Greetings from chilly Korea! I spent November 11 to January 15 in the United States on a short homeland assignment, and I’m glad that I was able to see many of you during that time. First, I went to the OMS headquarters in Greenwood, Indiana, for the annual partnership meetings between leaders of the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church (KEHC) and OMS. We discussed our partnership in spreading the gospel in Korea and around the world. I also had the opportunity to have some debriefing meetings as I finished a term of service and began a new term.
I spent most of the rest of my time in Texas, where I was able to spend Thanksgiving with my family for the first time in a long time. For Christmas, my parents and I went to see my sister and her family in Tucson. I was also able to visit friends and supporters in various parts of Texas. One highlight was the visit of Samuel Lee and the Park family to Waco. Samuel Lee is a graduate of the Mission English department at Seoul Theological University, whom I’ve known since he entered as a student in 1998. After graduation, he worked as a bookkeeper in the OMS office in Korea from 2002 to 2007, and then served with the OMS Extreme Walk program as a short-term missionary in Central Asia for ten months. Now he is studying at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, MS. The Park family, also studying at Wesley, served as missionaries in Kenya with the KEHC, and Rev. Park is also a graduate of Seoul Theological University. Above is a picture of them with my parents and me in front of our home in Waco.
I headed back to Korea on January 15, and was glad to be back to see the people at my church, at Seoul Theological University, and at the KEHC headquarters. After just a week back in Korea, I was able to participate in an OMS missionary retreat with about 35 colleagues in the East Asian area. It was great to have fellowship with coworkers that I don’t usually get to see, and to be challenged and encouraged through the messages of Randy Spacht, OMS Executive Director of International Ministries.
Now I’m preparing for the spring semester to begin at Seoul Theological University. After graduation on February 16, new student orientation February 18-20, and faculty retreat on February 24, we start off the 2009 school year with the spring revival meetings February 25-27. Classes begin on March 2. Pray for me as I teach students in the Mission English department in classes on English communication, English education theories, and English Sunday School teaching. I am also looking forward to teaching English to the Korean missionary candidates in the Missionary Training Center on Thursday afternoons. Pray for these missionary candidates as they begin their seven months of intensive training in March, to prepare to be effective witnesses for Christ in various cultures around the world.
We are also preparing for our annual intensive English program for ministry and missions, “Adventures in English” (AIE). AIE 2009 will be held July 12 to August 3. The first week is orientation, followed by two weeks of teaching as a “guide” in the AIE program. If you would like to volunteer to help this year, please let me know. It is a great chance not only to have an influence on young Korean Christians and future missionaries, but also to get a new perspective on the world as you share your life with these precious brothers and sisters.
Thank you again for your prayers and support that keep me here working for God’s Kingdom in Korea and around the world. God bless you!
In Christ,
Susan
