Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Note from John

Sorry I didn't put this on earlier...Here is John's first week report.


Hello Family and friends,
The Lord has been good to me, my first week in Korea being completed. I thank you all for your prayers and wanted to give you a little update of how things are going, my responsibilities, and prayer requests. I arrived safely here in Seoul Monday night and thankfully did not suffer any major effects from the long flight. I have been gradually finding my way around Bundang (pronounced poo-dung) (suberb of Seoul). The family I am staying with the Kims are extremely kind. They have two children, a 15 year old girl and a10 year old boy. The culture here has a lot of differences but Brad says I am adjusting well.=) My primary duties right now are assisting Brad with his communications to the States and next week I will be starting editing a English teaching program for Korean homeschool students. Study wise I will hopefully be taking the Macro and Micro economics CLEP tests within the next three or four weeks. I would appreciate all your prayers as I continue to adjust. Specifically if you would pray for me to have better concentration studying, to often my mind strays outside or back home, I am used to outdoor physichal labor and activities, so it is a bit of a challenge getting into a studying mode. Also if you could pray for safety I walk 30 minutes to work each day and not being able to read or speak Korean, makes it difficult to ask for directions if you get lost. Once again I appreciate all your prayers and I miss you all. I will keep you posted and look forward to seeing you all in July when I return.
Have a blessed weekend and Lords day.
Sincerely, John Sauve

Pussy Willows and Daffy-Down-Dillies


We have always wanted to have pussy willows growing on our property so we were very excited and blessed when we received these slips from the farm where we get eggs!



So soft and fuzzy!
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Our friends gave us these lovely blooms


We dream of having "clouds" of them some day too!


It is daffodil time, so the robins all cry,

For the sun's a big daffodil up in the sky,

And when down the midnight the owl call "to-whoo"!

Why, then the round moon is a daffodil too;

Now sheer to the bough-tops the sap starts to climb,

So, merry my masters, it's daffodil time. ~ Clinton Scollard


I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
~William Wordsworth

Monday, April 28, 2008

This past week

This past week we have...

Dug a canal through our back yard...found a drain and still wonder where all the water is coming from and going!....



Worked in the flower beds, cleaning out and rearranging plants (and we are not done yet!)...




Visited the Klaty family, holding baby Callahan, playing with the other children and catching up on life....







Enjoyed an evening of music by our local orchestra and guest performer Aaron Tindall...



and for the end of the week we stopped by for a little while in town to see the sights and sounds of the Wild Lapeer event!




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Well it has been a week now since John left for South Korea. We have been able to talk to him almost every day and even though he still struggles with the language barrier, he is doing well. Below are just a couple pictures that he sent to us...just a glimpse of his life and where he is after this first week.




These are some of the children that he helps teach.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Celebrating and saying goodbye!

On Saturday we held an open house for John, for all his friends to come and say goodbye. We had tons of food (thank you to all who brought some!) and a great time of fellowship with friends and family! I have so many pictures and very few words so just enjoy the images and I will continue to try to keep you posted as we hear from John.

Oh and Praise the Lord! From all the "ble$$ings" that he received we were able to go out that night and get him a digital camera!!! I am greatly relieved as I could not stand the thought of him not having instant pictures as he was only going to be taking disposables! So I hope to be able to get him to send me some photos of his surroundings and things that he sees as the days go by!

Thats not even half of it all!
Pleasant surprises from Downriver friends!

"Tiny" and Christianna


Josh made a map of S. Korea to show where John would be going.


Josh and Shawn playing with their food!

Aunts and Uncles came too.

Local friends



John and dad talking with Todd Courser (he is running for State Rep.)

The Fultz and Ostrander family with John!

Church friends


Boy and his dog

The photographer and her "little" brother
(thank you Theresa for taking the pictures!)


Mr. Walker and little Esther.
John and Uncle Tim
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Sunday was a little bitter-sweet as we drove John down to the airport and waited around till he had to go through security.


checking the flights

last minute phone call from Aunty Carmen!
Are you ready?
Last goodbyes and off he goes.
We praise God for this great opportunity that He has given John and pray that God will bless and guide him on his way and that John will find strength in his Lord through all the difficulties and differences and that he will return even closer to his Savior and filled with knowledge and wisdom for the road ahead!


You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

at Your right hand are pleasures forever more.

Psalm 16:11
We love you John and miss you greatly!
~Grace

Joshua's Birthday!


Before I go on to more stuff about John I must put a post on for Joshua...his 18th birthday was Friday! The day started out with Josh going to work (Praise God he was blessed with a job working for one of our friends) and then went out to eat lunch with dad. In the afternoon most of us went to a nature/pond sanctuary and the boys tried their hands at fishing again (nothing was caught) but we enjoyed the warm weather and walking the trails.









The only things they caught were "fish sticks"!



On our way back to the van Josh caught this large snake!



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When we got home we had Josh open his gifts, then we ate dinner, watched a video and ate his cake and ice cream.



This is the awesome shirt that Faith MADE for Josh!

Any idea what his interests are??



We are so blessed to have Joshua in our lives. We praise God for the gifts that He has given Josh and pray that God will continue to bless him and lead him in Truth and Righteousness!
Happy birthday Joshua!