Yes, its true, I now have a xanga.  Outrageous, I know.  The purpose of this sucker is to keep all you friends of mine updated with my escapades in Korea.  Most of my entries probably won’t be as long as this one, but I wanted to share how God has led me to live at the orphanage in Korea… I know it looks long and intimidating, but you can make it through it

(If you can’t see some of the words, just highlight the section with your mouse)

I have served on mission trips to South Korea for each of the past four summers.  I visited and stayed at the orphanage in 2003 (see profile picture) for a few days and took home two of Pastor Chae’s newsletter books.  His passion for God and stories of the children, of North Korea, and of God’s work all encouraged me.  Despite being so encouraged, I never considered serving at the orphanage.  During my final year at Virginia Tech I spent a considerable amount of time in prayer and fasting for my future.  God slowly crossed out different possibilities.  Soon the last two options I was praying about was either an engineering job in Taiwan or a mission opportunity in Japan.  I felt led more to serving in Japan, but I never felt clear confirmation.  A prayer of mine from the beginning was that my parents and I together would be led by God concerning my future.  My parents were not at peace with Japan, but did understand my heart for ministry.  I graduated in May and upon coming home I told my mom I would be fasting for one day each week.  She asked me why and I told her I was going to fast again for guidance for my future.  She told me that my future was important to her and to my dad and that they would join me in fasting.  Interestingly, the day after our first fast my dad told me that he had a dream that I was at the orphanage in Korea with the kids and Pastor Chae (my dad had met Pastor Chae once many years ago).  Because at that point I was focused on Japan, we did not take the dream too seriously.  In the next few weeks, though, God made it clear that I was not to go to Japan, so once again my future was wide open.  My dad, who rarely dreams, had a nightmare and woke up disturbed in the middle of the night.  As he was reading through Scripture and praying he felt God tell him that He (God) does speak through dreams.  My dad remembered the dream he had of me in Korea.  Also, ever since I returned home from college one of the prayers I had been lifting up for my dad is that he would dream dreams (from Joel 2:28, “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions).  I was not aware when my dad first told me about his dream of the orphanage that perhaps God was truly saying something.  My dad and I together began praying about the possibility of me serving in Korea.  I began e-mailing Pastor Chae and even visited the orphanage with my short-term mission team this past August.  In September I finally felt at peace that, if God opened this door, I would go to Korea.  In early October I received an unexpected e-mail from a friend of my mother.  She had just paid off her debts and also had a new job with a substantial pay raise.  She is a prayerful woman and during one of her times of prayer God directed her to give the money from her raise to missions.  As she prayed more about it, God put me upon her heart.  She e-mailed me to tell me that, beginning this December, because of God’s direction she would give $1,500 a month for an entire year to cover my expenses.  That is $18,000 in support!  I had not asked her or anyone for support money yet, this was completely a gift from God.  The fact that God has clearly led my parents with me in pursuing serving at the Children’s Home and the fact that God has already provided the money to cover my travel costs so I would not be a burden to anyone amazes me.  Three weeks later Pastor Chae e-mailed me that he and his staff had prayed and wanted to welcome me to the orphanage, requesting that I arrive by the end of the year.  The next day I purchased my plane ticket to depart December 29, 2005.  I will be teaching English to the children four hours a day and living at the home.  The orphanage is called “Geon Christian Children’s Home” and is in Bangwha, Seoul.  More details are to come…

I’m seeking prayer supporters.  E-mail me at comequickly@gmail.com if you would like e-mail updates from me with prayer requests while I’m in Korea.  Also, if you have any experience teaching ESL and wouldn’t mind helping me prepare, please let me know.  God bless you guys!

Song:  “A Life of Love,” by David Gate (performed by Matt Redman)