Korea tomorrow?!

Thank you everyone for your faithful prayers and generosity!!! I have well met and exceeded the cost of the trip, which means 1)God is amaaaaaaaaazing 2)we will be able to donate a significant amount to Jerusalem Ministry and to the children being served under it.

Seriously, when I first wrote down the amount I would need to get to Korea and live there (~$1800), I gasped outloud. Where would I get all that?? I had never needed so much funding for a missions trip before and last year when I went to AZ for 2 weeks, I ended up meeting the deficient amount. So this year, I was like... I guess I'll just have to use my tax-return. But God started to blow my mind with the generosity He showed through you all. Checks were being sent it in 3-digit amounts. Those checks probably were an accumulation of hard work and a lot of saving, and I'm not taking it for granted. So generous! God is good! He provides! wow.

Now, only 24 hours away from the time of my flight, there is much to be done. Other than packing, purchasing things, and all the logistics, I have a lot to prepare in my heart. I'm really excited to see how God reveals his glory during my stay. I'm also antsy to see the children at the homes come to Christ. But at the same time, I can't expect to see the kids falling left and right to repent and be saved just because I go there.

I suppose I do fantasize about it though, leading every kid I meet to Jesus following my first deep conversation with him/her. But like in the story of Nehemiah, it took a lot of people, resources, and time to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (and have you guys noticed.. the ministry is called.. Jerusalem Ministry ???). People ranging from goldsmith to perfume makers took up a section of the wall and started to build it back up working alongside each other. The perfume maker probably coudln't actually see his neighbor, the goldsmith, working on the wall at the same time as he but, they were, and the wall started to get built. Like such, any ministry or missions work the same way... not one person building it up in a fury of prayer/service/committment but by everyone, layer by layer, adding their own personal florish. So, I shouldn't be disappointed to see little or even no change in the attitudes of the children towards God or others, but trust that my work will contribute to the completion. Maybe my energy there will be equivalent to mortar to help bind the more apparent bricks together, or maybe God will bless me with the opportunity to see one of the gates of the wall being raised up. Either way, it shouldn't matter knowing that all components are essential for His work.

Please pray for me right now that I will not forget this during my time in Korea, whatever happens. And I hope that in whatever ministry or missions that you are committed to, you will remember the same :)