I feel like I’m getting a grip on life here now. It’s been three weeks, Mark has started teaching, and Mika and I are venturing out and beginning to set a schedule. 

She turns one this month, which is difficult to believe, and showing more personality and curiosity each day. Now that I am away from family help, I am her sole caretaker in the day, and this is tiring and rewarding simultaneously. Still, the newness of being in Seoul is finally wearing off, and I’m beginning to see our life here as normal.

Tonight, we had friends over for dinner. It was a spontaneous decision—Mark called me at 5:30 to see if it was possible. Fortunately, I had already begun preparations for a meal that would yield plenty of leftovers, so we had a dinner party. After dessert and a hilarious game of cards, we waved goodbye to them from our doorway, happy to have made connections here in Seoul and thrilled to be using our home to bless others. Afterwards, I realized how rewarding it is to initiate events like dinner parties.  Instead of waiting for friendships to “happen,” we can be friendly; instead of waiting for life to “begin,” we can go out and live.

In the same way, I could easily lounge in our villa and wait. Before coming to Korea, I knew the first few months would be a difficult time of transition—but the more I linger, the longer the wait becomes. Therefore, I must venture out and find not only things to do but also ways to serve. I must look around—away from my immediate needs—and see the needs around me. I must be active instead of passive.