As you can see we are not in Korea anymore, we are in Kansas. We went to the Tallgrass Prairie National Park in the heart of the Flint Hills near Strong City yesterday and took a bus tour of the park. It was so neat to hear the commentary in English! We went to Je Ju Island a couple of weeks ago and took a 3 day tour all in Korean, of course.
It is amazing how far one can see in the park, we were told 20 miles on a clear day and it was a clear day. No high rise apartments in sight to block our view. Bison will be introduced to the park this fall. What a sight that will be to see a small herd of bison grazing on the plains again!
I am a very blessed and grateful person being privileged to see so much of the world lately. Dorothy said there is no place like home and I guess that is true for the most part. I do miss Korean food although Bonnie is quite happy these days with our food selection in America.
I am writing just a few blocks away from where we lived in Newton, Kansas--the place where our Korean adventure began. Driving through the area makes me think about our quick decision to drop everything and go to Korea. Any regrets? Not really. I have found that life is an adventure without all of the paths and answers spelled out in advance. At this point I would not trade my Korean adventure for anything else that I know of. Look back on my past blogs and you can tell the adventure has been awesome in so many ways. Yes, we have difficulties and problems at times. Yes, we have second thoughts at times about all of this. But, what adventure does not have its issues that causes one to question the sanity of such a move and change? I have had those thoughts throughout my ministry in any place I have served.
Perhaps the most profound lesson I have learned in all of this is that every decision has its positives and negatives. I have learned to make a decision and move on trusting the grace of God in all things. Even if my decision is wrong God is sufficient to get us through the mistake and we will learn through it. Besides, who can really define what is and is not a mistake or a wrong choice in such issues as where to serve the Lord?
Our university president challenged me the other day in my new role he was proposing for me that Americans like to know answers to most things before they venture out. The Asian way is to get an idea and go for it without having the clear answers and paths to follow. We both agreed to forge ahead with the new role without our knowing much of anything about it. Exciting, but somewhat unnerving at times. Together we are developing the new role as we go. The worst I can do is fall on my face! I guess I am learning to accept the "failures" that may come. The risk of "failure" is worth the adventure! And, who knows, maybe I will succeed! But again, who is doing the judging about such things? I think we have already succeded in Korea. We have met great friends and have established good relationships with many nationalities. That in itself seems "successful" in my terms.
For the next few weeks we will visit our friends and family in the states reminding ourselves how rich we are. We can now travel both sides of the internatinal date line and feel at home among friends and family in the presence of the Lord. Does it get any better than that? In the meantime I am staring out to the horizons of Kansas relishing the view without tall buildings blocking the scene. And the wind speaks it own language, but somehow I understand it as it lures me to stand there and listen.
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