Korean Healthcare, Miracles, The Great Healer...

So, if you know me, you know I've been pretty sick.  This is the low-down of what happened.... (Disclaimer: this is going to be a VERY long post)


In the middle of June I started getting sick.  Just a cold, it seemed.  Sore throat, sinus infection, cough... the works.  No big deal, right?  I went to the doctor after about 5 or 6 days of feeling bad and it not getting better.  Diagnosis: bronchitis, sinus infection, tonsillitis, double ear infection.  He gave me 3-days meds, a shot in the bum, and sent me on my way.  3 days later I'm still not better, back to the doc... 3 days meds, shot in the bum.  This cycle went on for about 2 weeks.  Then, I went to an ENT in my city.  He did the same thing, but gave me asthma meds as well.  Again, this went on for 2 weeks.  The ENT put me on bedrest twice.  The first time, my boss would not let me take the bedrest and forced me to work.  The second time happened to fall on a Friday, so I did the bedrest starting Friday night, after I had to teach all day (again, the boss wouldn't let me off work).  At the end of this bedrest, I felt worse than I had all week.  My fever was 40.6C (104ish F, I think).


On Sunday, July 18th, (the last day of 2nd bedrest) I texted some friends in Seoul asking about hospitals there because I knew something was majorly wrong.  I knew this before this point, but had been unable to go to the hospital because of my boss threatening to cancel my visa... long story that I probably shouldn't get into until I am no longer employed by him....


The amazing Willy L. saved the day.  I just have to say that my dear friend Liz L. has an incredibly selfless servant for a husband.  There aren't too many (single) men around like him, just saying.  He was one of the people I texted.  He called me back, asked where I lived, got in the car, drove 1 and a half hours to my apartment, picked me up, drove 1 hour and 45 minutes to the Emergency Room, stayed in the hospital all day with me, translated everything for me, paid for my ER visit and medicines, and bought me Strawberry juice to top it all off.  :)  Amazing.  I'm beyond blessed by knowing this family.


At the ER, I had 2 young doctors.  The ER doc did a test for the Strep bacteria.  You see, 98% of tonsillitis cases are caused by one of 7 (I think) forms of the Strep bacteria.  You treat Strep with a certain antibiotic.  The other 2% of cases are caused by about 100 other kinds of bacteria, and cannot be treated with the same antibiotics as Strep.  Well, I was negative for the Strep bacteria.  Since most tonsillitis cases are caused by Strep, the docs I saw in my city treated me for the Strep bacteria... which I didn't have.  Needless to say, all of the treatments I had received for the 32 days before going to the hospital were useless (in the words of the doc I saw the following day).  The ER doc sent me upstairs to see the young ENT doc.  She, for nearly 30 minutes, shoved a large, sharp, metal suction device into my tonsils to try and suction the infection out.... this ended promptly when I grabbed her hand and threatened to break it if she didn't stop.  It hurt SOOOOOOO bad!!!!  She said she wanted to give me a certain antibiotic, but I'm allergic to it.  She sent me back down to the ER, said she'd look in her medical books as to what else she could give me.  She came back, saying she had no idea how to treat me because she was a young doctor, and told me to come back first thing the next day (Monday), and see her professor who 1) is fluent in English, and 2) would definitely know how to treat me.  So, I got a shot in the bum, 1 days worth of meds, and was sent home with orders to come back the next day.  I stayed at my friend Kate's apartment, a 5 minute walk from the hospital.  She's on holiday in Europe for 2 months, and asked me to keep her apartment on the weekends and my vacation.


Sunday night I didn't sleep at all because the pain was so intense.  I called one of my bestie's in the States, Ruthie.  So so so sweet.  I was bawling because it was so incredibly awful.  I couldn't endure anymore, and couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel.  She so gently comforted me, and prayed for me.  I'm incredibly blessed to call her my friend and Sister in Christ.


The adventure really starts on Monday...


 First things first, Dr. Yoo and the international clinic at Soon Chun Hyang Hospital in Hannamdong are AWESOME.  I HIGHLY recommend them to all foreigners in the Seoul/Gyeonggido area.  So, Monday, I get to the professor's clinic at 9am (when it opens).  He sees me sitting in the waiting room and pulls me into his office without even asking my name, and before all the patients who had appointments.  He checks the records from the previous day, orders a bunch of blood tests, and tells me that I need to be in the hospital for at least a week.  He said, "I pulled you in here first because I'm very concerned about you.  Your skin is gray.  Your tonsils are so swollen that you can't eat, drink, and it's hard for you to breath.  You can't get nutrition.  You have pneumonia.  Your ear drum is ruptured from the infection.  I'm really concerned."


I go the blood test area of the hospital (with a really awesome translator in tow- every patient in the international clinic is assigned a translator to go everywhere with you in the hospital), and the wait is about an hour.  While I'm waiting, I call my boss to tell him that I have to be in the hospital for the week.  This, needless to say, did not go over well.  After about 45 minutes to an hour of him cursing, telling me I'm going to be fired if I miss one day of work, telling me I'm going to make him bankrupt, that I had to wait to be hospitalized until my vacation 2 weeks later, that the doctor just wants money and that I'm not really that sick and I'm stupid for believe the doctor, and many other very hurtful things, and me sobbing the entire time, the nurse calls my number and I tell my boss that I have to go.  The interpreter was next to me the entire time and heard the whole conversation since my phone was turned up really loud (my ears were clogged from the infection).  I get my blood drawn, and go back to Dr. Yoo's office.


I sit in the waiting room with my eyes closed because I'm about to pass out.  The interpreter went into the doc's office and tells him everything that my boss said.  Dr. Yoo brings me back into the office.  The first words out of his mouth are, "I hate your boss.  I want to speak to him now.  Call him."  At this point, I'm completely confused and he tells me that the interpreter told him everything.  I call my boss, and the only words I got out were, "Hi.  The doctor wants to talk to you." before to doctor took the phone out of my hand.  He then proceeds to curse my boss out, in Korean, and yells at him for a solid 20 minutes.  He hands me the phone back, and tells me the jist of what he said to my boss.  My boss then tells me that I have 2 days, and that if I'm not back by Wednesday, then I am fired.  I negotiate with him and ask him that if I can get a sub for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, could I not be fired.  He said that was ok, but my salary would be deducted for the whole week.  Ok, whatev.  That is against my contract (and all of this with my boss is highly illegal anyhow), but at this point I don't care.  I just want to feel better.


My wonderful friend, HyunJung, found a sub for me.  Her friend travelled 3 hours ONE-WAY everyday just so I wouldn't lose my job!  This guy had never even met me!  How amazing that God provided and orchestrated it all.  :)  I'm so incredibly blessed and amazed by my God.  Truly, truly.


In Korea, payment for everything medical is due upfront and hospital stays require a deposit.  Like, a 2000USD deposit.  My boss had only paid me 1/2 my salary for the prior 2 months, so, this wasn't an option.  In Korea they have this great little thing called an Out-patient hospital stay.  You get the same care you would get as an in-patient, cept no food and you get to stay in your own bed.  It's WAY cheaper than an in-patient stay.  So, that's what I opted for.  I got pumped full of 6 IV bags over an 8ish hour time period, was given a prescription for 1 days meds with an order to come back the next day.  This went on through Saturday.


I don't know if I said this before in this post, but I hadn't been able to eat or drink anything during this entire 5ish week period.  God blessed me with the ability to eat on my 25th birthday, and supernatural energy.  So amazed, still, that He did that for me.  Because I hadn't been able to eat, the doc gave me some kind of nutrition in an IV bag (no idea what, but it was bright yellow) and a bag of saline.  By Monday night, I could get some Pho down (thanks, Michele Bigney!!!), Tuesday- Chicken Soup (thanks, Evelyn Chang!!!), and Wednesday- Samgyetang (thanks, Willy L.!!!).  


Tuesday, the doc tells me the results of the blood tests he did on Monday.  One of the tests was to check the amount of bacteria in my blood.  The normal levels is 0.01-0.21... mine was 20.97... 100 times HIGHER than the norm.  This combined with my high levels of white blood cells, fever, and some kind of inflammation test being really high, he told me that my body was in sepsis, and that if I had waited a couple of days to come to him, I probably would have died from septic shock.  Hearing this changes your perspective...


I was released from the hospital on Saturday, July 24th.  I was sent home with a 100 day supply of antibiotics, and some other meds.  Dr. Yoo said it would take about 3 months for me to get 100% better. I dropped out of seminary for the semester, and for the Fall semester.  


I have been completely amazed and humbled by his incredible grace, mercy, sovereignty, and healing power.  He could have let me listen to my boss and wait to be hospitalized, resulting in my death.  He could have let the infection get to that point before I even got to the hospital, resulting in my death.  He could have let me get fired, resulting in my Visa being cancelled and a whole lot more stress and problems.  He didn't.  He didn't do any of these things.  He CHOSE to heal me, provide for me, and extend His grace and mercy upon my life.  I can't help but ask why?  What does He want me to do with this life He has saved time and time again through so many circumstances?  I can't help but be amazed, and yearn to live for Him even more.


This song has become even more powerful in these last few weeks.  Singing about God as Healer has a brand new meaning...





Our God- Chris Tomlin


Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You

CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

BRIDGE
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God… 

My Colors

Do we know what it means to be a living sacrifice?
Read this statement by a young African pastor.

Found among his papers in Zimbabwe after he was martyred.

     I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

     My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

     I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

     My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

     I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.

     I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

     I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

     I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me.


My colors will be clear!

Sickly

So, I've been sick all week, starting Monday.  Tuesday I lost my voice and it was completely gone through Thursday.

Today I have a little bit of a voice, but not much.  My lungs feel like they are stuck together.

Went to the doctor 2x.  First time on Tuesday- standard ridiculous amount of medicine (they give them to you in little packets and you pop a packet with every meal), and some kind of medicine you gargle but don't swallow.  It ended up foaming up and I looked like a rabid animal when I took it....

I went back today because I was out of meds and I felt worse today than I have all week (they only give you 3 days worth).  The doctor, who looks younger than some of my students, says "chest infection, mokorl (neck) infection.  No talking.  Mol (water) many many. Teaching ok.  Medicine- 3 days.  Intramuscle injection. Ah ah ah, butt."

If you only saw my face... no talking, but teaching was ok?  I was baffled.

I argued about the shot because I have drug allergies and didn't want to chance it.  He said "Shot- better.  No shot- no better.  Butt please."  Needless to say, I have a sore rear-end.  :P

These are the adventures of a Waegookin (foreigner)...  can't get that in the UK.

The Adult Life of a TCK

I am incredibly thankful for growing up in different cultures.  It's made me accepting of everyone, no matter our cultural or religious differences.  I now love learning about peoples cultures, traditions, practices, and languages.  It makes them who they are as humans.  Culture affects the way you think, your decision making style, the foods you like, and the way you interpret things- even the way you interpret the Bible.

As many of you know, I'm in the process of re-evaluating all of my theological beliefs.  Not to conform to the culture I am currently in, but to burn away the cultural influence I had during the foundations of my Christian life.  Don't worry; I'm not going off the crazy bridge or anything.  Neither am I bashing the Southern Baptists.  I may end up not believing exactly the same as most of you reading this (friends from SC).  Good thing Christ's blood covers all believers. ;-)  You're still going to be my brother or sister, and I to you as well.  :)

Lately,  I've struggled with, and continue to struggle with, staying in SK.  I have built great relationships with people at church.  They are some of the most amazing people I have ever met, truly.  I struggle, and have struggled my whole life, with staying in one place for a long time.  I've never stayed in one place very long, nor have I ever wanted to.  Going to university nearly killed me.  Staying with the same people, in the same place, all doing the same thing for FOUR years!?!  I thought I was going to have a mental break down, and probably nearly did.  I felt so confined.  Not because of the rules enforced by the Southern Baptist university I attended, but because I COULDN'T leave.  If I left, I couldn't get the degree I wanted.  I was stuck.

Now, I'm not stuck.  I can freely move about where ever I please, other than the whole needing a job in the middle of a recession bit...  At the same time, I'm not free.  God sent me to Korea, and God has told me to stay in Korea for a time.  This season isn't over, and won't be over for a few years.  That has been made clear to me.  However, I'm at a point in my life where I want to "settle down" somewhere.  Make a home somewhere.  Not just live somewhere, but have a home.  Whether that involves a husband and children or not, isn't even on my mind.  I just want to be somewhere, that I LOVE the culture, and it feels like home to me.

Korea will never feel like home.  It is quite a homogenous society, and though the culture is interesting, I will never be part of it.  I'll never be allowed to be apart of it.  I am the complete antithesis of a Korean- in my appearance, mannerisms, thought process, or decision making.  I just don't fit in with the Korean culture, nor were I meant to.

This all makes staying in Korea a bit of an internal conflict.  I want to go on to the next place God has in store, yet be obedient to His leaning.  He softly says, "Wait."  I cry out to Him, "How long, Lord?"  He warmly says, "Wait."  I ask again, "Why, Lord?  Why am I here?  Why can I not go on to the UK, where you have called me?"  Again, lovingly and softly He says, "Wait, beloved.  My work through you is not finished.  We will walk through this together.  Stay with me."

Being a TCK, I'm emotionally stuck between wanting to "put roots down," and wanting to stay in the transitionary phase, not really having anywhere to call 'home.'  The Lord knows the desires of my heart, and will choose to do what He sees best.  I'm confident in that, and through it I will wait.  I will be content where He has me, not missing a moment of ministry, an opportunity to set captives free, or mend the broken-hearted.  I live to serve Him, glorify Him, and LOVE all.  That is what I'll do no matter where He calls me.

One day, I'll have a home.  And that home will be in glory with the Father and the Son.

U.S. Embassy Security Update for U.S. Citizens on the Korean Peninsula

This is the latest email that was sent out by the U.S. Embassy....


The U.S. Embassy Seoul transmits the following information through the Embassy's warden system as a public service to all U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea.  Please disseminate this message to U.S. citizens in your organizations or to other U.S. citizens you know.

The North Korean sinking of a South Korean Naval vessel on March 26, 2010, has raised concerns and inquiries regarding security for residents and visitors to Korea.  The Embassy’s current assessment of the security environment for U.S. citizens in Korea is that recent events do not pose an imminent threat to the public safety of the American community at this time.  However, we recommend that U.S. citizens review the information on Disaster Preparedness in the current Country Specific Information (CSI) for Korea.

U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Korea should continue to pay close attention to current events, and monitor the Embassy website,http://seoul.usembassy.gov/, for any changes in the security environment.  The U.S. Embassy in Seoul provides citizen services to the public during regular business hours 9:00 to 11:30 am, and 1:30 to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday, with no services Wednesday afternoons.

In the event of an emergency situation or change in security situation, U.S. Embassy Seoul will immediately notify the American community in Korea through our warden email system.  If you did not receive this message directly via the U.S. Embassy’s warden email system, we encourage you to subscribe to our warden messages concerning travel and security, as well as the monthly Embassy newsletter, simply by providing us your email address via the Consular Section's website at http://www.asktheconsul.org.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site athttp://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).  U.S. citizens are also encouraged to read the Country Specific Information for Korea, available on the Embassy's website at http://seoul.usembassy.gov, and also at http://travel.state.gov.

U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security.  U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.  For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" found at http://travel.state.gov.

This Describes My Thoughts Today

Blowing out the candles on another birthday cake
Old enough to look back and laugh at my mistakes
Young enough to look at the future and like what I see
My best days are ahead of me

Life hasn't always been a party
But mostly it's been good
There's only one or two things
That I'd change if I could
I don't get lost in the past
Or get stuck in some sad memory, yeah
My best days are ahead of me

Age ain't nothing but a number
Sometimes I have to wonder what does it really mean
Hey, I'm still putting it together
I keep getting better, if I keep getting better
I can be whatever I wanna be
My best days are ahead of me

I've got sunsets to witness
Dreams to dance with
Beaches to walk on
And lovers to kiss
There's a whole lot of world out there
That I can't wait to see
My best days are ahead of me

My best days... are ahead of me

~ Danny Gokey

Update- Long Overdue

Hello wonderful people!!!!

First, please let me apologize to you all.  I am sorry I have not been better at updating you on life and ministry here in Korea.

Second, I pray you all are well!  I've been praying for you all, and have heard about many great things the Lord is doing in each of your lives.  I thank our God when I remember you all, and can't wait to come back for a visit later this year!!

Thank you all for your many prayers and encouraging words!!!  They are so greatly appreciated and felt!!!  I could spend hours listing out all of the times I have felt your prayers over me.  Truly, thank you.

To give you a brief recap of what has happened the past few months...

I stopped updating the blog back in November.  I was having a very hard time adjusting to the culture, and I just didn't feel like I was where God wanted me to be.  I wanted to be wise with my words, and felt it was best that I didn't post anything during that time.  It was the hardest time that I experienced thus far.  But our amazing Abba is so faithful and kind to his children.  He brought a sweet friend into my life, here in my city.  Her name is Sarah, and she's got the most amazing spirit about her, and loves Christ with everything she has.  Her and her husband, Nate, have been a tremendous blessing in the hard transition.

In January, things started to look up.  The Lord led me to change churches towards the end of this month.  Nothing wrong with the church I was attending; it just wasn't where the Lord had me.  I started attending Onnuri English Ministry (OEM) in Seoul towards the end of January.  The first Sunday I attended OEM, I knew I was at home.  About a month later, I became the Women's Minster at OEM.  Then, in March, the wonderful and amazing Ruthie Stevens and Garrison Howard came to Korea to visit me, and see what this was all about.  It was an amazing time, and such an encouragement.  I'm so tremendously blessed to have these incredible women in my life.  

Ministry with OEM has been amazing.  I love my church, and it's passion for missions.  A team of women and I just organised a Women's One-Day Conference on 1 May.  We planned on 40 women signing up, but 108 women signed up!!!  We actually had to turn some women away because the space available couldn't hold that many people!  The desire to know God better is so apparent with these women!  The focus of the conference was "Complete Obedience," and we had a guest speaker, Liz Torrey.  Her husband, Ben Torrey, is the grandson of R.A. Torrey, the leader of the Welsh revival.  Also, his parents, Liz and Ben have been vital in bringing the Gospel to Korea.  They now have a several ministries here in Korea focusing on spiritually preparing South Koreans for when the borders come down, and North Korea is freed- training them in how to reach the North Koreans for Christ.  If you'd like to know more, you can check out their website here.  There are great monthly prayer calendars you can check out as well.

We were privileged to have 3 North Korean refugees attend the conference.  They had only been out of North Korea for 4 months, and hardly knew any English.  They were so shy, nervous.  I got to sit down, just the 4 of us and an interpretor.  They shared some things with me, things they went through, things they were forced to do, things they saw.  I will never forget these beautiful spirits.  If you remember, pray for Esther (19), Emma(21), and Leah(25).  They face many difficulties being out of the North.  It takes an estimated 2-3 YEARS for their health to be comprable to a South Korean, the language is different (South Korean language as adopted many English words and has morphed much in the past 60 years), getting a job/going to school is quite difficult for defectors.  Often times, NK defectors just cannot handle being FREE making decisions on their own, and don't know how.  They get overwhelmed, and many go BACK to NK.  How much more should we thank and praise God for the FREEDOM we have in knowing Christ?!?  Please pray that these wonderful ladies come to know the freedom found in Christ alone.

The Lord has been working in my heart so much since coming here.  He has spoken to me through many means, and continues to do so.  He has clarified the calling on my life; I know I am called into ministry.  I have known this for years, but never felt adequate enough, that I could communicate well enough, or that my speech was eloquent enough.  Always felt that I could never 'measure up' to what it means to be a "minister".  Being in Korea, I have come to know the Freedom that is found in Christ, in ways I never could back in the States.  He has also brought me back to the basics- what I believe and why.  My views and opinions on many things have changed a bit, but I know I am exactly where God has me, and going in the direction he is leading.  I will follow my God with a reckless abandonment, no matter the costs.

At the start of May, I started an MDiv in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Leadership at Luther Rice Seminary.  I am doing it online, and should be done in 2012.  Also, I know I will be in Korea through 2011, and possibly into 2012.  There are some things in the works for after 2011.  I'd ask for you guys to be in prayer concerning where I will go after my time in Korea is up; that I will be open to the Lord's leading, even into lands and nations my flesh would rather not go to.  

I am going to try to be much more diligent in keeping you all updated in what God is doing here in Korea.  PLEASE let me know how I can be praying for you as well!  I really do want to know!  Thank you so much for your continued prayers!!!

Please keep Esther, Emma, and Leah in your prayers.  Also, please pray for Sarah and Nate.  They will be moving to San Diego at the end of May to take care of Nate's grandmother who has terminal cancer.  Also, Sarah will be going to Seminary at Fuller, and Nate will be starting law school as well.  Please pray for clear direction in some decisions I have to make, concerning my next employment (my current contract is up in September), and some other things in the future.  Pray that I be obedient to the Lord in all circumstances, so that he may best be glorified.

Much Love to you all!!!