( I pray you have joy in the Lord all the time)
14 November 2011
12 November 2011
Long day
Got up super early to go and collect my favourite Angel, then spent the morning entertaining her. She is such a precious, beautiful and sweet little girl. I love her to bits. Then I drove her all the way home and back and made myself a sandwich and cuppa, before heading back to bed for a quick nap! Then I went with mum to her unit to do some more work on it.
Yesterday was so crazy, we went there to prune more trees and all these people starting coming in and walking around. I was in my underwear up a ladder surrounded by thorn-covered bougainvillea cuttings feeling really unprepared for meeting so many people! It turns out the real estate company had arranged a home open. It was very popular! All sorts of people came through - an old professional-looking man, a young computer geek-looking guy, three university students - a young geeky-looking guy and two asian girls wanting to share, two Caucasian girls who looked in their 20s, an indian couple - the guy teaches denistry at UWA, a PhD student, a snobby Asian lady, an Asian couple viewing the place for a friend, a young couple with a baby .... oh all sorts!
Today, I sawed almost an entire tree down. It was covered with a multitude of stink bugs and was absolutely disgusting. I prayed for God's grace and just kept sawing and sawing and sawing until there was almost no more! Mum was a bit shocked. I guess I was too. I vacuumed up all the carpet fragments the carpet guy left everywhere around the house - that took over an hour because of our dodgy vacuum without a proper head attachment. I glued three panels back on (in the bathroom and laundry) and cleaned all the surfaces. Mum and I bought fish and chips for the third time this week on the way home!
Gosh what a day. The unit looks great now with a shiny new oven, new carpets and vinyl, and fresh paint on all the doors and walls and ceiling. We have really done the gardens nicely now. The place looks so nice that mum and I were kind of dreaming of moving in. I wouldn't be surprised if one day I do live there. That would be funny.
11 November 2011
Getting ready
Spent some of this morning revising YWAM skits to teach the kids in South Korea. I've typed up Bananas Unite, Funky Chicken, The Box Skit and The Joy Stealer. I'm now going through some lesson plans I found online that a Canadian couple who are currently teaching in South Korea kindly shared. The only thing is, they are very obviously not Christian and they have some very morbid tastes when it comes to movies and music :-( Urrrggh
God's will for my life
Had a bit of a clash with mum today over my future and God's plans for my life. So frustrating. Why can't she see that South Korea is God's will for my life. I made the mistake of telling her I only ever knew three to six months ahead of me. I don't really want to know more than that because I don't think I can handle the revelation. I don't know why God's plan for my life seems so different to everyone else's plan. I know I'm in His will though.
10 November 2011
Visa
FINALLY got my work visa for South Korea today. I was expecting a letter and perhaps some of my documents back, but all they sent to me was my passport with the photo-less visa attached. I thought that was really odd. My visa is until early February.
Handong
Mum and I worked so hard yesterday at Gran's unit. I sawed lots of branches, pruned others and swept up leaves for hours! Was so tired afterwards, I went to bed at about 7.00 pm! Today I want to go for a run and start building up my fitness level again.
We had to write a blurb about ourselves for the Handong Global University page showing who all the teachers are for this year's winter camp. This is what I submitted:
My name is Michelle Lincoln. I completed a Bachelor of Science degree with Honours in Microbiology at the University of Western Australia. I am passionate about prayer and intercession, health and fitness, and travelling to other nations to share the love of Jesus. I believe God is preparing a generation of young people who will be leaders of integrity, purity and faith. Inside every child is a potential leader. I am excited to teach English to children at Handong Global University and to encourage them in the purposes and plans that God has for their lives.
09 November 2011
Chillzone jacket
Women's insulated long sleeve jacket
RRP : $249.98
SUMMIT CLUB : $149.99
Shell 100% Nylon
Lining 100% Nylon
Fill 100% Polyester
08 November 2011
Incheon Guest House
So today my accommodation plan changed yet again! After talking to Jun-Mo, he convinced me that it is way too cold and snowy to be travelling one hour to Seoul, then one hour up to colder temperatures at Prayer Mountain (which is North of Seoul and the opposite direction of Pohang), then back to Seoul, then down to Pohang. He said that due to the snow, the roads will be crazy and the traffic challenging to get through. So then I contacted Liza and asked her about accommodation and her sister suggested I stay at a jjim-jjim-bang, which is a sauna. The $7/night sounded great. Then strangely enough, I got this email from Ana Seo shortly afterwards and she also suggested staying in a jjim-jjim-bang. She also included some guy's blog to read on his experience. While the cheap rate sounded great, the idea of public showers did not! I'm really not into exposing my assets! So fortunately, she included some hotel options.
I decided to go with a room in the Incheon Guest House. The single rooms were booked out, but they offered me a twin room for 50,000 won/night (equate to about $43.34 AUD). Great! I would much prefer to pay a little more for some privacy :-)
I had a quick squiz at the people i'll be working with that were on Ana's email list. A couple of guys from South Africa, one from the Netherlands, one from China, one from the UK, one from America. Eight guys and two other girls on the email. Interesting. I am glad I deactivated my FB account, so they can't take a peek at me! lol
Neck warmer
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07 November 2011
Financial breakthrough
Very happy today after God blessed my prayers and enabled me to get a good healthy tax return. Finally I can pay off my Mastercard, which has taken a beating after having to pay my return airfare to Seoul, South Korea, my RAC bill and two speeding fines! I have never had speeding fines before. I got them in the first few days back from USA.I think that after spending six months in a country where they use miles instead of kilometres, everyone drives on the other side of the road and the steering wheel is located on the left-hand side of the car (instead of on the right-hand side like here), I was a bit directionally challenged. My mind needed to readjust. Such a bummer though as I was only 7 and 8km above the speed limit, yet the two bills were each for $150! OUCH.
Praise the Lord, I no longer have debt and I have some money to pay my rent up to when I leave and buy a few things I need for South Korea.
05 November 2011
Prayer Mountain Introduction to South Korea
Well today my accommodation got sorted. After Jun-Mo told me his friends weren't able to accommodate me, I looked at booking a room in the Lexington Hotel but there were only Double Deluxe rooms left at a cost of $130/night and the check-in time was 2pm, which made it a bit awkward because I arrive at 6.30am. I was wondering what on earth to do.... but had a strange peace about it.
Well I did some research on the Internet and discovered that there is a limousine bus from the airport to the Lexington Hotel which costs 14,000 won, or about $12 AUD. Then from the Lexington Hotel, there are free buses that run every hour to the Prayer Mountain. This is a one hour trip. Then at the Prayer Mountain, there are rooms you can rent for 20,000 won, or about $17 AUD which comprise two beds with bedding and its own bathroom. You rent the room, not the bed. Check-in time is 2pm and check-out time is 11am. There are also meals available which only cost 1,000 or 2,000 won, which equates to $0.75 or $1.75 AUD). Then you can jump on a free bus back to the Lexington Hotel the next day. Perfect! Then I will catch the express bus to Pohang.
PRAISE THE LORD!
Black Cat Lounge
Angel made me laugh so much today when I drove her past a restaurant near my mum's house on the corner of Stirling Highway and Loch Street. That place has been a fine dining place for as long as I know, so I didn't pay much attention to it. As we waited for the red light to turn green so we could turn right, Angel asked me what the place was. I told her it was a restaurant. She asked me if people brought their cats. I said no, it was a place where people sit and have a meal. She asked me if they bring their cat. I said no. She asked me if they liked cats. I said sure they might do, but didn't bring them out for dinner. Strange questions. Well after we drove off, I realised why the questions about the cats. The place must have changed owners as it has been renamed "Black Cat Lounge" and there is a picture of a black cat on the wall facing the highway! :-) lol Funny kid. The must have been trying to figure out why there was a cat pictured outside! Who on earth would bring their cat out for dinner? A three year old's brain works differently :-)
Facebook or Jesus? ... your choice
Well after making the decision to fast Facebook, I found so much more time today to pray and spend time with Jesus. Tonight when I went to the prayer room in Fremantle, the Lord met me there. His presence overwhelmed me and tears poured down my cheeks. Oh the nearness of His Spirit is so beautiful. It makes me feel warm inside, like His arms are wrapped around me.
Similar to last Wednesday, I feel a deep sense of satisfaction after having such rich fellowship with the prayer warriors in the prayer room. I love hearing them all pray. I love joining with them to pray over different issues of injustice. I am amazed how many of them are so young, yet are such gifted in their prayer language. They know what Scriptures to pray and how to pray them. It touches my heart hearing them. Every meeting is a feast for my Spirit man, who hungrily devours every Word of God. I just love it so much.
Tonight, the devotional time comprised listening to this little guy James Kufeldt from IHOP sing so magnificently sweetly. I have never seen him lead worship before on the piano. It was just glorious. The archive set was 8.00am, Sunday October 30. I wrote down his lyrics:
My mind was made to think about You
My eyes were made to gaze upon You
My heart was made to love and adore You
My mouth was made to give You the glory
So I meditate on the mysteries, on the deep things of God
Afterwards, when the live set began at 7.00pm, we began with IHOP worship songs. I sang backing vocals at the top of my lungs from where I was sitting. I'm not part of the worship team, but I love my Jesus and my heart is set on fire when the worship team sings. I can't help but express my heartfelt adoration to Him.
Then we had small group prayer for any personal needs, as well as the missions team from the church in the Philippines. I prayed for George and George prayed for me. He didn't have much prayer language, but did well for a guy who has only been part of the church for a few months and wasn't attending any church before then. He is getting baptised in December.
Then we prayed over the issue of the potential for the Prostitution Bill to be passed through Parliament. Lauren led us from Colossians 1:9, then we did a rapid fire prayer line to pray for Governmental and political leaders involved in the legislation. I got up and threw in my two cents with the other half a dozen people.
Then some guy got up and led us in prayer from Ephesians 3:16-19 for the New Life Community. We broke up into small groups and prayed.
Then some other guy led us in praying for persecuted believers in Egypt out of Acts 4 and read a short extract from some newsletter. Then we did another rapid fire prayer line. I got up again and joined the four other people.
Finally we ended with the worship leader saying a final prayer to wrap up the night. Jason told me it was nice having me with them. I think I needed to hear someone say that. I was really touched by his words. I walked out with Heather.
Gosh I am just so grateful for this little group of IHOP people. I would have been a mess without them and would have taken longer to transition back into Perth from IHOP-KC.
04 November 2011
Facebook fast starts today
Instead I will feast on the Word of God, which brings life to my body and health to all my flesh! It's a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. When I meditate in it day and night and observe to do according to all that it written in it, then God will make my way prosperous and give me good success! Amen
03 November 2011
Pre-arranged marriages and beauty
Had a really interesting conversation with my Hindu beauty therapist friend, Sumi about pre-arranged marriages in India. She told me women get married usually between the ages of 22 and 30 and the parents arrange their spouses. She said that basically, the fathers have to pay a huge lot of money to present their daughters with a range of potential spouses. The daughters then look at a photo album of the potential men, assess their credentials and indicate their preference. Then, the potential union was presented to an astrologer who assesses their compatibility with regard to horoscopes. If they are deemed incompatible, the process begins again!
Sumi said that for her, the process took between two and three years. The married an IT specialist whose company gave him a job in Australia. She said overall she was relatively happy with him, but from the tone of her voice, I gathered not 100% happy. She said he treats her nicely and they have a son who is five years old. Interesting.
Apparently in India, wedding ceremonies are a huge deal, with literally 1000's of people attending. The ceremony itself lasts for two full days! Oh my goodness.
We had a great discussion about beauty salons in India and the difference between treatments that Indian women and Australian women request. She said that Indian women rarely have facials, tatooing (like colouring injected into their lips, eyebrows and around their eyes), eyelash extensions, etc... because they naturally have better skin, beautiful long curly eyelashes and more prominent facial features. She said most Indian women only get wrinkles at the age of 50! She said one thing they do like to do is have skin bleaching because they would all prefer to be more fair. In contrast, Australian women have more skin therapy, tatooing and eyelash treatments.
02 November 2011
Pullover
Arc'teryx RHO AR Pullover Women's
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- Laminated sleeve pocket with laminated zip
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Specifications:
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Committed to God
Wondering why my sister seems so suss. So Grunde is apparently overseas in Malaysia negotiating a work contract, so I asked her today if she would like me to stay overnight and look after the kids. She said no. I find that really odd because I know she is extremely sleep-deprived and not coping. This makes me wonder whether someone else is staying over at her house.
Another thing I find rather suss is that every time I go over to their house, Grunde always looks me up and down like he's checking me out. One of Julz' friends told me she found out he was seeing prostitutes a month before I came home. Julz hasn't mentioned anything about it and keeps pretending nothing is wrong.
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