve where animals roam free. Although we didn't see elephants, there were many monkeys and snakes and lots of tall grass. We trekked all day. Mika and Coby were so great, and Kona got a free ride in Malia's baby carrier.
With friends Annie and Joanne, we went to Hua Hin for a few days at the beach. What an amazing time to relax!
Dreamworld, Bangkok's theme park, was a highlight for the kids!
We thank God for our blessed summer vacation in Thailand. It provided the rest we needed with the added bonus of fun, bonding, and awesome memories.
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| Thailand's Grand Palace |
June 14, 2013
'13 SPRING: Vball, Ankle, and Move
[Soon after our last update, oh so many months ago, the pace picked up in our home. I apologize for the unexpected hiatus in posts and hope to catch you up quickly.]
Our volleyball ministry continued in full swing throughout the spring semester. With frequent open gyms and league games, we saw our team several times a week. While the league ended with a tournament at the end of April, our own players continued to come out to the gym weekly until summer break began. The time was excellent as we were able to get to know several underclassmen and see the upcoming leaders develop their skills of teaching and encouragement. We pray for the seeds planted in many of these teenagers' lives. It's sobering to remember that "being nice" is not what God wants from us--these youth are very nice! He wants our submission, our devotion--our faith. We pray that each will see God and focus their eyes permanently on Him.
March 20: Mark hurt himself during a basketball game and was diagnosed with a hairline fracture of the ankle. He was off his feet for the entire spring break. Thankfully, we hadn't planned to travel anywhere out of Seoul during our holiday, but the week of expected rest was rather full for everyone. We thank God that Mark is now better and back on both feet.
April 29: Moving Day! With less than two weeks' notice, we packed up all our belongings to move to another apartment nearby. Our new home is in the same complex but with a different layout. The best part is our breathtaking view of the Han River. Malia and the kids spent the month of May making our new apartment our unique home.
May 11: Mika and her two friends danced hula at our school's International Bazaar. We are so proud of her and so thankful that she has amazing friends here in Seoul!
May 17: Malia was a guest speaker for the BridgeHolders International bi-annual seminar. It was a privilege for her to share her teaching experience with these tutors--all of them MKs--who serve numerous families in Seoul.
As summer approached, we had a couple celebrations. Seoul International Playgroup held their end-of-the-year party, rejoicing in another year of fun weekly playdates. Thank you for praying for our playgroup as we provide activities for children, parents, and caretakers here. Our team of volunteers has become more and more focused on a Bible basis for each week's plan as well as intentional prayer and spiritual conversations. We pray that those who come may hear God speaking to them--even above the noise of children playing!
And our joyful baby Konane Mae turned one on June 10.
We thank God for our health, the love in our family, the deep teaching we receive from our house church, and the end of another long winter. We praise God for the opportunities He gives us at Mark's school, in the international playgroup, with AWANA, and with our volleyball team. We are blessed and grateful!
Our volleyball ministry continued in full swing throughout the spring semester. With frequent open gyms and league games, we saw our team several times a week. While the league ended with a tournament at the end of April, our own players continued to come out to the gym weekly until summer break began. The time was excellent as we were able to get to know several underclassmen and see the upcoming leaders develop their skills of teaching and encouragement. We pray for the seeds planted in many of these teenagers' lives. It's sobering to remember that "being nice" is not what God wants from us--these youth are very nice! He wants our submission, our devotion--our faith. We pray that each will see God and focus their eyes permanently on Him.
March 20: Mark hurt himself during a basketball game and was diagnosed with a hairline fracture of the ankle. He was off his feet for the entire spring break. Thankfully, we hadn't planned to travel anywhere out of Seoul during our holiday, but the week of expected rest was rather full for everyone. We thank God that Mark is now better and back on both feet.
April 29: Moving Day! With less than two weeks' notice, we packed up all our belongings to move to another apartment nearby. Our new home is in the same complex but with a different layout. The best part is our breathtaking view of the Han River. Malia and the kids spent the month of May making our new apartment our unique home.May 11: Mika and her two friends danced hula at our school's International Bazaar. We are so proud of her and so thankful that she has amazing friends here in Seoul!
May 17: Malia was a guest speaker for the BridgeHolders International bi-annual seminar. It was a privilege for her to share her teaching experience with these tutors--all of them MKs--who serve numerous families in Seoul.
As summer approached, we had a couple celebrations. Seoul International Playgroup held their end-of-the-year party, rejoicing in another year of fun weekly playdates. Thank you for praying for our playgroup as we provide activities for children, parents, and caretakers here. Our team of volunteers has become more and more focused on a Bible basis for each week's plan as well as intentional prayer and spiritual conversations. We pray that those who come may hear God speaking to them--even above the noise of children playing!And our joyful baby Konane Mae turned one on June 10.
We thank God for our health, the love in our family, the deep teaching we receive from our house church, and the end of another long winter. We praise God for the opportunities He gives us at Mark's school, in the international playgroup, with AWANA, and with our volleyball team. We are blessed and grateful!
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