Fighting the inevitable jet lag, I am risen and bright before the sun. Even in the darkness of our new home and in the silence of a sleeping community, I feel the goodness of God—He fills this place with peace and welcome, and He will fill it with memories unimaginable. 

When we walked into our apartment for the first time, my immediate thought was “this is a house, not a condo.” Its size surprised me, as Mark and I both expected a two-bedroom place. Instead, we’d been blessed with three bedrooms; therefore, Mika has her own room, and I am currently in the study, which has bookshelves lining an entire wall. The living room is the center of the home: it greets you when you enter, and it branches out into the other areas of the house—the bedrooms, the bathroom, the study, and the kitchen. The layout promotes togetherness, and as we foresee Malika growing and walking, this thought of coming together in the center fills me with contentment.

The former tenants were teachers at YISS who decided, after five years, to relocate to Brazil as missionaries there. They left us much of their household items. Mark was welcomed by computer and electronic supplies—more wires than even Mika could want! I was excited to find a cabinet full of spices and non-perishable foods. They even left all their kitchen supplies and dishes along with towels and bedding. It seems a bit overwhelming right now, I must admit. We’ve inherited so much that the house still carries the senses of this generous family, but I know that we will personalize and decorate our home in time. We’re so grateful for the blessings that greeted us on our arrival.

Seoul itself is busy: the people are busy, the roads are busy, and the spaces are busy. As we rode through our neighborhood today with one of Mark’s coworkers, we were hit by an onslaught of signs and banners. Here, it appears that the marketing technique is “larger and louder.” After living in Hawaii for a year, it feels crowded, but at the same time—exciting!

I hear the squeals of my little girl. And so begins our second day in Seoul…we will do some shopping and continue making this house our home.