These Days In Korea

I have been living in Korea for 10 weeks now (the location my husband was recently assigned to by the U.S. Army).  It feels like it’s been a whole lot longer than that.  We are still waiting on our “Household Goods” to arrive: furniture, books, toys, bedding, kitchen utensils, you name it.  I wish I could say it has been a freeing experience, but that wouldn’t be honest.  It is hard!  I realize that in comparison to the struggles and pain others are going through this is nothing, worthless, even vain.  But for those who have lived like this, “in limbo” for a while, you know that it is still not easy.  

I feel like I am living in someone else’s house.  Cooking in another person’s kitchen, using their cookware (except for the new pots and pans from my hubby!).  There isn’t a place for everything and everything is certainly not in it’s place these days!  I kind of feel like I am “on hold.”  I can’t seem to get into a routine.  I haven’t potty-trained my 2-and-a-half-year-old.  I am barely starting to introduce foods to my 7-month old.    The kids don’t know what to expect from one day to another, and neither do I! (Not that our lives were ever that organized...)  The point is, it really is difficult for me to live without my things!

I don’t want that to sound worldly, but I readily admit that my life is a lot easier with some simple stuff like a vacuum and trash cans.  This makes me more appreciative of what we do have right now, as well as what is coming (in our Household Goods)...and I will certainly plan a bit better for our next move, to include that vacuum and those garbage cans in the first shipment!  But this also makes me even more in awe of how some people can just leave everything behind and go to live in a foreign land with nothing but what they can carry in a backpack, all to preach the gospel of Jesus to those who have not heard it yet.  (Have you seen the guys on “Travel the Road”?  Truly, INCREDIBLE.)  That has to be a God-given desire and ability; there is no other explanation.  I used to wonder if I could do that.  I think I know the answer, at least at this point in my life.  

There are so many other lessons I am learning through this experience.  It hasn’t gotten me down or made me feel defeated...it’s just easier to have our stuff.  And yet, doesn’t some of that “stuff” actually complicate life more?  Do we really need all the “stuff” we have coming?  

I’ll save those thoughts for another day!

Blessings, 

Rachel