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NERC: Reflect in sincerity. Pray With purpose. Move with intent.

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Greetings everyone! I can hardly believe it, but it has been nearly two months since our return from our amazing Korean adventure. As I mentioned in my previous blogs, I had contracted a very bad respiratory illness while in Korea. I coughed and struggled for four full weeks, and then I contracted another respiratory infection here in the U.S. that took me out for another three weeks, which brings us to today. I am still coughing a bit, but am finally recovering.  While this sounds like the pitts, and it sort of was, it has allowed me to sit, reflect on our time, look through our photographs, communicate with my friends via our messenger app, and to really lean on the Lord and ask what the next chapter will hold for myself and my family. Let me start by saying that Korea is amazing. It is a beautiful country, with beautiful people, a rich history, astounding technological developments, and a very high degree of education. It has a culture that is built on respect for one anoth...
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Day Seven: The Final Day at NERC

I can hardly believe that the week with our kids has come and gone. A few children remain, and those kids are from J-House China. These are children who have a complicated history with the ultimate ending resulting in becoming orphans. Tonight we, as a family, will embark on one of the MOST important missions of our whole trip. Hanging out as a family with the kids, creating a loving bond and re-assurance in the midst of their tumultuous journey. And while this sounds easy, it is CRITICAL work. And prayer support is needed for these kids. We will close out our time on Jeju on Monday afternoon. We will then go the Seoul for a few days. Then, later this next week we will return home to the U.S.A. with our hearts full, stories to tell, and new found purpose.
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Haemdok Beach, Jeju Island As I type this blog to you all, it is 6:40 AM on the Korean Island of Jeju-do. I am surrounded by four North Korean girls who are soundly sleeping and gently snoring in total peace in the safety of our room. And what a sweet sound it is. A few days ago I started to become very sick. I have contracted a bad respiratory virus anf am battling a sinus infection and gunk in my lungs. Many leaders here have become sick with it, which smacks of spiritual warfare. Thankfully we all have a strong team of support,  so I can take a day to rest on and off. So prayer could be used in this area. Yesterday we went to Haemdok beach. To say that it was utterly beautiful is an understatement. The waters here are a beautiful blue and, unlike the Caribbean, they are milky vs. clear. This is due to the island being known for the restorative mineral properties of the water off of this volcanic island. As we played in the water, Hailey looked at me and said, "this is ...
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When locked doors open

As I may have mentioned earlier,  we have been split up with Charles and I leading two different teams. He has a group of the boys and one girl.   I have a group of two boys and two girls.  Half of each of our group is from South Korea,  and half is from North Korea.  And while you may expect the top be many barriers, I personally witnessed many amazing things today. Shy students opening up,  South Korean students helping North Korean students with their lessons, complex thoughts coming out of our realms from Nehemiah, and my North Korean students opening up to me in a loving way. I wish I could share photos with you at this time.  However,  for the protection of the students from North Korea, and their families.  However, you can see photos via the nehemiah global initiative USA page on Facebook. I'll try to share a link tomorrow.  But for now,  it is bedtime.
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Transition from Training to Teaching

We have now completed our two day training here at the Nehemiah Global English Reunification camp (NERC). We're all feeling a little nervous, overwhelmed, and unprepared. However, this is perhaps the situation for us to be in as the kids are arriving today, and they are feeling the same way. As a family we will be split up into three groups. Charles and I are group leaders, and Hailey will be joining a group of students under a ream leader from Hong Kong. My group consists of two girls, and two boys, ages 15, 16, and two seventeen year olds. Two of them are refugees and two are from South Korea. I do not know who is who at this time, and in reality it doesn't matter. They are here.  I am here.  We've been brought together for a reason. So, starting today I will be responsible for for teenagers.  Charles also has a group of three boys and one girl. We won't be able to share their photos with you at this time for purposes of protection of them and their families. We w...
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Day One

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48 hours ago we boarded a plane to head to the other side of the world on an amazing mission that will not only lift up and honor Korean students, both Northern Refugees and Southern, but also ourselves.  48 hours ago we boarded a plane to head to the other side of the world on an amaz8ng mission that will not only lift up and honor Korean students, both Northern Refugees and Southern, but also ourselves. After 26 hours of travel, we arrived on YWAM campus located Jeju Island. We had two buses, three plane transfers. And crossed more time zones than I can count. We arrived at 8pm Korean time, which was 6AM CST. To say that we arrived travel weary is to put it lightly. Jeju is beautiful. I mean REALLY beautiful. And very warm. (97° real feel with 67% humidity) We've only been on the University of Nations campus, but it is lovely and I can't wait to see more. We've been receiving more teaching teams from China today, and have been connecting and preparing for...
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And the Journey Officially Begins

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It's Tuesday night, the night before we hop on a plane to literally fly to the other side of the world to do a job that has been in my heart for years. What was LITERALLY once a dream has now become a reality, and in less than 24 hours we will be on Jeju island. To everyone that has contributed on some level to this journey, I invite you to fully join us via  my photos, musings, and updates. Tonight has been filled with a walk to Mall of America for dinner, some decompressing on rides, and an early bedtime, as dawn will come really early for us. As we head off, we ask for prayers as we go. We are walking into the unknown, working on teamwork and trust. And now... to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a big day. We have made the bold decision to travel via carry on only. Many reasons have influenced this. However, traveling light seems right.
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