English Camp in Mok-Po 2008
A KPCA sponsored English camp for kids in Korea
Theme: Love God and Love Neighbors
(Mark 12:29~31)
ENCAMP truly tested our love for Jesus and our students, who are our neighbors.
7 teachers
7 teachers' aids
around 20 or close to 30 students per class
It seemed impossible.
God proved that it was possible.
And He knew it all along.
We passed the test!
Our faith in Him got stronger.
Glory to the LORD most high!
Father God, thank You for using us.
I wasn't planning on going to Korea for ENCAMP at all.
I just heard from some people that a group of students were being trained to go to Korea for an English camp. It sounded interesting, but that was it. I did not want to know any more details or get myself involved in it.
I was just very excited about the trip I planned to go back to Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii this summer. This is a very, very special place to me because my mom and I almost drowned there a couple of years ago, but God saved us. ;)
All of the sudden my pastor called me and asked if I could lead the camp.
He explained that the person in charge of the camp just told him that she couldn't do it any longer due to her personal issues in her family.
Great...
He asked me to pray about it. He added that time is of the essence right now, and I am the only person who they can turn to. He even shared that he couldn't sleep a couple of days because of this problem.
What do I do now?!
Prayed.
Prayed.
Ok, I will OBEY...
It had to be out of obedience.
It was total surrender to God and the situation I was placed in.
It happened that the camp dates were the same as my Hawaii trip dates.
Who said DOUBLE TROUBLE???!!!
I cancelled the flights and hotel reservation and felt really good about it even though I had to pay the fine. Why?
I learned what it means to obey God no matter what!
What a priceless lesson I learned from this whole thing!
As Billy Graham once put it:
"If Jesus says you MUST, then you MUST!"
With the help of Pastor Kim and Paul JDSN from my church,
we were able to finish the remaining training sessions and get ready to leave for Korea.
God planned it.
God did it.
I went to the place where all the kids would come for the camp.
The place was deadly silent.
The place looked so big.
My heart started beating faster and faster.
I said a prayer.
God said, "I am, not you."
I was peaceful at last.
The kids came and settled.
We were more than ready to put our very best to glorify God and teach English to the students who came to the camp!
There were some college and young adult students in Kevin's class!
We had close to 20 or more students in each class.
We spoke English, and the students had a hard time understanding what we were trying to say.
Therefore, we all had to use our very loud voices in order to get students' attention.
Well, it was our last praise worship time.
We seriously lost our voices from singing so loud with our already lost voices.
It took 3 weeks for me to get my voice back!
I almost thought my voice had completely changed to husky, manly voice!
Thank God for giving my voice back!!!! /(^0^)/
Jane the bassist
Go Girls!!!
(Mike is...posing? ;p)
He always fell asleep like this.
I almost thought he was praying at first. hahaha ;D
Pastor Kim delivered messages to us in Korean before we did our Bible studies.
It truly helped.
I thank my pastor with all my heart for organizing and getting all the stuff ready for this camp.
He is such an organized minister who knows how to see the mountain and also the little trees in it. A big round of applause to you!!
Let's do the W for West
California!
kkk
My pastor went back to Cali. after the camp,
and the Elder Lee took care of our team afterwards
Thanks to you all!
3 nights and 4 days seemed as if one night and 2 days!
Jet-lag
Buckets of sweat
Mosquitoes
Icy cold shower
Unfamiliar Korean food one after another
A small room with many bodies to sleep
Dirty bathrooms
and
the
list
goes
on
and
on
...
But none of these stumbled us from serving God the whole time we were there.
We all agreed how we were able to do it if it wasn't God who gave us the strength!
We were half dead and lying on the floor in our small room whenever we had a break time.
When the break time was over, we all ran out the door to greet the kids again with a big, bright smile and served them with passionate hearts and energy.
God did it!!
We all wished we had more days to spend with our students,
for some of the students barely started getting out of their shells
and talking to us in English.
Thanks a million to you all!!!
What a blessing it was!
Father God,
You truly are in control of everything.
You surely are the giver of all things.
Again, the ever comforting and encouraging line from God!
(Ephesians 4:13)
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Amen!