Thanks everyone for praying for my church and family. A final decision has been made, and I believe everything went according to God's great plan.
Last week Thursday, two pastors and two elders from our denomination came to our church to act as mediators. God had given my parents peace in their hearts, and they told the mediators that they would accept whatever demands the other leaders of our church make. So the mediators talked to the church leaders, and they decided that my father will leave the church as of last Sunday, just as they demanded. My dad was assigned to start a new church in Hacienda Heights. Praise God for delivering my family! Please continue to pray for my family and the church.
When I heard the decision, at first I felt like my dad should have called the mediators from the beginning, and then the matter could have been settled earlier. But now I believe it was God's plan for things to get a bit ugly in the church. The issue that my dad had to face didn't just come up couple months ago. It was there for several years already, and it had to climax to this, so that people could see what's really wrong in the church. Perhaps that is why God called my dad to stand firm until God opened another door. It seems that God revealed the need for a new ministry in Hacienda Heights at just the right time.
There's no arguing that what the elders and other pastors did to my dad was morally wrong as well as illegal. But there's no need for me to describe what they've done, because what's important is that they know what they've done, and that they repent.
I'll tell you one thing that you should be aware. Just don't believe what people say against someone unless they can prove it. And even if they can prove it, don't listen to them if the information does not concern you. Telling gossip is sin, so don't let your brothers and sisters sin by telling you gossips. Besides, if they talk crap about someone to you, they probably talk crap about you to others. Gossip is quite prevalent at the church, so no wonder problems like this came up.
Anyhow, I believe that God will correct His beloved. He will not forsake them. I pray that the people in my church will be convicted of their wrongdoings, and that they would repent. I hope that they would not just forget what happened, but will learn from their mistakes. Please pray for those who are still in the church, that they would be protected from lies and gossips.
As for myself, I'll focus more on the ministry at my other church (one that sent me to Kenya). And when my dad sets up a new church, I'll probably be helping there as well.
Showing posts with label god. Show all posts
Showing posts with label god. Show all posts
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Urgent Prayer Request: May the Truth Set Us Free
Thank you all for praying for my family and my church. The situation is still very stressful and sad, but I am beginning to see God working amongst us.
One specific prayer request is for the church members who have been told lies and rumors for so long that they are blinded from the truth. No matter how much you tell them the truth, they would not accept it. Please pray that their eyes and ears will be opened, so that they may know the truth about the situation and repent.
It seriously hurts so much to see the leaders of the church being blinded with lies that they are acting irrationally and with anger. Pray that God will not forsake them, and that He will deliver them from the hands of evil.
Pray for my family. We are hurting because of all the lies told against my father, and because our friends are being deceived. It hurts me to see my family being hurt. Please pray that we could be more patient. Pray that we would wait upon God and not act on our own thoughts.
In all of this, I know that God is working. I know He hears our prayers. I will trust Him and not lean on my own understanding, so that He may make my paths straight. May God help me to depend on Him alone.
KEEP PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE. PLEASE.
One specific prayer request is for the church members who have been told lies and rumors for so long that they are blinded from the truth. No matter how much you tell them the truth, they would not accept it. Please pray that their eyes and ears will be opened, so that they may know the truth about the situation and repent.
It seriously hurts so much to see the leaders of the church being blinded with lies that they are acting irrationally and with anger. Pray that God will not forsake them, and that He will deliver them from the hands of evil.
Pray for my family. We are hurting because of all the lies told against my father, and because our friends are being deceived. It hurts me to see my family being hurt. Please pray that we could be more patient. Pray that we would wait upon God and not act on our own thoughts.
In all of this, I know that God is working. I know He hears our prayers. I will trust Him and not lean on my own understanding, so that He may make my paths straight. May God help me to depend on Him alone.
KEEP PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE. PLEASE.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Urgent Prayer Request: Pray For a Miracle
Please keep praying for my church.
I won't go into any details of what happened today, but at this point, only a miracle can mend the situation we have at my church. This isn't just about my dad being kicked out of the church. It's about the church being used as satan's tool.
Perhaps it'll be easier for both my dad and the elders if my dad left the church, but in that case, no body wins but satan. The elders and other pastors are not the enemies. They are just blinded by the real enemy, which is satan, and they don't realize that what they're doing is wrong.
But our church is already too deeply in the hand of satan, and there's nothing we can do to change it. Nothing but a miracle. I believe that everything is possible by God. And by God my church can change. By God it can be restored. Only by God and God alone.
I love my church, despite what they have done to my family. So it hurts so much to see it go down like this. It hurts so much to see them running towards destruction.
So please pray that God will work in our church. Pray that He will be glorified. Seriously, pray for a miracle because that's the only way the church will survive and be blessed.
PRAY. PRAY FOR A MIRACLE. PLEASE.
I won't go into any details of what happened today, but at this point, only a miracle can mend the situation we have at my church. This isn't just about my dad being kicked out of the church. It's about the church being used as satan's tool.
Perhaps it'll be easier for both my dad and the elders if my dad left the church, but in that case, no body wins but satan. The elders and other pastors are not the enemies. They are just blinded by the real enemy, which is satan, and they don't realize that what they're doing is wrong.
But our church is already too deeply in the hand of satan, and there's nothing we can do to change it. Nothing but a miracle. I believe that everything is possible by God. And by God my church can change. By God it can be restored. Only by God and God alone.
I love my church, despite what they have done to my family. So it hurts so much to see it go down like this. It hurts so much to see them running towards destruction.
So please pray that God will work in our church. Pray that He will be glorified. Seriously, pray for a miracle because that's the only way the church will survive and be blessed.
PRAY. PRAY FOR A MIRACLE. PLEASE.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Urgent Prayer Request: the Church Situation
My church and my family need a LOT of prayer as the year is coming to an end.
Long story short, the church (elders and other pastors) wants my dad (the senior pastor) to leave the church after this month (December) for no legitimate reason. It's not like my dad had an affair, stole stuff from the church, or anything like that. Basically the elders and my dad don't get along great, and the elders seemingly refuse to get along. My dad may not be the most social or people person in the world, but it's clear that he hasn't done anything to get kicked out of the church. Dad agreed that he would leave if and only if God leads him to another ministry, but the elders just don't want him. Dad told them he would serve the church even if he doesn't get paid because he believes that God has called him to ministry there, but they don't think he's "good enough."
I won't go into all the details, but situation seems to get uglier by day. Apparently some elders/pastors are spreading false rumors about my parents and are conspiring to get people to not attend the new years eve service at church but to meet on their own without dad. They even told dad that if he holds a new years day service at church, they would have a separate service in the next room.
Personally, I'm ok either way: if we left or if we stayed. But as a son of my father, and as God commanded, I'll honor my dad by supporting him on his calling. I also believe it's a sin for a church to separate as divorce is a sin (Malachi 2:16). But if the hearts of the elders/pastors are hardened, so be it (Matthew 19:8).
Please pray for the church because things could get really messy in the next few days. Pray for my dad because he's going through a lot, and it could get worse. And above all, pray that God will be glorified in all this.
I'm sorry to show you the ugly side of my church, especially if you're not Christian and don't know much about Christ. But please remember that people who call themselves Christians are also human, and not everything they do/say are representative of the teachings of the Bible. That applies to me as well. If everyone in the church were following what God says, things like this shouldn't be happening. It really sucks that we're going through this. But of course, there's no such thing as a perfect church. (If you find one, don't join it because you'll ruin it!)
This situation reminds me of Isaac and his wells (Genesis 26), and I wonder if we should just leave the church and move on. But I think for my siblings, mom, and me, the situation is like that of Noah's children (Genesis 6), which my sister brought up the other day. I know that dad firmly believes that God has a purpose for him at the church. Likewise, Noah was called by God to build a huge ark in a mountain. As expected people ridiculed Noah, and I bet his children were mocked as well. But the children had to support their father and help him build the ark. I don't know if you understand how much it sucks to have my dad be opposed by his own church on his calling to serve the church, and how much it would suck to have him kicked out for no good reason. You probably don't know how disappointed I am with the elders and some pastors at my church for how they are behaving, but I think Noah's kids could probably relate. Maybe you remember the time I yelled at a pastor a while back. Well, that's not going to happen again, but I am probably as upset as I was then, if not more. This time I'm more sad than I am angry. Anyhow, I must support my dad and pray for him.
I pray that the hearts of these elders and pastors will be softened. But if God has allowed their hearts to harden, so be it. May God be glorified in everything that He does and everything that happens.
Long story short, the church (elders and other pastors) wants my dad (the senior pastor) to leave the church after this month (December) for no legitimate reason. It's not like my dad had an affair, stole stuff from the church, or anything like that. Basically the elders and my dad don't get along great, and the elders seemingly refuse to get along. My dad may not be the most social or people person in the world, but it's clear that he hasn't done anything to get kicked out of the church. Dad agreed that he would leave if and only if God leads him to another ministry, but the elders just don't want him. Dad told them he would serve the church even if he doesn't get paid because he believes that God has called him to ministry there, but they don't think he's "good enough."
I won't go into all the details, but situation seems to get uglier by day. Apparently some elders/pastors are spreading false rumors about my parents and are conspiring to get people to not attend the new years eve service at church but to meet on their own without dad. They even told dad that if he holds a new years day service at church, they would have a separate service in the next room.
Personally, I'm ok either way: if we left or if we stayed. But as a son of my father, and as God commanded, I'll honor my dad by supporting him on his calling. I also believe it's a sin for a church to separate as divorce is a sin (Malachi 2:16). But if the hearts of the elders/pastors are hardened, so be it (Matthew 19:8).
Please pray for the church because things could get really messy in the next few days. Pray for my dad because he's going through a lot, and it could get worse. And above all, pray that God will be glorified in all this.
I'm sorry to show you the ugly side of my church, especially if you're not Christian and don't know much about Christ. But please remember that people who call themselves Christians are also human, and not everything they do/say are representative of the teachings of the Bible. That applies to me as well. If everyone in the church were following what God says, things like this shouldn't be happening. It really sucks that we're going through this. But of course, there's no such thing as a perfect church. (If you find one, don't join it because you'll ruin it!)
This situation reminds me of Isaac and his wells (Genesis 26), and I wonder if we should just leave the church and move on. But I think for my siblings, mom, and me, the situation is like that of Noah's children (Genesis 6), which my sister brought up the other day. I know that dad firmly believes that God has a purpose for him at the church. Likewise, Noah was called by God to build a huge ark in a mountain. As expected people ridiculed Noah, and I bet his children were mocked as well. But the children had to support their father and help him build the ark. I don't know if you understand how much it sucks to have my dad be opposed by his own church on his calling to serve the church, and how much it would suck to have him kicked out for no good reason. You probably don't know how disappointed I am with the elders and some pastors at my church for how they are behaving, but I think Noah's kids could probably relate. Maybe you remember the time I yelled at a pastor a while back. Well, that's not going to happen again, but I am probably as upset as I was then, if not more. This time I'm more sad than I am angry. Anyhow, I must support my dad and pray for him.
I pray that the hearts of these elders and pastors will be softened. But if God has allowed their hearts to harden, so be it. May God be glorified in everything that He does and everything that happens.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Why Do We Try To Make Christmas Exciting?
I learned something new today.
There's no way we can make Christmas more exciting than it already is. Just knowing that GOD became human because he LOVES us is MORE THAN ENOUGH to be excited about!
Watch this video to find out what I'm talking about (click here).
It's a video of Francis Chan's sermon from Saturday.
Just watch those people in Papua New Guinea hearing the Gospel for the first time! It almost made me cry...
There's no way we can make Christmas more exciting than it already is. Just knowing that GOD became human because he LOVES us is MORE THAN ENOUGH to be excited about!
Watch this video to find out what I'm talking about (click here).
It's a video of Francis Chan's sermon from Saturday.
Just watch those people in Papua New Guinea hearing the Gospel for the first time! It almost made me cry...
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
What Is This Thing Called Christmas Love?
[This is an entry based on the sermon I gave to the youth group at OkHab Church this past Sunday. Please comment if I said something biblically incorrect. I don't want to misrepresent the Word of God.]
In my last entry, I was talking about how I missed hanging out with friends recently. Then I realized it's Christmas season, and I thought I had a good reason for wanting to be with friends more than ever. After all, most people living in modern societies believe that Christmas is a time for family, friends, significant other, and loved ones. It's time for gift-exchange, tree decoration, and carols. Most, if not all, Christmas-themed movies and music is about some form of love. Basically, people think that Christmas is a season of love. Well, indeed it is a season for love, but the real meaning of Christmas Love is quite different from the common perception.
Some children, even sunday school kids, might tell you that Christmas is a time to get presents, and still others may say it's Santa Clause's birthday. Most church-going Christians should at least be able to tell you what Christmas is really about: the birth of Jesus Christ. Well then, "How is a day celebrating the birth of a baby be about love?" you might ask. It's not an ordinary love that you would think of. This "love" I'm talking about is not the fuzzy feeling you get in your stomach when you see a new born baby or when you are with your special someone. John 3:16 links the birth to this "love":
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (KJV)
So apparently this baby Jesus was born because God loved the world. But what does it mean for God to love the world, that he would give his Son? I mean, who gives a baby to someone just because of love? And what are you supposed to do if you're given someone else's son? That doesn't sound like the "love" that we typically think of when it comes to Christmas, does it? But the Bible clearly explains how this is indeed love, God's love:
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16, NIV)
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, NIV)
So what God says about love is that it's about laying down one's own life for another. Perhaps that makes some sense to some parents, if they would actually put themselves in danger to save their children and family (e.g. James Kim). Maybe some children would die for their parents, too. I think we all have an idea of what real love is when it comes to family, but I don't think most of us really understand it or actually practice it.
Ask yourself, would you ever give up your life for someone else? For whom?
Your children? ... Of course.
Your parents? ... Probably.
Your friends? ... Maybe, depending on how close they are.
A total stranger? ... Uhh... what?
"I don't even know who they are!" That's what one of the kids at the church said when I asked that question. Exactly. Why would you die for someone you know nothing about? But then, is the reason you wouldn't die for someone really the lack of knowledge about the person? Do you think you would die for someone depending on how well you know the person? Then what if you knew everything about someone, and that person didn't know you, would you still die for that person? Take Saddam Hussein for example. You know what he has done (or you can find out), and he's sentenced to death. Would you die instead of him? Yeah, right! That's just ridiculous, isn't it? Well, then think of your best friends, those that are so close to you that you might even die for them if you had to. What if you knew that those friends had secretly mistreated and cheated on you in the past. Would you still die for them? And what if you found out that they were planning to betray you and to put you to shame the next day. Would you still lay down your life for them? Can you still love them?
You see, knowing more about someone doesn't always make it easier to love that person. Rather, it usually makes it harder. We all have crap that we want to hide from others, things that would make us less "lovable" by others. You may think dying for someone like Hussein is ridiculous. But dying for someone whom you know everything about is crazier. It's incomprehensible.
That's the kind of love that God demonstrated when he sent his Son Jesus Christ to earth, and God's love goes beyond that. Jesus Christ died for us when we were sinners. That means when we were his enemies, he died for us. When he knew that we were going to betray him, he died for us. Even though he knows that you are going to sin again, he died for you. He knows everything that you did against him, but he still loves you. Isn't that crazy or what? Can you really love someone like the way God loves you?
As if dying wasn't enough, God the Father gave his own Son to die! Can you imagine seeing your own child stripped, beaten, and nailed to the cross? Can you imagine your own son or daughter on that cross shouting, "Daddy! Daddy!"? Is that easier than dying yourself? You see, God's love is beyond that. God loves us so much that he would give his Son to the world, see him suffer and die! That's what it means when it says "For God so loved the world"! Can you wrap your head around that? Can you love another person like God loved the world?
Now, ask yourself: If you believe what the Bible says about God's love, how does it affect you? Why does it matter that God loves us? that Jesus was born? that Christ died for us? that he rose from the dead? How is your life different because of that?
Let me rephrase these questions. If God didn't send his Son to Earth, if Jesus was never born, and if Christ never died for your sins, how would you live differently from the way it is right now? Would it be any different? If not, why not?
As for me, the answer is definitely a yes. God's love affects most, if not all, decisions that I make in my life. If the aforementioned events did not happen, how would I know what real love is? More importantly, how would I know that God loves me? Why would I risk my life and career to go to Africa? Why would I want to become a doctor to help the poor in the developing world, rather than be rich, secure, and comfortable in the US? You see, God's love determines the way I "love" others because the Bible says, "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19, NIV). Indeed, "we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" because God did that for us, and he told us to.
Because God loves me, I'm willing to spend my entire life serving him wherever he leads me. I may never be able to love others like God loves us, but I'm willing to give my best effort. If loving others means going to the most impoverished parts of the world and putting my life on the line to help those in need, I will do it. I will do it because God loves me.
What would you do, knowing that God loves you? If you believe it, live it. Live like you're loved, and live to love. Live to lay down your life for others.
Remember that Christmas is a season of love, and remember what that Christmas Love really is. Now, spread it.
In my last entry, I was talking about how I missed hanging out with friends recently. Then I realized it's Christmas season, and I thought I had a good reason for wanting to be with friends more than ever. After all, most people living in modern societies believe that Christmas is a time for family, friends, significant other, and loved ones. It's time for gift-exchange, tree decoration, and carols. Most, if not all, Christmas-themed movies and music is about some form of love. Basically, people think that Christmas is a season of love. Well, indeed it is a season for love, but the real meaning of Christmas Love is quite different from the common perception.
Some children, even sunday school kids, might tell you that Christmas is a time to get presents, and still others may say it's Santa Clause's birthday. Most church-going Christians should at least be able to tell you what Christmas is really about: the birth of Jesus Christ. Well then, "How is a day celebrating the birth of a baby be about love?" you might ask. It's not an ordinary love that you would think of. This "love" I'm talking about is not the fuzzy feeling you get in your stomach when you see a new born baby or when you are with your special someone. John 3:16 links the birth to this "love":
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (KJV)
So apparently this baby Jesus was born because God loved the world. But what does it mean for God to love the world, that he would give his Son? I mean, who gives a baby to someone just because of love? And what are you supposed to do if you're given someone else's son? That doesn't sound like the "love" that we typically think of when it comes to Christmas, does it? But the Bible clearly explains how this is indeed love, God's love:
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16, NIV)
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, NIV)
So what God says about love is that it's about laying down one's own life for another. Perhaps that makes some sense to some parents, if they would actually put themselves in danger to save their children and family (e.g. James Kim). Maybe some children would die for their parents, too. I think we all have an idea of what real love is when it comes to family, but I don't think most of us really understand it or actually practice it.
Ask yourself, would you ever give up your life for someone else? For whom?
Your children? ... Of course.
Your parents? ... Probably.
Your friends? ... Maybe, depending on how close they are.
A total stranger? ... Uhh... what?
"I don't even know who they are!" That's what one of the kids at the church said when I asked that question. Exactly. Why would you die for someone you know nothing about? But then, is the reason you wouldn't die for someone really the lack of knowledge about the person? Do you think you would die for someone depending on how well you know the person? Then what if you knew everything about someone, and that person didn't know you, would you still die for that person? Take Saddam Hussein for example. You know what he has done (or you can find out), and he's sentenced to death. Would you die instead of him? Yeah, right! That's just ridiculous, isn't it? Well, then think of your best friends, those that are so close to you that you might even die for them if you had to. What if you knew that those friends had secretly mistreated and cheated on you in the past. Would you still die for them? And what if you found out that they were planning to betray you and to put you to shame the next day. Would you still lay down your life for them? Can you still love them?
You see, knowing more about someone doesn't always make it easier to love that person. Rather, it usually makes it harder. We all have crap that we want to hide from others, things that would make us less "lovable" by others. You may think dying for someone like Hussein is ridiculous. But dying for someone whom you know everything about is crazier. It's incomprehensible.
That's the kind of love that God demonstrated when he sent his Son Jesus Christ to earth, and God's love goes beyond that. Jesus Christ died for us when we were sinners. That means when we were his enemies, he died for us. When he knew that we were going to betray him, he died for us. Even though he knows that you are going to sin again, he died for you. He knows everything that you did against him, but he still loves you. Isn't that crazy or what? Can you really love someone like the way God loves you?
As if dying wasn't enough, God the Father gave his own Son to die! Can you imagine seeing your own child stripped, beaten, and nailed to the cross? Can you imagine your own son or daughter on that cross shouting, "Daddy! Daddy!"? Is that easier than dying yourself? You see, God's love is beyond that. God loves us so much that he would give his Son to the world, see him suffer and die! That's what it means when it says "For God so loved the world"! Can you wrap your head around that? Can you love another person like God loved the world?
Now, ask yourself: If you believe what the Bible says about God's love, how does it affect you? Why does it matter that God loves us? that Jesus was born? that Christ died for us? that he rose from the dead? How is your life different because of that?
Let me rephrase these questions. If God didn't send his Son to Earth, if Jesus was never born, and if Christ never died for your sins, how would you live differently from the way it is right now? Would it be any different? If not, why not?
As for me, the answer is definitely a yes. God's love affects most, if not all, decisions that I make in my life. If the aforementioned events did not happen, how would I know what real love is? More importantly, how would I know that God loves me? Why would I risk my life and career to go to Africa? Why would I want to become a doctor to help the poor in the developing world, rather than be rich, secure, and comfortable in the US? You see, God's love determines the way I "love" others because the Bible says, "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19, NIV). Indeed, "we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" because God did that for us, and he told us to.
Because God loves me, I'm willing to spend my entire life serving him wherever he leads me. I may never be able to love others like God loves us, but I'm willing to give my best effort. If loving others means going to the most impoverished parts of the world and putting my life on the line to help those in need, I will do it. I will do it because God loves me.
What would you do, knowing that God loves you? If you believe it, live it. Live like you're loved, and live to love. Live to lay down your life for others.
Remember that Christmas is a season of love, and remember what that Christmas Love really is. Now, spread it.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
What I Miss Most / Change of Plans
While I was in Kenya, I really missed having friends that I could connect with deeply. Since I came back, I visited AGO (my fraternity) once, and hung out with my old roommate once. It was really nice seeing some of my friends and talking with them...
More and more I'm realizing that I need to do more of that.
These days most of my time is spent in front of my computer either just wasting away or trying to motivate myself to work on some more essays for med school secondary apps. I've been working at a hak-won (tutor place) in Cerritos, which is actually quite fun, but tutoring kids and studying with college classmates just aren't the same (yes, I think group study is fun, yes, I think studying is fun, and yes, I am a nerd).
It's so strange because I never felt so lonely in my life... Ok, I'm not like desperately lonely, but I definitely feel like I'm missing something. And I guess it's people that I love (other than my family, of course). I never realized how much I loved hanging out with friends, although I didn't take them for granted.
I miss my friends...
I don't think I can wait like this until I start making new friends in med school.
Well, it's winter break, and I'm sure someone wouldn't mind hanging out with me. Anyone?
In other news, last week I found out that I won't be going back to Kenya next spring. God seems to have closed the door there. I'm pretty sad especially because I won't be able to see the kids in Lenkijape anymore... I promised them I would bring back photos, too. Well, God is always faithful. When He closes a door, He opens another. Looks like He wants me to go to Haiti this time. It's basically Africa except it's in the Caribbean. So I've started relearning French using a computer program.
I've always wondered why in the world I took French in high school and not Spanish. I was in Japan then, and I didn't know I could be moving to California where Spanish is useful and French is not. Now I'm beginning to think that God lead me to take French because He has a plan for me in Africa. If that's the case, I should seriously start studying French. The trip to Haiti will be in late March, and I may be staying there till end of July. My life would be quite miserable if I'm not prepared... I'm sure it will be a lot more challenging then my trip to Kenya.
More and more I'm realizing that I need to do more of that.
These days most of my time is spent in front of my computer either just wasting away or trying to motivate myself to work on some more essays for med school secondary apps. I've been working at a hak-won (tutor place) in Cerritos, which is actually quite fun, but tutoring kids and studying with college classmates just aren't the same (yes, I think group study is fun, yes, I think studying is fun, and yes, I am a nerd).
It's so strange because I never felt so lonely in my life... Ok, I'm not like desperately lonely, but I definitely feel like I'm missing something. And I guess it's people that I love (other than my family, of course). I never realized how much I loved hanging out with friends, although I didn't take them for granted.
I miss my friends...
I don't think I can wait like this until I start making new friends in med school.
Well, it's winter break, and I'm sure someone wouldn't mind hanging out with me. Anyone?
In other news, last week I found out that I won't be going back to Kenya next spring. God seems to have closed the door there. I'm pretty sad especially because I won't be able to see the kids in Lenkijape anymore... I promised them I would bring back photos, too. Well, God is always faithful. When He closes a door, He opens another. Looks like He wants me to go to Haiti this time. It's basically Africa except it's in the Caribbean. So I've started relearning French using a computer program.
I've always wondered why in the world I took French in high school and not Spanish. I was in Japan then, and I didn't know I could be moving to California where Spanish is useful and French is not. Now I'm beginning to think that God lead me to take French because He has a plan for me in Africa. If that's the case, I should seriously start studying French. The trip to Haiti will be in late March, and I may be staying there till end of July. My life would be quite miserable if I'm not prepared... I'm sure it will be a lot more challenging then my trip to Kenya.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
African Courier #4: Catching Up with Reality
Hujambo!?
That’s one way of saying "How are you?" in Kiswahili. Then you reply "Sijambo!" The other way, which is more common here, is "Habari?" and "Mzuri!"
I can’t believe my first trip to East Africa is almost over! (and that it's already been 4 months since I came!) I’ll be flying out here in two weeks (on Nov. 21), arriving in the cool autumn of Los Angeles (if you can say there is an autumn in SoCal). In my mind, LA is still as hot as I left it in July. And everything else is just frozen the way it was then - school still on vacation, friends still excited about finishing college, and everyone looking forward to a summer filled adventure... It’s a scary thought to see how all my junk (which I left in the living room) got taken care of, and how everything, including family, friends, and church, has changed. I will also be preparing full-on for medical schools (secondary applications and interviews). Soon enough, I will face reality. Not that life in Kenya isn’t a reality. It definitely is! And painfully so!
I say “painfully” because yesterday I was hit with a minor case of flu. I was in bed all day, suffering from severe headache, stomachache, and some fever. Thank God it wasn’t malaria, and that I’m quite better now. As I was cooking my rice porridge for lunch, I couldn’t help but to think how much I need a wife on a foreign mission. Indeed, “It is not good that the man should be alone...” (especially when he’s sick on a mission trip). Anyhow, I’m not advertising for a wife here (and no, I’m not accepting applications or looking for a blind date)... It’s just to describe how bad it was. Seriously though, thank God I’m alive! Mom, please don’t worry. I’m all ok now! But please continue to pray for me.
Speaking of wife, Pastor Eben’s wife delivered their second child today (Nov. 9)! It’s a boy! Pastor Eben is here in Nairobi, but his wife and children (now plural) are in Korea. He seemed very happy and relieved today, especially since the baby was more than a week late and he was getting concerned. He can’t wait to share the news with the whole world (and I guess I’m helping him by writing this).
There’s another thing I want to share with the whole world about Eben...
I was prank-ed big-time on my birthday by Eben and Richard. Well, maybe not that big, but Eben and Richard got me pretty good. It’s a long story (not that long, but too long to spam... err... to put in a newsletter), so if you’re interested, you can read the entry on my blog here: http://doxadeo.blogspot.com/2006/11/doxa-in-kenya-birthday-prank.html
In other news, I’m halfway through with the library. Maybe not so interesting, but so far I’ve recorded about 4200 books on the computer (about 2900 of them were done in the past week). It’s actually quite interesting to go through all the titles (and sub-titles) of the books, but it’s not always fun to work with shelves after shelves of dusty old books. Some of them were eaten up at least 30% by termites, and my hands get pretty gross after handling a few hundred books a day. I just have to look forward to the day it’s done and keep working diligently. Besides, I do have the pressure to finish before I leave.
During my breaks from my work in the dusty dungeon that is the library, I go out to get some fresh air and to observe the new construction on our campus.
Four weeks ago, we started the construction of a new house. It’s been quite interesting to see how they build here. Although I’ve missed some of the process, I got to see and learn about (and take pictures of) many important steps of the construction. Surely I can use some skills in this area as I prepare to become a missionary doctor in a developing country. It’s quite impressive how much Rev. Kim has built during his 17 years of ministry here. God-willing, I hope to build some clinics and hospitals to benefit many people in Africa.
Perhaps as you can see, there aren’t very many exciting/interesting news this month. Mission work isn’t always exciting, but God is surely working. What I mention in my newsletters are only highlights, and the reality is that these are only a glimpse of what we experience here. In other words, things can be quite dull besides what’s mentioned in newsletters. I don’t mean to say that my time here has been boring. Not at all! I’ve enjoyed everyday that I’ve been here (maybe except yesterday when I was sick), whether I’m in Masai or working at BCEA. I just say this because I realize that some people may get newsletters (whether it is from me or some other missionaries) and read about some crazy/amazing stuff going on in the field, and misunderstand that all they read is all that’s happening out there.
The thing is, it’s so easy for the missionaries to over emphasize or exaggerate some seemingly “cool” stuff to make it look like their work is more important or bigger than what it really is. For example, about my mentioning about my flu yesterday, although I’m not exaggerating, you may think that I’m going through such a hard time in Kenya just because I mentioned it. The truth is, I was only sick one day (and I could be just as sick anywhere else in the world), and most of the time I’m actually quite healthy and comfortable. On the other hand, even though I only mentioned a few things in this newsletter (and very few things that I’m actually doing besides observing), I’ve been extremely busy, even as busy as I was in college. I can confidently say that because, while in college I would spend a lot more time on the internet, here I would spend much less time online yet be busy enough to sleep barely 6 hours a day. Both teaching English classes and conducting church choir take a lot of time and energy.
Anyhow, I just wanted you to understand that what I mention in my newsletters are just the things that I think you might be interested in, and there’s a lot more going on out here that can be either boring or exciting to you. Also, I try to present them without exaggerating or over emphasizing. My intention is not to make my life here seem more miserable or interesting than it really is so that you may have sympathy or be moved to give financial support. What God is providing for me right now is sufficient, and I believe that He will always provide. Of course, that doesn’t mean “don’t give any financial support” because I am currently living on the support of some churches in California. If God moves you to give, please give! I just don’t want to be the one convincing/begging you through newsletters, and I shouldn’t be.
God provides, and He is always faithful to provide when I need. In fact, recently I realized that I’ve been quite low on cash ever since the theft two months ago. So I prayed to God to provide, and amazingly enough, someone (I don’t even know who) donated extra money towards my mission fund! I don’t even know how s/he knew about me or why s/he decided to give, but I just know that God works in amazing ways. Praise God!
Now, here’s what you’ve been waiting for. Prayer requests! Please pray for:
· my health. As you already know, I’ve been sick a few times already while living in Africa. And somehow they always involved the stomach. I think I’ll have to get my stomach checked up when I come back to the US. Meanwhile, please continue to pray for my health.
· the travel back home. Not just for me, but several of the faculty at BCEA will be going back home this month. Eben is flying back to Korea on Nov. 20, I’m flying back to the States on Nov. 21, and Richard is flying back to Philippines on Nov. 24. I think Rev. Kim is also flying back to Korea sometime in December. Please pray for safe travel.
· the safety of the community. Last night while in bed, I heard a horrifying yell of a man from the neighbors, dogs barking and rushing towards the noise, and then two gun shots. After a few minutes I heard the police car passing by, and then four more gun shots. No, this is not America, and guns are not legal here. Where do they get guns then, you ask? Why, from the police officers, of course! Hand a few thousand shillings to a cop and you’re ready for an armed robbery for the night. Welcome to Kenya (that’s what Eben would say). Enough said. Please pray for God’s protection from physical harm.
· my medical school applications (plural this time). I’ve started working on some secondary applications for medical schools. They’re not as intense as AMCAS (the first application for all med schools), but a lot of work nonetheless. If anyone wants to proofread/comment on my essays, let me know! Most of them are very short, and won’t take much of your time.
· the library catalogue project. I really need to finish this work before I leave, so that they can start using the new system next term (in January). I won’t be back probably by February or maybe March because of med school interviews, so I need to leave it in good shape. Once I finish this, students will be able to checkout/in books by scanning barcodes (yay for “new” technology!), which is much faster and more efficient than keeping track on notebooks.
· finals. Students at BCEA will be taking finals starting next week through the week after. My English final will be a week from this Friday since I’ll be leaving the next Tuesday. I know most of you reading this are students or teachers, so you know what it means to take a final, so no need to explain the significance of this. Cheating is quite common in schools in Kenya, even here at BCEA. In fact, during the past midterms, one student was caught and was expelled. It seems like it is part of their culture not to take cheating seriously. This cannot be, especially in a Bible College where we want to train honest and sincere ministers.
· the faculty at BCEA (Nairobi & Tanzania), my English classes, the ministries in Masai Land, and whatever I forgot or didn’t mention that needs prayer. I don’t think I need to repeat what I said in my last newsletter. Please continue to pray for them! For those of you who know Pastor Lazarus, his wife is expected to deliver their first baby soon. So please pray for them. Christine is getting married on Nov. 25 at Mombassa, and her fiancé is flying in from Singapore sometime this week or next. Pray for safe travel and the preparation for the wedding.
Thank you again for taking the time to read the newsletter! Sorry there’s no picture this time. But when I come back, I’m sure you’ll see so many that you’ll get sick of them (or just from seeing pictures/videos of dead/dying animals).
God Bless,
SunMin
http://doxadeo.blogspot.com
To subscribe to African Courier Newsletter, visit
http://groups.google.com/group/african-courier/
Monday, July 17, 2006
How God Brought Me to Kenya
Let me explain myself when I say, "I'm here because I believe God called me here."
In December, 2004, I attended a conference in San Diego called Experience Jesus (formally called San Diego Christmas Conference) put on by Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC). One year before, I attended SDCC, where I was called by God to go to Sapporo, Japan, for Summer Project (or summer missions). When I went to the EJ conference, I was waiting to see if God would call me again. But this time He did not call me to a Summer Project. Near the end of the conference we were given the opportunity to dedicate one year to fulltime ministry after we graduate. I don't know how, but I was convicted by the Holy Spirit to do so. Everyone had a glow stick taped under their chairs, and as a sign, those who decided to dedicate a year to fulltime ministry lit up the glow stick. If you know me, you would know that I don't usually do things on the whim, but give careful thought to what I do (sometimes too careful and overanalyzing...). So I prayed for guidance, and although I had no idea exactly what God wanted me to do, I felt that He was calling me to dedicate myself to a year of fulltime ministry when I graduate. So I broke and lit up the glow stick.
It's not because I'm a man my words nor because people saw me with my glow stick lit up that I am here. I'm not here by my own willpower or my careful planning. It is only by God's guidance and His purpose that I am here.
Somehow God had put in my heart a burden for Africa. Starting with Invisible Children (http://www.invisiblechildren.com), God exposed me to things that are happening in Africa, and so I began to pray for the people there. It was hard to believe that things like genocide in Rwanda had happened only recently and the same is happening today in Darfur, Sudan. It hurts me when I think about the kids in Uganda being kidnapped and forced to become heartless killers and sex slaves.
There must be a reason God is showing me all this at the same time, I thought. I began to wonder if God had a plan for me to go to Africa, so I prayed that God would send me there if it was His will. I also prayed that God would send me to a developing country where people are suffering due to lack of basic needs and/or corrupt government. God had given me a heart for the poor, and although I didn't know how I could help, I prayed for them, and asked God to use me however He pleased to help them.
I knew God had given me a passion for Africa, but I wasn't sure if it was His will for me to go specifically to Africa. But since He had put in me a burden to serve in a developing country, I began searching for opportunities. Through Peter Czer, a good friend of mine from UCLA, I met Dr. Bob Hamilton. With him, I was able to go to Sierra Leone for week on a medical missions trip (read about it here: http://africa06.blogspot.com). Also through him, I contacted a doctor and a Christian school in Pakistan for a possibility of serving there. Through James Pearson, a good friend and my fraternity brother (who, btw, is currently serving the Lord with Invisible Children in Uganda - read his blog here: http://jamestravels.com), I contacted an orphanage in India. So I started looking into various opportunities to serve but it turned out to be more complicated than I thought. Qualifications and time commitments (usually over 1 year) closed door to many possibilities. I had some prior experience with raising financial support, but raising money for an entire year was a bit overwhelming.
From the start, I knew that spending a year overseas not to earn money but to volunteer and serve God was not going to be simple. But I was not discouraged by the hurdles, because it wasn't something I thought to do out of my own desire, but it was something God put in my heart. If it was His will, I knew He would do it. I prayed that God would provide everything that is necessary for His will to be done with me.
One day my mother told me that her friend (who is also my dentist) knows a pastor who was a missionary in Kenya for 7 years. So my mother's friend arranged for us to meet. When I met Pastor Moon I was only expecting him to give me a phone number or an e-mail address, so I could contact somebody in Kenya. It turns out that he had a little more than a phone number to offer. He wanted his church to send me to Kenya, and fully support me during my stay there! I was blown away (in my mind), and I didn't know what to say.
Then I realized that this was some something I had been praying all along - that God would provide. There was really nothing that I had done to deserve this. I took no part in the planning. I all I did was pray. I prayed to God that I am willing to serve Him, and that He would open the doors. I asked for something I could not do on my own, something I had to depend on God to provide. I believed that He opened the door to Kenya because it was His will. All I had to do was say, "Yes, Lord," and step through the door in faith.
I wonder, after reading thing, if anybody would think that I'm here in Kenya by accident. Could it be by chance that I decided to dedicate a year to fulltime ministry, that my heart would be burdened for the poor, that I prayed to go to Africa, and that I was given the opportunity and the means to spend a year in Kenya? Could it be that I'm just "lucky" (if you think being away from your comfortable life for a year is lucky)? I think not. I believe it was God who purposed for me to come here, and I believe it was God who opened the door, provided the way for me to be here.
Because it was God who brought me here, I will do my best to give glory to Him in whatever I do.
In December, 2004, I attended a conference in San Diego called Experience Jesus (formally called San Diego Christmas Conference) put on by Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC). One year before, I attended SDCC, where I was called by God to go to Sapporo, Japan, for Summer Project (or summer missions). When I went to the EJ conference, I was waiting to see if God would call me again. But this time He did not call me to a Summer Project. Near the end of the conference we were given the opportunity to dedicate one year to fulltime ministry after we graduate. I don't know how, but I was convicted by the Holy Spirit to do so. Everyone had a glow stick taped under their chairs, and as a sign, those who decided to dedicate a year to fulltime ministry lit up the glow stick. If you know me, you would know that I don't usually do things on the whim, but give careful thought to what I do (sometimes too careful and overanalyzing...). So I prayed for guidance, and although I had no idea exactly what God wanted me to do, I felt that He was calling me to dedicate myself to a year of fulltime ministry when I graduate. So I broke and lit up the glow stick.
It's not because I'm a man my words nor because people saw me with my glow stick lit up that I am here. I'm not here by my own willpower or my careful planning. It is only by God's guidance and His purpose that I am here.
Somehow God had put in my heart a burden for Africa. Starting with Invisible Children (http://www.invisiblechildren.com), God exposed me to things that are happening in Africa, and so I began to pray for the people there. It was hard to believe that things like genocide in Rwanda had happened only recently and the same is happening today in Darfur, Sudan. It hurts me when I think about the kids in Uganda being kidnapped and forced to become heartless killers and sex slaves.
There must be a reason God is showing me all this at the same time, I thought. I began to wonder if God had a plan for me to go to Africa, so I prayed that God would send me there if it was His will. I also prayed that God would send me to a developing country where people are suffering due to lack of basic needs and/or corrupt government. God had given me a heart for the poor, and although I didn't know how I could help, I prayed for them, and asked God to use me however He pleased to help them.
I knew God had given me a passion for Africa, but I wasn't sure if it was His will for me to go specifically to Africa. But since He had put in me a burden to serve in a developing country, I began searching for opportunities. Through Peter Czer, a good friend of mine from UCLA, I met Dr. Bob Hamilton. With him, I was able to go to Sierra Leone for week on a medical missions trip (read about it here: http://africa06.blogspot.com). Also through him, I contacted a doctor and a Christian school in Pakistan for a possibility of serving there. Through James Pearson, a good friend and my fraternity brother (who, btw, is currently serving the Lord with Invisible Children in Uganda - read his blog here: http://jamestravels.com), I contacted an orphanage in India. So I started looking into various opportunities to serve but it turned out to be more complicated than I thought. Qualifications and time commitments (usually over 1 year) closed door to many possibilities. I had some prior experience with raising financial support, but raising money for an entire year was a bit overwhelming.
From the start, I knew that spending a year overseas not to earn money but to volunteer and serve God was not going to be simple. But I was not discouraged by the hurdles, because it wasn't something I thought to do out of my own desire, but it was something God put in my heart. If it was His will, I knew He would do it. I prayed that God would provide everything that is necessary for His will to be done with me.
One day my mother told me that her friend (who is also my dentist) knows a pastor who was a missionary in Kenya for 7 years. So my mother's friend arranged for us to meet. When I met Pastor Moon I was only expecting him to give me a phone number or an e-mail address, so I could contact somebody in Kenya. It turns out that he had a little more than a phone number to offer. He wanted his church to send me to Kenya, and fully support me during my stay there! I was blown away (in my mind), and I didn't know what to say.
Then I realized that this was some something I had been praying all along - that God would provide. There was really nothing that I had done to deserve this. I took no part in the planning. I all I did was pray. I prayed to God that I am willing to serve Him, and that He would open the doors. I asked for something I could not do on my own, something I had to depend on God to provide. I believed that He opened the door to Kenya because it was His will. All I had to do was say, "Yes, Lord," and step through the door in faith.
I wonder, after reading thing, if anybody would think that I'm here in Kenya by accident. Could it be by chance that I decided to dedicate a year to fulltime ministry, that my heart would be burdened for the poor, that I prayed to go to Africa, and that I was given the opportunity and the means to spend a year in Kenya? Could it be that I'm just "lucky" (if you think being away from your comfortable life for a year is lucky)? I think not. I believe it was God who purposed for me to come here, and I believe it was God who opened the door, provided the way for me to be here.
Because it was God who brought me here, I will do my best to give glory to Him in whatever I do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)