Tuesday, January 24, 2012

             

Happy New Year to both the solar and the lunar calendar celebrants! Another new beginning has dawned upon us and I am sure you started the new year with some resolutions, dreams, prayers and hopes for the future. Like every new year, I seem to start off the new year with such notions. Although I may not follow through what I set at the beginning of the year, I think it is still good to reflect and wish, albeit for few days in the new year, for what's in my heart. I may at times forget them, but certainly God knows and remembers what once was in my heart and will guide me back to them in times of my memory loss moments. 

This year of the Dragon started off with a visit from my one and only sister and her church. They seem to come during the week of Matthew's birthday, which is quite nice. My sister, along with 13 other members, including two lovely nieces of mine, came and joined Matthew's ministry in Nicaragua, as well as in celebrating his monumental 50th birthday. It is always so blessing to see old members return, as well as exciting to meet the new members. 

After a week of working hard under the Nicaragua sun and the beautiful people of Nicaragua, the team had a nice day at a resort here. I was fortunate to join them at the beach and made more beautiful memories of being together. 

I have survived the first semester of working as the elementary vice principal and am smoothly transitioning into the second semester. Like everything in life, we seem to adapt, learn and move forward in our new positions. I am still learning daily and believe that will be the case til my departure from this path. 

I am looking forward to more learning and am a bit nervous, yet excited about what is to come in 2012. 

Wishing you and your family a most blessed year!...Know that God is in control, that He loves us more than anything else in the world and that He wishes for you and me to enjoy Him and what He has created for us! Praise the Lord!

Soon it will be Thanksgiving. November always reminds me to be more grateful for everything that I was, that I am, and that I will be. It amazes me how we are in our 7th year of ministry here in Nicaragua. 

Looking back, I know there were days, even weeks, when I was weak in prayers. I faltered. However, what kept me going was the knowledge that someone out there was praying for the mission, my family and specifically for me. Some supporters I know I have not even met personally. This knowledge that someone is praying for me is so powerful and awesome. That knowledge gives me the strength, hope and the joy to press on. It also makes me experience God's grace and mercy in depth.

During this month, I will pray more ardently for our supporters, known and unknown, who partner in our mission here in Nicaragua. I am grateful and so awed at your selfless support. May God abundantly bless you and your family, so that your blessing hands may reach to the ends of the Earth and heal the still suffering souls. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

My school is having its annual Fall Festival tonight. From K3 to 12th graders, everyone will gather and celebrate the season of autumn, which encompasses foliage, cool weather, Halloween and Thanksgiving in the States. We don't have such season here in Nicaragua since we only have dry and rainy seasons. It's the rainy season now; it began in May and will last until mid or late November. We do have a cooler temperature during this season, some 5-7 degrees cooler than the dry season temperatures. 

     

Since my last update in April, a lot has changed in my career. After accepting the position of the elementary vice principal, I have been learning the new ropes of being an administrator. It's been quite an eye opening event in my career. I must say every day is filled with unexpected events that keep me on my toes. I do terribly miss teaching; being able to closely bond with my 20 some students and enjoying the company of my colleagues (those venting times when we whine about the administrators). But, now that I am on the other side, I definitely see why some decisions are made in the ways that I didn't agree as a teacher and that it is difficult to bring teachers, students, parents and administrators in total harmony. However, that difficulty makes the job exciting and challenging as well.   

Since April, Emily, my second daughter, has joined her sister Elise at UPENN and is loving every minute there. Seeing her so happy and acclimate so well tell me that we have raised her well. (hahahaha)

She is blossoming and is truly full of joy. I am sure having her sister there helps a lot. Both sisters seem to enjoy each other's company (I am sure they get on each other's nerves too) and attend the same church, where they are growing in their faith as well.

 

Joshua..of course he misses his sisters. Being alone at home with elderly mom and dad must not be so fun for our 12 year old son. However, he has been embellishing his parents' lives with his presence. He is funny, handsome, a bit of geek and kind-hearted, when searched deep and long.. (hahahaha)

He and I drive everyday together to and fro from school, and I must say those moments are definitely precious.  I am delighted that he will be with us another 5 and a half years...

Well, Nicaragua is getting ready for her presidential election on November 6th. It comes every 5 years.  I don't know why this year no candidate is campaigning die hard, but it seems everyone thinks that Mr. Ortega will run the country for another 5 years or more. Since everyone seems to accept Ortega's win, the campaign by other candidates has been very low key. 

Like any other countries suffering economically, Nicaragua too is in distress. However, many rich seem to be driving more expensive cars since more luxurious vehicles roam the pot holed roads of Managua than ever before. We shall see what will happen on the election day. I will keep you updated. But, for now, we send you our Lord's blessings to you and your family! Stay tranquilo!

April 5, 2011

   New University of Pennsylvania Student

   New Assistant Principal

Thank you to those of you who have been praying for Emily the past year. She is successfully completing her high school years and is heading to University of Pennsylvania in the fall. We are very excited that she will be joining her sister, making us feel safer and secure. And I am sure my family and Matthew's family, who give rides to and fro and house them during their breaks, are relieved that they don't have to visit two different universities. 

I have been chosen for the Elementary Assistant Principal for the coming school year. It was a decision that sort of came into its form without really planning about the role on my part. So I think God definitely played a big role here and I just accepted it with a bit of nervousness and excitement. 

God's grace is so amazing and mysterious. What He pours into our Jun family is beyond our comprehension. We are just thankful and take His amazing grace and enjoy them.  I know we don't deserve it, but am glad that He giveth. Please continue to pray for Emily and me as we embark on our new journeys. We are excited, a bit scared, but most of all, will press on, knowing that God is in control. 

Love to you all,

Jennifer

February 28, 2011

   This is the site of our new Children's Center, next to our feeding center in the Oriental Market. This site used to be the medical clinic before. However, since our new medical clinic has moved to three blocks from this place, we converted it to the Children's Center. It's been two weeks since we have opened this center. Children aged 3-7 come daily. Sometimes there are 20 kids, sometimes 12.  In the mornings, they worship, draw, sing songs, watch movies, dance and learn the Bible. Throughout the day, they have snacks and lunch. Although it is not an official school, we hope and pray that through this center, the children will meet God and have a better purpose and goals in life. We are praying that these children will receive a life long education that will better prepare them for their adulthood. Two mission teams came two months ago and decorated the walls and the rooms with kid friendly art works and furniture, that are both inviting and age appropriate. Please pray that our kids will be blessed every moment they enter the center. 

Jennifer and Matthew are nervously practicing letting their second child, Emily, go in the summer. She will be graduating and going off to a university. She will know where and when by the end of March. Meanwhile, we already know that she will be attending the International Operation Smile Annual meeting in Beijing, China, representing Nicaragua's Chapter, along with 3 other students from here. She is very excited. Elise will be in Cambodia for the month of August. Through a UPenn program, she will be working with an NGO there, as a consultant (most likely as an observer). Our daughters are flying away from home and stretching their wings towards others. I guess it's something we have taught our kids to do, yet it is indeed sad and somewhat worrisome as they fly away.

And our baby, Joshua.... of course out of all of us, I do think he will miss his sisters the most. Who is going to help him with his Spanish homework? his projects? his Science Fair?? He is worried. I would be too, if I were him. I guess Matthew has to take over the job. hahahahaa..Joshua is great. He possesses such a sweet, sweet heart. God is so with him. I don't need to worry about him. He is special, indeed. 

There will be some changes blowing into Jennifer's way too. Wait for the March newsletter to find out what those changes are! Until then, she sends you love with these words, especially to the Chungs in New Haven, CT. .One of the elders at the New Haven Korean Church passed away this week. I loved him so. I respected him so much. He is surely missed. Our condolences to his wife, Mrs. Chung and their 2 children. I know he is in good hands. May The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. 

Peace,

Jennifer

December 8, 2010

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Please see the attachment at the bottom of this page to read our Christmas letter.

May the joy and peace of our Lord fill your heart and home.

October 2, 2010

Having fun at the first club meeting of this year

I remember my friend Rita and I worrying about our daughters' faith walk in their most vulnerable teen aged years. They were attending a school surrounded by students who did not know God and  we prayed for some kind of miracle (bible studies or mentor programs) that would make our girls more firmly rooted in their faith. Then, God answered our prayers through Young Life, a Christian ministry that reaches out to high school students through volunteers, staff, club meetings and summer camps. A beautiful young couple from the States came as staff members, committing at least 3 years in Nicaragua. That was four years ago. Praise the Lord! 

When Young Life first began, Rita and I joined the "staff", wearing almost every different hat possible: as  parents, volunteers at club meetings, leadership meetings, etc. Club meetings were where the "real" thing took place. Students gathered to sing songs, play crazy, but outrageously fun games and then listen to about a 10 minute talk on Jesus. It was simple, yet kids loved it. It was totally different from the traditional bible meetings I was used to. Kids began to congregate every week, and more and more kids, through the word of mouth and hard work from the volunteers, began to come out to the club meetings. 

As students grew, God sent more leaders through volunteers living in Managua (teachers, missionaries, some Peace Corps members, etc). As more volunteers appeared, I stepped down from club meeting staff member and began helping the leaders from behind the scene by feeding leaders some Korean foods and providing leadership prayer and planning meetings at my house. Then, when Rita and her family moved to Columbia and then back to the States, another young beautiful couple came as leaders from the States. That was three years ago. We now have two young families working together to spread the Gospel to our young minds through fun, interactive ways that only this generation understands. The work of the leaders has paid off. We now have not only students from the school where it all began, but many from the neighboring bilingual schools. Most of these students call themselves Catholics, but never or seldom attended church nor questioned their faith journey. 

Then, God sent more miracles. Some students began to meet Jesus personally; over 25 students so far have attended the summer camps (over 10 have confessed Jesus as their Savior) held in various parts of the USA during summer vacations, and some have become mentors to our new members of the Young Life and now WYLD Life, a sister program for our middle schoolers. We have 40-50 students attending Young Life club meetings weekly now. 

It's been amazing for me, as a parent, to witness Elise and Emily as members of the Young Life and now Joshua, for the first time, attending the WYLD Life. His first club meeting was last Wednesday. His face was filled with excitement and anticipation of the night. He came back, all smiles from ear to ear. He won the "Who Can Throw the Snot Furthest" Contest and won the fart sound making gadget. He was so Joshua the Jovial. I am sure God is slowly entering his heart through these fellowship encounters.

The next night, on Thursday, I went out to have a leadership meeting. We are trying to get more parents involved; it is our prayer request that more parents understand and learn about the YL and help in raising funds, spreading the words out to more people about the club meetings and as prayer partners. The students whom YL works with are the top 2% of the wealthy families' children of this country. These kids are the future leaders of Nicaragua. They need to meet Jesus before they go off to college. They need to come back to their country knowing who Jesus is so that this country can surely change. Won't you join us in prayers as we prepare them for this precious meeting?

September 4, 2010

Grandmother sincerely seeking God in Elise's new journey.

My first born left for college last week. After spending her first night in her dorm, she wrote on her facebook status that she is having a great time at college. What more could a parent want? Elise is all set in her new journey at UPENN. She is ecstatic to be there with her new roommate from Shanghai International School, a Korean named Lisa. What a blessing to meet someone whom she feels connected immediately. Definitely God is watching over her. Her journey began with a sincere prayer from her grandmother, her father and her uncle in her dorm room. Grandma, who went with Elise to deliver her granddaughter to the school that will take care of her for the next four years, prayed a prayer that, I am sure, emerged from the bottom of this Godly woman's heart, who has only been seeking God all her life. And it truly must have awakened the spirits all over Elise. That is why I feel so comforted, albeit our separation.

Elise has been inboxing me on facebook, describing all about the people and the places she has been encountering and how exciting it is to be in this stage of her life. What more could I hope for? I truly have not been sad about her departure; first I was busy with my school work when she left Nicaragua, then I kept receiving all these wonderful messages from my daughter of her adjustment to her new life, so I have only been feeling relief and joy. Her details make me feel I am vicariously reliving my college years through her; those of you who visited the campus would feel it too. The UPENN campus is indeed inviting in the sense it ignites a desire in one's heart to study further and to be in the midst of scholars and to be a part of the whole college experience all over again. I am so elated for Elise that she will be among those who walk the path of one of the great Americans, Benjamin Franklin, the founder of the University. I only wish the best for Elise, as well as for all the freshmen who began their new journey all over the world this year. May your experiences as a college student mold you closer into the being that God had intended for you all. And Elise, I love you so much more because you are able to enjoy this new journey with much courage and joy. That's being a filial daughter!  

August 6, 2010

Joshua in Korea

The other night, my 11 year old son Joshua, who thought I looked quite exhausted from working at the school, glanced over at his father and boldly asked, "Can you get a real job so that Mom could stay home and rest?" Puhahahahaaaa..I love my son!

How funny. My son thinks that his father's job is to spend money on the poor people of Nicaragua. He believes it's high time that his father begin looking for a "real job" like his friends' fathers.  I don't quite know how Matthew took it, but he laughed and thought he was cute.

Later that night as we lay to sleep, Matthew ponders on Joshua's question. "Hmm.. my son wants me to find a real job."...

This week, I begin my sixth year at the current school I have been teaching since the second day I arrived in Nicaragua in 2005. I teach 5th grade Social Studies and Language Arts. We just finished the first week and I already love these kids. I think it's going to be a great year. Pray for wisdom, patience, joyful heart and love. 

Emily is a senior this year. She should be busy, but is enjoying her cousins' visits from the States.

Joshua is a 6th grader. He still thinks giving minimum is enough; a bit more growing up to do. Lord, have mercy on my soul!

Elise will leave Nicaragua for Philadelphia, where her university is, on August 24th. I can't take her there, but thank God Matthew is able to go and drop her off. She's excited, but nervous, very natural. May all your prayers travel with her.

Your families are in our prayers. 

July 21, 2010

The promise that "someday we will visit Korea" finally materialized into a reality this summer. After 21 years, I made it back to Korea and my kids finally got to see their parents' motherland. From June 8-July1, my family witnessed God's blessings once again through the visit of the country that we've been talking about since Elise and Emily realized that their parents were not from the United States, but from a small country somewhere in Asia. I could describe the whole visit in a series of logs, like our one week tour of the country,or visiting the church that Matthew's father founded 51 years ago, or the crazy FIFA spirit for Korea's soccer team that brought thousands of people out into the streets of Korea even in rain, but I will just note few things here and be done with it.

Upon the recommendation from Matthew's good friend in Korea, we did a one week tour of the country with Hana Tour, which was a great idea. We saw provinces from west to east and got a taste of some of the different landscapes that the country is made up of. It's a small country, and one week gave us a pretty good insight into the lives of these provinces in Korea. After the tour, Matthew and Joshua stayed on for one more week in Seoul, visiting old friends and family members before heading back to Nicaragua to work with the summer mission teams. However, the girls and I stayed another week and spent a lot of quality time in Seoul, which we savored every minute. We were everywhere, riding the metro, which is unbelievably efficient, clean and convenient. Definitely Seoul offers endless activities that never seem to run out of entertaining even the pickiest travelers. The bottom line about the trip is that I felt ALIVE in Seoul. Not that I was dead in Nicaragua, but I had forgotten what modern city life offered and what it is to have so much convenience at the tip of your finger: millions of different dishes, convenient markets, fun outdoor/ indoor places that call my name... Personally, through this trip, I realized I would like to have that experience of living in a busy metropolitan city before I really get too old. So I began to pray. Not quite sure how it will come about, but I am hoping to teach at one of the international schools in Korea for 2 years so that I can have that experience. Let's see what God thinks.

Now, this desire to live in Korea does not mean I want to go for that sole purpose of enjoying the modernity of Korea. Not everything about the trip was positive. I sensed deep problems that usually accompany the quick progress and development of a country. Korea certainly has her share of such. Education is truly a huge problem that everyone in Korea should be burdened in their hearts and minds to do something about. In a country where education has always played an important role in a person's life, it has reached a point where a high concentration of so many highly educated people don't have places to share their gained knowledge due to the system. Education in Korea is related to everything future: It's what university you go and who you know. Everywhere in the world has similar problems, but being a small country with colossal determined educators (parents), Korea certainly has a huge problem in her hands. 

My cousin's daughter, a 9th grader, went to school 7:30 in the morning and came home around 11 every night we were there visiting her family. And her hours were no exception, but rather norm. Every student attends private tutoring places, called hwakwon, after school. It's a system that without attending such places after their normal school hours, attending universities within Seoul (considered the best) becomes slimmer. Of course the "haves" can offer better and more of such services, whereas the "less haves" have to rely on city run hwakwons that cost less with most likely less qualified personnels. Let me tell you, the night streets in Korea are lit with the lights from these learning centers and nightclubs...hahahha. Anyway, you see the division, right? More and more such division is creating a bigger gap that seems to benefit the haves more than ever. And what in the world are they going to do with all these highly educated people, I wonder?

Well there are other problems stemming from the education problem. One very noticeable problem is that there seem to be many depressed people in Seoul. Yet, admitting such, albeit the symptoms may be very treatable and small, is a taboo in Asian countries. Korea has a very high suicide rate. I would be depressed too if I have to compete that rigorously. I wouldn't survive the stress. Anyway, the culture has to change so that seeking counseling becomes more normal and acceptable. This is where I see the Korean churches' function should be. They need to impact the society; people should feel comfortable seeking pastors or professionals for problems they face living in the era, living in the country that seem to change every 6 months and without helping its citizens to cope with sudden changes. The ramifications of these changes are great. Everywhere I saw teenagers looking unhappy, especially in the subways, where their tired bodies signaled, "don't bother me, don't talk to me, no I will not give my seat up for that old lady, I deserve this seat". There are many stories, (which I won't share here) I heard from the parents who used to reside in the States but are now living in Korea. They can compare and contrast and agree that my observations are quite the reality and true. 

So, my sister asks me why I want to live there when a short visit is sufficient. Well, those of you who know me well know that I like challenges; I want to be in the middle of these changes and rising problems. I want to know if God would use me. Also, I want to live in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of a busy city. Maybe a mid life crisis is visiting me and I need a change of scenery? Whatever the reason, I think it would be rather fun. And in 5 years, I wouldn't think a change would be fun, so I have to do it while I am still young.  Hmmmmm.

Matthew, of course, responds in his typical Matthew response: if you want, you can go and I will visit or take a sabbatical. Do whatever and it will work out. What a husband! He deserves a sabbatical year, let me tell you. 

So my friends, begin praying for me. Let's see what God will do between now and next year or two...Love u all. And million thanks to our godly and wonderful friends who paid for our airfares, tours and all the lodging and food while in Korea. Our family is undeserving, but God is grace and God is amazing and He always provides. Thank you, Father.

May 1, 2010

In front of our Providence Clinic, with Kathy, our church member from New Haven Church. She now serves a church in Maryland.

Happy May!  The rainy season has officially begun here in Nicaragua. Actually, the first rain came about two weeks ago, then the "Indian Summer" lingered on for a week afterwards, then this week, it's been raining daily. Nicaragua is an explosion of green right now. It's amazing how one week of rain has changed a dry, yellowish scenery into lush green.

Like anything in life, rainy season has its beauty as well as its ugliness, especially in Nicaragua where the sewage system is not so up to date, to say the least. When the sky opens up and sends down the strength of Iguazu waterfall for 30 minutes, the whole Managua streets become flooded with trash from the past century. The sewage system cannot take all the rain, and filled with the street trash that probably blocked the sewers, everything comes up to the streets and swims for awhile before settling somewhere in the streets. So, as you can imagine, driving after the rain is indeed a great task. I must admit, though, the people of Nicaragua have improved  with littering and less trash seems to be thrown onto the streets. 

When I first came here in 2005, driving behind a bus load of people was very dangerous. I felt like I was playing a Gameboy: to dodge the trash coming out of the bus and survive in order to move onto the next level to win the game...coke cans, plastic bags, paper bags, left over tortillas..You name it, it all came out of the buses. But, I don't see that much anymore. I see few plastic bags coming out from time to time, but definitely an improvement over the years in the littering department. 

So, on this day, Nicaragua celebrates Labor Day. And nice Mr. Ortega decided to give us Monday off as a holiday, since the day fell on a Saturday. This means school is resting too. ^,^  I think many have left for the beaches because the city feels like a ghost town: very quiet and deserted. It's so quiet that I even hear the birds chirping 5 in the afternoon!  

Our clinic is also closed for Monday. Even though we open it, the doctors said that the people would think everything closes and would not come. Thus, the clinic will be resting too. More patients have been visiting the clinic. Should I be happy or sad? More sick people? or the clinic is becoming more known? Hmmm...

Also this month, my 5th graders will be promoted to 6th grade. Our school ends on May 28th. Another end of the year is arriving. I have a great class and am going to miss my 22 homeroom students and other 45 students in Social Studies. It's been a wonderfully rewarding year. All God's grace. 

Well, do enjoy the last month of spring. I am sure hot summer days are slowing seeping into your area. May you experience our Lord's blessings in your daily life. Enjoy all the May flowers given by the April showers...

April 4, 2010

Elise in her senior picture...

Happy Easter! We have many good news to be thankful for and certainly the best news is our Lord's resurrection. I still miss the Easter morning services at New Haven church, full of lilies and boys and girls in their best outfits. The hymns that we sang during the Easter services gave energy, filling the whole sanctuary with hope and joy. Easter is certainly the core of our Christian belief and that's why this day is so powerful and wonderful.

Our family also has a wonderful news: Elise's acceptance to several universities. "Perhaps they send out acceptance letters first, then the rejection letters later, that's why she hasn't heard"..I kept thinking like that for 2 weeks when everyone around her was being accepted to somewhere, except Elise. Even though I prayed, I didn't have faith. As many of her friends were being accepted and the time approached closer to April 1st, I became more and more apprehensive for Elise's future. Even as I reassuringly told her she can volunteer or take a year off if she doesn't get accepted to anywhere, I was nervous. How little is my faith. Then, as she began hearing back from her safety schools one by one, my anxiousness turned into greed as I wanted my daughter to be accepted into a more "top school". How insatiable is my heart. 

Elise has worked hard all her 13 years of education. Since Kindergarten, she gave her best. She is so well disciplined and motivated. I have watched her grow with maturity in all aspects of life. I feel she has prepared herself well for her next education. God knows more about Elise than anyone else in the world. I know He will provide. I hope she will continue to lean on Him, as she has been doing since she began her first walk of faith. 

I can, without any hesitation, say that I respect Elise. She has so many excellent qualifications that I love and envy. I know she will be fine at whatever she does. At 17, she has achieved so much more than I ever did. And I am so glad that she has our Father who has been and will be with her always. 

Thank you for your prayers and I ask you to join me in congratulating our daughter Elise and continuing your prayers for her as she embarks on her new journey at the University of Pennsylvania. 

March 6, 2010

Mom and Dad in Connecticut.

I had quite a scare last week when I got the news that my father had a stroke and was paralyzed from waist down. Thank God that all his feelings have returned, except for his bowel movements, which my dad feels will return soon as well. It was the first health issue we the Han clan had over our aging parents. My dad is turning 74 this year; when I was young, of course that age was soooooo old, but somehow when my parents turned 70, they were exclusive in that "old" group of people. I still don't think my parents are old. In fact, I just saw them over December and they seemed more than fine. 

The news of Dad's stroke however revealed the frailty of our lives, while reminding me the awesome power of our Lord, whose hand our lives and deaths lies. I know and believe this. But, I can't help but wonder how those whose trust is not on our Lord deal with such grave matter as life and death. Whom do they rely on? Whom do they trust? 

Talking to my dad really relieved me. He was thankful for everything, in spite of his situation. He has always been an optimist. But, thanking for what he still has or what could have happened really was a wonderful witnessing of our Lord's presence in my dad's life. I was glad for his faith. I somehow became stronger through it and realized I am now more ready to face my parents' aging process. It is because I see that our mighty God is with my parents. 

February 21, 2010