Announcement Letter

WE'RE CHINA BOUND!

       

Dear Family & Friends,

                                                                                               

               We believe one person can make a difference in the world. We believe it is the main purpose for one's existence. It can take place through a variety ways: politics, literature, media, education, business, financial contributions, giving of time, helping someone, & so many other ways. In our effort to make a difference in the world, we have gone through various types of preparation over the last five years & recently pursued education positions overseas. We are deeply pleased to announce that we have been accepted as teachers in Yanji, China! This means so much to us & we want all of you to celebrate with us over this special opportunity! Dozier will be teaching as a volunteer in the Conversational English Department at YUST (Yanbian University of Science & Technology). Michaella will be teaching 5^th & 6^th Grade at YIA (Yanbian International Academy) with a stipend for each class she teaches. By teaching in Yanji we will make a difference through education, obtain multifaceted experience, become more globally focused, better understand different ethnics & cultures, & make our family & friends proud! We believe contributing to the world is our duty to our fellow man & deeply pleases God.

 Yanji is located in the far northeastern part of China & is the capital of Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture. The city is about 30 miles from the North Korean border & a few hours from the Russian border. It is embraced by mountains as it sits at the foot of Chaingbai Mountain. Nearly half of the city's 400k population are ethnic Koreans.  The city mainly speaks Mandarin Chinese & Korean (fortunately this will not be a problem for us in our schools because we will be teaching in English). The cost of living is very low so that this will be financially easier for us.  The city has some western style foods like Italian restaurants with pizza & even a few KFCs.  We will mostly be using the low cost cafeteria at our schools, running about $1.25 USD per meal. It is open every day & will provide us with a very convenient way of survival. We will be living in a faculty dorm that is a 10-15 minute walk to our schools. Other transportation needs will not be a problem due to the many affordable bus routes. Concerning the weather, Yanji has four distinct seasons. The temperature peaks around 85F during Summer but reaches -5F during the very windy Winter, giving it a yearly average of about 35-40F.

                 There is much about the religious/spiritual condition of the city that we have yet to discover. There are both Protestant & Catholic churches in Yanji in the native languages of Mandarin & Korean. There is also an English speaking gathering at YIA—we hope to attend services in each language as often as possible.

We believe our classrooms will provide one of the many windows into the lives of the people of Yanji. We see our classrooms as missionfields that will provide multiple unique opportunities for the betterment of people's lives. We feel so blessed to have this before us! We foresee ourselves being in Yanji for one to two years. After this time, we will prayerfully & wisely reassess our goals & opportunities to make a well-informed decision, probably applying for teaching positions within ISC (International Schools of China) or ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International).

We ask you to deliberately consider symbolically joining us in Yanji in two ways: (1) generously pray for us & the city of Yanji &/or (2) prayerfully give a small one-time financial gift. We are so thankful & blessed for you being in our lives & sharing in this experience with us!  Your blessing, support, & excitement in this means so much to us! We want to make a difference in the world just like you have made a difference in our lives! So do not stop but continue to "shine like lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).

Praising God Forever,

Dozier & Michaella Lee 

Stay connected with us at TheLeesOverseas.blogspot.com   Facebook  dozier.lee@gmail or michaella.lee523@gmail.

Financial gifts are accepted through the YUST PUST foundation in two ways (in the appropriate line write "Dozier Lee at YUST" or "Michaella Lee at YIA”):

1.      Online: yustpust.org

2.      Mail: YUST PUST Foundation, P.O. Box 336, Winnetka, IL 60093 Phone# (312) 805-8646.

About Us

We are 3+ years married (no children yet), recent college graduates, & are leaving to teach in China! We are scheduled to depart from the U.S. on August 18th, 2012.  Please stay in the know on our blog site by subscribing. 

We have both graduated from Southeastern Bible College in May 2012.  Dozier received a B.A. in Bible and Theology, a minor in History and holds a certification to teach History and Bible in middle and high school.  Michaella received a B.A in Bible and Theology also a B.A. in Elementary Education.  She will be able to teach K-8th grade with her education degree in a Christian school.

Our drive in life is people and to see others grow in knowledge of the Word of God.  Educating the world about how to teach God's Word properly is a reason for living, and teaching!

China!

Yes! China!

 

So, you may be thinking, "This is a little out of the blue Doz!"

Well, to some...yes...to others...no.

For the last 5ish years Michealla & I have had China & South Korea in our minds.

 

Going overseas was one the earliest things we talked about in the progression of our relationship--communicating to each other our goals & dreams & such.

 

The story of us getting job positions in China is pretty simple but awesome--(deep breath) Michaella went to a women's luncheon & sat beside a lady who has a brother who is a close friend with the headmaster of a school in Yanji China. Emails/resumes were tossed around, applications--BANG! Michaella's approved as 5th & 6th grade homeroom teacher! Easy right?

 

My story is similar--(short breath)--The headmaster of Michaella's school in Yanji China has close ties with a nearby university. Emails/applications tossed around--BANG!--Dozier's approved in the Conversational English Department. (Moral of story--love networking!)

 

Many many details were left out of this deeply complicated process (I lied about it being simple). We're currently working towards getting our work visas to teach in China--man is this process complicated!!! Woman is this process complicated!!! This is complicated!

 

We're making progress with the visas, our positions are secured, housing is secured (faculty dorms--will talk about that later), & we're scheduled to leave AUGUST 18/19th 2012.

 

We're very excited about this & hope each of our family & friends are too! We'll just be gone a little while or so.

 

More details to come :)

 

Dozier

Graduation Day

Graduation has come and gone for me and the Doz. What an exciting day it was indeed! I (Michaella) got my nails done with my good friend Tiff Raley (We will miss the Raleys as they go on to their masters in LA). May 11th is a day of endings and beginnings; a day to close the joyful, tearful and growing time at Southeastern Bible College. We both graduated with a B.A. in Bible and theology, I also with a second B.A. in Elementary Education and Dozier with a minor in History. He is receiving a certification from ACSI to teach Bible in a Christian School.

With candlelight service the day before graduation, we waited all week with no school and no work to tend to, causing a little nerves and excitement to build all week! Finally the day of recognition came; as we filed into the cafe' there were no seats left as the program begun. We clung to our loved ones with intent of holding back our tears of excitement and joy at what God has brought to full fruition on this day! The speakers brought challenging words on what it was like to be "culturally relevant, Biblically grounded, and spiritually mature" to begin the candlelight ceremony. It was a gracious and humbling feeling knowing we were standing firm in the LORD and among our other fellow graduates.

Finally, the next day was graduation and it was here. I bought a new dress, and fixed my hair; Dozier, put on a tie! LOL He looked dashing in his suit! We met our fellow graduates for pictures in the courtyard, then went back to room 257 for instructions. We all sat wide eyed and big smiles, as the whole room listened intently, taking care to pay attention to what Mr. Wolfe was explaining. Oh how we all said with our eyes "Please LORD, don't let it be ME that trips or walks in front of the camera man and mess the whole evening up!!"

The moment came, we lined up alphabetically, were counted then ushered into the sanctuary of Southeastern Bible college for the last time as current students. The LORD filled our hearts as we walked to our seat, stood with honor and sat patiently to be called across that stage. As I stood in line to be called, it was as if I didn't hear anything but my name and the urge to run, jump and shout for joy across that stage! But the sight of Dr. Wolfe helped me regain my composure; as I strode easily across the stage, I felt as if I couldn't hear anything I was so filled with joy!


                                     

I reclaimed my seat in enough time to catch sight of my husband trailing behind me. Wat an honor that was to see him there. I silently prayed and cried at this phenomenon, this wonder. Knowing God has thus brought to fruition this miracle that Dozier was able to graduate with me, caused me to believe even more God has His mighty hands working in our lives stronger than what a human mind can possibly imagine.

A beautiful day, a wonderful moment in time was our graduation day as we turned our tassel's; all in one quick moment we were ushered out to the foyer as so many familiar faces swarmed us with smiles, tears and hugs. This is the moment I knew the LORD has redeemed, restored and refreshed us both for the mission field called the world. As everyone's camera lights flashed in our eyes, I find myself clinging to Dozier for support and clutching our diplomas with pride. My face hurt from smiling, my heart was full and I felt in my soul that Dozier was feeling what I was feeling.... wonder.... and awe, weakness in our human flesh and power in the almighty God. It is all the LORD that brought us to this pivotal moment in our lives. God did the growing of His spirit in us to allow us the life we are in. A life of dedicated service, a life of sacrifices and prayer is what God has trained us for at Southeastern. With minds swirling and loved ones demonstrating their love for us as people, we embrace the unknown of our future.
Let us wait on the LORD with patience and reverence in how God will demonstrate His goodness and mercy through our accomplishments at Southeastern. God is our reason for life; so let it be our lives we give to Him for this purpose. We await for His plan to be made known as we wait in Him by devouring the Holy Scriptures so we may understand the voice of God.

I pray you, the reader, have been moved to breaking from your complacency and move!! Seek His face in prayer, fast from desired earthly things so we may CLEARLY hear the still voice of GOD!!! I challenge you to make sacrifices, make hard choices, do things for the Kingdom of God!!
With love and care,
The Lee family



We remain in prayer for our future after college. May the LORD use our lives mightily and may we never cease seeking Him through His word for direction! Amen

Graduation is a few days away

The lee family undergrad graduation is scheduled for May 11th!  I cant believe it.  This time at Southeastern has shaped, ripped and re-created us both for the glory of God.  So thankful for this growing and trying experience, but definitely ready to move on to the real world... wherever that next move takes us.  Many opportunities and possibilities lie ahead of us and can only be understood through our continued prayer tot he LORD.

Life has taken so many changes and all can only be taken in with blind faith in the LORD.  God has allowed us to rent a small one bedroom at such a low rate that is month to month with no contract!!  The area is quiet and perfect just for the two of us to finish our studies strong and grow in wisdom of the LORD.  God has worked His plan without us even realizing its taking place, and by faith we have walked through these things with uncertainty at times, but knew that God controlled our lives.

Dozier took off spring of '11 to work and get us out of debt.  In doing so, we did not believe he would graduate with me until 2013.... but my favorite phrase "but God!"  He never once left us even though we cried out for change in the midst of his physically challenging job.  Exhaustion, loneliness and a trip to the ER kept us on our knees in prayer during the time he worked and I attended classes.

Finally, about 1 week before classes resumed the next fall of '11, we finally cried our last cry and saw it the  right time to inquire about him returning to school.  Long story short, he could return and finish May of '12 by changing his minor to history.  I must shout right now that this is a passion of his!!  Of course, he decided right there to make the switch and finished work on Friday and began classes the next Tuesday.  With maxed hours and service learning (volunteer activities required by SEBC) with his last two semesters, we will now both graduate together May 11, 2012 and finally be done!  God has plans for us we still do not know about even with graduation one week away.  Our desire is to teach the word of God, through academics and in a classroom setting.  We both believe our hands could not have made happen what did happen with our final few semesters but knowing God is completely using us, all for HIS GLORY!!

LORD please continue allowing us a mustard seed of faith each day to continue your plan with out us making a human mess of things.  Grow our faith and use us LORD to bring people to know Your Son Jesus and to radicalize this world, one person and country at a time.  We serve You with each breath, thought and action.  Guide us LORD, in all Your ways and truth.  Amen

Last day of student teaching

My last day of student teaching came and went.. oh how sad it was to leave but so sweet to be moving on of course!  I was given a large black and white flower reusable bag with a big "L" on it filled with post its, note pads, pens, markers, pencils, erasers oh a bottle of sanitizer with polka dots and a big "L" monogrammed in it!  Also a big pink clipboard with polka dots and of course, you guessed it, a monogrammed "L"!  So many wonderful gifts were given, too many to recall and write about. 

So many wonderful gifts with much love and appreciation for the giver and received that day.  The kids wrote me "love notes and not good-bye notes", they said tee hee :)

So blessed to have the call of being a teacher!

Valentines day in Student teaching

2/14/12

(A bit late on this blog, but oh well, i'm trying to get better!!!)

Its Valentines Day!  The day of celebrating love!  It was a beautiful cool and crisp day today as I walked up the long walkway and up the the second floor of Briarwood with all my goodies for my teachers and kids.  Previously I had made little red hearts cut from poster board with Collosians 3:23 written on each heart "DO all of your work strongly for the LORD and not for mankind."  I pok3ed two holes thorough the top and stuck a new, un-sharpened pencil through the holes.  It was a simple and cute with a lifesaver taped to each pencil.

Briskly I walked into the other five, third grade teachers rooms, said happy valentines day and plopped their gift on each desk.  By the time I reached my classroom, I was so overjoyed by the love the children had with their gifts and so eager to dish out to everyone.  As I turned the corner into my classroom, the smell of cocoa, sugar and sweets filed the room!

The principle waltzed in our room with a beaming smile and large box of candy filled cups for her teachers.  She exuded love for her job and joy in dishing out little and simple valentines for all of her teachers just to make their Valentines special.

At the end of the day, the children lined up their paper lunch bags on top of their desk to have them filled with little goodies.  By the time the last child filled their goodie into their friends bags I thought for sure each bag was going to bust!  The children were so happy and so eager to look in their bags all to see what they have received of course.  My teacher was so fair and allowed them each one thing from their bag to ease their excitement!

The joy, laughter and excitement that day filled my heart to see the happiness in my kids.  Its days like this that are a joy to look forward to and help the more challenging days of course.

Blessed and thankful my calling is a teacher!
Mrs. Lee