korea

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Greetings from Perth. I have just recently returned back from a trip to South Korea. This was my first time in the country. I joined my fiancé with a ministry he has worked with for several years.

My life with YWAM over the past 3 years has taken me all over the world. It’s definitely been a blessing but I often find myself surprised at where the Lord leads me. Without a doubt I still feel called to serve God in the nations. To be a missionary. And my heart is definitely still in dimly lit labor room with too many women and not enough workers. That's what I love. That’s where God has called me. Yet in the past few months I find myself working with prostitutes and then serving alongside an evangelical performing arts group in South Korea. At times it doesn't seem relevant- and yet somehow I know that God is using all these things to sharpen my character and prepare me for even greater things to come. At first, I felt out of place in Korea-not only was I a foreigner, but I was even foreign to the ministry. One thing I don’t do is perform and here I was with a performing arts group. It's such an incredible tool to draw large crowds and preach the gospel so I can definitely appreciate the ministry. But for me, it was a different kind of missions trip than I have ever taken before.  At the end of it all though, all I can say is it was such a blessing to serve in new ways in South Korea. (don't worry, I didn't dance ;) but there was plenty of other ways I was able to help out)

While we were there we partnered alongside Impact World Tour, which is Youth With A Missions largest evangelical campaign.

  

As you probably saw in the news, South Korea experienced a horrible disaster a couple months back. Nearly 300 people, mainly schoolchildren, lost their life when a ferry suddenly sunk. We arrived in Korea just a month after the accident and for most of the Koreans the pain from that accident was still fresh.  It was a significant time for us to be there. While some of the major stadium events that were planned had to be canceled we had a great opportunity to work alongside the local church and to help bring them some hope, comfort, and even joy in their time of loss. In preparation time for going it was clear that our team was to go and whether or not we would see people saved or people blessed -it was more important to be obedient than relevant.

the group performing for one of the local schools

Despite some of our more major shows being canceled, we still saw many people make first time commitments to follow Jesus. And as great as it was to see salvations, I feel that the real impact was made in the spiritual realm.  We felt like the Lord was speaking to us through Isaiah 61, which says, “provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

It was a privilege to be apart of what God was doing for our brothers and sisters in Korea.

Thanks again for all those who have partnered with me through prayer or through giving.