Day 36– Kay Park

1. What do you do for a living? (occupation/field of study)

I teach third graders at a public school in Bayside, Queens.

2. How do you like to spend your free time?

I have been blessed with two kids. These days, I tutor kids after school, help my 9 year old daughter with her assignments, and play hide and seek with my 3 year old. I try to find clever hiding spots so I can sneak in a few minutes of alone time (even if it’s usually dark and cramped). I look forward to the weekends so I can catch up on Kdrama.

3. Share one interesting fact about you that most people don’t know!

I suffered from Voluntary Chronic Absenteeism in high school. Miraculously, I made it to college and since becoming a teacher 14 years ago, I now spend 180 days a year in school.

4. Do you have a favorite book in the Bible? If you do, which one is it and why?

I am not sure if I have a favorite book in the Bible… but most of my highlights and bookmarks in my Bible App are from the book of Romans. I am drawn to it because it centers on the Gospel of Christ while encouraging me to live a life centered around Christ.

5. Is there a verse/passage in the Bible that has significantly impacted your life? If so, which is it and why?

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

This verse helped me overcome a very difficult season in my life. It is also the first bible verse I memorized aside from John 3:16. It still serves as a daily reminder for me. Life is not always easy and our circumstances are not always ideal. This bible verse reminds me of what God’s intentions are for his children. He loves his children and wants us to find peace through Christ.

6. Is there a prayer request that has been on your heart recently? If so, please share with us.

Please pray for my heart to change and grow to be more like Christ. I want to not just proclaim the gospel but live it out as an example of Christ to others. It is my hope for my non-believing family members to come to know Jesus.

7. Tell us about how you met Christ? (feel free to share a brief testimony)

I met Christ during the summer of 2017. Being in my mid 30’s, it was a very comfortable time in my life… I felt like I had everything under control. My family and friends were healthy and well, my mortgage was paid off, my weekends were filled with gatherings and events, and I was off for the entire summer.

One week into my break, I started having health issues. It started with a bacterial infection in my stomach but I began to experience all sorts of health problems along with intense anxiety and depression.  I tried to take control and solve my problems with my own abilities and of course I failed miserably. This is when I realized my life was not mine to control and I needed Jesus to save me. 

Upon my decision to follow Jesus, there were many moments of fear, uncertainty, and hopelessness but His love and grace kept me going. I continued to fight through knowing God is on my side. As I grew my relationship with the Lord, I realized He has always been there for me and that He will continue to be by my side. Since then, I have been striving to put God first in my life. I praise God that I don’t have to do this alone. He has blessed me with wonderful brothers and sisters and a church community to be on this journey alongside me.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”.  Ephesians 2:8