I am Dumbfounded

Today Teresa and I taught in Ilsan, thirty minutes away by car, provided there's no traffic. I usually take advantage of the drive by studying Korean. Today I had my note pad with me, and was practicing writing. When we got to the school, I laid the pad on my desk, and the little girls crowded around oohing and aahing. Then Kate picked up a marker and wrote 'apple' on the white board. I picked up another marker, and wrote its Korean equivalent, 'sagwa'. She was delighted, and began to scribble word after English word, while I followed with Korean, surprising myself at how much I knew. Great English practice for her; great Korean practice for me. I really like the group of kids there. They're smart and responsive, and all together enjoyable.

I love reading the prayers recorded in the Old Testament - those prayed by Moses and by Abraham and by Ezra and by Jehoshaphat, and so many others. They reasoned with God. They called to His attention those promises that He had made, or the consequences of a certain course of action; as if God was not already aware of all these things! And, yet, God had such respect for the prayers offered that He allowed Himself to be persuaded by them, and the fates of nations were altered. I am dumbfounded.