Hi! How are you? I am so excited to let you know what’s been happening here in Asia these past couples of weeks.
I stepped off the plane, took in a deep breath of clean air, peered up at the blue skies and smiled. Rest. Retreat. Recenter. This was my approach last weekend, as my friends and I spent a few days in K-Town. This beautiful city is located in the southern part of the country and has all of the feels of a small town kissed by the sun and filled with its warmth. I was grateful to have a few days off from our work here to rest and recenter myself for what lies ahead in this next season of my trip.
During this next leg of our trip, we will be seeking out some fun and stretching experiences such as new (and somewhat foreign) Asian holiday celebrations, loads of travel, and the big one: deciding if we want to stay in Asia long-term. Would you pray for me and my team as this next ‘season of seeking’ begins for strength, endurance and clarity on His will for the next step in our lives?
The past few weeks of our work here have been exceptionally delightful. Up until now, we kept facing reluctance among our friends to know about God and His love for them. “It’s all in your head” and “I believe in myself” were the most common responses we were hearing. But then something changed!
As we prayed for our campus and friends, their hearts started changing! God is breaking through the clouds of their minds and we are seeing many of our friends’ hearts changing and being softened to God’s love! Hopefully, within the next two weeks, we will be starting up a regular Bible study with our friends which will allow us to dive deeper into who God is and His heart for all people. Would you join my team and I in praying for these special friends and for their hearts to be softened to know and say “yes!” to God?
X-town is wonderfully polluted, haha. Smog is our new companion as we tread the streets, to and fro. It’s definitely a different change of pace — I’m used to seeing snow on the ground during this time of year! Now, all we see is a huge blanket of gray through and through.
In exciting news, our team is getting ready to celebrate Christmas here in X-town. I am excited to cherish these moments with my team, as we are all missing home and making the most of being away from our families.
I hope you have the merriest of Christmases. I have one request for you all this holiday season: Love each other well. Hug your parents. Hug your brothers and sisters. Sit with your grandparents if you have the opportunity. Dwell and linger in each other’s company. Steep in the sweetness of this time of year. It’s what I wish I could do the most during this time. It’s the moments we take for granted that I pray you would cherish.
Please let me know how you are doing and if there is any way I can be praying for you! You are in my thoughts often and am so grateful for you! A very (early) Merry Christmas from Asia!