Things we hardly did before

I am seldom standing alone on stage to sing since High School. I only remember that I once sang at my friend's wedding and solo singer for Easter Service at Church. That's all. I got a chance to sing at my first week in Busan, and it was for PIF's 7th birthday (Pusan Indonesia Fellowship). I felt a bit nervous.

I think my Dad would smile knowing that I sang again.

The same thing happened to San. He never ever joined a choir before. He was always not confident with his voice and worried if his voice will ruin the sacred choir melody. I'm happy that he decided to join Kosin Global Choir in the university. He is now enjoying singing as a way to praise God.

Some pictures of his performances on Monday-Tuesday, April 26-27, 2009.

Enjoy!

Yummy!

Hymn-Singing Celebration

When I joined a Sunday Evening English Language Fellowship, the leader raised up a question that tickling me. He asked whether we usually read a book or novel from chapter 1, chapter 2 and straight away to the final chapter. Of course not, I whispered. Then he continued with the next issue, "...so did you ever found the song leader asked you: let's sing the hymn verse 1, 2 and 5?"

Hymn, according to dictionary.com, is explained as a song or ode in praise or honor of God or something resembling this, as a speech, essay, or book in praise of someone. So, hymn is a story. The whole lyrics is purposely written as an essay telling about our God.

When I choose hymns and the verses to be sung, sometimes I do feel that those all verses are too long. That's why usually I choose two or three verses among five, or one or two verses among three. And what the leader told me on the fellowship was actually what I usually did. First verse is definitely familiar and always chosen, while final verse is the closing of the hymns so it also a best choice. I felt slapped when I realize that a hymns is indeed a story,and not to be meant singing only some verses of it.

We spent the fellowship time singing many hymns - and all in full verses! Even we prayed by singing hymns. While you sing a hymn and deeply speak the lyrics, the meaning will wonderfully explode in your heart.

Let's sing today!

Happy Birthday, Yas!

Hi dear brother,

Happy birthday to you!
You know how much I love you!
You're the one who always smile in every situation,
You're the one who always cheer up others,
even you're sick and in pain.

Wish your dream come true!
Do your best and God will do the rest.
Be good...

Hugs,
*Dita

Susan Boyle

I was touched when I saw the performance of Susan Boyle in the British Got Talents on a you tube video. I was crying when I saw her singing a song "I dreamed a dream". The lyrics of the song seemed telling us her story of life.

She has a dream to be a professional singer since she was young, but she got many rejections from the producers and even the choir leader. She is a Christian who spent her life taking care of her mom and serving at Church in a village. She joined British Got Talent to reach her dream that she always had in mind.

When the first time she walked out the stage, I could see how the audiences reacted to her. The 47-year old lady wearing out fashioned dress with an untouched hairstyling was judged harshly by her cover. Suddenly, all of this was gone when the voice of an angel took them over.

It's such an amazing lesson to us not to judge a book by its cover. Everyone was laughed at her, but she gave an extraordinary performance. Her beautiful voice and the orchestra melody made me couldn't stop my tears...It's was sung from the heart, the heart which was dreaming, that's why it's was totally wonderful. Imagine a village lady living alone suddenly become so famous around the world. Susan Boyle, you inspired me with your dream!

Here is the lyrics of I dreamed a dream from Les Miserables:

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame

And still I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7b"

Cherry Blossom

When I came to Busan, it was when the spring arrived in South Korea. Spring flowers are in bloom. One of most famous flower in the spring time is Cherry Blossom, also known as Sakura in Japan. The color is mostly white and pink near to the stem. They only bloom for a week or so before it fall and the green leaves grow. Therefore, the Cherry Blossom Festival is expected and celebrated by lots of people and tourists. In this case, I was lucky to see the Cherry Blossom just in time.

I was invited to visit a famous festival in Jinhae, about two hours from Busan; but sadly I chose not to go. Another invitation coming to visit Dongnae Park on the same day, but I can't get rid of the headache, so I decided to stay at home.

Fortunately, there were lot's of Cherry Blossom trees on the way to San's campus. I said to myself that I couldn't miss the opportunity to take pictures with the lovely flowers before they're gone. And I promise to myself not to miss the next year spring festival in Jinhae.
I must go! Hehe...

Lunch Box

We have experienced lots of God's blessings and care in our first few months in Busan. One of them that I would like to share about is the Lunch Box.

As an international master student, San is eligible to apply for lunch box which is provided by the International Office on Monday to Friday. It's indeed a surprise for him, and even for me! When I was studying in Singapore, none of this kind of lunch box was provided for international student. It flashed my mind to how God provided manna to Israel. It is really a blessing!

Every lunch box consists of rice, meat (varies of chicken, pork, beef, or sausage), vegetable or egg. Sometimes apples, yakult, seaweed are also given. Don't ask about the size of the meal! Normally, two person can have it in one go. That's why San keeps half of it for dinner. It's nice, isn't it?


In our situation where no one of us is working at the moment and is financially limited, God never leaves us alone. We do have our worries when we think about the future, but we want to trust Him the most. He fantastically and wonderfully takes care of our life. Thanks Lord!

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
Matthew 6:25-27

I'm in Korea

Finally, after dealing with an uncomfortable experience pertaining my flight ticket at Ngurah Rai airport, I had arrived in Incheon smoothly without facing any problem with the immigration. San was there waiting for me with a rose in his hand...^^

This reunion is special for us since we had some difficulties in getting my visa. God gives a miracle to us.

Being together with him doesn't stop our struggle. I need to cope with the culture and language quickly, otherwise I could not communicate and get used with the life in here. The most important task to do for us at the moment is to extend the visa.

San told me that this is the time for me to understand and experience how to really trust the Lord. In many times, I often use my own thought and strength. I trust my self more than I trust the Lord. Here in Korea, I am limited. Visa, language, job, study, financial problem are the words that I often think about at the moment. I am so weak...but having read a verse in the bible quoted below sthrengthen me to look up for tomorrow.

Always pray for both of us.

With love,
Dita

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.

For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Incheon, I'm in Love