Text Box: Annyonghasayyo!   That means “Hi” in Korean.   I am sure that most of you are involved in a busy spring where you are.  Life in Korea has been no exception.  The Lord continues to do His work, sometimes using us, sometimes in spite of us. DEATH OF VICKI’S MOM Many of you may have heard about the passing of Vicki’s mom, Betty Hood, on March 26.  She had been very ill with cancer for the past year.  We were blessed to see her during the Christmas vacation.  Vicki was also able to be with her during Spring Break from school.  With her determination and the Lord’s assistance, Betty remained until she could see and hold her first great granddaughter.  Then a week later she was freed from pain and united with her Lord.  I flew back to the States on March 28 to join the family, and was asked to speak at her memorial service the next day.   It had been a long time since we had seen so many people inside the Ventura Church of Christ building, where she and Richard attended.   On Saturday, April 4, we said our final goodbyes and deposited her ashes at sea, between Oxnard and the Channel Islands, a place she loved so very much.   Each passing of special people in our lives reminds all of us of the fragility of life, and the need to make every day count in the King’s work.    NEW CLASSES AT KCU This spring I am teaching 4 courses (5 sections) at Korea Christian University:  Mission Theology (new for me), Gospel Studies, New Testament Theology, and Advanced Theological Research (new for me).   The last class is a class for the Graduate Program, designed especially for our international students, who are seeking a Master’s or Ph.D. in Bible from KCU.   I told this class last week that they add variety to my life.   Every day I am surrounded by Koreans (which is not a bad thing), but on Tuesdays, I enter class and get to be with students from Myanmar, Philippines, India, Cambodia and Kenya, a truly international setting.  Please pray for all these great opportunities.    BAPTISM OF FREDERICK MADRIDANO My very first Sunday in Korea after the winter break, I decided to preach on how the Lord brings together messengers and those who are seeking the message.  Among our crowd that day was Frederick Madridano from the Philippines.  He was visiting us for the first time, seemed very interested, and stayed for our fellowship meal as well.  He returned the next week and then the next.   As we talked more and came to know his story, we found out that he is in Korea, working at an Aluminum factory.  Each paycheck, he sends money back to his wife and 8 year old daughter, still in the Philippines.   At the same time, he has been diligently studying the Bible, and seeking a place that could help him in his walk with the Lord.  He found our group online and then sought us out.   We are about a 2 hour subway ride from his home, just south of Seoul.  Within a few weeks, I knew that Frederick was ready to accept his Lord in baptism.  Please pray for this new young brother and Christ, and others who are still seeking the Master. OTHER THINGS AT HANMEE As we continue to expand and push against the walls of our assembly every Sunday, we also want to make sure that no one falls through the cracks, or feels neglected or unneeded.   With this in mind, we held a congregational information sharing meeting last month to let everyone know that there are indeed jobs for everyone.   This month we are assembling a list of jobs which our congregation in our setting needs to get done.   We plan to present the list to the whole congregation in a week or so, and then encourage people to sign up for as many things as they desire.   We will also encourage people to stretch themselves and attempt some things they have never tried before.   Mine would have to be cooking an occasional meal for our weekly potlucks.  Also, we recognize that we need to remain a balanced congregation.   While we know that many people are coming just as a way to practice English, we want our Korean members, who feel no need to learn English, to know they are highly valued as well.  As part of our strategy, we are reducing the number of English sermons per month.   Among our members we have a former minister of a Korean church of Christ, as well as others who are preparing to preach.   So we plan to use more of their talents in classes and sermons.  This will entail having the Korean sermons interpreted for our English speaking members.   One thing under consideration is purchasing sometime in the future an electronic device for simultaneous translation, which broadcasts the interpretation into individual headsets worn by the members.  Presently we are checking into the cost for such a device and seeing if it is even feasible.   We are changing my Sunday 1 pm English Bible class to 10 am, before the Sunday worship service.  Several had expressed a desire to attend both the Korean Bible class at 1 pm and my English class as well.  After a church poll, which revealed 90% of the congregation favored such a change, starting next week, I will teach my class at 10 am. Also, next month we want to take the whole congregation on a Sunday worship picnic, similar to what we did last year.  We are still deciding the date and place.  Look for a picture of the event in the next report. As always, I thank you for your continued support.  Your thoughts, kind e-mails, and prayers mean so much.       With Paul, “I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now”  (Philippians 1:3-5)                                    March - April, 2009

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