A New Song in My Heart

The new day of the year, we set sail across the open seas and landed back in South Korea.

What a week it has been! I've debated rehashing our first week here, as it's always wise to forget the old and press on, but victories in the Lord are so worth sharing!

I'll give you the simple version...
"Count it all joy, when you fall into various trails, for the testing of your faith produces patience, but let patience have it's perfect work in you, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing." - James 1:1-2

The various trials:
+We nearly lost all of our luggage
+I have felt incredibly homesick
+Our new apartment was unfinished; missing window, no working heat, no running water
+Our new landlord has been M.I.A
+I have been really homesick, did I say that already?

+Internet/cable guy was M.I.A
+We live in a new city, with no friends/family around and have no idea where anything is
+Coming from a comfortable home to a barren big cold apartment was yanking me very quickly out of my comfort zone
+And my anxieties were getting the best of me! My tears were my food day and night.

However, God is good, He is the God that provides. And I have seen this week so many things about my heart...where is my joy, what do I trust in? Comfort? Home? Warmth? My heart is such an idol factory, also masking the spot where my True Love must reside with matters of this world and earthly things that I think make me peaceful and happy. God has been doing a big work in my heart lately, really showing me how much more I need Him, to know Him, to love Him- to satisfy in Him only! We must face trials and be brought low, so our Loving Father can expose what's really in our hearts and lead us to Him.


I started back up at work this week for World Vision, and it is quite the subway ride into Busan, the city where we used to live, where I still work. I'll now be riding the bus or subway for a whole hour into town. I'm looking forward to this time of being able to just sit and read. On my goal list for this year, I wrote down as one of my goals "Read more"- So I picked up "Idelette" by Edna Gerstner as my first read of the year. It is a novel on the life of Idelette Calvin, John Calvin's wife. She was such a woman who loved God, and lived in His strength. Through God's children, Jean and Idelette Calvin, I have been encouraged by my brother and sisters of times past through this fact based novel!

Here's a section I read and it encouraged me so...

"Even though God takes all, how blessed we are if He abides with us. Truly if we have everything, but not God, how miserable we are. If, on the other hand, we have nothing but God, how truly blessed we are. The grace of the Lord, which inhabits my house, will not leave it desolate."

All I need is His grace. His strength. All I need is to abide in His love!

Reasons to be thankful:
+Joe's Korean co-worker David is now part of our lives! He is a very kind and helpful man of God! He has been such a huge blessing to us already!

+My brother and sister in law blessed us with food and hospitality (cause we are worth more than the sparrows He says!)
+Our favorite soup dish restaurant is right next door to our apartment!
Our bellies have warmth and food


+Me and my favorite kim chi have been reunited...
(but not so much the little shrimp guys also in the pictures above! ;)
+Our home is blessed with warmth
+We got lovely view of His glorious creation from a little patio outside our front door.
+I am Jesus's, and He is mine

I have really had a wake-up call in many ways this week, and it has been so needed.
I am still so homesick, but contentment will come as I wait and pray...
I'll be post pictures soon of our new apartment and with all the updates of another year overseas!

I pray you are resting in Him whatever you are going through

"Cast your cares on Him, for He cares for you."

-1 Peter5:7

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

-Ps. 23:1

Lots of love to you and you and YOU!

BIG HUGS
~Abigail