sunday in seoul.

One of the reasons I love living overseas is that everyday brings something new. Even the monotonous routines of life seem more exciting when I am experiencing them in a different country. Living in Asia for the last year has made me feel more alive and free than I ever knew was possible. I love living and working among people whose language I don’t understand. I love getting on the subway in Seoul, looking around, and seeing that I am the only westerner in sight. I love the challenge of deciphering Korean on street signs, packages of food, and magazine covers. I love hearing a student shout “hello!” as I walk past, and then hearing them burst into laughter with a friend out of embarrassment for having spoken to a foreigner. I love the excitement of hopping on an overnight train and waking up in a new city. I love riding my bike through my quiet Asian neighborhood and passing markets, fruit vendors, family-owned restaurants, Internet cafes, tea shops, etc. I love developing friendships with natives who can teach me about their culture. I love the beauty and simplicity of Asia.

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Every week I look forward to Sunday morning. After living in China for a year I have come to appreciate the freedom of going to church like never before. I’m convinced that there is nothing better than being surrounded by a group of believers all worshiping the same God. There is something so powerful in those moments. For the last few weeks I have been attending the English service at Onnuri Church in the western part of the city. Each week when I step into the sanctuary I instantly feel renewed, encouraged, and thankful for the chance to worship. The church is really focused on missions and ministering to people who haven’t been given the same opportunities to know God. Throughout the building there are photos of people from around the world lining the walls. There are huge portraits of Tibetan, Latin American, and Chinese children wearing their traditional clothing. Murals pieced together with photos of men and women from Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, etc. There are banners displaying pictures of flags from nations around the world. The church walls remind me of what a diverse world we live in. They remind me of my own passion for the world, different cultures, and the church. The photos remind me that because of where I was born I am an automatic heir to luxuries that others only dream of having, and because of this I have a huge responsibility to meet the needs of those less fortunate.

Today the worship team started singing “How Great is our God” all I could do was close my eyes and listen to the words. I felt so overwhelmed and humbled thinking about God’s greatness. As the song played on I envisioned people from countries around the world…. those families living in straw huts across Africa, the women who walk miles everyday to get clean water, the children who run barefoot through the streets of Southeast Asia, the young girls who have been forced into brothels around the world because they have no hope for a brighter future. However, when I closed my eyes I also saw the comforts of the western world. People driving their cars to and from work, children sitting in air-conditioned schoolrooms and learning from textbooks, friends spending an afternoon at a shopping mall. It seems so strange that these two ways of living can even exist on the same planet. They are worlds apart. However, being in worship today reminded me that it is the same God who is Lord over everything. “How Great is our God.” He never promised that life would be equal. He only promised that he would care and love for us despite our circumstances. It’s overwhelming to think that I worship the Lord of all creation. It’s my job to be His hands and feet in a world that’s crying out for justice, compassion, and love. It’s my job to try and level the playing field of life.

How great is our God.
How great is our God.
Sing with me, how great is our God.

Today I am thankful for my freedom. I am thankful for a church where I feel inspired and encouraged. I am thankful to be part of a congregation comprised of people from countries around the world. I am thankful for this quiet Sunday evening at home in my warm apartment. Life is wonderful.