New things...

My really good friend just sent me photos of her new thing... a beautiful baby girl named Alicia. She is gorgeous!! Seems like lots of people around me are getting new things like this. I guess it is just that stage in the phases of life. Before they all got married and now they are all having kids. I don't envy them though... it is a lot of responsibility and lost sleep. I know they will all argue with me and tell me it is the greatest thing in the world, but at this stage in the phases of my life... this is one new thing I can do without!! :)

Learning about faith...

A few weeks back one of my students (7 years old) suffered a loss that I couldn't imagine. Her father died of an agressive form of cancer. She wasn't aware how sick he was and he passed away fairly soon after his diagnosis. It was a shock. She asked for me to come to the hospital and to be with the family at the time of the funeral (which in Korea can last from 1-3 days and consists of paying respects to the departed and his or her family and then eating with them and sitting with them during their time of official mourning). Of course I agreed (which meant the loss of a day of snowboarding for my friends and me - my first ever trip). When I got to the hospital, she greeted me and her mother and I spent some time in tears. Then the little girl took me into the room where the body and alter were. She told me what to do and I followed her instructions. It was sad. I prayed for that family as I layed the flower on the alter for the father, who was much to young to die and leave his family. I also prayed for myself, to be honest. I prayed that I could teach this little girl and help her through her grief. All through that funeral time and ever since, she hasn't cried... not once, not a drop. Nor has she complained or been sad. Her mother questioned me about it and I looked to the research on grief and grief counselling and I found that it comes in waves for kids and that just maybe she didn't get it. So I spoke to her about it as did another teacher. Her response? "Do you wanna know why I don't cry? Because, my daddy is in heaven now. He isn't sick anymore and I'm gonna see him later so it's okay."
Faith. That was her answer: Faith that her daddy was okay; faith that her daddy wasn't hurting or sick anymore; faith that he was somewhere she could go; faith that she would see him there when the time was right. I have been learning a lot from her, learning that she posesses the kind of faith we are all called to have and that it's easy for her because she has the uncomplicated view of a child. She isn't stupid or brain-washed. No one told her to say those things, it came straight from her heart, her heart of faith.

Rough week...

So today I was suposed to try out snowboarding for the first time ever.... I was nervous but excited... and then in came the call. One of my students, her dad passed away. The mom asked me to please come to the funeral, which is not the same as in western cultures. I couldn't refuse, my student asked for me specifically. So I went. It was so sad... my student is just 7 years old. Her dad isn't that much older than me and he suddenly passed from cancer. I can't image being that young and without a dad. It sure makes me appreciate my blessed childhood and life so much more. I offered to do what I could for the mother... she is just about the sweetest lady ever. My student said we were like sisters and in a strange way I felt like we were. Those of you who were praying and sending your thoughts, thank you. I believe that the dad went quickly and with less pain because of them... I also believe that the family has more comfort because of them. Keep praying for this family, it is a tremendous loss.