The Journey Begins

Christian recording artist who sang at the conference. Very talented!

Annyeong-haseyo! (Hello!) 

Japan. Almost there!

After 48 hours with less than 6 hours of sleep, I found myself at the Chicago O'Hare airport, waiting to board my plane to San Francisco and eventually Seoul. As you may have read on my last blog, one of my main prayer requests is for God to connect me with people during my travels. I didn't expect this to occur before I even left the US. Here's the story:

While waiting at my gate, I was reading a book with an obviously Christian title. A man across me asked if it was a good book, indicating to me that he was likely a Christian himself. I noticed he was with a group of Korean girls. After briefly talking I find out these girls are from an orphanage in S. Korea and that he and his wife hosted them for a couple weeks at their home in WI. The girls did not speak English very well and were a little nervous about making it to the correct gate on their flight back to Seoul. Turns out, we would be on the same flight all the way to Seoul! Praise our Lord!

At the airport in San Francisco

So, all traveling went smoothly. Here I am in Hwasun, a fairly rural area, at the Next Generation Vision Camp with around 150 or so middle school and high school. Attendees generally are underprivileged compared with other Korean students, and so the camp seeks to empower them to aim high and live for purpose in Christ. *Pray for the students, that the goal would be accomplished within their hearts.*

 

 

 

Church where retreat is being held

Students arriving at the retreat

 While most of the time I will be an observer, I hope to connect with some of the students. Please pray specifically for a couple students, Pete and Jason (names changed to remain anonymous). I won't give too many specifics in order to not give away their identity, but *Please pray that we would be able to connect and have spiritual conversations, and for them to have receptive hearts. Ask God to reveal Himself to them in real ways.*

I hoped to send out an earlier update, but I was distracted by a girl...as you can see in the following photo:

My 10 year old friend; she and her mom come to the church where the conference is held.

Prayer requests:

• Wisdom in using my time here most effectively in serving those at the conference.
• On Sunday evening, I will be sharing my testimony at a church in or near Seoul. Pray for the Lord to speak through me. If I can get it videotaped I'll try to post it in my blog.

Worship during the retreat

I appreciate your prayers; please email me anything you would like prayer for. I hope to connect with you again soon!

Breakfast. Lunch was even better!