Building Walls: soccer camp, pool, and other things

So after many weeks of neglecting the blog and trying to use every minute as fulfilling as possible, I got sick!The fact that I was in wet clothes at the pool for 2 hours being cold then going right back out not to return for another 6 hours probably didn't help either. So last night, I had a fever and sore throat which still continues at this very moment. But after getting like 10 hrs of sleep off and on and eating well, I feel much better. I had been planning to go out and wander the city a bit today but ah well, I suppose it's God's way of letting me know that I need rest. Plus now I can write a ridiculously long entry without feeling like I need to be elsewhere :)

So here are some things that have been going on in no particular order.

This past Mon-Wed was the annunal Jerusalem Ministry's Soccer Camp for the boys at various homes. Some of the things that we had been praying for were that the boys got a boost in self-confidence as out there and also be unified because we were putting them in teams with kids that they didn't know. We had also been praying for good weather especially since it's mansoon season in Korea and the rain can be really unpredictable and long lasting. Last year, it rained before and after the soccer camp but not during. This year, we got 3 days of sunny weather, one of the sunniest I've ever seen here. All for His glory! There were some rocky moments with a few kids and during such moments I was reminded that I should have been praying more. We had 6 kids from my home go and they had to split up into 4 teams but I was so proud of how they did their best (most of the time) nevertheless. The kids are well disciplined here so when they go out, they tend not to be rowdy and more reserved. My babies! On the last day, the kids all went to the swimming park nearby and had tons of fun dunking me in the water. You can imagine how tired they were on our hour long subway ride home :)

Our kids all decked out in their soccer gear on our way to the soccer camp

The Blue Sharks! That was the name of our team. We ended up gettting third place :)

at the pool afterwards. we all had to wear caps or couldn't go in the pool... so redunkulous looking

i finally escaped from the boys' grasp. so tired~

our way back home after 3 days of soccer camp and the pool. the kid sleeping wouldn't wake up when it was time to get off, so we almost had to drag him out.

Then on Friday of the same week, our home decided to take the kids to the swimming park as well. We were there from 10-4 and it started raining/windy in the middle. I was cold and tried to get the kids out of the water but they insisted through blue lips and chattering teeth that they weren't cold at all, haha. We ended the day with piping-hot ramen noodles, which I was super thankful for.

I can't believe it's almost already time to leave this place. It's been a very long but short (?) time here at NamSan home and I feel like already we've grown accustomed to each other. Today a few of the older boys came up to me saying "Are you still sick?" which doesn't seem much but meant a lot to me. The younger kids all made it a point to come up to me asking a variety of things as I was sitting outside watching them play .."let's play battminton," "maerong," and my personal favorite "why do you keep on looking at me, am I that good looking?" These kids are so eager to get your attention sometimes but then aren't we all?

Honestly, I've been slacking on my prayer/QT time with God these days. I know how faithful He is when we ask yet I haven't been asking. Especially with only 2 more weeks or so left here, I really should be on my knees interceding for the staff and kids. But it's a relief to know that people back home are interceding for them as well and I don't have to be bear the weight alone~

some random pictures.