365

It has been 365 days, an entire year, since I returned to the U.S.A. from Korea. Some days I feel like when I walk outside of my door, yes even my new office or new home door, I feel like I can walk to get Korean fast food at Kimbap Nara or go to the bathhouse. Moving into Nampa has created once again the feeling of "just returning from Korea". I've been in the USA for an entire year but somedays I'm reminded that I was gone for 4 years!

Just today as I roamed the isles of Winco looking for a nylon mesh laundry bag I was reminded of how formative Korea was. I've looked at three stores this week with no luck. I can't find what I'm looking for. I thought to myself, "I wish this was Lottemart, at least there I knew where to find things!" I forget how long it took me to find things there! Today I laughed at myself when I realized that I was operating on the assumption that I had to look, look, and look without asking for help. I sometimes still forget that I can use my verbal skills to ask for what I need in a grocery store!! We speak ENGLISH here in Nampa! It amazes me that 365 days later I'm still running into experiences that reveal how I've been formed by living abroad. There is a need for re-forming in the grocery store!

This past week was NNU's LEAD Retreat with all the incoming student leaders. We went up to Trinity Pines in Cascade, ID. It was a meaningful week for me in so many ways. I met some really great students and staff. We played some great games, had significant teaching and worship times, ate great food, and greatest of all we laughed a ton. This was my first LEAD retreat ever. I always wanted to be a part of PLNU's LEAD but never did because Basketball consumed my "extra time".

This whole last week I found myself reflecting on my final week in Korea. This time last year I was saying goodbye to the Benedictine Sisters, the ladies in my Bible Study and my "Korean family". I couldn't have guessed then that I'd be saying hello to another Nazarene campus 365 days later. God has had so many surprises this year. It has been 365 days of participating in how God is unfolding His story of my life. It will be fun to see what the next 365 bring..... More surprises I'm sure....