Childlike Joy

The last week of Korea finally came.  I feel like the whole summer was leading up to this last week.  So many of our students were going and they were so excited!  I was so ready to see what incredible things God had in store.  

When the students first arrived from the North and South they didn’t seem overly zealous to be there.  It is crazy to think about how some of the South Korean students were only there because their parents made them.  But then I think that is probably how camp is in America too.  Anyways… I was super blessed to have an incredible person to be my translator for my group.  Her name was Sujin!  She was a complete blessing!  Still praising the Lord that she was there.  We had 3 North Korean students in our group and 4 South Korean students.  There were only 4 girls total including me and Sujin!  I was so excited because the North Korean students in my group were some of my favorite Guys from Heavenly Dream School!  The first couple of days were definitely overwhelming.  I mean really the whole week was, but you kinda go used to it after the second day.  We would wake up early in the morning and eat breakfast.  The leaders had a meeting before breakfast.  So early!  But so worth it because that was a sweet time of worship and preparation for the day.  Then we would have a little bible study time with the students followed by a morning worship.  P.s the Band was INCREDIBLE!  We also had seminars about North Korea.  This was one of the big wake up calls to a lot of the South Korean students because some/most of them had no idea what was and is going on in North Korea.  After lunch we had different sessions through out the day.  Worship Dance, Bible, English, and Games.  These were so much fun and it was interesting for me to see how God used each different session to reach different students.  Some students really found their element during English lessons and others thrived in Games.  In all the sessions the staff (including me and Sujin) found a way to bring in the Gospel.  We would share or other staff would share and it was crazy how all throughout the day the students were hearing truth.  

We had free time after the sessions and before dinner.  This was a crucial time of bonding for the students and rest for staff.  It is hard when you are leading at camp and constantly pouring out everything you have.  So it was so good to have a time in the middle of the day to refuel before that evening worship.  Evening Worship.  The speakers were absolutely phenomenal.  Also, we had a translator so we were able to know what they were saying since they were speaking in Korean.  Each speaker had his own style and they were all very direct in their messages.  All of my students were so responsive.  Jesus showed me his power and sovereignty at EUC in a way that I have never seen it before.  It was mind blowing and straight up emotionally overwhelming.  Seeing my students look at the Lord for the first time in a genuine way touched my heart so deeply I knew that I would forever be changed.  It was like for a nano second I caught a glimpse of how much God loves them and I absolutely couldn’t handle it.  Every night during worship I would cry out to God for the students in my group.   I would pray over them, cry with them, and praise God for them.  One of the songs we sung went like this… “I am free to live.  I am free to love.  I am free to live for you.  Jesus”  Let me tell you… hearing anyone sing this song is already overwhelming for me.  But seeing my students who have known torture and persecution.  That makes it so much better!!!!  

By the end of the week the students in my group had become a unit! :)  I could see the Love that they had for one another and how much they truly love the Lord.  By the end of the week, out of my group, I had two new brothers in Christ and one new sister!  AHHHH!!!!  God is so so good!  I can’t even contain it!

This is just a little piece of what happened at EUC!  There is so much more but I am still processing a lot of it.  I’m sure this won’t be the last time I write about EUC considering it was one of the best weeks of my life. 

So you know you have those days where Satan just gets you down.  Or you are having an unbelievable day and then one thing happens and the rest of your day is crummy.  I feel like that happens to a lot of us and pretty often.  This morning started off pretty crummy. I was filling myself with worry and nonsense…  I was freaking out so much about fundraising for my trip to South Korea that I forgot why I was going and who I was going for.  I keep saying “my trip” and not “God’s trip.”  I think of my money as my own and others as their own.  In the middle of a mini panic attack.. I could hear God saying “why are you worried people won’t give you money?  Money of all the worries… I blessed them with that money and they will give.  You need to trust me  You need to have faith in me.  I will provide for you.  The money that they have… it’s mine.  I bless one child so they can bless another.  I love one child so they can show that love to another.”  How in the world could I forget how much God loves me?  AHHHH!!!!! :D  He is so incredible!  Of course right after this revelation… Go Now Missions receives a $500 dollar donation towards my trip.  I’ll take a mini panic attack any day that I need it if it can remind me of God’s unchanging love for me.  Hopefully as I continue to spend more and more time with Jesus, it won’t take a panic attack it will just happen whenever I open my eyes.

I am going to go to South Korea this summer and in preparations I have been reading through the old testament this semester.  I am constantly bring reminded about how sovereign and faithful God is.  One of the biggest stories that has really been tugging at my heart is the story of Noah and his family.  I know we have all heard the story multiple times and seen movies about it, but I had never really read/study, in depth, the story of Noah.  Noah was the last righteous man left that was completely faithful to God.  Noah was obedient when others condemned him and called him crazy.  His obedience led God to spare him and his family from his wrath.  When his wrath came, God wiped out the whole earth except for 8 people.  8 people.  That’s INSANE! (Seriously… think about it!! )  Here’s my thought process…. God’s wrath was taken out on the entire world… eliminating everyone on the earth except for 8 people.  When God took is wrath out again… he took it out on only one man, Jesus.  Jesus took God’s wrath, ultimately his own wrath upon himself for us.  So that we could know peace, joy, truth, love, happiness, and a God that is absolutely breathtaking.  I crave so badly to tell the refugees this story!!  They have suffered so much and know pain and loss like I can never imagine.  Jesus has given me such an unbelievable opportunity to be able to tell people about what he did for them!  I am fearful that I will be inadequate, but then I remember that I can boast in God through my weaknesses.  Knowing that the Holy Spirit is ready and raring to go up to bat at any moment helps as well! I know God has a crazy plan for revival this summer, I can feel it!