It has been nearly three months since my last blog post. There is no possible way I could adequately report everything that has occurred in the past three months. One thing is certain though, God is so good. Often people encourage me to record more of God's faithfulness in my life in written form and perhaps as I continue to grow I will, but right now I am just trusting that there truly is new manna to be had ever single day. I don't want to get hung up on old glories but trust that He who is in me is a living God that never grows weary, and I will always wait on Him (Isaiah 40: 28-31) I also take heart in the following verse:
"For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joys of his heart" Ecclesiastes 5: 20
This past three months can be neatly summarized into the above verse from Ecclesiastes. I have been unable to focus on the wondrous things that have been occurring or, indeed, the echoes of a wounded past long enough to turn my sight from the prize that is the knowledge of Jesus Christ; for this I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father as I pray that the transformative work that He has begun this year will continue by His gracious hand well unto the Lord's second coming. For this there is also a promise I confidently hold on to:
"...for your fellowship in the gospel form the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, the He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..." Phillipians 1: 6
I began my fellowship with the gospel this year in March and now in December as my eyes well up with tears as I think about the true meaning of Christmas, I collapse to my knees in gratefulness and humility before our God for taking a broken individual like myself and making me feel again. God's kneading of my heart has been done gently and effectively in the past nine months and I am excited to continue growing in Him to become a man who can read the following verse and not become indignant with pride but humbly realize the continuous work that is in me by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus:
"As in water face reflects face, So a man's heart reveals the man" Proverbs 27: 19
One year ago, I wouldn't dare look into my heart, for fear of my own reflection, as a man with a disfigured face looking into the water, indignantly splashing away the reflection to return to his mask where darkness conceals his true identity and light is stubbornly avoided in fear of those around him seeing him for what he is. I was such a man a year ago; a sliver of what I could be. However, when I took off my mask and looked into that water, I met my Creator. He saw me for everything I really was, every secret thing whether good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14), and embraced me. He hasn't let me go since, and I trust He never will. Now when I look at that water, I can see more and more of the face that God originally intended for me when He first created me. I look into my heart and I no longer shudder at the abomination I had become, but weep genuine globs of joy as I marvel at the mercy of our God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. This Christmas, I just want to thank God for the greatest gift of all, a Saviour for all people to be reconciled to Him, Immanuel, "God is with us". This has been the most special Christmas season for me, so I pray the same for all of you; may all of you rejoice wherever you are during this Christmas season.
Soon, I will put up a recap of the past three months. Thank you for reading. God Bless you all. Merry Christmas
Christian
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
God is Good!
All the time. God is Good. I am in to my third week in China, and the Lord has been so faithful; no surprise of course.
Our trip to Guilin in Southern China was fantastic. It was beautiful. It is very seldom I see new things, being relatively well traveled (by His Grace of course), but the lime stone formations of Guilin were absolutely breathtaking. As opposed to S. Korea and their hyperbolic statements about their national patrimony China has quite handsomely lived up to its claims.
China so far has been nothing more than me running into the unexpected surprises to my erred stereotypes, and the most taxing aspect of China so far has been adjusting to the pollution. Thanks to all who prayed for me; I was able to evade sickness and am now quite healthy, so much so that I auditioned for praise team at a youth group that I found (Praise Him!) and performing at an American Idol rip-off this coming Saturday.
Right before China I had been in England on what had been an extremely humbling trip. I came to China and although everything has been stellar, I was yearning for a spiritual community to serve and be served at. The enemy, namely Satan of course, had been trying to attack me and discourage me. Fortunately though, I believe my request for prayer was taken to heart by several and such attacks were subdued.
I have never really addresses the issue of Satan in my blog. He is a very real aspect of existence. No one in this universe could dissuade me of this fact. I hate to be trite but I believe indeed that Satan's greatest success is to get people to disbelieve in him.
Satan means adversary. He is that of God, particularly out to get those who love Christ, even more particularly those who trust God above all things; not to mention that his methods are low. Peter in one of his epistles tells us that Satan is like a lion simply awaiting to devour us. He usually takes what we care about most and uses it against us. This can take various forms ranging form homesickness to even physical injury.
I am sure most people are aware of the lore ( that I believe word for word by the way) of how this entity came to be what he is today. So I won't go into that. What I will address however is the way the Bible clearly declares that Satan is the prince of this world, which would help make sense at why so much is as it is in our world; particularly because the Bible also clearly states that Satan more often than not manifests as an angel of light ( I mean he was an Archangel of God if I'm not mistaken, pretty high up there), often taking something pure and beautiful and making a perfect counterfeit tinged with just enough lies and deceit that it is quite wide of the mark. The Bible also clearly tells us that when Satan lies, he is speaking his native tongue. So if you had trouble with high school Spanish, imagine how hard it is for Satan to tell the truth. Excuse my facetiousness; in other words Satan is the king of deceit.
He loves to attack us through lies. He loves to use our thoughts against us. In order to combat this, the Bible clearly instructs us to take our thoughts captive and not vice-versa. This reminds me of when I was at heartland missions ( the mission trip I took in rural S. Korea). During all the training I was under heavy fire. His lies were fiery arrows raining down from the spiritual world. For this reason the Shield of Faith spoken of in Ephesians is so important! So when being attacked by lies, don't forget to summon it! Not to mention the other essentials of spiritual warfare mentioned in Ephesians. If your memory is rusty, review it. If you have no idea what I am talking about, check out the book of Ephesians in the New Testament. Absolutely genius! It will help you understand The Chronicles of Narnia so much more; in case you are interested. By the way The Chronicles of Narnia are all about Jesus*cough* Aslan* cough* Anyway, to my story....
His fiery arrows of deceit were making me believe that I was disliked by many of the members of the team (completely erroneous I later found out by the Grace of God and His Word); this fact was greatly discouraging me about going on the trip.
It is funny how many Christians say that you can't just open the Bible and find answers. From personal experience, I tend to disagree. I believe that the Bible is as powerful as you concede to be, and to me it is the most powerful and authoritative Book in the universe. More times than I can count, I have opened up the Bible after praying, arbitrarily it would seem, and there comes the answer. This is how my conversion happened. Listen to my testimony. A very similar thing happened to Augustine when he became a Christian.
I recommend Augustine's Confessions to all. In a similar vein to this blog, however tons more eloquent and full of scripture. To make my point, I'll fast forward to his conversion. Augustine was not a Christian and had been living firstly a heavily Epicurean lifestyle followed by several years involved in the Manichaean religion, both of which were not doing much for the health of his soul ( the only thing that can fill that void is God, as he soon found out). Augustine wanted to learn rhetoric, so he went to Milan to study under the master of rhetoric Ambrose. Ambrose was a Christian, a bishop to be precise. Augustine however went to listen to how Ambrose expressed himself and not what he was speaking of, God and Jesus.
One day however, Augustine was sitting at a bench and could hear a couple of little girls singing a jump rope song. In Italian the little girls were saying, "take and read, take and read, take and read..." in a rhythmic and repetitive melody. Listening to this, he looked over and there on the bench lay a Bible. He picked it up, opened it up and it opened up to Romans 13:13-14:
"Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy./ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts."
BAM! Like a ton of bricks God's grace falls on Augustine and he becomes a follower of Christ. I have a similar story; listen to my testimony (copy and paste the link in to the browser from my Sept. 9th post). Oh, and please take and read; the Lord wants to speak to every single one of us, and He knows exactly what we need to hear. It worked for Augustine, it worked for me. We are all unworthy of His Grace, yet it's there for the taking, free of charge! Hallelujah! Faith is our shield, and the Word of God is our Sword against the enemy! So take and read and sharpen that Sword!
Back to my story about missions in S. Korea. So the arrows are flying at me from all over. However, after praying sincerely to the Lord, I open my Bible and it graciously opens to Nehemiah 6:8:
" Then I sent to him, saying, "No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart."
I read this, and a huge burden was relieved. I spoke to my peers and the arrows disappeared. Satan's measly arrows are no match for the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit that is the Word of God. Don't forget the other gear inn Ephesians though! (By the way, the probability of how I open up the Bible to perfect and concise answers can be nothing but supernatural, especially because before March of this year I had never actually read the Bible; not to mention that every time it has happened it has been in books I have never read. I am so excited to get to know my Bible more, how much more effective it will become! The Word of God!)
Moral of the story: the enemy attacks, but the Lord has given us more than necessary means to deflect the cheap and petty attacks of the enemy.
An argument many non-believers make against Christianity is why would an all-knowing and good God would allow bad things to happen. To tackle this question I would recommend C.S. Lewis' The Problem of Pain. I am in the middle of it. It tackles this question masterfully. I will not tackle this question in this particular blog post. However, I will say that without proper knowledge of the Bible the that argument is a moot point, and honestly beyond our understanding, If you ever have a chance check out The Problem of Pain, not to mention the Bible!
To end with this, we just need to remember that Satan is the prince of this world. He did, after all, tempt Jesus by offering dominion over all the kingdoms of the world; of course he would, rather that than let him liberate all of humanity from his clutches of sin and deceit. However, Praise God, the prophecies were fulfilled and the Lamb of God was slain so that we may all be free, and I really pray that my life can be a living testimony of that! Jesus really does save! Hallelujah!
But just because Satan is the prince of this world doesn't mean it is all bad news. If anything, God has simply incorporated it into his perfect plan in this flawed system. Jesus is, after all, the King of Kings, and Satan but a mere prince. A spoiled and envious prince is always bound to go astray and cause some trouble, but the King will always have His final word, and Jesus will. Mark my words.
Not only that but our most perfect and benevolent Father clearly explains to us in Romans through His servant the Apostle Paul that it would be impossible for us to perceive his unending mercy if all was honky-dory . Not only that, but how else would we grow. I don't know the exact details of how the angels and principalities duke it out in the spiritual realm, but I do trust the following, James 1: 2-8:
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,/knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience./ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing./ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him./ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind./ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything form the Lord;/ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
It's funny that when I was heavily looking into Buddhism and wrote my first song Waves, I thought being like a wave was a good thing, but even before the Bible confirmed it, I knew there was a giant void in my heart and I was being flung across jagged rocks by the storm of life. However, now, I simply trust in the Lord, ask for wisdom, which He gives us liberally. And now I hang on tight to the Rock that is our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and when the storms hit, I count it joy, for I am bearing a cross with my Savior, and my character being refined as a stone also does through extensive weathering; Praise God!
Don't let Satan disabuse you of your freedom by taking advantage of out innate double-mindedness, but let's hang on to the Rock that is Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Praise God for the relative clarity above. Departing now from the arrows shot at me here at me in China, the past three weeks have been filled with a cornucopia of wondrous manna graciously bestowed to me by our Father God, new everyday. I have gotten extremely encouraging messages from readers of the blog, long lost friends that had been convicted to pray for me (Praise God), friends that by the Grace of God shown in my life have been convicted to move closer to God through Christ, and not to mention Praise reports from home in Oregon to Japan where prayer has been answered in a beautifully orchestrated fashion, something I have come to naturally expect from our sovereign Lord of the universe. Perhaps I will share more details about these stories of Grace in subsequent blogs.
I have found a strong fellowship here in Beijing at BICF (Beijing International Christian Fellowship). One day with very limited information, by volition of the Spirit, I jumped in a cab with a friend and the Spirit graciously led me and my friend right to the fellowship right as it was beginning, and I was able to get directly prayed over for the first time in a couple of weeks. Praise God. This fellowship has led to so many more gracious and divinely orchestrated meetings from making friends with tons of precious people from Burundi ( I country I had never heard of! ) to running into the friend of the man who convicted me to come to China in the first place back in May. So much more I could tell, but maybe more in subsequent blogs. Like how the pastor who gave the first service I went to here happened to have the same birthday as me, also to those who are prayer inclined, I was prophesied over about having three doors opening up this year for me of a completely new nature. Pray that I am able to discern what the Lord's will is concerning these doors this year, and also pray for my studies, and that I be filled to the brim with love and humility so that I may, although poorly at best, continue to develop and display, as fully as God's Grace will allow me, the character of Christ to all of those here.
As a final praise report, seeing how hungry Chinese young people are for God has made me jump up and down in Praise continuously. Please pray for them, for a hedge of protection and for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their lives as they jump out in faith to get to know God through Jesus Christ, and please also pray for my compatriots here as well. God couldn't have placed me with a better group of people; I love every single one of them.
As always, questions and/or comments are always welcome.
adam.young-valdovinos@yale.edu
Proverbs 27: 10:
"As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend"
Let's keep asking questions and seeking Him. And if you think I am crazy I'd love to hear about it. Let's keep sharpening each other.
Peace, Love, and Grace to all,
Christian
Our trip to Guilin in Southern China was fantastic. It was beautiful. It is very seldom I see new things, being relatively well traveled (by His Grace of course), but the lime stone formations of Guilin were absolutely breathtaking. As opposed to S. Korea and their hyperbolic statements about their national patrimony China has quite handsomely lived up to its claims.
China so far has been nothing more than me running into the unexpected surprises to my erred stereotypes, and the most taxing aspect of China so far has been adjusting to the pollution. Thanks to all who prayed for me; I was able to evade sickness and am now quite healthy, so much so that I auditioned for praise team at a youth group that I found (Praise Him!) and performing at an American Idol rip-off this coming Saturday.
Right before China I had been in England on what had been an extremely humbling trip. I came to China and although everything has been stellar, I was yearning for a spiritual community to serve and be served at. The enemy, namely Satan of course, had been trying to attack me and discourage me. Fortunately though, I believe my request for prayer was taken to heart by several and such attacks were subdued.
I have never really addresses the issue of Satan in my blog. He is a very real aspect of existence. No one in this universe could dissuade me of this fact. I hate to be trite but I believe indeed that Satan's greatest success is to get people to disbelieve in him.
Satan means adversary. He is that of God, particularly out to get those who love Christ, even more particularly those who trust God above all things; not to mention that his methods are low. Peter in one of his epistles tells us that Satan is like a lion simply awaiting to devour us. He usually takes what we care about most and uses it against us. This can take various forms ranging form homesickness to even physical injury.
I am sure most people are aware of the lore ( that I believe word for word by the way) of how this entity came to be what he is today. So I won't go into that. What I will address however is the way the Bible clearly declares that Satan is the prince of this world, which would help make sense at why so much is as it is in our world; particularly because the Bible also clearly states that Satan more often than not manifests as an angel of light ( I mean he was an Archangel of God if I'm not mistaken, pretty high up there), often taking something pure and beautiful and making a perfect counterfeit tinged with just enough lies and deceit that it is quite wide of the mark. The Bible also clearly tells us that when Satan lies, he is speaking his native tongue. So if you had trouble with high school Spanish, imagine how hard it is for Satan to tell the truth. Excuse my facetiousness; in other words Satan is the king of deceit.
He loves to attack us through lies. He loves to use our thoughts against us. In order to combat this, the Bible clearly instructs us to take our thoughts captive and not vice-versa. This reminds me of when I was at heartland missions ( the mission trip I took in rural S. Korea). During all the training I was under heavy fire. His lies were fiery arrows raining down from the spiritual world. For this reason the Shield of Faith spoken of in Ephesians is so important! So when being attacked by lies, don't forget to summon it! Not to mention the other essentials of spiritual warfare mentioned in Ephesians. If your memory is rusty, review it. If you have no idea what I am talking about, check out the book of Ephesians in the New Testament. Absolutely genius! It will help you understand The Chronicles of Narnia so much more; in case you are interested. By the way The Chronicles of Narnia are all about Jesus*cough* Aslan* cough* Anyway, to my story....
His fiery arrows of deceit were making me believe that I was disliked by many of the members of the team (completely erroneous I later found out by the Grace of God and His Word); this fact was greatly discouraging me about going on the trip.
It is funny how many Christians say that you can't just open the Bible and find answers. From personal experience, I tend to disagree. I believe that the Bible is as powerful as you concede to be, and to me it is the most powerful and authoritative Book in the universe. More times than I can count, I have opened up the Bible after praying, arbitrarily it would seem, and there comes the answer. This is how my conversion happened. Listen to my testimony. A very similar thing happened to Augustine when he became a Christian.
I recommend Augustine's Confessions to all. In a similar vein to this blog, however tons more eloquent and full of scripture. To make my point, I'll fast forward to his conversion. Augustine was not a Christian and had been living firstly a heavily Epicurean lifestyle followed by several years involved in the Manichaean religion, both of which were not doing much for the health of his soul ( the only thing that can fill that void is God, as he soon found out). Augustine wanted to learn rhetoric, so he went to Milan to study under the master of rhetoric Ambrose. Ambrose was a Christian, a bishop to be precise. Augustine however went to listen to how Ambrose expressed himself and not what he was speaking of, God and Jesus.
One day however, Augustine was sitting at a bench and could hear a couple of little girls singing a jump rope song. In Italian the little girls were saying, "take and read, take and read, take and read..." in a rhythmic and repetitive melody. Listening to this, he looked over and there on the bench lay a Bible. He picked it up, opened it up and it opened up to Romans 13:13-14:
"Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy./ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts."
BAM! Like a ton of bricks God's grace falls on Augustine and he becomes a follower of Christ. I have a similar story; listen to my testimony (copy and paste the link in to the browser from my Sept. 9th post). Oh, and please take and read; the Lord wants to speak to every single one of us, and He knows exactly what we need to hear. It worked for Augustine, it worked for me. We are all unworthy of His Grace, yet it's there for the taking, free of charge! Hallelujah! Faith is our shield, and the Word of God is our Sword against the enemy! So take and read and sharpen that Sword!
Back to my story about missions in S. Korea. So the arrows are flying at me from all over. However, after praying sincerely to the Lord, I open my Bible and it graciously opens to Nehemiah 6:8:
" Then I sent to him, saying, "No such things as you say are being done, but you invent them in your own heart."
I read this, and a huge burden was relieved. I spoke to my peers and the arrows disappeared. Satan's measly arrows are no match for the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit that is the Word of God. Don't forget the other gear inn Ephesians though! (By the way, the probability of how I open up the Bible to perfect and concise answers can be nothing but supernatural, especially because before March of this year I had never actually read the Bible; not to mention that every time it has happened it has been in books I have never read. I am so excited to get to know my Bible more, how much more effective it will become! The Word of God!)
Moral of the story: the enemy attacks, but the Lord has given us more than necessary means to deflect the cheap and petty attacks of the enemy.
An argument many non-believers make against Christianity is why would an all-knowing and good God would allow bad things to happen. To tackle this question I would recommend C.S. Lewis' The Problem of Pain. I am in the middle of it. It tackles this question masterfully. I will not tackle this question in this particular blog post. However, I will say that without proper knowledge of the Bible the that argument is a moot point, and honestly beyond our understanding, If you ever have a chance check out The Problem of Pain, not to mention the Bible!
To end with this, we just need to remember that Satan is the prince of this world. He did, after all, tempt Jesus by offering dominion over all the kingdoms of the world; of course he would, rather that than let him liberate all of humanity from his clutches of sin and deceit. However, Praise God, the prophecies were fulfilled and the Lamb of God was slain so that we may all be free, and I really pray that my life can be a living testimony of that! Jesus really does save! Hallelujah!
But just because Satan is the prince of this world doesn't mean it is all bad news. If anything, God has simply incorporated it into his perfect plan in this flawed system. Jesus is, after all, the King of Kings, and Satan but a mere prince. A spoiled and envious prince is always bound to go astray and cause some trouble, but the King will always have His final word, and Jesus will. Mark my words.
Not only that but our most perfect and benevolent Father clearly explains to us in Romans through His servant the Apostle Paul that it would be impossible for us to perceive his unending mercy if all was honky-dory . Not only that, but how else would we grow. I don't know the exact details of how the angels and principalities duke it out in the spiritual realm, but I do trust the following, James 1: 2-8:
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,/knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience./ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing./ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him./ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind./ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything form the Lord;/ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
It's funny that when I was heavily looking into Buddhism and wrote my first song Waves, I thought being like a wave was a good thing, but even before the Bible confirmed it, I knew there was a giant void in my heart and I was being flung across jagged rocks by the storm of life. However, now, I simply trust in the Lord, ask for wisdom, which He gives us liberally. And now I hang on tight to the Rock that is our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and when the storms hit, I count it joy, for I am bearing a cross with my Savior, and my character being refined as a stone also does through extensive weathering; Praise God!
Don't let Satan disabuse you of your freedom by taking advantage of out innate double-mindedness, but let's hang on to the Rock that is Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Praise God for the relative clarity above. Departing now from the arrows shot at me here at me in China, the past three weeks have been filled with a cornucopia of wondrous manna graciously bestowed to me by our Father God, new everyday. I have gotten extremely encouraging messages from readers of the blog, long lost friends that had been convicted to pray for me (Praise God), friends that by the Grace of God shown in my life have been convicted to move closer to God through Christ, and not to mention Praise reports from home in Oregon to Japan where prayer has been answered in a beautifully orchestrated fashion, something I have come to naturally expect from our sovereign Lord of the universe. Perhaps I will share more details about these stories of Grace in subsequent blogs.
I have found a strong fellowship here in Beijing at BICF (Beijing International Christian Fellowship). One day with very limited information, by volition of the Spirit, I jumped in a cab with a friend and the Spirit graciously led me and my friend right to the fellowship right as it was beginning, and I was able to get directly prayed over for the first time in a couple of weeks. Praise God. This fellowship has led to so many more gracious and divinely orchestrated meetings from making friends with tons of precious people from Burundi ( I country I had never heard of! ) to running into the friend of the man who convicted me to come to China in the first place back in May. So much more I could tell, but maybe more in subsequent blogs. Like how the pastor who gave the first service I went to here happened to have the same birthday as me, also to those who are prayer inclined, I was prophesied over about having three doors opening up this year for me of a completely new nature. Pray that I am able to discern what the Lord's will is concerning these doors this year, and also pray for my studies, and that I be filled to the brim with love and humility so that I may, although poorly at best, continue to develop and display, as fully as God's Grace will allow me, the character of Christ to all of those here.
As a final praise report, seeing how hungry Chinese young people are for God has made me jump up and down in Praise continuously. Please pray for them, for a hedge of protection and for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their lives as they jump out in faith to get to know God through Jesus Christ, and please also pray for my compatriots here as well. God couldn't have placed me with a better group of people; I love every single one of them.
As always, questions and/or comments are always welcome.
adam.young-valdovinos@yale.edu
Proverbs 27: 10:
"As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend"
Let's keep asking questions and seeking Him. And if you think I am crazy I'd love to hear about it. Let's keep sharpening each other.
Peace, Love, and Grace to all,
Christian
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Forgot the Link
http://myjubileechurch.com/sermons/WNS/Testimony%20by%20Adam%20Young-Valdovinos.mp3
Listen at your own risk = ) and don't forget to read the post!
Christian
Listen at your own risk = ) and don't forget to read the post!
Christian
Hello China!
Greetings to all. I apologize for the long absence. Another ten days and it will have been a whole two months of absence, excessive even by my standards.
Korea wrapped up quite nicely. And home was a real blessing. I was also in the UK for about ten days before coming over here to China.
Speaking of Korea wrapping up, my testimony at Jubilee Church was a frightening experience. Many a time in the Bible, God is described as worthy of our trembling; for the whole month leading up to my testimony and as I prayerfully waited, I was literally trembling. Led by the Spirit, I shared unabashedly and honestly with the congregation about my life up until now. Completely a surprise to myself, the nearly 2 hour ordeal focused on pre-Jesus saving my life. So hopefully the stark contrast is made evident through this blog or knowing me. If you are so inclined to get to know my story better than you would probably like too and have a strong stomach, click on the link below. You can download it as an mp3. So if you rather put it on your Ipod, (if you don't mind listening to me ramble for two hours) that is possible as well. I simply pray that in anyway, if you happen to listen to the testimony I gave at Jubilee Church, you will be blessed. It also explains the name change. I will begin signing off as Christian starting with this blog.
So there was that, and also a truly blessed experience being a teacher at Vacation Bible School for countryside children in S. Korea. I had been quite strongly against going for several personal reasons, but the Spirit had convicted me about going, so I went. And boy, is it great when the Lord proves me wrong, which is more often than not. He knows far better than I. It turned out to be a real blessing. Even all the songs and dances I learned, many of which I was able to teach my ten year old sister when I was home. When I did, I found myself crying like a baby as we sang the chorus, hand motions and all, that went, "You made me, You saved me Lord." Wow, so simple yet so true. In the context of me not having cried for ten years, and that now my heart has been softened to the point to where I can understand that truth with my heart blows my mind. Praise God.
Home was so great. The two weeks I was home sped by like lightning. The most notable change was my brother. When I had first arrived he had nothing but mockery for my newfound Faith. During my time at home he came to Christ, and by the time I left he was asking me to pray for our family. Blessed be the Name of the Lord, for He is faithful. He answers prayer.
It's funny because, my brother was so incredulous about my new life in Jesus Christ that it got to the point of him getting belligerent. He would get even more belligerent when I would try to hold his hand, as he flung punches at my face. However, ultimately the love of Christ won him over.
The theme for the Vacation Bible School that we did was Fruit of the Spirit. And for the five days that we worked with the children, each day had a different theme. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. These are only five of the nine spoken of in Galatians 5:22. It was truly beautiful to see these Fruit play out in the setting where before my worst was always brought out in me, home with those who love me most. It is true; those who love us and know us best can hurt us most, and we end up doing the things and saying the things we regret the most. However, this time it was different, and not by my effort but by the Fruit of the Spirit which is a gift from God, payed for in full by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Praise God. It was enough to make my cynical brother accept Christ into his heart. Now, ups and downs, he begins a beautiful walk. Thank you Lord.
What really brought it home though, was City Fest. City Fest was an event held in downtown Portland, OR right on the Water Front of the Columbia river. Leading up to it were months of service in the community, culminating in a weekend of Praising God in potentially one of the cities most contemptuous of God in the U.S. if not the world, relatively speaking of course. Twas a blessing. I was so blessed to praise with tens of thousands of people to the wonderful music of Chris Tomlin, Toby Mac, Kirk Franklin, among many others and see many come to Christ, including my own brother.
That was during my last weekend home. Leading up to that final blowout was a lot of time spent with my family, more than I have ever spent with them in all of my visits home in the past.
On August 26th, I departed from Manchester, England. It was a ten day trip, and I really want to thank my brother in Christ Michael Sadler, for making the trip a reality. It was eye-opening, not what I expected, extremely humbling and I may find myself in England doing graduate work sometime after 2011.
And now I am in China. This post is actually a very poor account of the past month and a half. I apologize. Really, so much has occurred in the past month and a half that it actually probably takes some more processing on my part before I relate it to all. Hopefully the link to my testimony shall provide most with sufficient blessing this time around. Regardless of how ridiculously busy I will probably be this term, and not to mention this year, I will try to write more often.
China so far has been great. Third day tomorrow. The paraOlympics are going on here on the Peking University, or Beida, Campus. I am immensely jet-lagged and looking forward to our excursion to Guilin tomorrow.
As a preview for something I may write about in the near future, I have been involved in a business venture connected to bio-plastic and all things sustainable for almost two years now. As things continue to develop I will put something together, and also let anyone who is interested know how to get involved.
Love,Peace, and Grace to All,
Christian
Korea wrapped up quite nicely. And home was a real blessing. I was also in the UK for about ten days before coming over here to China.
Speaking of Korea wrapping up, my testimony at Jubilee Church was a frightening experience. Many a time in the Bible, God is described as worthy of our trembling; for the whole month leading up to my testimony and as I prayerfully waited, I was literally trembling. Led by the Spirit, I shared unabashedly and honestly with the congregation about my life up until now. Completely a surprise to myself, the nearly 2 hour ordeal focused on pre-Jesus saving my life. So hopefully the stark contrast is made evident through this blog or knowing me. If you are so inclined to get to know my story better than you would probably like too and have a strong stomach, click on the link below. You can download it as an mp3. So if you rather put it on your Ipod, (if you don't mind listening to me ramble for two hours) that is possible as well. I simply pray that in anyway, if you happen to listen to the testimony I gave at Jubilee Church, you will be blessed. It also explains the name change. I will begin signing off as Christian starting with this blog.
So there was that, and also a truly blessed experience being a teacher at Vacation Bible School for countryside children in S. Korea. I had been quite strongly against going for several personal reasons, but the Spirit had convicted me about going, so I went. And boy, is it great when the Lord proves me wrong, which is more often than not. He knows far better than I. It turned out to be a real blessing. Even all the songs and dances I learned, many of which I was able to teach my ten year old sister when I was home. When I did, I found myself crying like a baby as we sang the chorus, hand motions and all, that went, "You made me, You saved me Lord." Wow, so simple yet so true. In the context of me not having cried for ten years, and that now my heart has been softened to the point to where I can understand that truth with my heart blows my mind. Praise God.
Home was so great. The two weeks I was home sped by like lightning. The most notable change was my brother. When I had first arrived he had nothing but mockery for my newfound Faith. During my time at home he came to Christ, and by the time I left he was asking me to pray for our family. Blessed be the Name of the Lord, for He is faithful. He answers prayer.
It's funny because, my brother was so incredulous about my new life in Jesus Christ that it got to the point of him getting belligerent. He would get even more belligerent when I would try to hold his hand, as he flung punches at my face. However, ultimately the love of Christ won him over.
The theme for the Vacation Bible School that we did was Fruit of the Spirit. And for the five days that we worked with the children, each day had a different theme. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. These are only five of the nine spoken of in Galatians 5:22. It was truly beautiful to see these Fruit play out in the setting where before my worst was always brought out in me, home with those who love me most. It is true; those who love us and know us best can hurt us most, and we end up doing the things and saying the things we regret the most. However, this time it was different, and not by my effort but by the Fruit of the Spirit which is a gift from God, payed for in full by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Praise God. It was enough to make my cynical brother accept Christ into his heart. Now, ups and downs, he begins a beautiful walk. Thank you Lord.
What really brought it home though, was City Fest. City Fest was an event held in downtown Portland, OR right on the Water Front of the Columbia river. Leading up to it were months of service in the community, culminating in a weekend of Praising God in potentially one of the cities most contemptuous of God in the U.S. if not the world, relatively speaking of course. Twas a blessing. I was so blessed to praise with tens of thousands of people to the wonderful music of Chris Tomlin, Toby Mac, Kirk Franklin, among many others and see many come to Christ, including my own brother.
That was during my last weekend home. Leading up to that final blowout was a lot of time spent with my family, more than I have ever spent with them in all of my visits home in the past.
On August 26th, I departed from Manchester, England. It was a ten day trip, and I really want to thank my brother in Christ Michael Sadler, for making the trip a reality. It was eye-opening, not what I expected, extremely humbling and I may find myself in England doing graduate work sometime after 2011.
And now I am in China. This post is actually a very poor account of the past month and a half. I apologize. Really, so much has occurred in the past month and a half that it actually probably takes some more processing on my part before I relate it to all. Hopefully the link to my testimony shall provide most with sufficient blessing this time around. Regardless of how ridiculously busy I will probably be this term, and not to mention this year, I will try to write more often.
China so far has been great. Third day tomorrow. The paraOlympics are going on here on the Peking University, or Beida, Campus. I am immensely jet-lagged and looking forward to our excursion to Guilin tomorrow.
As a preview for something I may write about in the near future, I have been involved in a business venture connected to bio-plastic and all things sustainable for almost two years now. As things continue to develop I will put something together, and also let anyone who is interested know how to get involved.
Love,Peace, and Grace to All,
Christian
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Amazing Grace
It has been nearly two months since my last blog posts. Much has transpired. This is my last week working at the radio. I will have a bit of a week off next week, along with giving my testimony at Jubilee Church and going to Japan for a few days. After that I will be doing what we call Heartland Missions, going to the Korean countryside to work with underprivileged kids and youth; doing what Jesus called us to do. Upon return from the one-week mission trip I will spend my final weekend in South Korea to then make it back, praise God, home for around four weeks before China. I will be leaving for China on September 7th.
June was an interesting month. Settled in with my host family. Connected with a bunch of Yalies here on Light Fellowship. Made it out to Jeju-Do, Korea's Hawaii, or so Korea would like to think. Korea really likes hyperboles. Seoul is not the soul of Asia, and I hate to break it to S. Korea, but Jeju-Do isn't quite, as they like to put it down there, something along the lines of "the best tourist destination on earth". I suppose English allows them some sort of distance from the obvious exaggeration; I'll give them that much.
All that is beside the point of course. June went on with intermittent work at Arirang radio, reporting here and there. The month was actually quite consumed in my fascination with Daniel Pinchbeck's 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl. I also went through a missions training class at church that proved extremely interesting and surprisingly parallel to much of what I learned from Daniel Pinchbeck, somewhere between his ayahuasca trips, tribal initiations, and the Santo Daime of Brasil. The common theme, so as to not get too off track, of what I learned was the importance of being sensitive to the thousands of cultures in existence on earth today, not to mention the seemingly imminent extinction of so many of them. All of this in the context of course of being a missionary. Psalm 19 verses 1-4 puts it quite beautifully:
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament show His handiwork./Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge/There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard/ Their line has gone through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
Later in the same Psalm in verse 12, it touches on what my blog will essentially be about. I just realized it. No coincidences as I said; and there is definitely a reason why David's writings were ordained to be put in the Bible to help lead us. The verse is:
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from my secret faults.
To move on, missions training and Daniel Pinchbeck's books were truly enlightening. I am truly excited to live life as a missionary, not only in the sense of simply bringing Gospel, which is of course the main aim, spiritual liberation, but also to fulfill God's will clearly stated by His Son to liberate people from the bondage of things such as hunger, poverty, opression, war, ignorance, disease, etc. There really is a battle going on. Even before committing my life to Christ in the way I have recently, I always knew this and to be quite honest felt quite discouraged. However, now, with the promises given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, I have nothing to fear, especially not failure.
It's quite ridiculous how little credit great missionaries get in history for all the wonderful works they did in Jesus' name. People really love to bring down Christianity by focusing on all the negative historical incidences, while then downplaying a lot of the secular incidences of whatever negative influence depending on specific nationalistic agenda. I think we all know about the terrible things people did in Jesus' name. I am not arguing against that. If it's of any consolation, I repent on behalf of them truly for what they did, speaking boldly as to say they were wrong (during the Crusades, to recently a few decades ago in the legalistic south, where they would send thousands of dollars for missions to Africa but wouldn't let a single person of color in their church doors); I am sure Jesus wept. I weep as well.
However, if you were to ask me now who I would aspire to be like, besides Jesus of course, I would have to say William Carey or Hudson Taylor. William Carey particularly blows my mind. If you are reading this, please consider learning something about this amazing man of God who did countless things for India. While Britain continued to oppress India in so many ways by keeping her ignorant among suffering from other ailments, William Carey dedicated the majority of his life to not only help liberate India spiritually, but in every other way as well. He introduced the steam engine to India, libraries, started schools for girls and Bengali people, translated most major Hindu works of Literature into English, put an official stop to "bride burning", although regrettably still practiced I believe, among so much more. Where as the entire British colonial force in India oppressed the country for over a century, one man, infused with the unlimited love of Jesus, changed the history of nation forever, and for the better. Ask any educated Indian person about it. Ghandi was huge don't get me wrong, but let's not forget about William Carey. For goodness sake, Ghandi's whole philosophy was directly stolen from Jesus Christ, all the way down to the fasting; the philosophy of non-violence is way to obvious.
Anyway, relating back to the verses in Psalm 19. It has blown my mind in my ongoing study of cultures around the world, traveling, and studying of prophecies from everyone from the Mayan's and Quetzalcoatl to the Hopi People of the South West of the United states to see that truly, as Psalm 19 states it, "there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard..." God is everywhere. He doesn't have one name. In Korea he is Hana-nim, The One. The only reason we call him God, is because given the philology, our language, English, has Germanic roots. In the original New Testament, Paul uses the word Theos to describe God, In Romance-language cultures, they took the Greek's Latin counterpart, Deus, in Spanish now Dios. All cultures have one major creator God. Look it up according to whatever cultures or parts of the world you fancy. The pantheon of Greek gods is a little different, but I don't want to get in to that at this now. Maybe in an upcoming blog. But regarding that, there was a god they referred to as the "unknown god". There was an altar in Athens in honor of this god. And it is interesting to read the story in Acts of how apostle Paul used redemptive analogy to, in fitting Psalm 19-style, redeem God. He truly is proclaimed in all tongues and nations.
Which brings me to my next point before I move on. Truly, God has revealed himself to all cultures in one way or another, and I would go as far as to say that it is the same God. He simply has thousands of names; my favorite Viracocha in Peru. Machu Pichu was built for God! The Mayans understood the stars that God says he made as signs better than we did, and look at the magnificent astronomical devices we call pyramids they created! Even if you look at Egyptian history, with Akhenaton, and his move to stop the worship of several gods, although he stopped a little short, at worshipping the sun, something the believers of Viracocha (God) got over when one of the spiritual leaders realized how boring the Sun was, doing the same exact thing everyday. These are just a few fragmented examples.
The one catch is Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God. He is what saves humanity. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the story. If not, please read the book of Matthew. The reason the Bible is important, particularly the Old Testament, is because it shows how Jesus got to earth in the first place. It talks about Jesus in the first few chapters of Genesis. It all started with Abraham. But once again, I don't want to get into all the details. It actually all started with Adam, but I will move on.
So June was interesting, and it wrapped up with a trip to Japan that was really eye-opening. Sharing gospel in the Spirit, in love, is a beautiful thing. When the Bible says that the word is implanted in us, it isn't proclaiming an empty platitude. There are truly chords that are moved in any person, no matter how cynical.
In Japan I happened to run into a long-lost friend in the middle of Tokyo. A complete miracle. No coincidences, only God. Found Christian manga, super entertaining, and got a vision for Japan. This is barely at conception stage, but just to throw it out there, I feel compelled to somewhere in the future build a school(s) in Japan with Christian precepts and global vision. The spiritual state, among many other things truly breaks my heart. However, God has put a heavy burden and love on my heart for Japan.
Now for July, I started my one-month gig at Arirang. It is now coming to an end. I am giving testimony next Wednesday. That is where I will fully address the title of this blog post. His Grace truly is amazing. I won't get into it now. I'm also thinking of changing my middle name to my first name. I will explain it all in the testimony. Thanks for reading.
Grace, Peace, and Love,
Adam
June was an interesting month. Settled in with my host family. Connected with a bunch of Yalies here on Light Fellowship. Made it out to Jeju-Do, Korea's Hawaii, or so Korea would like to think. Korea really likes hyperboles. Seoul is not the soul of Asia, and I hate to break it to S. Korea, but Jeju-Do isn't quite, as they like to put it down there, something along the lines of "the best tourist destination on earth". I suppose English allows them some sort of distance from the obvious exaggeration; I'll give them that much.
All that is beside the point of course. June went on with intermittent work at Arirang radio, reporting here and there. The month was actually quite consumed in my fascination with Daniel Pinchbeck's 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl. I also went through a missions training class at church that proved extremely interesting and surprisingly parallel to much of what I learned from Daniel Pinchbeck, somewhere between his ayahuasca trips, tribal initiations, and the Santo Daime of Brasil. The common theme, so as to not get too off track, of what I learned was the importance of being sensitive to the thousands of cultures in existence on earth today, not to mention the seemingly imminent extinction of so many of them. All of this in the context of course of being a missionary. Psalm 19 verses 1-4 puts it quite beautifully:
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament show His handiwork./Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge/There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard/ Their line has gone through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
Later in the same Psalm in verse 12, it touches on what my blog will essentially be about. I just realized it. No coincidences as I said; and there is definitely a reason why David's writings were ordained to be put in the Bible to help lead us. The verse is:
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from my secret faults.
To move on, missions training and Daniel Pinchbeck's books were truly enlightening. I am truly excited to live life as a missionary, not only in the sense of simply bringing Gospel, which is of course the main aim, spiritual liberation, but also to fulfill God's will clearly stated by His Son to liberate people from the bondage of things such as hunger, poverty, opression, war, ignorance, disease, etc. There really is a battle going on. Even before committing my life to Christ in the way I have recently, I always knew this and to be quite honest felt quite discouraged. However, now, with the promises given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, I have nothing to fear, especially not failure.
It's quite ridiculous how little credit great missionaries get in history for all the wonderful works they did in Jesus' name. People really love to bring down Christianity by focusing on all the negative historical incidences, while then downplaying a lot of the secular incidences of whatever negative influence depending on specific nationalistic agenda. I think we all know about the terrible things people did in Jesus' name. I am not arguing against that. If it's of any consolation, I repent on behalf of them truly for what they did, speaking boldly as to say they were wrong (during the Crusades, to recently a few decades ago in the legalistic south, where they would send thousands of dollars for missions to Africa but wouldn't let a single person of color in their church doors); I am sure Jesus wept. I weep as well.
However, if you were to ask me now who I would aspire to be like, besides Jesus of course, I would have to say William Carey or Hudson Taylor. William Carey particularly blows my mind. If you are reading this, please consider learning something about this amazing man of God who did countless things for India. While Britain continued to oppress India in so many ways by keeping her ignorant among suffering from other ailments, William Carey dedicated the majority of his life to not only help liberate India spiritually, but in every other way as well. He introduced the steam engine to India, libraries, started schools for girls and Bengali people, translated most major Hindu works of Literature into English, put an official stop to "bride burning", although regrettably still practiced I believe, among so much more. Where as the entire British colonial force in India oppressed the country for over a century, one man, infused with the unlimited love of Jesus, changed the history of nation forever, and for the better. Ask any educated Indian person about it. Ghandi was huge don't get me wrong, but let's not forget about William Carey. For goodness sake, Ghandi's whole philosophy was directly stolen from Jesus Christ, all the way down to the fasting; the philosophy of non-violence is way to obvious.
Anyway, relating back to the verses in Psalm 19. It has blown my mind in my ongoing study of cultures around the world, traveling, and studying of prophecies from everyone from the Mayan's and Quetzalcoatl to the Hopi People of the South West of the United states to see that truly, as Psalm 19 states it, "there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard..." God is everywhere. He doesn't have one name. In Korea he is Hana-nim, The One. The only reason we call him God, is because given the philology, our language, English, has Germanic roots. In the original New Testament, Paul uses the word Theos to describe God, In Romance-language cultures, they took the Greek's Latin counterpart, Deus, in Spanish now Dios. All cultures have one major creator God. Look it up according to whatever cultures or parts of the world you fancy. The pantheon of Greek gods is a little different, but I don't want to get in to that at this now. Maybe in an upcoming blog. But regarding that, there was a god they referred to as the "unknown god". There was an altar in Athens in honor of this god. And it is interesting to read the story in Acts of how apostle Paul used redemptive analogy to, in fitting Psalm 19-style, redeem God. He truly is proclaimed in all tongues and nations.
Which brings me to my next point before I move on. Truly, God has revealed himself to all cultures in one way or another, and I would go as far as to say that it is the same God. He simply has thousands of names; my favorite Viracocha in Peru. Machu Pichu was built for God! The Mayans understood the stars that God says he made as signs better than we did, and look at the magnificent astronomical devices we call pyramids they created! Even if you look at Egyptian history, with Akhenaton, and his move to stop the worship of several gods, although he stopped a little short, at worshipping the sun, something the believers of Viracocha (God) got over when one of the spiritual leaders realized how boring the Sun was, doing the same exact thing everyday. These are just a few fragmented examples.
The one catch is Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God. He is what saves humanity. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the story. If not, please read the book of Matthew. The reason the Bible is important, particularly the Old Testament, is because it shows how Jesus got to earth in the first place. It talks about Jesus in the first few chapters of Genesis. It all started with Abraham. But once again, I don't want to get into all the details. It actually all started with Adam, but I will move on.
So June was interesting, and it wrapped up with a trip to Japan that was really eye-opening. Sharing gospel in the Spirit, in love, is a beautiful thing. When the Bible says that the word is implanted in us, it isn't proclaiming an empty platitude. There are truly chords that are moved in any person, no matter how cynical.
In Japan I happened to run into a long-lost friend in the middle of Tokyo. A complete miracle. No coincidences, only God. Found Christian manga, super entertaining, and got a vision for Japan. This is barely at conception stage, but just to throw it out there, I feel compelled to somewhere in the future build a school(s) in Japan with Christian precepts and global vision. The spiritual state, among many other things truly breaks my heart. However, God has put a heavy burden and love on my heart for Japan.
Now for July, I started my one-month gig at Arirang. It is now coming to an end. I am giving testimony next Wednesday. That is where I will fully address the title of this blog post. His Grace truly is amazing. I won't get into it now. I'm also thinking of changing my middle name to my first name. I will explain it all in the testimony. Thanks for reading.
Grace, Peace, and Love,
Adam
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Symphony Continues!
And why shouldn't it. I tune in everyday. That may seem like a bit of a contradiction given what I said in the last post about us playing in it, which we do also. But it is not a contradiction, rather it is a paradox. That is the beauty of God; He is a mystery and a paradox. Don't try to understand it in the empirical Western sense, embrace Him and His will and rejoice in the ride, trials and blessings, especially trials. For even Nietzche said, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." The Bible was, at least, several centuries ahead of him (Check out anything written by Apostle Paul in the New Testament). The Bible also says in Eccelsiastes that there are good times and bad times; He has appointed them both, so that we may not now what will come tomorrow; how exciting. Especially to know, that there is no causality outside of God. Speaking of that frame of mind. I am reading a very interesting book as of late called 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl. Daniel Pinchbeck, a shamanistic eccentric who experiments with psychedellic drugs who is also the author of the aforementioned book, has figured out a lot of things one can figure out through the Bible without all the shrooms. He actually does a pretty objective job of representing various sides regarding the Aztecs peculiar prediction of 2012 bringing a major shift consciousness for humanity. Maybe I'll go more into that, along with my own thoughts once I finish the book. It's a great read for anyone with an open mind, as is the Bible.
Speaking of orchestras and symphonies, I will be seeing the Philadelphia Philharmonice orchestra this weekend. I simply love orchestral music. Perhaps that is how I came up with my little metaphor for life. A month ago I was clueless about how I was going to eat. Not worried or vexed, just clueless, and God took care of the rest.
There have been many trials in the past couple of weeks. I may write about them someday, but not now. They are not relevant...yet. All I know is that God is good and mysterious. Along with all the beautiful little ditties, all the little things, orchestrated by Him which when looked at in all humility could fill up at least a thousand pages a day, give and take, depending on how much imagery one chose to include, I'll go ahead and talk about the latest Opus he has lead me in playing. This little bit reminds me of the very last verse in the Gospel of John:
"And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen"
That verse makes me beam. Especially knowing that these things still happen big and small, if only we humble ourselves and look around.
On to the Opus:
Literally right after the musical ended, a friend of mine, who is currently in Paris, asked me if I wanted to fill in for Him at his job for Arirang Radio, a government English radio station here in Korea with international reach. I said sure. He told me he had already offered the gig to someone else, but if that person turned it down, I could go in and audition.
I didn't think much of it at first. At this point. The musical having wound down, and I having made the bold decision to not go home and stay in Korea left me with more cluelessness about what I was going to do. I had some ideas, but none of them brought in any cash. This is the main reason for my somewhat desperate cry for help about a month ago for charity. Which is always appreciated of course. But more than the call for charity (look back a couple of blog posts), I believe it was a call to humble myself for I had never put myself in a spot quite that vulnerable before. I had thought that me getting a host family among everything else in the past posts, and everything else would be it, amid trials of course, but the sudden twists in the music have been spectacular.
Before getting to the Opus, which is really just the most recent development in my life here in Korea through Him. Emphasis on Him of course, for for Him is all the glory, I would like to recount one story from a little over a week ago. I just like the word opus.
During my finals week for Sogang, the day of my first final I ran into a horrid sight on my way to school. There were a couple of old men passing out bilingual new testaments with the Psalms and Proverbs. I would have considered this the horrid sight a few months ago, speaking from my academically arrogant and insecurity and pride laden pedestal which I had built so high so that no one could see what I really was, in a lot of ways and empty shell of a person. However, the horrid sight was to come about a hundred steps down the hill towards Sogang. Bibles piling up in the trash cans. Excuse me, but I would never throw away anyone's holy book. Who do these people think they are? My muslim friend was especially shocked. I would never throw a away a Koran or a Torah, only to name a couple major ones. On top of that, I really enjoyed the Tibetan book of the Dead when I read it; I would be heartbroken to see it in a trash can. Any book for that matter. However, more than any other book, seeing my favorite book, one which has changed my life forever (for real changed my life, not like 7 Habits for Effective Young People, no offense Sean Covey and maybe Stephen too, it just doesn't compare) I was overwhelmed with grief, some indignation, and then a little bit of a revelation.
There were three kind of people. What was interesting though, is that everyone was taking one. These old men were really good. There were few like me who were like, "Whoah! a free GIdeon's Bible in English and Korean! Awesome! The Beatles mentioned this version of the Bible in their song Rocky Racoon! Give me one!" There weren't many of us. Then there were the people who were at least respectful enough to leave the Bibles stacked further on down so that they could get to someone who really wanted them. Then, the mass majority were people who straight up have lost the fear and respect of anything holy. My heart broke for these people. Regardless of what anyone believes, this is exactly what this age has brought people to, egotism and a soul-destroying belief in self-suffiency. It only took two world wars to get us here. Many other things of course. Well, to move on to the rest of the story. This whole rant is an essay within itself.
So what did I do? Despite being a little late for my final, the only one I actually did relatively well on, I went through every trash can to get all the Bibles out. Maybe twenty total. So I carried the massive blue stack of plastic-bound Gideon bibles up to the 8th floor, all the way to far end of the hallway where my classroom was. I walked in, and people didn't even realize they were Bibles, but they did think I was kind of crazy, but people do anyway, I'm an artist, or at least I try to be. After the test ended, I looked up and realized that my Mormon friend was sitting across from me. I have learned a lot from this guy, about life and Mormonism, even checked out the Book of Mormon, interesting stuff. Mormon's are Christians who believe in Jesus and all, but they just have some extra stuff that's kind of interesting about the Americas. The ultimate authority for me is the Bible, but that doesn't keep me from checking out other stuff. Actually, there ultimate authority is the Bible too. Here I go rambling again, back to the story.
He saw me walk in with the Bibles, and we started talking a little. We started talking about how imporant it was not to be ashamed of what you believed in, regardless of what you believe, but especially as a follower of Christ, given the stigma. Even Christ told us it would be there. He said that they would hate me, and anyone else who follows Him because of Him, and in varying degrees of course. If people think the persecution ended with the simmering of the Catholic church among other things throughout the ages, they would be mistaken, especially Christians; that's one of the biggest misconceptions today. Don't be fooled. Think about it. Persecution is still there; it has actually taken more subliminal, hidden, and insidious forms. More on that in a subsequent blog perhaps.
Anyways, after talking about that for a little while, he then pulled out his favorite Bible verse, 1 Timothy 6-8:
"...For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord...."
He was impressed that such a "secular"-type guy like myself could love Jesus as much as I did; doing what he does, without the bike and the uncomfortable clothes; being who I am, nothing different different from who I was a few months ago in a lot of ways, but not being ashamed of what I cherish and believe. On that subject, I am exactly the same as before, except without a lot of what used to weigh me down: insecurities, etc. That is the power of Jesus Christ. I used to cuss so much. Just as one example. I have literally stopped altogether. I used to talk about how it was an imperative aspect of my personality. But truly thinking about it, it is something I developed in my early teenage years to try to prove I was more "bad-ass" than the guy next to me. The fact that I went from f-that, f-this, to now actually being funnier and just as accepted in all circles I've always been in, even the with the "bad-asses", and with new crowds too, because I have let go of identity in fake things, and over night, is a miracle in itself. But now to the climax of the story.
When he mentioned that verse, something stirred in me. It was my short-term memory. We had recieved Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat water bottles from an anonynmous doner the day before. And printed on these bottles was 1 Timothy 6-8. I got goosebumps. I pulled out the bottle and showed it to him, and I felt like David Blaine performing street magic. However, this was no illusion; this was real. And it wasn't a coincidence. You all know where I stand on that. It was divine orchestration. Through it he was finally moved, after some resistance, to come see the musical.
These are the little ditties I speak of that literally happen up and down. Daniel Pinch, from the book I mentioned earlier, calls them synchronicities. Although he knows that they come from a higher source, he is still trying to figure out exactly what, daimonic presences, shrooms, Ibogi gods from West African tribes or bardo spirits or string theory, etc are responsible for them. All I know is that I know it is God. And they are not just synchronicities but divine orchestration. So regardles of what you believe, be wary of arrogantly, due to pride, or cursorily, due to the system this world forces on us especially now with this so called "globalization", of dismissing these events. For the more you acknowledge them and let go, the more they happen.
Now for the opus, i.e. the most recent development. It is funny that the director of the Sogang language program called me today to make sure I wanted to send my transcript to the Light Fellowship today, because my final term had been so bad. My first two terms were really good, but I really bombed the final term, but I found comfort, as always, in the gospel. It says not to fear what can hurt you in this life, but only fear He who can do things to you after you die. I love how the Bible calls to civil disobedience; I am all about that sort of stuff. Too bad the world is trying to get people to stop believing in that...(cough)...Patriot Act....(cough). People now just give up their rights because of what the system tells them. It's not just the United States and the patriot act, globalization is making sure you can get your daily dose of fear and surrendering of liberty through your phone or PDA anywhere in the world. I need to stay focused.
It's funny that I got the job at Arirang, for the two weeks filling in, due to my outstanding Korean abilities. If only they knew I bombed my final term at Sogang, they probably wouldn't believe me; then I would show them, and they would laugh...with me. I thank the Light Fellowship from the bottom of my heart, because I really came to Korea thanks to them, and from day one gave a hundred and ten percent to everything I did. It just happen to be that school had to take a little bit of a back seat in the final term. Light Fellowship, thank you again.
I thought the blessing was just going to be the great pay check for the two weeks (which really would have been enough to put me over for the summer, but my God is the God of multiplcation; it is written!), but out of nowhere one of the girls who worked there got sick. So for my second week, this week, I started taking over for her, and they really like me. And now, I have gotten a full-summer-awesomely-paid-job. Not even the bulldogs program could have gotten me that, which I did last summer, which was also awesome! Now, with a major broadcasting company here in Asia, I am a newscaster;a hidden dream of mine ever since I started watching CNN. It is radio nonetheless, but anyone who knows me knows I hate shaving, so Hallelujah!
As I said, last week, the way I know it is really divine orchestration is that I was the person least blessed. The girl I am filling in for is going to get to go home to the states to see her family and get a well deserved vacation. She hasn't been back in forever. And her sickness wasn't really the issue, it was just that she really needed to take a break. So I mostly feel blessed that I was able to come in randomly (you know what I mean) and help answer her prayers right when she got sick. And if I get an awesome job for the summer, with awesome pay, that fits with my missions trip in July and my move to China in September, and also goes perfectly with the career I would pursue potentially, the fact that I now get to improve my Korean in the professional setting, and so much more, along the way, Glory be to my God, the God of Jacob! For He is good!
Another interesting little ditty, among so many, is that I was approached by Random House to help write a book about how to get an international education. The fact that for the past 3 months I have focused soley and God and then everything else, unlike how I used to live, everything else first, and then God, and now the fact that all things are coming together in the most mysterious(God!) ways blow my mind. God is real. I have already sent in some stuff and the editor loved it; however it goes, all my trust is in God. I wouldn't mind royalties though.
I'll end on a note I wish I could have ended on more while on Light Fellowship. A few days ago I got to see one of those huge protests I wrote papers about before coming to Korea. It was really interesting. Especially, because the cops in Korea really have nothing to do. They were all there.
The Korean university students (it is so great to see vestiges of democracy in action!) were protesting old nasty beef that the US is pushing on S. Korea, and Lee Myeong-Bak, Korea's new president is putting up no fight. I won't go into all of it in too much detail, but even this was a little ditty. It's always beautiful to see something you once did an assigment about come alive, much like the Busan film festival last Fall. So much has happened since then; it feels like forever. Then again, Eccelsiastes also tells us that He has put eternity in our hearts. Try to wrap your minds around that one. The Symphony goes on! Peace, Grace, and Love.
Adam
Speaking of orchestras and symphonies, I will be seeing the Philadelphia Philharmonice orchestra this weekend. I simply love orchestral music. Perhaps that is how I came up with my little metaphor for life. A month ago I was clueless about how I was going to eat. Not worried or vexed, just clueless, and God took care of the rest.
There have been many trials in the past couple of weeks. I may write about them someday, but not now. They are not relevant...yet. All I know is that God is good and mysterious. Along with all the beautiful little ditties, all the little things, orchestrated by Him which when looked at in all humility could fill up at least a thousand pages a day, give and take, depending on how much imagery one chose to include, I'll go ahead and talk about the latest Opus he has lead me in playing. This little bit reminds me of the very last verse in the Gospel of John:
"And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen"
That verse makes me beam. Especially knowing that these things still happen big and small, if only we humble ourselves and look around.
On to the Opus:
Literally right after the musical ended, a friend of mine, who is currently in Paris, asked me if I wanted to fill in for Him at his job for Arirang Radio, a government English radio station here in Korea with international reach. I said sure. He told me he had already offered the gig to someone else, but if that person turned it down, I could go in and audition.
I didn't think much of it at first. At this point. The musical having wound down, and I having made the bold decision to not go home and stay in Korea left me with more cluelessness about what I was going to do. I had some ideas, but none of them brought in any cash. This is the main reason for my somewhat desperate cry for help about a month ago for charity. Which is always appreciated of course. But more than the call for charity (look back a couple of blog posts), I believe it was a call to humble myself for I had never put myself in a spot quite that vulnerable before. I had thought that me getting a host family among everything else in the past posts, and everything else would be it, amid trials of course, but the sudden twists in the music have been spectacular.
Before getting to the Opus, which is really just the most recent development in my life here in Korea through Him. Emphasis on Him of course, for for Him is all the glory, I would like to recount one story from a little over a week ago. I just like the word opus.
During my finals week for Sogang, the day of my first final I ran into a horrid sight on my way to school. There were a couple of old men passing out bilingual new testaments with the Psalms and Proverbs. I would have considered this the horrid sight a few months ago, speaking from my academically arrogant and insecurity and pride laden pedestal which I had built so high so that no one could see what I really was, in a lot of ways and empty shell of a person. However, the horrid sight was to come about a hundred steps down the hill towards Sogang. Bibles piling up in the trash cans. Excuse me, but I would never throw away anyone's holy book. Who do these people think they are? My muslim friend was especially shocked. I would never throw a away a Koran or a Torah, only to name a couple major ones. On top of that, I really enjoyed the Tibetan book of the Dead when I read it; I would be heartbroken to see it in a trash can. Any book for that matter. However, more than any other book, seeing my favorite book, one which has changed my life forever (for real changed my life, not like 7 Habits for Effective Young People, no offense Sean Covey and maybe Stephen too, it just doesn't compare) I was overwhelmed with grief, some indignation, and then a little bit of a revelation.
There were three kind of people. What was interesting though, is that everyone was taking one. These old men were really good. There were few like me who were like, "Whoah! a free GIdeon's Bible in English and Korean! Awesome! The Beatles mentioned this version of the Bible in their song Rocky Racoon! Give me one!" There weren't many of us. Then there were the people who were at least respectful enough to leave the Bibles stacked further on down so that they could get to someone who really wanted them. Then, the mass majority were people who straight up have lost the fear and respect of anything holy. My heart broke for these people. Regardless of what anyone believes, this is exactly what this age has brought people to, egotism and a soul-destroying belief in self-suffiency. It only took two world wars to get us here. Many other things of course. Well, to move on to the rest of the story. This whole rant is an essay within itself.
So what did I do? Despite being a little late for my final, the only one I actually did relatively well on, I went through every trash can to get all the Bibles out. Maybe twenty total. So I carried the massive blue stack of plastic-bound Gideon bibles up to the 8th floor, all the way to far end of the hallway where my classroom was. I walked in, and people didn't even realize they were Bibles, but they did think I was kind of crazy, but people do anyway, I'm an artist, or at least I try to be. After the test ended, I looked up and realized that my Mormon friend was sitting across from me. I have learned a lot from this guy, about life and Mormonism, even checked out the Book of Mormon, interesting stuff. Mormon's are Christians who believe in Jesus and all, but they just have some extra stuff that's kind of interesting about the Americas. The ultimate authority for me is the Bible, but that doesn't keep me from checking out other stuff. Actually, there ultimate authority is the Bible too. Here I go rambling again, back to the story.
He saw me walk in with the Bibles, and we started talking a little. We started talking about how imporant it was not to be ashamed of what you believed in, regardless of what you believe, but especially as a follower of Christ, given the stigma. Even Christ told us it would be there. He said that they would hate me, and anyone else who follows Him because of Him, and in varying degrees of course. If people think the persecution ended with the simmering of the Catholic church among other things throughout the ages, they would be mistaken, especially Christians; that's one of the biggest misconceptions today. Don't be fooled. Think about it. Persecution is still there; it has actually taken more subliminal, hidden, and insidious forms. More on that in a subsequent blog perhaps.
Anyways, after talking about that for a little while, he then pulled out his favorite Bible verse, 1 Timothy 6-8:
"...For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord...."
He was impressed that such a "secular"-type guy like myself could love Jesus as much as I did; doing what he does, without the bike and the uncomfortable clothes; being who I am, nothing different different from who I was a few months ago in a lot of ways, but not being ashamed of what I cherish and believe. On that subject, I am exactly the same as before, except without a lot of what used to weigh me down: insecurities, etc. That is the power of Jesus Christ. I used to cuss so much. Just as one example. I have literally stopped altogether. I used to talk about how it was an imperative aspect of my personality. But truly thinking about it, it is something I developed in my early teenage years to try to prove I was more "bad-ass" than the guy next to me. The fact that I went from f-that, f-this, to now actually being funnier and just as accepted in all circles I've always been in, even the with the "bad-asses", and with new crowds too, because I have let go of identity in fake things, and over night, is a miracle in itself. But now to the climax of the story.
When he mentioned that verse, something stirred in me. It was my short-term memory. We had recieved Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat water bottles from an anonynmous doner the day before. And printed on these bottles was 1 Timothy 6-8. I got goosebumps. I pulled out the bottle and showed it to him, and I felt like David Blaine performing street magic. However, this was no illusion; this was real. And it wasn't a coincidence. You all know where I stand on that. It was divine orchestration. Through it he was finally moved, after some resistance, to come see the musical.
These are the little ditties I speak of that literally happen up and down. Daniel Pinch, from the book I mentioned earlier, calls them synchronicities. Although he knows that they come from a higher source, he is still trying to figure out exactly what, daimonic presences, shrooms, Ibogi gods from West African tribes or bardo spirits or string theory, etc are responsible for them. All I know is that I know it is God. And they are not just synchronicities but divine orchestration. So regardles of what you believe, be wary of arrogantly, due to pride, or cursorily, due to the system this world forces on us especially now with this so called "globalization", of dismissing these events. For the more you acknowledge them and let go, the more they happen.
Now for the opus, i.e. the most recent development. It is funny that the director of the Sogang language program called me today to make sure I wanted to send my transcript to the Light Fellowship today, because my final term had been so bad. My first two terms were really good, but I really bombed the final term, but I found comfort, as always, in the gospel. It says not to fear what can hurt you in this life, but only fear He who can do things to you after you die. I love how the Bible calls to civil disobedience; I am all about that sort of stuff. Too bad the world is trying to get people to stop believing in that...(cough)...Patriot Act....(cough). People now just give up their rights because of what the system tells them. It's not just the United States and the patriot act, globalization is making sure you can get your daily dose of fear and surrendering of liberty through your phone or PDA anywhere in the world. I need to stay focused.
It's funny that I got the job at Arirang, for the two weeks filling in, due to my outstanding Korean abilities. If only they knew I bombed my final term at Sogang, they probably wouldn't believe me; then I would show them, and they would laugh...with me. I thank the Light Fellowship from the bottom of my heart, because I really came to Korea thanks to them, and from day one gave a hundred and ten percent to everything I did. It just happen to be that school had to take a little bit of a back seat in the final term. Light Fellowship, thank you again.
I thought the blessing was just going to be the great pay check for the two weeks (which really would have been enough to put me over for the summer, but my God is the God of multiplcation; it is written!), but out of nowhere one of the girls who worked there got sick. So for my second week, this week, I started taking over for her, and they really like me. And now, I have gotten a full-summer-awesomely-paid-job. Not even the bulldogs program could have gotten me that, which I did last summer, which was also awesome! Now, with a major broadcasting company here in Asia, I am a newscaster;a hidden dream of mine ever since I started watching CNN. It is radio nonetheless, but anyone who knows me knows I hate shaving, so Hallelujah!
As I said, last week, the way I know it is really divine orchestration is that I was the person least blessed. The girl I am filling in for is going to get to go home to the states to see her family and get a well deserved vacation. She hasn't been back in forever. And her sickness wasn't really the issue, it was just that she really needed to take a break. So I mostly feel blessed that I was able to come in randomly (you know what I mean) and help answer her prayers right when she got sick. And if I get an awesome job for the summer, with awesome pay, that fits with my missions trip in July and my move to China in September, and also goes perfectly with the career I would pursue potentially, the fact that I now get to improve my Korean in the professional setting, and so much more, along the way, Glory be to my God, the God of Jacob! For He is good!
Another interesting little ditty, among so many, is that I was approached by Random House to help write a book about how to get an international education. The fact that for the past 3 months I have focused soley and God and then everything else, unlike how I used to live, everything else first, and then God, and now the fact that all things are coming together in the most mysterious(God!) ways blow my mind. God is real. I have already sent in some stuff and the editor loved it; however it goes, all my trust is in God. I wouldn't mind royalties though.
I'll end on a note I wish I could have ended on more while on Light Fellowship. A few days ago I got to see one of those huge protests I wrote papers about before coming to Korea. It was really interesting. Especially, because the cops in Korea really have nothing to do. They were all there.
The Korean university students (it is so great to see vestiges of democracy in action!) were protesting old nasty beef that the US is pushing on S. Korea, and Lee Myeong-Bak, Korea's new president is putting up no fight. I won't go into all of it in too much detail, but even this was a little ditty. It's always beautiful to see something you once did an assigment about come alive, much like the Busan film festival last Fall. So much has happened since then; it feels like forever. Then again, Eccelsiastes also tells us that He has put eternity in our hearts. Try to wrap your minds around that one. The Symphony goes on! Peace, Grace, and Love.
Adam
Monday, May 19, 2008
The Divinely Orchestrated Symphony
I am now officially finished with Sogang. It feels great. Objectively speaking, I did quite terrible this final term, but it is quite alright. I did what I could and for the essay portions of the test I wrote my testimony of what has happened to me in the past couple of months; the teachers were very moved.
For my speaking interview test it is no coincidence that the first question that the teacher asked was, "who is the most important person in your life?" There happened to be a crucifix in the room. I pointed at it, and an interview that was supposed to last fifteen minutes ended up lasting closer to two hours with tears in the teacher's eyes. There really is no other way I can look at it but to be completely confident that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
I will be wrapping up all the logistics for the Light Fellowship in the next few days. I just want to take the chance to thank the Light Fellowship at this time for providing me the means to experience everything I have experienced this year. It has been edifying in every sense from the most trivial and mundane, to the highest and spiritual. The Light Fellowship is a life-changer, particularly the longer ones, so much so that I am staying in Korea until September now and going straight into China. If what the Light fellowship is aiming for is creating a new generation of leaders that are outstandingly knowledgeable and sensitive to East Asia and its culture, you guys are succeeding; I am a testament to that. Thank you, I hope more and more students continue to take advantage of the ridiculous gift of goodwill that you guys so graciously give. Richard U. Light would be proud.
Also, the musical has also wrapped up. It was spectacular, beyond words really. I have been in several productions, but never one this cohesive, full of chemistry, and above all, filled with love; it was pouring out from the stage out into the audience. God's hand was in it, because, honestly, it was not our strength nor out might. Had it been, it would have flopped, but for it to turn out the way it did, it was His Spirit; it was electric. Sublime. Celestial. There are no words.
The past 10 days or so, or however long since my last post about my knee, I have experienced many beautiful things. I used to always say I had already taken the red pill, but boy was I wrong. I now finally took it, and what a ride the rabbit hole is. There is no possible way I can highlight everything on this blog, but I will highlight the key points. It is too real to condense into a blog, it is a continuous form of existence that can only be experienced. However, before I get to Kierkegard on all of y'all, I'll get to the beautiful hard cold facts of the recent days.
To preface all of this, I just want to explain that for sometime now I had been convicted to stay in Korea. However, there was one teensy little problem; I had no idea how I was going to subsist or pull it together logistically, but boy is God good, and boy is prayer real. If any if you guys read a recent blog with my desperate cry for help, perhaps you will understand the dire need in which I was in. But ever since my knee was healed, having also experienced healing a week directly thereafter, the faith that is spoken of in the Gospels, the faith that makes complete has been not only present, but overly ubiquitous in my life and my day to day scene. Jehova jaira, boy does He provide, all in exchange for earnest and child-like faith and love.
There were two major problems in my way, in regards to staying in Korea. Money and visa issues. Now that the Light Fellowship was up, I had no money and housing in S. Korea is super expensive. I also had to at least do a visa run to Japan or someplace to keep my visa running, but there was no money for that either.
Funny thing is, I wasn't stressing out in the same way I used to stress about things. I was very calm and placid. I was still tithing like crazy, the way I have started to in the past couple of months, and I have been very giving with my money and resources. About two weeks ago, God prompted me to email the lady who made the documentary about me earlier this year; I had not spoken to her in ages. I actually felt quite awkward writing her. I broke the ice by talking about the musical. I then simply asked her if she knew of any cheap alternatives in Seoul because I was planning on staying through September. I didn't get a reply until about a week ago through a phone call.
When I picked up the phone, just from the tone of her voice, I was assuming she was just calling to be a polite Korean and say she was sorry there wasn't anything she knew about or could do. I had never insinuated anything about living with her, however she started saying, "Our place is too small...." Something I took as just an apologetic platitude. However, she kept going and started telling me how right when she got my email she was compelled to go to the real estate agent and start looking for a bigger place, found one, and asked me to move in with them at the beginning of June, exactly when my time at my current place runs out. She told me that her and her husband spoke, and they really couldn't explain it, but they just wanted to help me. They said the only condition was that I had to love their son as if he were my real brother. I said, "Deal."
There is more though, which is how I am convinced that it wasn't mere coincidence. This family had been wanting to move into a bigger place for a long time, but they didn't have the money, and they didn't foresee it happening until at least next year. But out of nowhere, just because she went that day, they were able to secure some special type of loan. Had she not gone that day with that clerk it may not have happened. That's when you know it really is God moving things, it wasn't just me being blessed, but this family as well, and when I read the email with the details of the whole ordeal I was blown away. Several of my prayers were answered too. I have a place to live, I have a place to eat, sleep, I have a family, I have a brother, these latter things being things I thought I had given up to do what I was called to do this Summer. God is good.
I am not doing most of this justice. I am a much better speaker than I am a writer. The other one I will relate is how really out of nowhere someone I hardly know knew to give exactly the money I needed to go to Japan for my visa run. Actually, that is pretty much it. Things like the above things have been happening up and down, and like I said, it is real. I also fasted for five days and that was also a very beautiful experience. I have been able to pray for over two hours straight and have it feel like five minutes, true prayer. The spiritual journey I started at fourteen when I started traveling the world on my own to experience something greater has finally entered the next phase, and what a surprise, although not too much so really, that it revolves around Jesus Christ.
I was baptized last saturday, and it as beautiful. I prayed the night before under the stars, and God sent me a shooting star. This is Seoul, that is virtually impossible. But nothing is impossible for God. I could literally write a 1000 pg book just on everything that has happened in the past 10-12 days. But I figure I need to do is just keep living, loving, and being obedient and be living testimony of what it's like to be free in Jesus Christ and truly alive. All of this not through church, but through the Bible and prayer, although church helps keep it together. I am not gushing about church or religion, I am gushing about the indescribable power of God, the God of Jesus, the God of Abraham and Jacob. Anyone feeling challenged, please read through Mark, second book in the new testament. Christian and non-Christian a like. I read a Koran. What's so wrong with checking out a Bible? I especially write this to people who think they are followers of Chirst when in reality they have no idea what is written in the Book their faith is supposed to revolve around and are too busy telling others they're wrong. That's not what I'm doing, ask to me to check something out and I will gladly do so.
I could go on forever, but perhaps if we ever meet in person I will know exactly which story will be the most uplifting for each and everyone of you.
The word coincidence was only invented because man has a problem accepting that there is something greater that is holding everything together. God resists the proud. What I have realized is that this life, this existence is a symphony. Once you surrender completely to the Grand Conductor you will never miss a beat, and that's because He never misses a beat. We need to learn to read the music, the Bible, and learn how to play our unique instruments, our abilities and gifts that He gave us, so that we can never miss a beat. Too many people, including myself for the longest time, are trying to play their own song, and it just doesn't compare. It only leads to strife, emptiness and dissatisfaction. We were all called to play first violin, if you will, for Him. There is a Divinely Orchestrated Symphony playing all around us with major and minor scales, ups and downs, tempo changes and the likes, but we have the answers and the conductor that will always stay in time and on the right measure. Think about it. Grace and Love.
For my speaking interview test it is no coincidence that the first question that the teacher asked was, "who is the most important person in your life?" There happened to be a crucifix in the room. I pointed at it, and an interview that was supposed to last fifteen minutes ended up lasting closer to two hours with tears in the teacher's eyes. There really is no other way I can look at it but to be completely confident that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
I will be wrapping up all the logistics for the Light Fellowship in the next few days. I just want to take the chance to thank the Light Fellowship at this time for providing me the means to experience everything I have experienced this year. It has been edifying in every sense from the most trivial and mundane, to the highest and spiritual. The Light Fellowship is a life-changer, particularly the longer ones, so much so that I am staying in Korea until September now and going straight into China. If what the Light fellowship is aiming for is creating a new generation of leaders that are outstandingly knowledgeable and sensitive to East Asia and its culture, you guys are succeeding; I am a testament to that. Thank you, I hope more and more students continue to take advantage of the ridiculous gift of goodwill that you guys so graciously give. Richard U. Light would be proud.
Also, the musical has also wrapped up. It was spectacular, beyond words really. I have been in several productions, but never one this cohesive, full of chemistry, and above all, filled with love; it was pouring out from the stage out into the audience. God's hand was in it, because, honestly, it was not our strength nor out might. Had it been, it would have flopped, but for it to turn out the way it did, it was His Spirit; it was electric. Sublime. Celestial. There are no words.
The past 10 days or so, or however long since my last post about my knee, I have experienced many beautiful things. I used to always say I had already taken the red pill, but boy was I wrong. I now finally took it, and what a ride the rabbit hole is. There is no possible way I can highlight everything on this blog, but I will highlight the key points. It is too real to condense into a blog, it is a continuous form of existence that can only be experienced. However, before I get to Kierkegard on all of y'all, I'll get to the beautiful hard cold facts of the recent days.
To preface all of this, I just want to explain that for sometime now I had been convicted to stay in Korea. However, there was one teensy little problem; I had no idea how I was going to subsist or pull it together logistically, but boy is God good, and boy is prayer real. If any if you guys read a recent blog with my desperate cry for help, perhaps you will understand the dire need in which I was in. But ever since my knee was healed, having also experienced healing a week directly thereafter, the faith that is spoken of in the Gospels, the faith that makes complete has been not only present, but overly ubiquitous in my life and my day to day scene. Jehova jaira, boy does He provide, all in exchange for earnest and child-like faith and love.
There were two major problems in my way, in regards to staying in Korea. Money and visa issues. Now that the Light Fellowship was up, I had no money and housing in S. Korea is super expensive. I also had to at least do a visa run to Japan or someplace to keep my visa running, but there was no money for that either.
Funny thing is, I wasn't stressing out in the same way I used to stress about things. I was very calm and placid. I was still tithing like crazy, the way I have started to in the past couple of months, and I have been very giving with my money and resources. About two weeks ago, God prompted me to email the lady who made the documentary about me earlier this year; I had not spoken to her in ages. I actually felt quite awkward writing her. I broke the ice by talking about the musical. I then simply asked her if she knew of any cheap alternatives in Seoul because I was planning on staying through September. I didn't get a reply until about a week ago through a phone call.
When I picked up the phone, just from the tone of her voice, I was assuming she was just calling to be a polite Korean and say she was sorry there wasn't anything she knew about or could do. I had never insinuated anything about living with her, however she started saying, "Our place is too small...." Something I took as just an apologetic platitude. However, she kept going and started telling me how right when she got my email she was compelled to go to the real estate agent and start looking for a bigger place, found one, and asked me to move in with them at the beginning of June, exactly when my time at my current place runs out. She told me that her and her husband spoke, and they really couldn't explain it, but they just wanted to help me. They said the only condition was that I had to love their son as if he were my real brother. I said, "Deal."
There is more though, which is how I am convinced that it wasn't mere coincidence. This family had been wanting to move into a bigger place for a long time, but they didn't have the money, and they didn't foresee it happening until at least next year. But out of nowhere, just because she went that day, they were able to secure some special type of loan. Had she not gone that day with that clerk it may not have happened. That's when you know it really is God moving things, it wasn't just me being blessed, but this family as well, and when I read the email with the details of the whole ordeal I was blown away. Several of my prayers were answered too. I have a place to live, I have a place to eat, sleep, I have a family, I have a brother, these latter things being things I thought I had given up to do what I was called to do this Summer. God is good.
I am not doing most of this justice. I am a much better speaker than I am a writer. The other one I will relate is how really out of nowhere someone I hardly know knew to give exactly the money I needed to go to Japan for my visa run. Actually, that is pretty much it. Things like the above things have been happening up and down, and like I said, it is real. I also fasted for five days and that was also a very beautiful experience. I have been able to pray for over two hours straight and have it feel like five minutes, true prayer. The spiritual journey I started at fourteen when I started traveling the world on my own to experience something greater has finally entered the next phase, and what a surprise, although not too much so really, that it revolves around Jesus Christ.
I was baptized last saturday, and it as beautiful. I prayed the night before under the stars, and God sent me a shooting star. This is Seoul, that is virtually impossible. But nothing is impossible for God. I could literally write a 1000 pg book just on everything that has happened in the past 10-12 days. But I figure I need to do is just keep living, loving, and being obedient and be living testimony of what it's like to be free in Jesus Christ and truly alive. All of this not through church, but through the Bible and prayer, although church helps keep it together. I am not gushing about church or religion, I am gushing about the indescribable power of God, the God of Jesus, the God of Abraham and Jacob. Anyone feeling challenged, please read through Mark, second book in the new testament. Christian and non-Christian a like. I read a Koran. What's so wrong with checking out a Bible? I especially write this to people who think they are followers of Chirst when in reality they have no idea what is written in the Book their faith is supposed to revolve around and are too busy telling others they're wrong. That's not what I'm doing, ask to me to check something out and I will gladly do so.
I could go on forever, but perhaps if we ever meet in person I will know exactly which story will be the most uplifting for each and everyone of you.
The word coincidence was only invented because man has a problem accepting that there is something greater that is holding everything together. God resists the proud. What I have realized is that this life, this existence is a symphony. Once you surrender completely to the Grand Conductor you will never miss a beat, and that's because He never misses a beat. We need to learn to read the music, the Bible, and learn how to play our unique instruments, our abilities and gifts that He gave us, so that we can never miss a beat. Too many people, including myself for the longest time, are trying to play their own song, and it just doesn't compare. It only leads to strife, emptiness and dissatisfaction. We were all called to play first violin, if you will, for Him. There is a Divinely Orchestrated Symphony playing all around us with major and minor scales, ups and downs, tempo changes and the likes, but we have the answers and the conductor that will always stay in time and on the right measure. Think about it. Grace and Love.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
I am a Jesus Freak
Did that title catch your attention?
I experienced something ridiculous tonite. I experienced divine healing. I am not kidding. I almost feel ridiculous writing it or considering it, but I experienced it. I was at Wednesday service. I have been praying about my knee. Going to the doctor for physical therapy, I have been dealing with the "fact" that complete recovery will take at least 6-8 weeks. This is a fact that was not sitting too well with me. I even went into to my director today and told him I didn't think I could do most of the dances.
I met a man last week who approached us with a very interesting question: Where is your faith? This question, of course, he is relaying from God. It is easy to claim you have faith, but what if God were to say, you have gotten pretty good at praying and reading My Word, and attending church, but what about showing me your faith. That was tonite's message, a little bit of a rehash of last Sunday's guest's message.
Background on the guest: Dr. C, for the sake of safety and privacy.
He is a man with top credentials from both universities in S. Korea and in the states, with impressive post-doc work to boot. Despite all of this he said that in in his fist-sized heart he felt the vast emptiness of the entire universe. With the following question echoing in that endeless emptiness: " What have you done for God?"
To make a long story short (go to myjubileechurch.com to hear the entire sermon, amzing stuff really) he quit all that and decided to move to China. He initially went and taught as a professor and he befriended many of his students and would invite them to his apartment, and through that kindness and the wonder it sparked in his students, he showed them Jesus.
I really am not doing this man's story justice, so if you have time, please listen to the sermon; it is also quite entertaining. I promise you will roll around laughing, in pleasurable pain. He then decided he wanted to start a Christian school in Harbin, China, the place I will go this summer, however, he had no money. Despite the fact, he set a date and an ammount. January 10th. After months of praying, nothing came. As you may have guessed though, with the date approaching, he had acquired 50,000 dollars. On the night upon his departure to China, he had dinner with a pastor's wife who gave him a check. He figured it was money, and non-chalantly said, "anything helps," or something of that sort. When he arrived home, it irked him to find out how much was helping him get closer, on top of the already grand sum of 50,000, to the intended goal of 60,000 dollars. He was expecting 100 dollars or so. You may have guessed it...It was a check for 10,000 dollars! You really need to hear the sermon. This man is hilarious in his relating of this account. To only give a snippet, as he got on the plane to Beijing that night for a thirteen hour plane ride, being so excited and giddy, he found no other way to let out his joy than to go into to the bathroom stall, hug the toilet and scream into the flushing toilet. What a story, what a man, what a God!
Now with that out of the way. Tonight. My knee injury has truly been a struggle for me. I was praying for it and performing all the other procedures to make it better. However, being more humbled than ever tonite, I asked several people to pray over it. Sixth time is the charm as they say. When the sixth person laid hands on me and on my knee, I felt a literal something in my leg. At first, I just thought it was my leg going to sleep or something. It was a subtle kind of pins and needles feeling. The interesting thing is that she had asked me to get up from kneeling for her to pray for me. I was only on my knees for a couple of seconds, but that in itself was painful. But I was asking myself, "where is my faith." I know this my be hard for a non-believer to wrap their heads around, if you are still reading this at all. I would have been laughing at this post two paragraphs back myself a mere couple months ago. I really challenge anyone to read the Gospel. Read Mark or Matthew. I am sure you will like it. Remember, Christianity is one thing. I have not mentioned it once. It is not about Christianity. It is about Jesus Christ. A man I believed lived and still lives who is the Son of God. Read those books in the Bible. It says that Jesus performed miracles; he also said that those who believed in Him would have similar abilities. I have experienced several miracles and wonders in the past couple months, and now that I really think about it, my whole life. Tonight simply took it to an even more palpable realm.
After she prayed for me, I began to feel that my knee was different. I began to bend it, and there was no pain. I got down on my knees, and again, no pain. I am not one to make up stories, really. I was actually not sure what to make of it. Was this some sort of psychological trick? I guess, if I end up writing a blog tomorrow about how my knee is terribly stiff and broken, perhaps. However, I have a 100% faith that that is not the case. Our pastor asked us to go up and testify. Due to my awe-strickenness and not wanting to make a scene, I did not. I actually had gathered the courage towards the end, but he was wrapping it up. I did go up to him afterward to let him know. Being the man that he is, and of course believing, as I do, that we should proclaim His power and lift glory to Him, he called me back in the back of the church to testify in front of the mass that had gathered there to chat and fellowship. At first I felt awkward, but He gave me the words to say.
I will be honest. I saw faces filled with joy and encouragement, and some also with skepticism an "come on give me a break". Funny thing, the latter really did not matter to me. I know what happened. It is my knee. When I got to the bus stop, although I didn't have a toilet to scream into, I screamed with joy. When I arrived at my friends place, I did all the dances outside of his place, ballet jump and all, and I felt completely fine. I will dance tomorrow and on opening day and night. God is good. That is all I know. I have rejected Him my whole life. I am simply glad that I have let Him find me.
Before I get into my closing statements, I would just like to point out some things that have brought me to this point, which in my eyes is just the beginning of things which I cannot even imagine. First off, new experiences. Anyone living an existence where they do not feel uncomfortable or try new things is bound to get caught up in a skewed view of oneself and of the world. I am not trying to convert anyone to Christianity. I have seen this with my secular friends too. They find new sides of themselves and realize who they thought they were was simply who people had been telling them they were. About the whole Christianity thing, I am not proud of the Christian institution in a lot of ways. It has screwed up a lot and continues to do so. That is what kept me away for so many years; I ain't no cherry pie either. All I know is that knowing Jesus Christ personally is a real trip and this is from a guy who has taken plenty of trips, of all sorts, if you know what I mean.
On a simpler note, some music that is extremely inspirational is Sufjan Stevens. If you want something new and interesting musically that will stir deep thoughts and spiritual bowels, listen to this. Give it a try. He isn't Christian music. It ain't no lame Christian music. Just because I love Jesus doesn't mean I can't listen to good music. This guy is considered one of America's best songwriters and is one of the most respected musicians in the world today, particularly on the indie circuit. I also recommend Blue Like Jazz to everyone by Don Miller. This book was recommended to me for several years, but I am glad I have only read recently, because I would have only dismissed it before. I had to learn the things the hard way. Stories of God by Rainer Maria Rilke is also good. If anyone knows Literature, they know Rilke, so don't play dumb. One of humanities most brilliant poets. Most definitely, of course, the Bible. Start with Matthew or Mark if it seems daunting. I have read the other stuff, it's not as good, Buddhist texts, the Koran, etc. Give the Bible a chance, honestly. I am being objective. I wanted to be a Muslim for quite sometime, and I also took Buddhism quite seriously for quite some time. It's just a trend people.
If anyone wants to ask me any questions, comment, please feel free to email me:
adam.young-valdovinos@yale.edu
There is a story about my childhood that I would like to tell, but I think I will keep it for a future post. It has become quite clear to me how this strange occurence in my childhood is more relevant than ever now.
Finals and the musical are in His hands and they will be great, for his Glory.
Peace,
Adam
I experienced something ridiculous tonite. I experienced divine healing. I am not kidding. I almost feel ridiculous writing it or considering it, but I experienced it. I was at Wednesday service. I have been praying about my knee. Going to the doctor for physical therapy, I have been dealing with the "fact" that complete recovery will take at least 6-8 weeks. This is a fact that was not sitting too well with me. I even went into to my director today and told him I didn't think I could do most of the dances.
I met a man last week who approached us with a very interesting question: Where is your faith? This question, of course, he is relaying from God. It is easy to claim you have faith, but what if God were to say, you have gotten pretty good at praying and reading My Word, and attending church, but what about showing me your faith. That was tonite's message, a little bit of a rehash of last Sunday's guest's message.
Background on the guest: Dr. C, for the sake of safety and privacy.
He is a man with top credentials from both universities in S. Korea and in the states, with impressive post-doc work to boot. Despite all of this he said that in in his fist-sized heart he felt the vast emptiness of the entire universe. With the following question echoing in that endeless emptiness: " What have you done for God?"
To make a long story short (go to myjubileechurch.com to hear the entire sermon, amzing stuff really) he quit all that and decided to move to China. He initially went and taught as a professor and he befriended many of his students and would invite them to his apartment, and through that kindness and the wonder it sparked in his students, he showed them Jesus.
I really am not doing this man's story justice, so if you have time, please listen to the sermon; it is also quite entertaining. I promise you will roll around laughing, in pleasurable pain. He then decided he wanted to start a Christian school in Harbin, China, the place I will go this summer, however, he had no money. Despite the fact, he set a date and an ammount. January 10th. After months of praying, nothing came. As you may have guessed though, with the date approaching, he had acquired 50,000 dollars. On the night upon his departure to China, he had dinner with a pastor's wife who gave him a check. He figured it was money, and non-chalantly said, "anything helps," or something of that sort. When he arrived home, it irked him to find out how much was helping him get closer, on top of the already grand sum of 50,000, to the intended goal of 60,000 dollars. He was expecting 100 dollars or so. You may have guessed it...It was a check for 10,000 dollars! You really need to hear the sermon. This man is hilarious in his relating of this account. To only give a snippet, as he got on the plane to Beijing that night for a thirteen hour plane ride, being so excited and giddy, he found no other way to let out his joy than to go into to the bathroom stall, hug the toilet and scream into the flushing toilet. What a story, what a man, what a God!
Now with that out of the way. Tonight. My knee injury has truly been a struggle for me. I was praying for it and performing all the other procedures to make it better. However, being more humbled than ever tonite, I asked several people to pray over it. Sixth time is the charm as they say. When the sixth person laid hands on me and on my knee, I felt a literal something in my leg. At first, I just thought it was my leg going to sleep or something. It was a subtle kind of pins and needles feeling. The interesting thing is that she had asked me to get up from kneeling for her to pray for me. I was only on my knees for a couple of seconds, but that in itself was painful. But I was asking myself, "where is my faith." I know this my be hard for a non-believer to wrap their heads around, if you are still reading this at all. I would have been laughing at this post two paragraphs back myself a mere couple months ago. I really challenge anyone to read the Gospel. Read Mark or Matthew. I am sure you will like it. Remember, Christianity is one thing. I have not mentioned it once. It is not about Christianity. It is about Jesus Christ. A man I believed lived and still lives who is the Son of God. Read those books in the Bible. It says that Jesus performed miracles; he also said that those who believed in Him would have similar abilities. I have experienced several miracles and wonders in the past couple months, and now that I really think about it, my whole life. Tonight simply took it to an even more palpable realm.
After she prayed for me, I began to feel that my knee was different. I began to bend it, and there was no pain. I got down on my knees, and again, no pain. I am not one to make up stories, really. I was actually not sure what to make of it. Was this some sort of psychological trick? I guess, if I end up writing a blog tomorrow about how my knee is terribly stiff and broken, perhaps. However, I have a 100% faith that that is not the case. Our pastor asked us to go up and testify. Due to my awe-strickenness and not wanting to make a scene, I did not. I actually had gathered the courage towards the end, but he was wrapping it up. I did go up to him afterward to let him know. Being the man that he is, and of course believing, as I do, that we should proclaim His power and lift glory to Him, he called me back in the back of the church to testify in front of the mass that had gathered there to chat and fellowship. At first I felt awkward, but He gave me the words to say.
I will be honest. I saw faces filled with joy and encouragement, and some also with skepticism an "come on give me a break". Funny thing, the latter really did not matter to me. I know what happened. It is my knee. When I got to the bus stop, although I didn't have a toilet to scream into, I screamed with joy. When I arrived at my friends place, I did all the dances outside of his place, ballet jump and all, and I felt completely fine. I will dance tomorrow and on opening day and night. God is good. That is all I know. I have rejected Him my whole life. I am simply glad that I have let Him find me.
Before I get into my closing statements, I would just like to point out some things that have brought me to this point, which in my eyes is just the beginning of things which I cannot even imagine. First off, new experiences. Anyone living an existence where they do not feel uncomfortable or try new things is bound to get caught up in a skewed view of oneself and of the world. I am not trying to convert anyone to Christianity. I have seen this with my secular friends too. They find new sides of themselves and realize who they thought they were was simply who people had been telling them they were. About the whole Christianity thing, I am not proud of the Christian institution in a lot of ways. It has screwed up a lot and continues to do so. That is what kept me away for so many years; I ain't no cherry pie either. All I know is that knowing Jesus Christ personally is a real trip and this is from a guy who has taken plenty of trips, of all sorts, if you know what I mean.
On a simpler note, some music that is extremely inspirational is Sufjan Stevens. If you want something new and interesting musically that will stir deep thoughts and spiritual bowels, listen to this. Give it a try. He isn't Christian music. It ain't no lame Christian music. Just because I love Jesus doesn't mean I can't listen to good music. This guy is considered one of America's best songwriters and is one of the most respected musicians in the world today, particularly on the indie circuit. I also recommend Blue Like Jazz to everyone by Don Miller. This book was recommended to me for several years, but I am glad I have only read recently, because I would have only dismissed it before. I had to learn the things the hard way. Stories of God by Rainer Maria Rilke is also good. If anyone knows Literature, they know Rilke, so don't play dumb. One of humanities most brilliant poets. Most definitely, of course, the Bible. Start with Matthew or Mark if it seems daunting. I have read the other stuff, it's not as good, Buddhist texts, the Koran, etc. Give the Bible a chance, honestly. I am being objective. I wanted to be a Muslim for quite sometime, and I also took Buddhism quite seriously for quite some time. It's just a trend people.
If anyone wants to ask me any questions, comment, please feel free to email me:
adam.young-valdovinos@yale.edu
There is a story about my childhood that I would like to tell, but I think I will keep it for a future post. It has become quite clear to me how this strange occurence in my childhood is more relevant than ever now.
Finals and the musical are in His hands and they will be great, for his Glory.
Peace,
Adam
Monday, May 5, 2008
Adam on a Light
The past twenty days have been quite eventful. We are only eleven days from the musical, I am also the same number of days away from the end of my term with Sogang and the Light Fellowship.
Perhaps the most decisive event in the past twenty days has been my knee injury. Yes, knee injury. I hyper-extended my MCL, a ligament in my knee. It has hindered my ability to walk properly, and it goes without saying that it has indeed hindered my ability to dance. However, I remain faithful; I know I will be up on that stage come May 17th.
I have been in the hospital a lot for the last couple weeks, for phsyical therapy, cortizone shots, and all those sorts of things to help my knee recover. As may be guessed, given this mot recent development, this final term at Sogang is potentially becoming an absolute train wreck, and that is Ok. I have missed a lot of school, particulary due to my injury. I will have my finals next week, but it really is one of the last things on my mind. I am more than satisfied with my Korean ability, and I know the teachers are equally impressed, regardless of any printed numbers. If anything, it will be quite nice to take a break from formal language study this summer, especially before I begin to tackle Chinese in September.
Regarding my injury, I appreciate all and any prayers. Not only for that but for the rest of my summer. As I mentioned in my previous post, I will not be returning home this summer. I probably will not be leaving Asia until perhaps December or January, if that.
This summer will revolve around missions work both in Korea and abroad. I am hoping to move in next door to the church I have been attending and get involved in ministries this summer, orphanage ministry, North Korea ministry, college ministry, etc. There is also a trip to Harbin, China this July that I am set on going on to help out at a private Christian school in China. All of this I will be doing to bring aid and relief to many who are in suffering and with that, and most importantly, bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This summer has made me reconsider a lot of my goals and aims in life. Books that could help shed light on what I am talking about are Blue Like Jazz, and of course, the Bible itself. None of this means that I am not going to finish college; I am going to finish college indeed. This is what I will be doing in Beijing next year, learning Chinese and returning to Yale there after.
I thought it was clever to call my blog, at least in the URL, "adam on a light". At that time I was of course referring to the Light Fellowship. Well, I will keep this blog, and continue to post about the amazing things that I am sure I will witness this summer. However, it is funny to think that I named the blog before I even realized what it really was going to mean. I am indeed Adam, on a light, if not the light itself, of the world along with others. Putting service above self, as I was taught by Rotary all these years ago, and coupling it with the only place from where that sort of truly selfless service can come, the inspired word of God, and his son Jesus Christ.
I have been transformed this year; I will have to write a testimony at some point. I don't feel like I am chasing a pipe dream anymore. For those of you who have read this far, I come with a humble request.
There is no way for me to work in Korea, particulary because of visa issues. Moreover, I am engulfed with volunteer activities, and school for now. But once school ends, I will be dedicating all of my time in effort to service and the exapansion of God's kingdom. (If any of this sounds ridiculous, trite, or humdrum, I challenge anyone to pick up the Bible). I will be doing this here in Korea and in China over the summer. I honestly have no real idea about how I am going to completely subsist, but I am faithful. Therefore, I come to any of you who read this blog humbly, asking humbly, that if any of you feel you have a heart to help support me in the aiding of North Korea, North Korean refugess, orphans, the opressed of China, and the spreading of the message of Jesus Christ to all the corners of the world, asking humbly first and foremost for prayer, and secondly, and obviously I would assume, with monetary contributions. Anything at all, to help me accomplish His will.
If you have a heart to aid me with anything at all, please contact me at:
adam.young-valdovinos@yale.edu
Also contact me, if you have any questions, or comments.
I am not the kind of person to to this, however, my spirit has been humbled in a massive way this year. I have realized that no matter where I go to school, what skills I may have, what I may look like, I am as broken as the next guy. We all feel this and the emptiness the accompanies it. I do not want to sit back and fool myself anymore. I don't want to tell myself I will do things for others and for Him later, because that later may never come. I pray many of you are moved to help support me, and moved to share in me in the activities I will be undertaking this summer and beyond, not for myself, but for others, and for the edification of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth as it is in Heaven.
Grace to all,
Adam
Perhaps the most decisive event in the past twenty days has been my knee injury. Yes, knee injury. I hyper-extended my MCL, a ligament in my knee. It has hindered my ability to walk properly, and it goes without saying that it has indeed hindered my ability to dance. However, I remain faithful; I know I will be up on that stage come May 17th.
I have been in the hospital a lot for the last couple weeks, for phsyical therapy, cortizone shots, and all those sorts of things to help my knee recover. As may be guessed, given this mot recent development, this final term at Sogang is potentially becoming an absolute train wreck, and that is Ok. I have missed a lot of school, particulary due to my injury. I will have my finals next week, but it really is one of the last things on my mind. I am more than satisfied with my Korean ability, and I know the teachers are equally impressed, regardless of any printed numbers. If anything, it will be quite nice to take a break from formal language study this summer, especially before I begin to tackle Chinese in September.
Regarding my injury, I appreciate all and any prayers. Not only for that but for the rest of my summer. As I mentioned in my previous post, I will not be returning home this summer. I probably will not be leaving Asia until perhaps December or January, if that.
This summer will revolve around missions work both in Korea and abroad. I am hoping to move in next door to the church I have been attending and get involved in ministries this summer, orphanage ministry, North Korea ministry, college ministry, etc. There is also a trip to Harbin, China this July that I am set on going on to help out at a private Christian school in China. All of this I will be doing to bring aid and relief to many who are in suffering and with that, and most importantly, bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This summer has made me reconsider a lot of my goals and aims in life. Books that could help shed light on what I am talking about are Blue Like Jazz, and of course, the Bible itself. None of this means that I am not going to finish college; I am going to finish college indeed. This is what I will be doing in Beijing next year, learning Chinese and returning to Yale there after.
I thought it was clever to call my blog, at least in the URL, "adam on a light". At that time I was of course referring to the Light Fellowship. Well, I will keep this blog, and continue to post about the amazing things that I am sure I will witness this summer. However, it is funny to think that I named the blog before I even realized what it really was going to mean. I am indeed Adam, on a light, if not the light itself, of the world along with others. Putting service above self, as I was taught by Rotary all these years ago, and coupling it with the only place from where that sort of truly selfless service can come, the inspired word of God, and his son Jesus Christ.
I have been transformed this year; I will have to write a testimony at some point. I don't feel like I am chasing a pipe dream anymore. For those of you who have read this far, I come with a humble request.
There is no way for me to work in Korea, particulary because of visa issues. Moreover, I am engulfed with volunteer activities, and school for now. But once school ends, I will be dedicating all of my time in effort to service and the exapansion of God's kingdom. (If any of this sounds ridiculous, trite, or humdrum, I challenge anyone to pick up the Bible). I will be doing this here in Korea and in China over the summer. I honestly have no real idea about how I am going to completely subsist, but I am faithful. Therefore, I come to any of you who read this blog humbly, asking humbly, that if any of you feel you have a heart to help support me in the aiding of North Korea, North Korean refugess, orphans, the opressed of China, and the spreading of the message of Jesus Christ to all the corners of the world, asking humbly first and foremost for prayer, and secondly, and obviously I would assume, with monetary contributions. Anything at all, to help me accomplish His will.
If you have a heart to aid me with anything at all, please contact me at:
adam.young-valdovinos@yale.edu
Also contact me, if you have any questions, or comments.
I am not the kind of person to to this, however, my spirit has been humbled in a massive way this year. I have realized that no matter where I go to school, what skills I may have, what I may look like, I am as broken as the next guy. We all feel this and the emptiness the accompanies it. I do not want to sit back and fool myself anymore. I don't want to tell myself I will do things for others and for Him later, because that later may never come. I pray many of you are moved to help support me, and moved to share in me in the activities I will be undertaking this summer and beyond, not for myself, but for others, and for the edification of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth as it is in Heaven.
Grace to all,
Adam
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Beijing Here I Come!!
It has been a hectic past couple of weeks. Musical rehearsals are on full throttle. It is coming together quite well, and the show is quickly selling out. It is mostly good to be getting back in to dancing and acting, something I was afraid I wouldn't have the opportunity to do over here. However, the most rewarding part about the musical is being able to do it for our church and for missions and to tell the magnificent story of Joseph and his colorful coat.
Referring to the above title; I was accepted into the Yale-PKU joint program. This means that I will not be at Yale next year. I will be doing my sophomore year in Beijing. I am very excited. A new language, a new culture, and new horizons to continue with myriad kinds of growth. It will also be nice to get back into an academically challenging environment with Yale classes. I am particularly excited about the fall term class called Religions of China, a class that will incorporate field trips to religious centers near Beijing, including mosques, temples, and churches. I know China will be my most eye-opening sojourn yet.
I had my midterms, and they were decent. Somewhat lackluster compared to my previous terms where I did quite well, but then I again I didn't have as much on my plate as I do now. However, Korean language-wise things are going great. This musical is giving me so many more opportunities to actually use everything I have learned in the classroom. For example, today during my oral exam, my teacher said I was spot on with pretty much everything, particularly pronunciation and fluidity, except for the incredibly pedantic things that are forced on us in the classroom that will seldom, if ever, be used out in the real world. So regardless of my final grade this term, which will for sure be at least passing and most likely in the above average range, I am very satisfied with my level of Korean. To be completely honest, and this is my usual approach to language study, I am not studying as thoroughly for the tests as I maybe should. This is completely on purpose, however; I like to use these tests as a measuring device of my actual Korean and not how much I can memorize short-term for the test, which tends to be the case with most instances when learning a language in the classroom. I am very practical with my learning, particularly when it comes to language and very long-term. And I believe I have set down a more than proficient foundation to continue learning Korean in the long-term sense.
A testament to this approach of mine with language, which may also have to do with certain natural ability, is my recent use of German as well. There is a Korean girl in the musical who grew up in Germany whom which I have been talking up the German--the language I never get to practice, and it is all there! It always worries me, but it is there. But that is because when was in Germany I focused very practically on a practical foundation for the language, with a realistic goal of having it be a long life process of incessant learning. The first thing to learn in a language, to truly be able to communicate on any level, is what I call a language's melody. Each language has a different one, and is what determines how the language is exchanged and understood. I know people who have studied a language for years, but because they never got the melody down, no one ever understands what they are saying. More than mere memorization, language study is pure mimicry. An act of mimicry that comes out of a primal necessity to survive, the main reason I find it so important to not waste any time learning a language if I don't have the opportunity to be completely immersed in the culture. Also, the mere nature of mystery is appealing to me, not knowing things and constantly being like a child learning knew things is exhilarating. Also, you will remember something long-term if there is some sort of event attached to it, rather than just having memorized it from a page. Although doing the latter with the former helps even more. All I am saying is that to really achieve fluidity and particularly the all-too-important melody of the language, learning like a child is key; something that is only made possible by study abroad and the willingness to look stupid often, which has never been a problem for me.
On that note, I am planning on staying in Korea through September, or at least August. To truly get to be 100% in the real world and not in the linguistically padded walls of Sogang. I have learned all I need to know in the classroom, for now at least, but now it is time to actually time to get out there and apply all the theory to the real world and keep building real linguistic muscle memory and reflexes. I will be moving to the south part of Seoul and volunteer for the church I have been attending and get involved in several ministries. I am very glad that I have opted out of the "build my future/career" option this summer, for a more introspective summer of spiritual growth, something I will couple with a lot of nature and rock climbing, ideally. And of course the polishing of the Korean language. Korea has truly become a huge turning point for me, and I am very excited for what lies ahead. More news to come, and hopefully some pictures sooner than later. Greetings to all.
Referring to the above title; I was accepted into the Yale-PKU joint program. This means that I will not be at Yale next year. I will be doing my sophomore year in Beijing. I am very excited. A new language, a new culture, and new horizons to continue with myriad kinds of growth. It will also be nice to get back into an academically challenging environment with Yale classes. I am particularly excited about the fall term class called Religions of China, a class that will incorporate field trips to religious centers near Beijing, including mosques, temples, and churches. I know China will be my most eye-opening sojourn yet.
I had my midterms, and they were decent. Somewhat lackluster compared to my previous terms where I did quite well, but then I again I didn't have as much on my plate as I do now. However, Korean language-wise things are going great. This musical is giving me so many more opportunities to actually use everything I have learned in the classroom. For example, today during my oral exam, my teacher said I was spot on with pretty much everything, particularly pronunciation and fluidity, except for the incredibly pedantic things that are forced on us in the classroom that will seldom, if ever, be used out in the real world. So regardless of my final grade this term, which will for sure be at least passing and most likely in the above average range, I am very satisfied with my level of Korean. To be completely honest, and this is my usual approach to language study, I am not studying as thoroughly for the tests as I maybe should. This is completely on purpose, however; I like to use these tests as a measuring device of my actual Korean and not how much I can memorize short-term for the test, which tends to be the case with most instances when learning a language in the classroom. I am very practical with my learning, particularly when it comes to language and very long-term. And I believe I have set down a more than proficient foundation to continue learning Korean in the long-term sense.
A testament to this approach of mine with language, which may also have to do with certain natural ability, is my recent use of German as well. There is a Korean girl in the musical who grew up in Germany whom which I have been talking up the German--the language I never get to practice, and it is all there! It always worries me, but it is there. But that is because when was in Germany I focused very practically on a practical foundation for the language, with a realistic goal of having it be a long life process of incessant learning. The first thing to learn in a language, to truly be able to communicate on any level, is what I call a language's melody. Each language has a different one, and is what determines how the language is exchanged and understood. I know people who have studied a language for years, but because they never got the melody down, no one ever understands what they are saying. More than mere memorization, language study is pure mimicry. An act of mimicry that comes out of a primal necessity to survive, the main reason I find it so important to not waste any time learning a language if I don't have the opportunity to be completely immersed in the culture. Also, the mere nature of mystery is appealing to me, not knowing things and constantly being like a child learning knew things is exhilarating. Also, you will remember something long-term if there is some sort of event attached to it, rather than just having memorized it from a page. Although doing the latter with the former helps even more. All I am saying is that to really achieve fluidity and particularly the all-too-important melody of the language, learning like a child is key; something that is only made possible by study abroad and the willingness to look stupid often, which has never been a problem for me.
On that note, I am planning on staying in Korea through September, or at least August. To truly get to be 100% in the real world and not in the linguistically padded walls of Sogang. I have learned all I need to know in the classroom, for now at least, but now it is time to actually time to get out there and apply all the theory to the real world and keep building real linguistic muscle memory and reflexes. I will be moving to the south part of Seoul and volunteer for the church I have been attending and get involved in several ministries. I am very glad that I have opted out of the "build my future/career" option this summer, for a more introspective summer of spiritual growth, something I will couple with a lot of nature and rock climbing, ideally. And of course the polishing of the Korean language. Korea has truly become a huge turning point for me, and I am very excited for what lies ahead. More news to come, and hopefully some pictures sooner than later. Greetings to all.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Already April
April showers bring may flowers, or at least that's what they say. However, there are very few places I can imagine flowers popping up in Seoul.
Most people are cursing the gloomy weather, saying things like, "this is why I left London." However I find myself reminding me of home, Oregon that is. Every once in a while when I am riding a bus, If I try to not focus on all the Korean writing all around me and the obvious nature of the fact that I am indeed in Korea, I can, if only ten seconds or so, get the feeling of what it's like to be in Oregon on one of its ubiquitous rainy days on my way up into Portland. Enough Nostalgia.
My first midterm tomorrow, and it will be a challenge. Level 5 is a lot more challenging than I had given it credit for. The jump from 4 to 5 is quite big. I find myself learning terms and grammar that I was also touching upon in Japanese in the higher levels at Yale. This is definitely a good thing, but we'll see what the number at the top of my corrected test has to say. My transcript up until now looks pretty good, As and Bs, this term may even see some Cs sneaking in. We'll see.
I sent off my application for going to China next year. I we'll back from them soon I suppose. I get a lot of mixed responses about China. Good and bad, and plenty indifferent. Hopefully, I will have something insightful to write about this coming week. Annyeong!
Most people are cursing the gloomy weather, saying things like, "this is why I left London." However I find myself reminding me of home, Oregon that is. Every once in a while when I am riding a bus, If I try to not focus on all the Korean writing all around me and the obvious nature of the fact that I am indeed in Korea, I can, if only ten seconds or so, get the feeling of what it's like to be in Oregon on one of its ubiquitous rainy days on my way up into Portland. Enough Nostalgia.
My first midterm tomorrow, and it will be a challenge. Level 5 is a lot more challenging than I had given it credit for. The jump from 4 to 5 is quite big. I find myself learning terms and grammar that I was also touching upon in Japanese in the higher levels at Yale. This is definitely a good thing, but we'll see what the number at the top of my corrected test has to say. My transcript up until now looks pretty good, As and Bs, this term may even see some Cs sneaking in. We'll see.
I sent off my application for going to China next year. I we'll back from them soon I suppose. I get a lot of mixed responses about China. Good and bad, and plenty indifferent. Hopefully, I will have something insightful to write about this coming week. Annyeong!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Beginning of the End
It has been almost a month; may the light fellowship gods have mercy on my blog-writing soul. No pictures forever. I will put some up some too, in mass, of course. Apologies to those requiring such, it has just been out-of-handedly hectic, especially after Thailand; talk about a change of pace.
Thailand was glorious as always. Three weeks of pure goodness. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chantaburi, caves, rock climbing, Koh Chang, Ban Boong, and so much in between. It was mostly just great to see my brother, and hang out with some exchange students. Some of my favorite people in the whole wide world. I won't go into depth about Thailand, because I could rave for pages. All in all it was great. It is probably the most inspirational place I have ever visited and will certainly continue to be in my heart and travels for as long as I can walk. You guys get the idea.
Back to Korea;
By the grace of God and the universe, I was placed into the next consecutively corresponding level of Korean, level 5!! Not much to say about it really. The pace is still equally and painfully slow as it was before, which, as I have mentioned before, is only something I half-heartedly complaining about. It permits me to focus on so many other things as well. So, school is good. Sogang continues to draw very interesting characters that I am quite happy to learn Korean with, particularly, in my current class alone, a Muslim girl from Indonesia, a nun from Vietnam, and a Mormon from Utah. It gives last term's combination of Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, and Italy a run for its money. If there is anything that I am truly grateful for about Sogang is the vast range of people from different faiths and lands that I have had the pleasure to meet in a very conducive environment to tackle all the big questions, and in Korean, of course, for the most part.
School now has a video class; it is a welcome addition. Midterms are in a couple of weeks or so, and, as always, I shall be prepared.
On to other things:
I was originally planning to have a somewhat subdued and relaxed last couple of months here in Korea, but out of nowhere, I got super busy. Although grateful, I am slightly overwhelmed. However, I will pull through. No worries. The largest addition, lately, perhaps, is my participation in the production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Theatre is something that a mere year ago I was cursing, but I began to miss it, so here I am. I have also become a lot more involved with the church I have been attending throughout the year. Great place, great people, if I may say so myself. This is also something surprising to me, and maybe even those who know me well. A mere year ago I was also cursing organized religion, yet here I am. Go figure. My latest contribution was playing the voice of Jesus for the Easter play, in Aramaic of course, something that really tickled my polyglot fancy.
Also, a couple of weeks back I was contacted by a record label interested in my music and myself as an artist. So I have also been stressing about my music, getting into the studio and recording professional demos to send in to their executive board. I really have no idea, how this might work out, but it adds another beautiful layer of uncertainty to my life which is always bittersweet.
That's the status in a nutshell. There is of course, always more, in the nooks and crannies of life, but this is a good update. Keeping busy, and fighting off the flu, and trying to salvage my voice at least until I am finished recording.
Lastly, I just really want to thank the Light Fellowship and all of those involved in getting me here. Not only has my Korean gotten to a level unattainable at home in the States, not to mention an in-depth and up-close understanding of the culture, but it has also given me the chance to explore so many of my interests to a substantial and tangible degree. I often sit in awe and wonder thinking of all the wonderful things that have come from this year, and I just know that they would not have been possible without the Light Fellowship. And, if any Yalie is reading this and thinking about a Light Fellowship, an academic year, at least (because you can do the summer along with it too) is really the way to go. I can see myself coming back to Korea, and having it be a type of launching pad to Asia, and just to my future in general.
To close, I will try to be a little more on track with weekly blogs, and picture should soon follow. Thank you for reading. Shalom.
Thailand was glorious as always. Three weeks of pure goodness. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chantaburi, caves, rock climbing, Koh Chang, Ban Boong, and so much in between. It was mostly just great to see my brother, and hang out with some exchange students. Some of my favorite people in the whole wide world. I won't go into depth about Thailand, because I could rave for pages. All in all it was great. It is probably the most inspirational place I have ever visited and will certainly continue to be in my heart and travels for as long as I can walk. You guys get the idea.
Back to Korea;
By the grace of God and the universe, I was placed into the next consecutively corresponding level of Korean, level 5!! Not much to say about it really. The pace is still equally and painfully slow as it was before, which, as I have mentioned before, is only something I half-heartedly complaining about. It permits me to focus on so many other things as well. So, school is good. Sogang continues to draw very interesting characters that I am quite happy to learn Korean with, particularly, in my current class alone, a Muslim girl from Indonesia, a nun from Vietnam, and a Mormon from Utah. It gives last term's combination of Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, and Italy a run for its money. If there is anything that I am truly grateful for about Sogang is the vast range of people from different faiths and lands that I have had the pleasure to meet in a very conducive environment to tackle all the big questions, and in Korean, of course, for the most part.
School now has a video class; it is a welcome addition. Midterms are in a couple of weeks or so, and, as always, I shall be prepared.
On to other things:
I was originally planning to have a somewhat subdued and relaxed last couple of months here in Korea, but out of nowhere, I got super busy. Although grateful, I am slightly overwhelmed. However, I will pull through. No worries. The largest addition, lately, perhaps, is my participation in the production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Theatre is something that a mere year ago I was cursing, but I began to miss it, so here I am. I have also become a lot more involved with the church I have been attending throughout the year. Great place, great people, if I may say so myself. This is also something surprising to me, and maybe even those who know me well. A mere year ago I was also cursing organized religion, yet here I am. Go figure. My latest contribution was playing the voice of Jesus for the Easter play, in Aramaic of course, something that really tickled my polyglot fancy.
Also, a couple of weeks back I was contacted by a record label interested in my music and myself as an artist. So I have also been stressing about my music, getting into the studio and recording professional demos to send in to their executive board. I really have no idea, how this might work out, but it adds another beautiful layer of uncertainty to my life which is always bittersweet.
That's the status in a nutshell. There is of course, always more, in the nooks and crannies of life, but this is a good update. Keeping busy, and fighting off the flu, and trying to salvage my voice at least until I am finished recording.
Lastly, I just really want to thank the Light Fellowship and all of those involved in getting me here. Not only has my Korean gotten to a level unattainable at home in the States, not to mention an in-depth and up-close understanding of the culture, but it has also given me the chance to explore so many of my interests to a substantial and tangible degree. I often sit in awe and wonder thinking of all the wonderful things that have come from this year, and I just know that they would not have been possible without the Light Fellowship. And, if any Yalie is reading this and thinking about a Light Fellowship, an academic year, at least (because you can do the summer along with it too) is really the way to go. I can see myself coming back to Korea, and having it be a type of launching pad to Asia, and just to my future in general.
To close, I will try to be a little more on track with weekly blogs, and picture should soon follow. Thank you for reading. Shalom.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
3 weeks no see
Light fellowship is gonna kill me; not really. I just haven't found the time these last three weeks to sit down and blog. I find myself in Thailand. It is great, although I find myself getting stressed when I am not able to do anything productive. I am a freak of nature. I won't talk about Thailand; I will talk about the last couple weeks that lead up to Thailand.
School:
Finals were pretty decent. I am quite sure I will be moving right on up to level five this coming term. My last term in the land of Han (Korea's word that means something vague between regret and sorrow, and a bunch else). My favorite teachers were definitely those in level two, oh how long ago that was. Not much more to say really. This term may be my worst mark, given the amount of school I missed this term given illness brought about by the extreme cold, etc.
Korean ability wise, all is more than well. I have finally hit that "oh I get it phase" in Korean, where less and less do I have to put things together in Korean before I speak, and I can just express myself naturally. It really did happen from one day to the next, and it has been noticed by all those around me. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to finally feel like I have a level of Korean that will indelibly stay with me, just like knowing how to ride a bike. It is becmoing intuitive rather than just rehearsed and memorized.
Other:
The whole documentary ordeal has finished, and it has simply sparked a new, and final, era of my Korean sojourn. Candy, the lady who directed the documentary, has become something close to an adoptive mother to me here in Korea. The funny thing is that I always manage to find one, or they manage to find me, everywhere I go.
So she took me to Everland, Korea's Disneyland-esque locale, and I spent some tiem with her son, and have spent some time at her home. It makes me realize how much I wish I had a host family. If Beijing works out for me next year, I am very glad that I will have a Chinese roommate; I also hope we get along. My track record with roommates, though short, is not stellar. I also got to go to the concert of this Korean indie tock group that was the subject of another documentary. It was really great, because it took place at this underground club, where all the good music in Korea happens. Lord knows that what is on the radio is 20 years behind and not very insightful.
Another great thing about Candy is that she believes in all of my crazy aspirations like 10 times more than I do. Which brings me to the next wild development. Candy one day asks me if I wanted to meet a producer friend of hers, saying that there was a possibility I could meet some of my favorite directors before I went back to the states, guys I wrote papers about last year!! I said of course.
The day of the meeting, in what stated as a somewhat akward conversation, Cansy said she wanted to be my manager. She said we'd go 20/80 on everything. I naturally got giddy. I really don't know if anything will come of this, but I am open to anything, especially if it means making my experience here in Korea more interesting.
The producer who we met and I hit it off immediately; she is a wonderful lady and has the virtue of understanding my eccentric nature a little better than most. So this meeting led to a very intense week leading up to Thailand and gave me a taste of what it will be like through May.
On Thursday, I went to a Valentines day party at Korea's nicest hotel, ran into Bjork, whom I saw in concert later that week, and enjoyed a great performance by a former Broadway star turned Universal records signee, Sojeong Lee. She played Miss Saigon on Broadway for several years. I didn't bother Bjork, because she was with her family, and I know that she is not to keen on fans messing with her privacy;plus, I have aggravated a number of other celebrities in my day.
Later in the week, I had the privelege of having dinner with my new producer friend and Miss Saigon and got a lot of great advice. I am not doing the week justice, but it was definitely one of those defining weeks, especially the fact that it totally made me feel like I was supposed to be in Korea this year. My existence in Korea will continue this way through May, I presume, going from socialite party to socialite party and meeting important people ni Korea. Regardless of whether it leads anywhere, it is great experience. The day before Thailand, I went to an opening of some new offices of some bank, and a bunch of famous people, which I obviously don't are famous were around, and I got to meet many of them; I was more amused by the Picasso posters that lined the room. In other words, the last couple months of Korea are going to be a number of things, and boring is not one of them. And no worries, school is still, and always will be a priority.
I know it's jumbled, filled with gramatical and spelling mistakes, slightly stream-of-consciousness, etc. But if you did take the time to read it, I greatly appreciate it. Brief on Thailand coming up, and smoe impressions of Korean lifestly that I have been cooking up. Sawadee!
School:
Finals were pretty decent. I am quite sure I will be moving right on up to level five this coming term. My last term in the land of Han (Korea's word that means something vague between regret and sorrow, and a bunch else). My favorite teachers were definitely those in level two, oh how long ago that was. Not much more to say really. This term may be my worst mark, given the amount of school I missed this term given illness brought about by the extreme cold, etc.
Korean ability wise, all is more than well. I have finally hit that "oh I get it phase" in Korean, where less and less do I have to put things together in Korean before I speak, and I can just express myself naturally. It really did happen from one day to the next, and it has been noticed by all those around me. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to finally feel like I have a level of Korean that will indelibly stay with me, just like knowing how to ride a bike. It is becmoing intuitive rather than just rehearsed and memorized.
Other:
The whole documentary ordeal has finished, and it has simply sparked a new, and final, era of my Korean sojourn. Candy, the lady who directed the documentary, has become something close to an adoptive mother to me here in Korea. The funny thing is that I always manage to find one, or they manage to find me, everywhere I go.
So she took me to Everland, Korea's Disneyland-esque locale, and I spent some tiem with her son, and have spent some time at her home. It makes me realize how much I wish I had a host family. If Beijing works out for me next year, I am very glad that I will have a Chinese roommate; I also hope we get along. My track record with roommates, though short, is not stellar. I also got to go to the concert of this Korean indie tock group that was the subject of another documentary. It was really great, because it took place at this underground club, where all the good music in Korea happens. Lord knows that what is on the radio is 20 years behind and not very insightful.
Another great thing about Candy is that she believes in all of my crazy aspirations like 10 times more than I do. Which brings me to the next wild development. Candy one day asks me if I wanted to meet a producer friend of hers, saying that there was a possibility I could meet some of my favorite directors before I went back to the states, guys I wrote papers about last year!! I said of course.
The day of the meeting, in what stated as a somewhat akward conversation, Cansy said she wanted to be my manager. She said we'd go 20/80 on everything. I naturally got giddy. I really don't know if anything will come of this, but I am open to anything, especially if it means making my experience here in Korea more interesting.
The producer who we met and I hit it off immediately; she is a wonderful lady and has the virtue of understanding my eccentric nature a little better than most. So this meeting led to a very intense week leading up to Thailand and gave me a taste of what it will be like through May.
On Thursday, I went to a Valentines day party at Korea's nicest hotel, ran into Bjork, whom I saw in concert later that week, and enjoyed a great performance by a former Broadway star turned Universal records signee, Sojeong Lee. She played Miss Saigon on Broadway for several years. I didn't bother Bjork, because she was with her family, and I know that she is not to keen on fans messing with her privacy;plus, I have aggravated a number of other celebrities in my day.
Later in the week, I had the privelege of having dinner with my new producer friend and Miss Saigon and got a lot of great advice. I am not doing the week justice, but it was definitely one of those defining weeks, especially the fact that it totally made me feel like I was supposed to be in Korea this year. My existence in Korea will continue this way through May, I presume, going from socialite party to socialite party and meeting important people ni Korea. Regardless of whether it leads anywhere, it is great experience. The day before Thailand, I went to an opening of some new offices of some bank, and a bunch of famous people, which I obviously don't are famous were around, and I got to meet many of them; I was more amused by the Picasso posters that lined the room. In other words, the last couple months of Korea are going to be a number of things, and boring is not one of them. And no worries, school is still, and always will be a priority.
I know it's jumbled, filled with gramatical and spelling mistakes, slightly stream-of-consciousness, etc. But if you did take the time to read it, I greatly appreciate it. Brief on Thailand coming up, and smoe impressions of Korean lifestly that I have been cooking up. Sawadee!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
The Deserted City of Seoul
This is the first time I have opted to stay in Seoul during a break. As many of you may now, we are currently in the midst of the Chinese New Year. I am glad that none of my plans panned. Reason being, that experiencing the same city that is usually bustling be nothing more than a ghost town is something I definitely wanted to experiencing before this sojourn came to an end.
It has been hard at times, even, to find places to eat. Another predicament, although I view as a sweet turn of fate, is the fact that my cell phone has run out of credit, and it is even impossible to recharge cell phone minutes while Korea welcomes the year of the rat. It has been quite refreshing to be cut off, while at the same time feeling relatively alone in one of the cities with the densest populations. It has also shed some light, although very meager, to a project I hope to undertake this summer. Recently, I have been reading a lot of wilderness literature, everything from Gurdjief's final work to Thoreau's Walden to Into the Wild by Krakauer. All of these have sparked a keen interesting, in precisely that, the wild. I have been hiking on the weekends and doing calisthenics to get in shape for the wild. Korea has some wonderful mountains. I am also very excited for Thailand in a couple of weeks. There will be a lot of nature and climbing. The superficiality and hopeless consumer society of Korea is beginning to grow very very old for me. The mountains are sufficiently redeeming though.
Need to get to sleep, going to Everland tomorrow, Korea's largest amusement park. Time permitting, I will title my next entry: The four types of people at Sogang, should be pretty hilarious, until then.
It has been hard at times, even, to find places to eat. Another predicament, although I view as a sweet turn of fate, is the fact that my cell phone has run out of credit, and it is even impossible to recharge cell phone minutes while Korea welcomes the year of the rat. It has been quite refreshing to be cut off, while at the same time feeling relatively alone in one of the cities with the densest populations. It has also shed some light, although very meager, to a project I hope to undertake this summer. Recently, I have been reading a lot of wilderness literature, everything from Gurdjief's final work to Thoreau's Walden to Into the Wild by Krakauer. All of these have sparked a keen interesting, in precisely that, the wild. I have been hiking on the weekends and doing calisthenics to get in shape for the wild. Korea has some wonderful mountains. I am also very excited for Thailand in a couple of weeks. There will be a lot of nature and climbing. The superficiality and hopeless consumer society of Korea is beginning to grow very very old for me. The mountains are sufficiently redeeming though.
Need to get to sleep, going to Everland tomorrow, Korea's largest amusement park. Time permitting, I will title my next entry: The four types of people at Sogang, should be pretty hilarious, until then.
Monday, January 28, 2008
A Wedding and a Preview
School has slowed down a little, at least till finals, at the end of February. We also have a short break coming up next week for the lunar new year. We'll get about 5 days off.
I had a great weekend, and have been having very good weekends as of late. I think it's because I have finally become more accustomed to all of it, and most of it has become second nature, but fortunately, new experiences are not in short supply.
This weekend after my usual weekly dose of nightlife on Fridays, R&R on Saturdays, and church on Sundays, I decided to crash a wedding of one of the members of the church. Crashing makes it sound so uncouth. I just happened to go without being invited. I simply love weddings. I had also yet to have gone to a Korean wedding. This was an interesting wedding though. It was a Mexican-American G.I. getting married to a half Korean woman. The service was beautiful, with music, and dual narration, Korean and English, on behalf of the bilingual pastor. There were also two receptions. One Korea, and one more American/Slightly Latino in nature. It was a pretty typical wedding, but they get me every time.
Of more note, however, is where the second reception was held. Yongsan garrison, a massive U.S. military base in the middle of Seoul, you come in through the gates, and you fell like you are in small town America with everything to your local Baskin Robbins to American style parks. I had never been, but it surely exceeded any sort of expectations I had had. Getting in was a bit of a a problem though, for me at least. It is more than understandable, particularly after seeing a film like The Kingdom last year. It was a only a problem, though, because I had not RSVPed to the wedding, and therefore was not on the clearance list. I mean, how could I right, I wasn't even invited. I was trying to pull an Owen Wilson ala Wedding Crashers, but I'm sure they never tried to get in to a military wedding. Well, I lacked the appropriate identification, e.g. a passport, or alien registration card, so I simply went home and came back with my passport, and I even made it back in time for the slide show. Something that really boosted my confidence is the fact that on my way back to the base, I struck up a non-stop, fairly interesting conversation with the taxi driver, and when he asked how long I had been in Korea, he couldn't believe it; these little instances really are the extra little logs that keep the engine going sometimes. It is also quite interesting, but I have become a lot more confident in class this week, speaking my mind more openly, and to my pleasant surprise it is coming out very satisfactorily. Regardless of the frustration that plagues the learning a foreign language most of the time, one just needs to be receptive to the small hints that signal to progress, and thank goodness, lately they have been plentiful.
Another thing I really give thanks for right now is that I chose to do and academic year in Korea, for a reason that I stated as far back as my personal statement for the fellowship; that I wanted to experience all four seasons in Korea, and oh boy, do they have four seasons, almost as finely delineated as a picture book, split relatively evenly, except for an exceptionally short Fall. I say this, because, now that I am in to my third or second and a half season, depending on how you look at it, season, the experience has completely evolved, owed partially to my own personal growth, but also on the change in my environment, something that directly derives itself from the changing seasons. Trivially speaking, Winter will bring along some skiing for next week, the same way that fall brought me plenty of pleasurable hikes among the flaming foliage, and summer made me wish I had an air conditioner in my room. However, there are also countless subtler changes as well. All I really want to say with this longwinded paragraph is that I feel it is imperative to spend an entire year in any country anyone tries to understand at a deeper level.
Speaking of understanding at a deeper level, I have recently caught wind of an underground youth movement that is going on in Seoul's more bohemian areas, a movement called: Korealism. It is quite playful, but in my opinion, very relevant as to the current evolution of this country with a new generation coming up. I have read some of the literature, a weekly publication with poetry and prose, and spoken to some of the zealots, briefly though. I can't say much about it, yet, but it was very refreshing to find this sort of cultural and intellectual curiousness in a youth that is at best extremely confused, and at worst, completely oblivious and completely entangled in consumer society, driven completely but what they see on television. So I will continue to delve into this movement, this so called Korealism, when I get some more time, I may even upload some of the poetry. Some of it is written by expats, in English of course, and give a fair amount of decent insight of what Korea is actually like in a relatively terse fashion. Some of the works in the weekly really hit the nail on the head in my view. So hopefully more on Korealism later. One of the people they mention in their manifesto is Ko-leopatra, someone's alter-ego within the movement. Like I stated before, they are very playful, and have a great sense of humor about it, but I have been impressed by the quality of both the material in the publication and the overall ideas of what these revolutionary youngsters are talking about.
Lastly, after the long and arduous ordeal that was my documentary, it has finally come to completion and thus broadcast fruition. The premiere/preview event is this coming Friday, the 31st, the people form the network, crew, people, my friends will be there, and I am actually a bit nervous about it. The channel that ultimately bought it was Korea's Success Channel, a cable network dedicated to documentaries and anything and everything inspirational. They actually cut me out of the original documentary and gave me my own 30 minute spot on the channel, that is just how weird I am I guess. The documentary's name translated into English is: Designing Life, Adam Young, a bit corny, but it is Korea, after all. So that is all that is new in life. Coming up is, finals next month, a trip to Thailand, I cancelled Japan, I am seriously falling in love with South East Asia, any who, some possible shows coming up. I spent that past couple months writing more material, and by the end of this month I should have at least 10 viable originals. If you'd like to check them out, check on the "My Music" link, and it will take you to my myspace music page. Thanks for reading, and if you happen to listen to my tunes thanks for that as well.
I had a great weekend, and have been having very good weekends as of late. I think it's because I have finally become more accustomed to all of it, and most of it has become second nature, but fortunately, new experiences are not in short supply.
This weekend after my usual weekly dose of nightlife on Fridays, R&R on Saturdays, and church on Sundays, I decided to crash a wedding of one of the members of the church. Crashing makes it sound so uncouth. I just happened to go without being invited. I simply love weddings. I had also yet to have gone to a Korean wedding. This was an interesting wedding though. It was a Mexican-American G.I. getting married to a half Korean woman. The service was beautiful, with music, and dual narration, Korean and English, on behalf of the bilingual pastor. There were also two receptions. One Korea, and one more American/Slightly Latino in nature. It was a pretty typical wedding, but they get me every time.
Of more note, however, is where the second reception was held. Yongsan garrison, a massive U.S. military base in the middle of Seoul, you come in through the gates, and you fell like you are in small town America with everything to your local Baskin Robbins to American style parks. I had never been, but it surely exceeded any sort of expectations I had had. Getting in was a bit of a a problem though, for me at least. It is more than understandable, particularly after seeing a film like The Kingdom last year. It was a only a problem, though, because I had not RSVPed to the wedding, and therefore was not on the clearance list. I mean, how could I right, I wasn't even invited. I was trying to pull an Owen Wilson ala Wedding Crashers, but I'm sure they never tried to get in to a military wedding. Well, I lacked the appropriate identification, e.g. a passport, or alien registration card, so I simply went home and came back with my passport, and I even made it back in time for the slide show. Something that really boosted my confidence is the fact that on my way back to the base, I struck up a non-stop, fairly interesting conversation with the taxi driver, and when he asked how long I had been in Korea, he couldn't believe it; these little instances really are the extra little logs that keep the engine going sometimes. It is also quite interesting, but I have become a lot more confident in class this week, speaking my mind more openly, and to my pleasant surprise it is coming out very satisfactorily. Regardless of the frustration that plagues the learning a foreign language most of the time, one just needs to be receptive to the small hints that signal to progress, and thank goodness, lately they have been plentiful.
Another thing I really give thanks for right now is that I chose to do and academic year in Korea, for a reason that I stated as far back as my personal statement for the fellowship; that I wanted to experience all four seasons in Korea, and oh boy, do they have four seasons, almost as finely delineated as a picture book, split relatively evenly, except for an exceptionally short Fall. I say this, because, now that I am in to my third or second and a half season, depending on how you look at it, season, the experience has completely evolved, owed partially to my own personal growth, but also on the change in my environment, something that directly derives itself from the changing seasons. Trivially speaking, Winter will bring along some skiing for next week, the same way that fall brought me plenty of pleasurable hikes among the flaming foliage, and summer made me wish I had an air conditioner in my room. However, there are also countless subtler changes as well. All I really want to say with this longwinded paragraph is that I feel it is imperative to spend an entire year in any country anyone tries to understand at a deeper level.
Speaking of understanding at a deeper level, I have recently caught wind of an underground youth movement that is going on in Seoul's more bohemian areas, a movement called: Korealism. It is quite playful, but in my opinion, very relevant as to the current evolution of this country with a new generation coming up. I have read some of the literature, a weekly publication with poetry and prose, and spoken to some of the zealots, briefly though. I can't say much about it, yet, but it was very refreshing to find this sort of cultural and intellectual curiousness in a youth that is at best extremely confused, and at worst, completely oblivious and completely entangled in consumer society, driven completely but what they see on television. So I will continue to delve into this movement, this so called Korealism, when I get some more time, I may even upload some of the poetry. Some of it is written by expats, in English of course, and give a fair amount of decent insight of what Korea is actually like in a relatively terse fashion. Some of the works in the weekly really hit the nail on the head in my view. So hopefully more on Korealism later. One of the people they mention in their manifesto is Ko-leopatra, someone's alter-ego within the movement. Like I stated before, they are very playful, and have a great sense of humor about it, but I have been impressed by the quality of both the material in the publication and the overall ideas of what these revolutionary youngsters are talking about.
Lastly, after the long and arduous ordeal that was my documentary, it has finally come to completion and thus broadcast fruition. The premiere/preview event is this coming Friday, the 31st, the people form the network, crew, people, my friends will be there, and I am actually a bit nervous about it. The channel that ultimately bought it was Korea's Success Channel, a cable network dedicated to documentaries and anything and everything inspirational. They actually cut me out of the original documentary and gave me my own 30 minute spot on the channel, that is just how weird I am I guess. The documentary's name translated into English is: Designing Life, Adam Young, a bit corny, but it is Korea, after all. So that is all that is new in life. Coming up is, finals next month, a trip to Thailand, I cancelled Japan, I am seriously falling in love with South East Asia, any who, some possible shows coming up. I spent that past couple months writing more material, and by the end of this month I should have at least 10 viable originals. If you'd like to check them out, check on the "My Music" link, and it will take you to my myspace music page. Thanks for reading, and if you happen to listen to my tunes thanks for that as well.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Goodbye Midterms
Yesterday was the last portion of the whole midterm experience, the speaking test. Part of it was working through some scenarios with a partner, in Korean of course, and the other one was a one on one interview with the teacher to sort of the a self-evaluation of my progress. My teacher basically had to say that my fluency is good, and that I just need to work on sounding less and less like a Japanese speaking Korean, and more and more like an actual Korean, mostly things having to do with certain nuances in pronunciation and intonation and what not.
Today I also secured a couple of tickets for my next trip. I was planning on going to Australia, but since it is high season the ticket was pretty pricey, so I am going to wait until May when off season is at its nadir. So for now, I will be going to Thailand around my brother's brithday, and then off to Japan. I was invited to go on a rotary club ski trip so the covered costs of all the skiing accoutrament should balance itself out with the cost of the ticket, and it will also be a nice dose of nostlgia taking me back to the high school exchange student days.
The weather report here in Seoul: friggin freezing. it was minus 9 degress celsius today, don't know what that translates to in farenheit, but, pretty much, ridiculously cold. I am spending a lot of time indoors, however, since I have made a ton of new friends as of late, I have been going out a lot at night. I am very happy to continue making friends from all over, and allowing people to keep my prejudices at bay and my mind as open as possible. I'll put up some pictures as soon as I can. Not much else is going on. I payed my final Sogang tuition today, and that will put me through the end of May, and after that, I am planning on embarking on a South East Asian Oddyssey and after a long long while I shall once again be stateside. I had considered staying all the way through September, but I think nine months will be enough for me. I am also seriously considering doing my sophomore year in Beijing with Yale's PKU prgram, so I wanna get a nice quality summer wit the fam in before I head again to traverse the globe, it is also my brother's senior year in college coming up, so I want to be there for him to be the helping hand that I never had when the wild time that is applying to schools comes around.
So I have pretty much decided, a bit different from my original plans, to underachieve a little this summer. For once in my life. A lot of things have influenced my decision, and I am not 100 percent sure. It is still so tempting when I recieve all the IEFP and UCS emails from Yale, crammed with amazing opportunities, but the way I see it, opportunities come and go, and plans are allowed to change, but little sisters that are 3, turning ten, and a brother who is about to embark on life only comes once in a lifetime, so I forego arduous personal statement writing, and relentless recommendation seeking to enjoy my first relatively stress free spring, and consequently, summer. However, I do still need to apply for the PKU program. Whatev. I guess that what I'm saying is that I am finally opting to not try not to complicate my life more than I have to.
Wow, the above paragaph came out a little melodramatic. Thank you for reading.
Today I also secured a couple of tickets for my next trip. I was planning on going to Australia, but since it is high season the ticket was pretty pricey, so I am going to wait until May when off season is at its nadir. So for now, I will be going to Thailand around my brother's brithday, and then off to Japan. I was invited to go on a rotary club ski trip so the covered costs of all the skiing accoutrament should balance itself out with the cost of the ticket, and it will also be a nice dose of nostlgia taking me back to the high school exchange student days.
The weather report here in Seoul: friggin freezing. it was minus 9 degress celsius today, don't know what that translates to in farenheit, but, pretty much, ridiculously cold. I am spending a lot of time indoors, however, since I have made a ton of new friends as of late, I have been going out a lot at night. I am very happy to continue making friends from all over, and allowing people to keep my prejudices at bay and my mind as open as possible. I'll put up some pictures as soon as I can. Not much else is going on. I payed my final Sogang tuition today, and that will put me through the end of May, and after that, I am planning on embarking on a South East Asian Oddyssey and after a long long while I shall once again be stateside. I had considered staying all the way through September, but I think nine months will be enough for me. I am also seriously considering doing my sophomore year in Beijing with Yale's PKU prgram, so I wanna get a nice quality summer wit the fam in before I head again to traverse the globe, it is also my brother's senior year in college coming up, so I want to be there for him to be the helping hand that I never had when the wild time that is applying to schools comes around.
So I have pretty much decided, a bit different from my original plans, to underachieve a little this summer. For once in my life. A lot of things have influenced my decision, and I am not 100 percent sure. It is still so tempting when I recieve all the IEFP and UCS emails from Yale, crammed with amazing opportunities, but the way I see it, opportunities come and go, and plans are allowed to change, but little sisters that are 3, turning ten, and a brother who is about to embark on life only comes once in a lifetime, so I forego arduous personal statement writing, and relentless recommendation seeking to enjoy my first relatively stress free spring, and consequently, summer. However, I do still need to apply for the PKU program. Whatev. I guess that what I'm saying is that I am finally opting to not try not to complicate my life more than I have to.
Wow, the above paragaph came out a little melodramatic. Thank you for reading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)