Dear Future Goers! (Or even those currently on the field!)
YOU ARE IN FOR AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME! You are going to have your fair share of ups as well as your downs! It is not going to be all unicorns and rainbows. However, you have been given this privilege to serve our God and his people overseas - and THAT.. I can’t even begin to explain how cool that is! Matter of fact, I have extended my stay here in Mexico!
If you are going to a country that does not speak your native tongue, you WILL be able to learn and communicate eventually. Trust me, I have just sat in multiple (SO MANY!) church services just staring at the pastor. Did I understand anything? Maybe five words tops! It gets better though! Trust. Better yet, you do not have to trust me, put yourself in that situation and see God work in those moments! BUT REMEMBER TO HAVE GRACE ON YOURSELF! You will make mistakes, (people may laugh) but how else are you going to learn? Many of my closest friends here have had a bottomless amount of patience for me as I tried to form sentences in my head in Spanish.
Culture shock may hit you straight in the face like a bullet train, but during those times, you’ll be surprised who lends their shoulder to cry on - literally! I never thought I would be bawling for days, but I did. But dude, God will protect you. He will not forsake you. You are going to crave your comfort foods. I craved my mom’s Korean cooking. Do not feel bad. Buy yourself that fifteen dollar meal. There were times I sat in Korea town with my plate of dumplings. I closed my eyes and ate those dumplings, and dude, I felt a little better.
Not everyone is going to understand you. That’s okay. They may eventually understand… some never will. That’s okay.
Make an effort to make relationships with non-English speaking people! That will boost your language learning, but through them, you will be able to learn so much about the culture and dude, NEW FRIENDS! ALSO, you may even have an opportunity to travel with them in their country! I did!
You have made (or will make) a two year commitment. Sometimes, you may count down the days or months to go back home. In other instances, you may make plans to stay! Time will go by fast. Time will go by slow. Time will be at a standstill. But in God’s time, it will happen. Two years went by so fast for me. I still have more to learn, so I am praying that I can stay longer! I have already extended my stay here!
DON’T WORRY! God’s in control. Give all of your burdens to him. He’s got this! ¡No te preocupes!
Sending you abrazos y besos from Mexico!
Yuri Kim
P.S. You’re more than welcome to holla at your girl!
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