The 40 Days of Easter

This year, Easter lasted 40 days for us (March 10-April 20).  Volunteers from Kentucky, Alabama, and Tennessee...along with national partners and co-workers...shared HIStory in elementary, junior high, and high schools many, many, many times!!!

TN Volunteers spent their second Easter telling HIStory.  This association has sent volunteers to us on our little island for Easter and summer projects for the past two years...and rumor is...they will be sending us some volunteers for Christmas 2014.

We use lots of activities to share HIStory:  costumes, props, games, eggs, stories, etc.

In addition to verbally sharing HIStory, the volunteers also distribute written and audio copies of HIS Word.

The volunteers even used "shopping" to share HIStory with store owners.

We have an incredibly busy summer ahead with more opportunities for volunteers to be involved in spreading the Good News.  Please keep all of us in your thoughts--health, stamina, wisdom, safety, security, travel plans, sharing, receptivity, ETERNAL change.

Gazing Across the River

During a recent trip, I was allowed to take a morning to visit a joint security area between NoKo and SoKo. It was the chance of a lifetime to gaze across the river to a place I may never be allowed to visit in my lifetime.  For me, it was hallowed ground to stand in HIS presence and remember all of those living on both sides of the river.  I did not take a camera with me since I was not sure I would be allowed to take photos. However, the place we visited was fairly "touristy" with tour buses, souvenir shops, coffee shops, etc.  The photos below are from the internet.

Map of Demilitarized Zone

Driving north out of Seoul on the highway.  

The DMZ, which stands for Demilitarized Zone, contrary to its name, is the most heavily militarized border in the world.

Imjingak (pronounced Ihm-jin-gak), and sometimes in English called the Imjingak "resort" is a park located on the banks of the Imjin River. The park has many statues and monuments regarding the  Korean War. There is also a restaurant, an observation deck, a pool in the shape of the Korean peninsula, and even a small amusement park.

Observation Deck

Imjingak is where the "Bridge of Freedom" lies. The Freedom bridge does actually cross the Imjin river. It is a former railroad bridge which was used by repatriated POWs/soldiers returning from the north.

 Memorial in gratitude to the USA.

The outing was even more special because one
of my fellow-travelers' father served in the Korean War.
In fact, she was born while he was away.

Answering His Call: Moment by Moment

We are beginning our 7th year in East Asia (not counting two summers we spent here before we actually moved to EA).  Sometimes, even m's can get into too much routine (rut).  You know, you just begin to do the same things in the same places with the same people every day. You have a good feel of the language, the culture, your surroundings....so you just go about your days doing YOUR normal things without much thought of doing HIS extraordinary things.  

Well, for 2014, Jack and I decided to have a new motto:  We would answer HIS call 24/7, moment by moment.  We would go about our normal responsibilities in the office, at our local clubs, in our normal "work" situations....but, we would also be VERY responsive to whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever HE put into our lives....moment by moment.  Let's just say, January has been incredible.  We feel like we are on "this" side of receiving texts, instant messages, FB posts, calls, promptings, etc. from HIM all day long, every day to experience extraordinary opportunities.  Our answer to most everything and everyone is:  WHY NOT?

Today is February 1.  We are in the middle of the Lunar New Year Holiday.  Our whole island is on VACATION and moving about.  It is unusually sunny, clear, and warm.  So, we decided to take a ROAD LESS TRAVELED and drive up into some nearby mountains to enjoy the scenery (minus the millions).  Occasionally, I would hop out of the car to take photos.  At one stop, near a VERY secluded tea farm, the owner came out to chat with us.  (He only spoke Chinese, but we were keeping up pretty well.)  He also had some friends visiting him from our big city and his young adult son.  (They spoke some English and translated on and off for us when we look puzzled.)

The owner invited us to tour his farm, to drink tea and have snacks in his home, to experience a massage by a VERY STRONG 63 year old man, and to have lunch with all of them at a nearby restaurant.  Did I mention it was the FIRST TIME WE HAD EVER SEEN THESE PEOPLE? But, we are determined to answer HIS call this year, moment by moment. They approached us.  They asked us. So, we responded, WHY NOT?

Needless to say, when we left our home this morning at 8 am, we did NOT anticipate this type of day.  But, WHY NOT?  Thus, the problem....we are trying very hard to "anticipate" just these types of days.  For these types of day, to be NORMAL....not extraordinary.

We had opportunity to share with these four adults today.  NONE are believers.  ALL have homes in our big city too.  We exchanged contact info, and we are anticipating more times of sharing in the days ahead. Please lift our new friends up to HIM!  Please lift us up to HIM.  Ask Father to keep us extra-sensitive to answering His call, moment by moment, 24/7/365.

May your answer to anything HE asks of you also be:  WHY NOT?

2013 Christmas on our Little Island

We were blessed to spend about 40 days in the USA during November and December attending meetings, speaking to groups, and visiting friends and family.  It was wonderful to spend Thanksgiving with Elizabeth and Esther and to be involved in their daily lives and activities.  But, it was also good to come back home to our little island for the Christmas season.

The children and adults participated in the Christmas program at our little Chinese clubhouse.  Jack and Jessie even participated.  Jack played the guitar while Jessie sang in Chinese.

Then, our big English speaking clubhouse choir presented  an amazing Christmas musical!

On Christmas Eve, we gathered with brothers and sisters at GBC for a Christmas Eve Candlelight service.

On December 28, GBC celebrated its 60th anniversary.  We were thrilled to be a part of this event since our company personnel started GBC many many years ago after being forced to leave the Mainland.  We were honored to be a part of such a historical program.

Together in South Asia

Recently, we had the opportunity to join 15 local national brothers and sisters for a cross-cultural M trip (East Asians going to serve South Asians). 

For nine days, we ministered to people in West Bengal.

Part of the team used their Medical and Dental skills to share HIStory.

Every day, they also used music, skits, and a brief message to share HIStory.

Some of the team also pryed with locals.

It was GREAT for East Asian believers to work alongside of South Asian believers.

Jack and I did 4 days of Leadership Training with Indian and Bhutanese leaders.

The Bhutanese only have the New Testament, so much of their learning was ORAL MEMORIZATION.

All of the leaders worked very hard to learn HIStory from Creation to HIM!  They also learned a lot about how to tell TRUTH from cults.

One unbelievable opportunity arose.  Four young monks who recently became believers and left the Buddhist monastery were there to receive training.  They learned all the stories of:  creation, fall/curse, commandments, animal sacrifice system, birth, miracles, death, resurrection, and prodigal son.  How exciting to see these young men learn the complete story,
so they can train others.

Just like you do it in America

In August, we had the wonderful opportunity to serve on the southern tip of our island alongside our national partners, co-workers, and unsaved Cram School teachers in a Summer English Camp.  All of our lessons centered around various aspects of Creation:  light, water, land (including the promised land), animals, and people.  The children learned songs, verses, and stories from the BOOK....just like you do it in America in the public schools, right?  We even had a Saturday morning production for all of the parents, school administration, and local public officials.  Well, this time in our blog, we're trying something new....videos.  Enjoy!!!

Volunteers Working Together 2

2013 Happy Camp was held in the mornings during the first week of July.  This year, they asked us to use the C2C English Camp materials.  We were so thankful for national sisters and brothers helping us translate each day.

For the first time, we turned our 4 day camp into a 5 day camp, adding Mother's Day and Father's Day to the curriculum.  On this day, the students learned the consequences of the Fall, the Ten Commandments, and the Sacrificial system.

Every afternoon, the same materials were used at a camp in a public junior high school.  Again, we had great national sisters (teachers at the school) translate for us.  We also had two additional American high school students from Missouri join us.  They are spending a month on our island helping out in various ways.

The second week of July was spent in Colossal Coaster World.  We arrived each morning at 7:30 am and finished each day around 6 pm.  It was a LONG (but fulfilling) week serving 500 students.

Facing Fear, Trusting HIM!

Father has truly blessed us this summer with great opportunities serving alongside USA volunteers, local brothers and sisters, and co-workers!  Together, we're BEST!