Asia #11 - August 8

(from Karen)

Hello RWC,

So, the four-weekers have been back since Tuesday. Since then, we have been debriefing and digesting our thoughts, lessons and insights we gained over the past 5-6 weeks in Yanji. Let me just tell ya that we got to see God's glory and His divine providence over everything that's been happening at YUST, in Yanji and also in North Korea. Harvest is SO ready and God is moving very quickly in that area. All we had to do was just catch on and ride His wave and taste that the Lord is GOOD. When we stop thinking about what we can accomplish or how we can do things right, but surrender that and just love Jesus, it is totally awesome. By the way, did we share that one of the students became our brotha in Christ?! Yes, he finally came to accept JC after a long time of questioning and curiosity! (Hollernation!) Things are happenin for reals, I tell ya. Anyway, our team reflected together and we attested to the fact that God is seriously good and really manifesting Himself like crazy in Yanji.

Also, my paradigm of missions was reinforced as I worked with the students, heard the stories of missionaries and saw the way they live. Because these professors (missionaries) cannot talk about the gospel first, they just love the students until the students approach them. For a homework assignment my students were asked, "What are some life lessons that you learned at YUST?" I was so surprised the majority of students responded by saying that they learned how to love and care for others because they saw how much their professors loved them! I thought that was so incredible and radical because these students see Jesus' love in them, although they may not know who He is yet. I was reminded this is how we're supposed to live: loving and intimacy with the Lord and spilling out of that onto people.

With my roommates, it was very hard to say goodbye since we had bonded so well and many of them asked if we'd return. In our final week, they prepared us a surprise party, where they sang songs, recited poems, presented slide shows and sang for us the song, Dang Shin Eun Sarang Bat Gi Wi Hae (You were born to be loved). They are so sweet have have such pure hearts. Also, Some of us got to share the gospel with our roommates towards the end and we have believe fully that the seed will grow some day. Awesome thing is that all of these students are within the reach of the professors and the professors will be following up on these students and continuing the work. =)

Anyway, all of us have many stories and praise reports so grab one of us for further updates and be encouraged and blessed! Also, please pray that God will seal the lessons and convictions in our hearts and that they may be preserved that we can live them out here in NY. Also, please keep these professors in your prayers.

-China Team 09