a week in the life of an american

I've been in America now for a little over a week. I can't believe it. Leaving Fiji was pretty hard. Actually, it was really hard. Saying goodbye to people who you've grown to love dearly and to a culture that you've come to adopt as your own is no easy task. But after days of travel, I was looking forward to sleeping in my own bed in ohio.

Being home has been so good. Since flying into Columbus, I've been amazed at how much stuff is here. So many buildings. So many lights. Walking around in Honolulu during our layover was a snap back into american reality, with so many stores and so much stuff everywhere. Expensive, shiny things. Mostly unnecessary things. But we did get some last minute sunbathing on the beach in during our 12-hour layover in Hawaii.


After 50 hours of busses, planes, and cars, we were exhausted. Rob was really tired. He took a nap in the airport when we found out that our flight from Newark to Indianapolis was delayed.





I've loved getting to actually watch my fantasy football players play. I don't even shower every day because I don't sweat continuously. The adjustment from having 2 stations on the television to 700 can be overwhelming. Americans are way meaner than Fijians. I went to walmart the other day and forgot my wallet at home. I thought it was funny but the checkout lady was not amused. :( On a brighter note, Both of my sisters are finally home from university (all three eberle girls in one house makes for a loud, loud norwalk)!

When I got home, I was greeted the next day by some colorful daises from the one and only jenn king :) She also sent cookies, but they were gone before I could get any pictures.






I also got to meet my niece, kieran renee! She is so so so cute, with bright red hair and big blue eyes. She doesn't like me much yet, but I'm pretty sure the more she gets to know how cool I am, the more she'll actually let me hold her without screaming. I taught her how to cook for thanksgiving.




yesterday I went to a bookstore and drank a caramel apple latte (I get to celebrate autumn after all!). And I read some books. I found a book called Cold Tangerines. Any book that makes me cry in the first two of three chapters is a keeper. So I came home and bought it on half.com for 3 bucks, NBD. I also set out to discover what donald miller really believes about life and god.


happy thanksgiving!

in perfect timing

2 weeks from today, I'll be hopping on a plane in nadi, fiji. about 36 hours later, I'll be landing in indianapolis, indiana!

grace in the wilderness

If you've ever tried to read through Isaiah or Jeremiah, I am impressed by your efforts. If you've ever actually completed the task, you must be way more diligent and smarter than me. I've been trying to read Jeremiah since like March. It's hard to get. And it's sort of depressing, because for being "god's people", Israel isn't very faithful, and God's a pretty just God.

It's a lengthy passage, but read chapters 30 and 31 of Jeremiah. Seriously. The best story ever told. From the beginning of the book through chapter 30, Jeremiah keeps telling Judah and Israel about what God thinks of sin. Over and over again (a Nelly reference, what?). He gives little hints of God's grace but mostly talks about God's wrath. And in ch. 30, Jeremiah shoots straight with the israelites. He quotes God saying things like "your hurt is incurable, there's no healing for you" and "your sins are flagrant and your guilt is great".

Then, one of the clearest pictures of redemption in all scripture that I've read: chapter 31. "With weeping they shall come, and with pleas of mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble... For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and has rescued him from hands too strong for him" (31:9 & 11). Verse 2 says they found grace in the wilderness. They were in the wilderness for a while. But even in a desolate place, they experienced the grace of God.
How's this possible? It doesn't even make sense. God's a god who redeems. He restores. And gosh dang, even in the midst of our deep, dark, death-deserving betrayal, we get his grace. We get the cross and a clean slate. It's what I'll spend the rest of my life trying to understand.

On a less serious but equally blog-worthy note, we've seen sun in suva everyday for like a week straight. If that's not evidence of God's goodness and a straight up miraculous act of the sovereign God, I don't know what is. I might come home with a tan after all!

sand day saturday

Last weekend, we took a trip to some wicked sweet sand dunes! I've never been to sand dunes before, but I'm pretty sure these are some of the coolest around. check out a couple pics:



















that's all for now. keep it real.

All-Star Nina (and american sunnies)

Hellllo blog world! Well the countdown has officially begun: 5 weeks or so (okay, so maybe not an "official" countdown) until our arrival to our home sweet home! I'm excited! But there's still sooooo much to do (for example, the All Blacks have to win the Rugby World Cup) here, so I'm not looking too far ahead.

This semester at our weekly meetings, we've been talking about what sort of things define our identity as followers of Christ. A few of our student leaders have the opportunity to speak throughout the second half of this semester. Nina, one of the girls I meet with, is a final year student at USP. She talked about our identity as children of God. Nina did a STELLAR job. It was completely outside her comfort zone, but she walked with the Lord through the process and God used her.
We had a girl's weekend retreat a couple weekends ago. About 25 girls came for the weekend. We expected a few more students, but it turned out to be a perfect number. The group was small enough that they really got to know each other on an intimate level. The girls had a blast. The first night was a P.J. dance party theme night and the second was a Hollywood talent show. We heard incredible teaching from Sai, a Student Life staff woman at USP, held topical seminars, a sports afternoon, and had some awesome worship jam sessions.
Mary, Jenny, and I had a delightful picnic in the park on saturday. A shout out to Rachel, who sent a package from america with sunglasses! we rocked the shades, despite suva's greatest efforts to bring a cloudy day.

a mid-semester PARTY

This week is mid-semester break for USP and FNU students. For them, that means no classes (except most of them still have lots of assignments and tests...) but for us, it's a week packed full of not-on-campus-all-day-every-day ministry.

On Saturday, we had a prayer breakfast followed by an evaluation meeting with student leaders to check out goals that we had set for the year and to evaluate our progress. At the beginning of the year, as a movement (students + staff+ STINTers), we made a goal to share our faith with 2000 students. Currently, we've shared with 2083ish! I can't believe that over 2000 students have clearly heard the gospel at the USP and FNU campuses.


Monday, we held a Leadership training day where we talked about the relationships, roles, and responsibilities of a leader. We also discussed with the girls what things hinder strong leadership within women (namely, lack of consistency in time with the Lord, gossip, and lack of commitment). We want to give students a clear picture of characteristics of a solid leader in any aspect of life and then give them an opportunity to live that out within Student Life.



Yesterday was Suli's birthday celebration! She turned 20 last week, so Niumai and I took her out for pizza and brownies. so good.





The Rugby World Cup is in full swing. New Zealand's hosting the games, and Fiji couldn't be more exciting. With one of the two channels on our t.v. being the official world cup provider, we've had to figure out how to arrange our antenna to get a "clear" and colored picture. Mary suggested aluminum foil. It didn't help. Regardless, rugby has been our football substitute this fall.





We celebrated the 10 points that america scored on Ireland in the
cup with the only real way to celebrate: funfetti cake. Compliments of my ma- all the way from america! YUM YUM YUM.





stay tuned for what the rest of mid-semester break holds!

i shall not want

the LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

today I read psalm 23. and I was shocked. I shall not want? I don't think I've ever thought about it. I've been wanting a lot lately. Not bad things, just things I don't have. but I read it and read it and read it and read it some more because I don't think I quite get it. God's a shepherd. He's my shepherd. He's my good shepherd. So I won't be wanting.
The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out... "I am the good shepherd." [john 10]

jesus tells us like a million times that he's a good shepherd. He either thinks we're really stupid or it's just really important. I never think of God as my shepherd because, to be frank, I don't know anything about sheep or shepherds. I'm sure it was a strong metaphor in the days of david, but I have to sit and ponder a bit for it to have any bearing on my real life. but I'm willing because I actually think it's a pretty big deal. It's a big deal because he takes care of me. He knows what's best and will lead me into righteousness. He restores my soul. So when I want what I don't have, I like thinking about god being a shepherd and me not wanting. I can't help but think that he who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Then I feel completely ridiculous for making idols and worshiping created things rather than the creator.

let's talk about grace, baby

This week, during bible study with some first year girls, we were talking about some basic foundations of walking with Jesus. We dissected Ephesians 2:8 and I asked them to paraphrase the verse in their own words. When I asked what it means that we're saved by grace, one girl responded oh so matter-of-factly, "Oh grace. Kori, you love to talk about grace. Grace is unmerited favor!" I asked what she meant by unmerited favor and she said "grace is not getting something that you deserve. [pause] Wait... that's mercy. Grace is getting something that you don't deserve."

Every now and then, I think that if I have to wait for thirty minutes for a girl to show up one more time or if I get brushed off by one more Indian student I'm going back to America. More often, though, I'll listen to a girl tell me about how she finally doesn't feel like she needs a guy to make her feel valuable. Or that she really wants her friends to know Jesus. Or how she just doesn't know if this whole God thing is really worth it. Or that the Lord is creating in her this desire to read his Word. And holy smokes. I can't believe I get to talk to students every day about how the gospel fits into real life. So I talk about grace a lot. Because it's impossible to begin understanding the intensity of the cross without grasping grace. So when my girls start to get grace, I get to see unmerited favor shift from a mental definition to a heart that moves to the rhythm of the gospel a little more closely.

And then I seriously wonder if I don't have quite possibly the coolest job in the whole world.

a good friday (not THE good friday...)

living life with niumai, a first year girl I disciple. hammock time. She was such a trooper (after putting up a little sass) for getting in wearing a skirt. I LOVE spending time with niumai. She's a ball of energy and is learning so much. Today she told me how she's getting to experience that as you walk with the Lord closer and closer, he produces fruits of the spirit in your life. YES!! :)
Gosh dang I'm missing my bike. I almost made this impulsive purchase the other day. I'm still considering it. Also currently nostalgic for the days of: taco bell, pandora radio, and kavin (little brother). And don't even pretend like this picture didn't crack you up.

As a side note, we're planning a girl's weekend retreat for the end of September! I'm reeeeeally excited.

Also, follow me on twitter: korieberle. You could be my 31st follower...no big deal.

whooops

I forgot I had a blog. So sorry about that. Life is getting really exciting here! We had our student conference a month ago! It was a BLAST. Seriously. A lot of students attended and the American summer project team was partially here for the week. The second semester of classes just began at USP and as I'm getting to meet with students, I've been hearing all about the different ways the Lord used the conference to teach them more about who He is. It's so cool.











I went to New Zealand for a couple weeks! I think the most beautiful place I've ever been. 1 week international conference + 1 week traveling = incredible glimpse into god's heart for the nations and some of his most masterful creation. The conference gave the fijian students a chance to broaden their worldviews and challenged me too! The Lord started to incline their hearts towards the lost and he planted seeds in so many student's that I am confident will blossom into being sent to the ends of the earth.








arrival.





there were university students from all over the world: japan, malaysia, australia, indonesia, singapore, thailand...










the crew (sans rob)











with the kickoff of semester #2, I'm getting back into a pseudo-normal routine. Everyday I get more and more excited about the girls I'm meeting with this semester. And I'm not just saying that because I'm in fiji doing ministry and those are the sorts of things I'm supposed to write on a blog. I'm seriously stoked.

I attended my first fijian birthday party today. An 8 year-old's Spongebob Squarepants celebration. Spongebob cake and all. I arrived in costume (obviously) as Squidward. Jealous?

Thanks for reading. No more empty promises about blogging more. But I will put in a good effort to write something in the next week. or two :)

peace out, fiji

Tomorrow is the beginning of our local student conference! the theme is Just Be It, from Ephesians 5:1. I'm STOKED. Today, I spent all day running errands, getting together the last details for the conference. I've come to humbly accept that it's nearly impossible to do a day of errands in suva without my ipod. I switched up the music on my ipod, so i jammed to some kickback Weezer and Brand New. Emily Clouse, you'd be proud that i still rock out to seventy times seven and the sweater song.



Anyway, another key component to a successful day in suva is HBK. chicken pie and cream bun for lunch, thank you. also, thanks suva for the rainy day. since my hands were full most of the day, I went a little fijian and left my umbrella behind.





the third, and most essential ingredient to doing anything in suva: patience. why the picture of the airport, you may ask? nope, just the local bank.






in honor of the american team's last week in fiji. the best summer project bible study a girl could ask for!










I realize i look angry, but this is actually my gangsta face, which also doubles as my "i'm-wearing-a hooded-sweatshirt-for-the-first-time-in-fiji-as-prep-for-new-zealand" face. SO excited for some cool weather!







That's all I got for you. Stay tuned for some sweet stories from the conferences! keep it real, america.

it wouldn't be so green without the rain

good news! I found my camera! surprisingly, it was in my backpack :)

there's a TON happening in fiji right now.

+ a group of 23 americans are here for five weeks. university students (mostly from miami u.) here helping us with ministry for their "summer project" with crusade. we're so thankful they're here and i'm excited to get to know some of the girls better! 12 college girls, 5 college guys, and 6 staff members.
a picture at the welcome lunch for the american group. is that a white fijian you see in the front? Yes, yes I am. last weekend, our team got kalavata (matching dresses and guys have matching shirts)!

+ First semester classes are wrapping up at USP, and with the summer project team here for the next month or so, we're branching out to Fiji National University (FNU). We'll continue ministry at USP, but we're excited to see what the lord has in store for students at FNU.

+ the excitement level of this week was made significantly higher by the celebration of Brian and Rob's birthdays!!!! Brian's birthday (monday), we went to a chinese restaurant for supper and then came home for dessert and Harry Potter #5. Wednesday we celebrated Rob's birthday with lasagna (YUMMMMMMM), apple pie, and some of rob's favorite games. Tuesday involved a mid-birthday treat: fruit pizza. best food week ever? yup.

+ After 5 1/2 months in fiji, my umbrella has become kind of like my underwear, i hardly ever leave the house without. today, however, I went in town, sans umbrella. my frugal side got the best of me, and i refused to pay for the short taxi ride home. as a result, i was drenched when i got home. unfortunately, you can't really tell the color difference of my clothing because it was ALL wet. Nonetheless, sammy, our guard, took a picture of me. i laughed most of the way home. i suppose everything here wouldn't be so beautifully green without all the rain.

+ today we bought our plane tickets to the conference in New Zealand in July! So excited!

lots more to come!

riding waves

I don't write posts without pictures because I think they're boring. And even blogs that I really want to read, i can rarely find the motivation to read if no visuals.

Unfortunately, I seemingly misplaced my camera. I'm holding out hope that it's going to turn up... until then, here's what's going on in fiji:





I'm learning to surf!








Also, getting in some mad dive time (on the evenings and weekends).






And sick rappelling, oceanside style.





In addition to copy and pasting some google images, I rifled through some older pictures and found a few worth posting:




We accidentally break glasses, plates, and bowls strikingly often. a couple of weeks ago, jenny busted a plate. dang. another one bites the dust, and I thought it was worth capturing.







this was actually taken at jenny's parents' home pre-fiji. we all took our turns jumping off the second floor onto the sofa. one of the many phases of "training" that we endured.







...we were surprised to discover that it would actually come in handy when we decided to jump from the 45 foot waterfall!








though daredevils we are, most of us have weathered the first five months unscathed. and good news! dave's hair is completely grown back from when he entered the pool and landed on his head.




Brian's hair has also grown back to normal. since then, the clippers and my hand haven't been anywhere near his head.

here comes the sun....

after nearly two weeks of rain, yesterday was a FULL day of sunshine! And today started off a bit stormy, but yes, those are blue skies you see! I was so happy i took a picture. If you read my last blog and have been praying for it to cool off, I would like to personally extend my utmost gratitude, as it seems like summer is finally fading out. And the noise of the rain is sometimes quite nice to fall asleep to or relaxing on a lazy saturday afternoon.

Mary and Jenny are as good as ever. Big news in apartment 10: yesterday Liku our landlord brought us new lightbulbs! Only 2 of the 6 fixtures actually had lightbulbs, which was great mood lighting, but not-so-great reading lighting. Next on the list of repairs is our tile floor that cracked a few weeks back- we thought it was an earthquake in the middle of the night but as it turns out, just some outworn caulk. Even though we make jokes about our air con that sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, and sometimes leaks all over our books at night and the ants that invade our bathroom, the kitchen, and our living room, we are sooooo thankful that the Lord has provided such great housing for the year!

Last week, we hosted our first monthly international dinner. Some of our first year girls cooked us some YUMMY fijian faves, including kai (big oysters), vudi (oversized bananas), and kokoda (fish cooked in lemon juice and served in coconut milk). Next month is American... the girls begged for some lasagna. We tried to explain that even though americans eat a lot of lasagna, it would better fit to have a big juicy burger or cooked-to-perfection steak. ah, my mouth is watering.


this week at our weekly meeting, i got to talk about god's grace. We talked about how grace is God giving us what we need instead of what we deserve. Even though all we deserve is death, we get a savior, a rescuer, a redeemer. It was sweet to experience God's grace in some super real ways last week as I was preparing to talk. Sometimes I read Stuff Christians Like for a good laugh, and sometimes I accidentally get convicted by god's spirit. I used an excerpt on the question of "too much grace"- check it out: http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2010/07/too-much-grace/.

A couple of weeks ago, mary convinced us all that Fiji had a sugar shortage! apparently things are back to being a-okay in the sugar department. whew- that was a close one.