KOSTA: Day 2

GROUP 11
PhuMyHung Bethel Youth

TIRED. I'm tired. But why am I blogging right now? (1) I wanna record the blessings while they're fresh and (2) I have to wait for the laundry - gotta wash my sweaty shirt. I left my house at 7:20AM and got home by 11:00PM. It's only day two, but I already feel my body breaking. Can I last two more days? No, I can't. But all things are possible through Him who gives me strength! FIGHTING!

LESSON. There are so many cults in this world. It's ridiculous. And sadly to say, most of them are from Korea. I always knew that they existed, but I never knew there was so many and how fast they're moving in Korea and all throughout the world. Statistics show that approximately 10,000 Koreans are falling into cults every month. It's scary. We, Christians, MUST RISE! We must fight this spiritual war and proclaim victory! "진짜가 있기때문에 가짜가 있는것이다." Falsity exists because there's truth. OUR GOD IS REAL. HE'S THE LIVING GOD. JESUS CHRIST IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!

GROUP TIME. We are given an hour of group time and are free to do anything in our groups. Honestly, it's SO loud we can only hear each others' voices if we yell (aka.. they can only hear my voice). I have 15 students in my group ranging from 6th to 11th grade. (What more do I need to say?) It was the toughest hour of the day. There are 2 boys that ESPECIALLY give me the hardest time; the oldest two boys. They simply DO NOT listen. They're always singing together. "Be quiet." (Ignored) "Be quiet!" (Ignored) "Be quiet!!!" (Silence) 5 seconds later.. (Singing) ADD? Perhaps. "God? I don't know."

INTERCESSORY PRAYER. Every group is given an hour to go pray in the intercessory prayer room. Honestly, I was a bit worried for this time because I thought it would be so awkward that one hour would feel like a whole day. Yes, it was quiet. All I can hear is my voice and the leader's voice from the group nearby. I prayed so loudly that I felt like my throat was going to rip. I almost lost my voice by the end of that hour. BUT it was good. I laid out many different prayer topics and also gave the students some time to share their personal prayer requests (if willing). It took a while for that one bold person to raise their hand first, but as expected, many others after that shared their prayer requests as well. My throat hurt, but it was a great hour spent. PTL :)

KOSTA: Day 1

PRE KOSTA VIETNAM 2013

"어그러진 세상, 자유케하는 복음!"

Set Free into Fullness!

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

ANNA & HAEMIN (Co-leader)
Korean Union Church of Saigon - Main Sanctuary

FREE TO WORSHIP. Arms lifted, singing on the top of my lungs, jumping up and down, yelling out "Jooyuh (Jesus)" as loud as I want / as many times I want, praying in tongues. Sang Dancing Generation, Sing Sing Sing, I am Free, Into Your Hands all in KOREAN. I didn't even know some of these existed in Korean! (It was... interesting. I think I prefer English^^)

MESSAGE. There were three speakers: 

(1) Pastor HyunChul Kim: pastor of a church in Korea  

(2) JiWon Tahk: Investigates and studies all different types of cults and how Christians should deal with them 

(3) Missionary EunMi Lee: missionary in Africa 

All was good. I got a glimpse of how scary these cults are and how fast they're moving in Korea and all throughout the world. Most of all, I really enjoyed Missionary EunMi Lee's message. It wasn't that her message was so "new," but I couldn't stop myself from thinking, "멋있다." I was encouraged. (I'll just stop here.)

PRAYER TIME. Went around praying for my students. I realized it's the first time I laid my hands on them / held their hands and prayed for them. My heart was aching (I don't know what that's supposed to mean..) We were later told to sit in a circle in our groups. On my right was a student that I am always encouraged by, and on my left was a student that gives me the hardest time. Coincidence? I don't think so. At that moment, they were all the same - beautiful children of God, His sheep... my sheep. We were then told to pray for the group leaders. Oh boy.... it's that time. Honestly, I don't know how many students really pray for me during the week. (It's sad to say, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was none.) For the first time I felt encouraged by Bethel Youth as a whole. 

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. HEALTH - One of my students got sick today. There's so many people in the sanctuary it gets extremely hot during worship. I think she had a heatstroke. 

2. SAFETY - We're constantly going up and down the stairs (1F-5F). The staircase is really narrow and there are hundreds of people constantly going up and down.

3. INTERCESSORY PRAYER - Every group is given an hour of intercessory prayer time. We are to go to a designated room at a given time and pray. Our time is tomorrow from 4-5PM. Praying for an hour with students that hardly pray? Yes. Please pray for us.

KOSTA Vietnam 2013

KOREAN STUDENTS ALL NATIONS

I've never heard of KOSTA, but apparently it's quite big.
It's a Korean Christian organization that holds 3-4 day retreats/conferences for Korean students living abroad.
It started off in America in 1986 and is now being held in 18 different countries.

Vietnam held their first KOSTA last year and are holding their second next week from April 29th to May 2nd.
It's usually an overnight conference, but since it's hard to get governmental approval here the students will be returning home and meeting back in the morning.

There are 27 students from Bethel Youth attending this event.
Sister HyeYeon and I will be serving as group leaders for our church.

Honestly, at first I had no idea what I got myself into. Since it's such a large event that's not being organized and run by our church, it was a bit difficult to grasp what I'll be doing.
We had our first group leader's meeting last Saturday and had an all staff retreat today from 3-8PM.
IT WAS GOOD. I don't remember the last time I praised so freely and even yelled "Jooyuh" (so loudly). We did "주여삼창" (something we don't ever do at Bethel......)

The retreat was good! It got me excited and pumped up. I'm excited to worship for the next four days! But... I'm not gonna lie. I'm already exhausted just thinking about interacting with and leading the students for four long days (9AM-10PM). "Oh Lord, I need you! Brothers and sisters, I need your prayers!"

PLEASE KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS!

1. WORSHIP - A time where students may freely worship God and experience the joy of glorifying God through worship

2. GOSPEL/SALVATION - For non-belivers to hear and believe & for believers to be reminded once more of what the gospel message is really about; assurance of salvation

3. SPARK - That this event will bring a spark in Bethel Youth and become a good bridge for our Youth Summer Retreat 

Eczema: Round 3

I'm starting to see small bubbles again....

IT KEEPS COMING BACK! Ugh.

Maybe I should go see a dermatologist again

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;

the LORD is your shade on your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

not the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The LORD will keep

your going out and your coming in 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

Changes

Changes.

Hardened hearts softening.

Closed hearts opening.

Brighter faces.

Excitement for worship.

People are changing.

Slowly but surely.

God is moving.

Interviewer

Sister SeYoung is currently trying to open up her own business.

She had scheduled an interview session with 8 applicants today. 

She asked me if I can help her test the applicants' English proficiency. 

I sat there for 2 hours and helped with the interviewing process.

I've been an "interviewee" before, but never an "interviewer."

What a crazy experience!

(SeYoung & SeHee told me I have an "interviewer aura."
Whatever that even means.

Maybe I'll find myself doing something like this in the future? FUUUUture. ^^)

Mexican Food

Had Mexican Food for the first time in 6 months...

Chicken Burrito

There's a Mexican Restaurant, El Burro Loco, near my house.

The store's so small that it's possible to walk by without even noticing it.

Went there for the first time today.

Walked in with NO expectation.

But..... it was preeeeetty good!

1. It's actually good

OR

2. My taste bud has become really humble

Never Let Go

"However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 

For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 

And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, 

but that I should raise them up at the last day."

- John 6:37-39 -

You never let go of those You once took hold of.

Lord, You never let go. 

THE Song

Bethel Choir sang "주님 다시 오실 때 까지" today.

It was a lot different hearing it from a choir team

but nonetheless, it REALLY reminded me of GCC.

"Facing the Giants"

Watched this at someone's house with a couple young adults from Bethel.

Preeeeetty good~

2006 American Christian drama film composed of
supporting cast volunteers from Sherwood Baptist Church. 

"We're not here to just get glory, make money, and die."

Amen!

She said

SeYoung (the sister I'm doing Bible Study with) came to Friday Service for the first time today.

After service, as we were walking home, she said, "I regretted coming the first 3 minutes I was sitting in service. There was so little people and it seemed so serious and boring."

Then she said, "But... it was fun."

This is (nearly) exactly how our conversation went:

SeYoung: 재밌었어 (It was fun)

Me: 진짜요? 재밌었어요? (Really? It was fun?)

SeYoung: 응, 재밌었어. 재밌었어... 재밌었어. (Yes, it was fun. It was fun... it was fun)

SeYoung: 이런 어처쿠니없는일이. (How absurd/ridiculous)

[...]

SeYoung: 이런 재밌는걸 여태까지 너네 혼자했답말이야?! (You guys enjoyed this by yourselves all along?!)

It was absurd/ridiculous to her that she wasn't out with her friends on "Friday night," but that she was at church worshipping God. It was even more ridiculous that worship could be "fun" and "enjoyable." 

AHHHHH YEEEEEEEAA :) She finally got a taste of how FUN it is to be praising and worshipping God.

(She doesn't seem to know that this is only the beginning.. hehe)

Excited to see how God will continue to mold and shape this sister :)

Introducing: SeYoung

This is the sister that asked me to have Bible Study with her.
(I secretly took a picture of her when she was super focused.)

We started "Forgiving Father" (아버지의 마음) today.

My first time doing this curriculum in Korean, but I can already sense the Holy Spirit guiding me.

From what I've heard from others, I thought she was a sister that knew God but fell away because she was hurt by the church.

After having several conversations with her, I came to realize that she does not know the gospel.

To her understanding, Christianity is just another religion and the God we believe in is just another god.

Jesus Christ? She has no idea who He is.

It really broke my heart that this sister was so-called "involved" at church for about 2 years, but in reality, there was no Truth in her. In her memory, church was just "fun" and a place of "belonging."

I think this is the reality in many churches.

It's so easy to assume that all the long-term church goers and/or the faithful servers are fully aware of the gospel.

Just like this sister, there must be others inside the church too - full of "passion" and faithful service - but in reality, does not know Jesus Christ.

Fun? Yes, there should be fun too, but not just for the sake of fun. 

Fun because we know we are saved and freed from the bondage of sin; fun because we are gathered to have fellowship with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ; fun in freely praising and worshiping God. 

Bottom line:

We must go  back to basics.

Steamed Corn

Waxy Corn

"찰옥수수"

Bought some steamed corn on the way home.

There's a lady that comes by on a bicycle around 5PM with a basket full of steamed corn.

3 for 10,000VND ($0.50)

SO CHEAP! 

(I would somewhat understand if it was "raw" corn, but it's already cooked for you!)

Bought 3 and gave one to the fruit market lady on the way home.

(We can't communicate, but I often go there to get some "Passion Fruit Juice" 

AND I see her every day because I pass by her store on the way home. )

Ate half a corn for "dessert" after dinner, and put the rest in the refrigerator to eat for breakfast.

YUMMMMMM :D

Blessed Beginning

Had our first PhuMyHung Young Adult Ministry Service today!
Went through a lot trying to get this ministry started, but by the grace of God we successfully held our first service.

1. Dinner - Ddukbokgi, Kimbap, Jjolmyun, Kim-maree

2. Service - Praise, Message, Prayer requests, Prayer

3. SURPRISE - Couple lady deacons prepared a "surprise event" for us.

As we were coming down the stairs, they started to sing: 

"축복합니다~ 주님의 이름으로...

God Bless you~"

The lights were off and there were candles set up near the staircase, 

 with a big heart in the middle of the floor.

What a blessing it is to be a part of this new beginning.

I've never been so excited and thrilled here at Bethel before.

I am reminded, confirmed, that my heart reaches out towards this age group.

Excited to see how God will work in this ministry,

and to go back home and see how God's working/gonna work in the Remnant Ministry :)

"Deacon" Anna

The story of my life :

Every Saturday the deacons prepare for Sunday's lunch.

This week a lot of deacons had other appointments, so the deacon that was in charge of this week's lunch asked me to come help.

I was at church from 11-3.

You see that bowl of green onions? 

I cut it ALL!

Yes. Me. Anna Rho! 

And... I fried boochimgae.

It was a workout.

Now I know why ahjummas are buff.

(Don't mess)

I became "Anna JSN" for a day.

.. interesting

Someone asked me to do Bible Study with her.

She immediately set up a time and day, so we'll be meeting every Wednesday.

Very...... interesting......

She's 2 years older.

She attended Bethel for about 2 years(?) and then left on bad terms.

She hasn't gone to church for the past 2-3 years.
Recently came out to a young adult gathering we had,
and finally agreed to help start a young adult ministry at PhuMyHung Bethel.

We saw each other about.. 4 times in total.
She's only starting to open up again, (still bitter from the past),

But.... 

she 

wants 

to do 

Bible Study. 

with.

me.

God? 

Why me?

And why her?

I mean.... 

I'm blessed.

and....

humbled.

But it's still a bit..

shocking? 

and very..

interesting.

It's the first time someone asked me something like this.....

(Not my offer but their request.)

Don't know what to do or where to start. 

OH JOOO NEEEEEEEM
1on1 bible study in Korean? Idunno man