Tonight, my good friend, Shawn, bought me the most expensive and delicious meat I have ever had in Korea. 꽃등심 and 특수부위. 96,000won. On top of that, he paid for 노래방 too. The only thing he let me pay for was the Gatorades for basketball. He really wasn't kidding when he said it was on him. I told him I'd get him next time, but I have no idea where to take him after tonight's events! What an amazing new friend.

Thought of the Day: Visa
Song of the Day: 2pac-Life Goes On

This week's persecuted church: Nigeria
In July 2009, an extremist group killed many Christians in northern Nigeria as churches were set on fire and Christians were told to either convert to Islam or die. Three pastors were given this statement but chose to give up everything and face torment and torture until their deaths for the sake of religious freedom, liberty, and truth. These kinds of deaths are justified by the Koran, which allows the killing of infidels during jihad (requiring Muslims to "struggle in the way of God" or "to struggle to improve one's self and/or society.").

I had a pretty encouraging weekend as I got to meet some amazing Christians. I visited Haokip at his school and got to meet his suite mates that were all from various countries in the world. I got to meet his Samoan roommate who taught me that Samoa is actually a Christian nation with 98% of its population being believers. I met his Jamaican friend (who came out to our church today) and learned that 80% of its population is Christian. Finally, I met an Ethiopian Christian who told me that his country is considered the first foreign country to accept Christianity (starting with Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts). The Lord is working all over the world!
Yesterday, Joe and I visited the Foreign Missionary Cemetery in 합정.
It was so encouraging to see so many Christian soldiers who had lived so faithfully. It was like seeing a modern day Hebrews 11.
There was even a section for missionary infants who died at a very young age.

What are you doing with your life?

Thought of the Day: Who is this Jesus?
Song of the Day: Lifehouse-Take Me Away

I just woke up after falling asleep at 7 in the morning, which was five hours ago. I had four mosquitoes in my room. I was able to kill three of them. I used my F Killer bugspray for each of those bastards. I don't know what that F is supposed to stand for, but I can think of one good word that would be fitting, and it ain't "fly." What kinda person goes to bed AFTER eating breakfast?!

Thought of the Day: Haokip
Song of the Day: Black Sheep-The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)

I recently rewatched The Original Kings of Comedy. I was going to save it for my ipod, but I couldn't resist and ended up watching the whole thing at 1 in the morning. Nearly 10 years old but still SO funny! Gotta love our darker brothers.
*viewer discretion advised


My white friend, Mike, insisted that I watch The Wire after raving about it over dinner. He told me it was so much better than Sopranos even. Coming from Mike, that says a lot because this guy is highly critical about books, music, and movies. So I'm giving it a chance. Besides, the show got a 9.7 rating on IMDB. The interesting thing is that Arrested Development got a 9.7 too. I have yet to see anything with a rating that high for a television show or movie. Anyway, here's a cool scene with some ghetto black guys talking about chess.


If I could be any other race in the world, I'd want to be black...without the discrimination, of course.

Thought of the Day: Umba
Song of the Day: Biggie-Juicy

This week's persecuted church: Vietnam
On August 11, it was reported that four police officers and two officials had interrupted a Sunday House Church worship service, and one officer told the members that if he found them meeting next Sunday, "I will kill you like I'd kill a dog." Over 150 House Church pastors are languishing in prisons in Vietnam. In April 2008, Pastor H'Bat Puih, mother of four, was sent to a prison and hasn't been heard of since.

Thought of the Day: 뒹굴
Song of the Day: Donawhale-Echo

Me: What?
Daniel: State of Laboratory.
Me: What did you say?!
Daniel: State of Laboratory!

Today, I was thinking about Daniel's mother and all the frustration she must go through raising her younger son. Before I walk into their house, I can always hear Daniel playing piano and his mom telling him to get ready for class. When she opens the door and greets me, Daniel is still playing. She'll ask him to stop playing again. Piano continues. She'll yell at him to stop playing. Piano continues. She'll yell even louder. Piano continues. She'll go into the room and, finally, he'll stop playing and find other ways to waste time. Of course, he doesn't greet me. Our weekly routine.

I'm sure Daniel's mother always thought that she was going to be a calm, gentle, and loving mother. Her children were going to be studious and good-mannered. Being the good Christian that she is, she was going to remind them that we do everything for the glory of God. She was going to rebuke gently yet firmly when necessary. She was going to be an awesome parent.

I wonder if I'm going to have little Daniels.
Have you guys ever read this terrible book? After going through some awesome books like Matilda (and every other children's book written by Dahl), Tuck Everlasting, and The Hatchet, I truly regret choosing The Egypt Game for Donna's next book. I just checked out a list of recommendations online and found this book at Kyobo, so I felt like I couldn't go wrong. But no, I went so so wrong. A buncha 6th grade idolaters who have nothing better to do after school. I returned my copy as soon as I finished it.

Actually, instead of getting a refund, I exchanged the book for The River and Brian's Winter. Reading Gary Paulsen as an adult has been a terrific experience for me. Self-determination and identity issues. He writes in such a simple yet realistic way that keeps the reader interested and wondering what will happen next. That's why I went ahead and got Brian's Winter because it describes what would have happened if Brian had had to stay through the winter. There's so much that a 10-year-old cannot fully comprehend in these profound books.

Small Steps is also a surprisingly fun read too!


I am so very glad that these movies are coming out in Korea next month!
The other day, I was reminiscing the good ol' days when I used to play with Zen all the time. One particular memory that I cherish is the time when we went to Target and made a bet about her being able to fit into the baby seat of a shopping cart. Of course, she was so sure that she wouldn't be able to, but lo and behold, she fit like a glove! But the funniest part was when she was trying to get out and a stranger said, "Woah careful. Your baby's trying to get out." Good times, Zen!

Thought of the Day: Superman
Song of the Day: Donawhale-우주보다 좋아해

I wish my dad's business didn't suck.

Thought of the Day: Older
Song of the Day: Donawhale-도레미

This week's persecuted church: Indonesia
From 1999 to 2002, Muslim-Christian conflicts led to thousands of children becoming orphans as many watched their parents suffer brutal deaths for their faith. Approximately 10,000 people were killed and over half a million were displaced. Two years later, an orphanage called The Caleb Chandler House was founded and has given full-time care, schooling, spiritual nourishment, and life-skills training to over 40 children. Even after more than a decade later, most children are still haunted by the violent loss of their parents. Pray for these children as they work through their post-traumatic counseling. Pray that God envelopes them in His love as they revisit traumatic scenes in their past.
Several weeks ago, I found a Korean copy of The Purpose Driven Life in the garbage. Since it was in pretty good condition and not dirty at all, I decided to hold on to it. Today, I had the brilliant idea of giving it to one of my adult students. He was thankful and said that he would read it. Maybe he will. Maybe he won't.

This same student also told me about how he had recently broken up with his girlfriend that he had dated for about four years. I hadn't seen him for two weeks. Homeboy already got another girlfriend. A really pretty one too he says. How do they do it?!

"Timing is kinda everything."

"Don't be amped on the girl. Be amped on the pizza."

"yell and shout and kick me out
then forget what we fought about
but dont give up
these storms are passing "

Today is D-Day.

Thought of the Day: Pizza
Song of the Day: MercyMe-God With Us

Today, I got off work early. So what did I do?

4 hours of basketball, baby! I didn't even get to eat dinner til after 11. I once told 종성 that I thought that maybe in heaven, people just play basketball forever and never get tired. I think the great thing about this game is that it simplifies life for a good couple of hours. No worries about money, relationships, or appearance. All you gotta worry about is getting that orange ball through the net as many times as you can. I'm limping and delirious, but every minute was so worth it. As Joe wrote to me, "Thank God for basketball." Amen.

Today, I finished LOST Season 5. All caught up.

Today, I finally finished all 848 pages of Roald Dahl's Collected Stories. Good riddance.

Today, I took a 30 minute nap 2 hours after waking up this morning. Haha. I had a very vivid dream that I was skydiving and playing a very frustrating game of basketball with Dykas.

Today had another Mongolian blue sky just like yesterday.

I haven't had a good day in a long time.

Thought of the Day: ;;;
Song of the Day: The Submarines-Vote

The first time I met Joe, we played ball in 오목교. After that, we always ended up sitting at the same table whenever we went out for church dinners. Then in Mongolia, we ended up sitting next to each other on both plane rides and Batshireet car rides. We always partnered up when dishwashing/showering and ended up visiting Ugi's place together too. I ended up having to give several fake translations to Joe during our team meetings. Homeboy would not leave me alone.

But post-Mongolia really confirmed it all. He's the only church person who has ever slept over my place. He bugs me with emails every single week about my prayer requests. Now he wants to follow me back to Mongolia this winter. I've had a lot of Chinese friends growing up, but this guy is different. 왕조 (Wang Joe) is a good friend.

Thought of the Day: Mongolian sky
Song of the Day: MercyMe-God With Us

This week's persecuted church: United States
A Muslim teenager from Ohio says her father threatened to kill her because she converted to Christianity. She ran away from home in July and took refuge at a reverend's home in Florida. She claims that her father was pressured by the mosque the family attends to "deal with the situation." In the court filing, she stated that her father said, "If you have Jesus in your heart, you are dead to me!" She claims he added, "I will kill you!"
Today, I stayed home all day and did nothing but watch Friends Seasons 4 and 5. I did 9 episodes in a row. The scary this is that I could've kept going, but I forced myself to stop because I was being too productive. Season 4 DEFINITELY made huge leaps for the show. Joey, definitely the best character.

Thought of the Day: Cake
Song of the Day: G-Dragon-Heartbreaker

Happy Birthday, 아빠.
Happy Birthday, 정원!



"jin jjah she's a gaylord if she doesn't see how great you are...what a gaylord"

I have good friends.

Thought of the Day: 회갑
Song of the Day: Puddle of Mudd-She Hates Me

Earlier tonight, I went to 노래방 with my student for our class. I got paid to sing with my student! Do I have the best job or what?

Thought of the Day: 발성
Song of the Day: G-Dragon-Heartbreaker

"Though there had been moments of beauty in it, Mariam knew that life for the most part had been unkind to her."
I only have about 10 pages to go with A Thousand Splendid Suns. Hosseini's first book focused on the lives of two boys. This book focuses on the lives of two women. Today, I read an article from CNN that sounded awful similar to what happened to Mariam. Both women were falsely accused and sentenced to death. Both never came to know the Lord. What a tragedy.
After struggling with 소나기 잔해 for a long time, I finally decided to try something much more elementary and entertaining-Umba Falls in New York. It's actually a book for Koreans to study English, but I'm doing the exact opposite. It is so much more helpful and appropriate for my level, and it has plenty of funny illustrations in color. I actually borrowed it from one of my students who finished it in a day. When I told her that I'd probably need a month, she jumped out of her socks. Good thing that I didn't tell her that I actually meant to say AT LEAST a month.

Tseggy finally wrote back to me:
"You are the first foreign Christians who visited them and shared and prayed for them. They still talk about you. When you visited them, Ugi's second sister wasn't at home, she was working. So they always tell her what happened, who came etc. That sister said she wishes she was at home. They even told me that let's take a family photo and send it to you."

Amazing.

Thought of the Day: 고백
Song of the Day: Moby-Bodyrock