U.S. Embassy Security Update for U.S. Citizens on the Korean Peninsula

This is the latest email that was sent out by the U.S. Embassy....


The U.S. Embassy Seoul transmits the following information through the Embassy's warden system as a public service to all U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea.  Please disseminate this message to U.S. citizens in your organizations or to other U.S. citizens you know.

The North Korean sinking of a South Korean Naval vessel on March 26, 2010, has raised concerns and inquiries regarding security for residents and visitors to Korea.  The Embassy’s current assessment of the security environment for U.S. citizens in Korea is that recent events do not pose an imminent threat to the public safety of the American community at this time.  However, we recommend that U.S. citizens review the information on Disaster Preparedness in the current Country Specific Information (CSI) for Korea.

U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Korea should continue to pay close attention to current events, and monitor the Embassy website,http://seoul.usembassy.gov/, for any changes in the security environment.  The U.S. Embassy in Seoul provides citizen services to the public during regular business hours 9:00 to 11:30 am, and 1:30 to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday, with no services Wednesday afternoons.

In the event of an emergency situation or change in security situation, U.S. Embassy Seoul will immediately notify the American community in Korea through our warden email system.  If you did not receive this message directly via the U.S. Embassy’s warden email system, we encourage you to subscribe to our warden messages concerning travel and security, as well as the monthly Embassy newsletter, simply by providing us your email address via the Consular Section's website at http://www.asktheconsul.org.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site athttp://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).  U.S. citizens are also encouraged to read the Country Specific Information for Korea, available on the Embassy's website at http://seoul.usembassy.gov, and also at http://travel.state.gov.

U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security.  U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.  For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" found at http://travel.state.gov.

This Describes My Thoughts Today

Blowing out the candles on another birthday cake
Old enough to look back and laugh at my mistakes
Young enough to look at the future and like what I see
My best days are ahead of me

Life hasn't always been a party
But mostly it's been good
There's only one or two things
That I'd change if I could
I don't get lost in the past
Or get stuck in some sad memory, yeah
My best days are ahead of me

Age ain't nothing but a number
Sometimes I have to wonder what does it really mean
Hey, I'm still putting it together
I keep getting better, if I keep getting better
I can be whatever I wanna be
My best days are ahead of me

I've got sunsets to witness
Dreams to dance with
Beaches to walk on
And lovers to kiss
There's a whole lot of world out there
That I can't wait to see
My best days are ahead of me

My best days... are ahead of me

~ Danny Gokey

Update- Long Overdue

Hello wonderful people!!!!

First, please let me apologize to you all.  I am sorry I have not been better at updating you on life and ministry here in Korea.

Second, I pray you all are well!  I've been praying for you all, and have heard about many great things the Lord is doing in each of your lives.  I thank our God when I remember you all, and can't wait to come back for a visit later this year!!

Thank you all for your many prayers and encouraging words!!!  They are so greatly appreciated and felt!!!  I could spend hours listing out all of the times I have felt your prayers over me.  Truly, thank you.

To give you a brief recap of what has happened the past few months...

I stopped updating the blog back in November.  I was having a very hard time adjusting to the culture, and I just didn't feel like I was where God wanted me to be.  I wanted to be wise with my words, and felt it was best that I didn't post anything during that time.  It was the hardest time that I experienced thus far.  But our amazing Abba is so faithful and kind to his children.  He brought a sweet friend into my life, here in my city.  Her name is Sarah, and she's got the most amazing spirit about her, and loves Christ with everything she has.  Her and her husband, Nate, have been a tremendous blessing in the hard transition.

In January, things started to look up.  The Lord led me to change churches towards the end of this month.  Nothing wrong with the church I was attending; it just wasn't where the Lord had me.  I started attending Onnuri English Ministry (OEM) in Seoul towards the end of January.  The first Sunday I attended OEM, I knew I was at home.  About a month later, I became the Women's Minster at OEM.  Then, in March, the wonderful and amazing Ruthie Stevens and Garrison Howard came to Korea to visit me, and see what this was all about.  It was an amazing time, and such an encouragement.  I'm so tremendously blessed to have these incredible women in my life.  

Ministry with OEM has been amazing.  I love my church, and it's passion for missions.  A team of women and I just organised a Women's One-Day Conference on 1 May.  We planned on 40 women signing up, but 108 women signed up!!!  We actually had to turn some women away because the space available couldn't hold that many people!  The desire to know God better is so apparent with these women!  The focus of the conference was "Complete Obedience," and we had a guest speaker, Liz Torrey.  Her husband, Ben Torrey, is the grandson of R.A. Torrey, the leader of the Welsh revival.  Also, his parents, Liz and Ben have been vital in bringing the Gospel to Korea.  They now have a several ministries here in Korea focusing on spiritually preparing South Koreans for when the borders come down, and North Korea is freed- training them in how to reach the North Koreans for Christ.  If you'd like to know more, you can check out their website here.  There are great monthly prayer calendars you can check out as well.

We were privileged to have 3 North Korean refugees attend the conference.  They had only been out of North Korea for 4 months, and hardly knew any English.  They were so shy, nervous.  I got to sit down, just the 4 of us and an interpretor.  They shared some things with me, things they went through, things they were forced to do, things they saw.  I will never forget these beautiful spirits.  If you remember, pray for Esther (19), Emma(21), and Leah(25).  They face many difficulties being out of the North.  It takes an estimated 2-3 YEARS for their health to be comprable to a South Korean, the language is different (South Korean language as adopted many English words and has morphed much in the past 60 years), getting a job/going to school is quite difficult for defectors.  Often times, NK defectors just cannot handle being FREE making decisions on their own, and don't know how.  They get overwhelmed, and many go BACK to NK.  How much more should we thank and praise God for the FREEDOM we have in knowing Christ?!?  Please pray that these wonderful ladies come to know the freedom found in Christ alone.

The Lord has been working in my heart so much since coming here.  He has spoken to me through many means, and continues to do so.  He has clarified the calling on my life; I know I am called into ministry.  I have known this for years, but never felt adequate enough, that I could communicate well enough, or that my speech was eloquent enough.  Always felt that I could never 'measure up' to what it means to be a "minister".  Being in Korea, I have come to know the Freedom that is found in Christ, in ways I never could back in the States.  He has also brought me back to the basics- what I believe and why.  My views and opinions on many things have changed a bit, but I know I am exactly where God has me, and going in the direction he is leading.  I will follow my God with a reckless abandonment, no matter the costs.

At the start of May, I started an MDiv in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Leadership at Luther Rice Seminary.  I am doing it online, and should be done in 2012.  Also, I know I will be in Korea through 2011, and possibly into 2012.  There are some things in the works for after 2011.  I'd ask for you guys to be in prayer concerning where I will go after my time in Korea is up; that I will be open to the Lord's leading, even into lands and nations my flesh would rather not go to.  

I am going to try to be much more diligent in keeping you all updated in what God is doing here in Korea.  PLEASE let me know how I can be praying for you as well!  I really do want to know!  Thank you so much for your continued prayers!!!

Please keep Esther, Emma, and Leah in your prayers.  Also, please pray for Sarah and Nate.  They will be moving to San Diego at the end of May to take care of Nate's grandmother who has terminal cancer.  Also, Sarah will be going to Seminary at Fuller, and Nate will be starting law school as well.  Please pray for clear direction in some decisions I have to make, concerning my next employment (my current contract is up in September), and some other things in the future.  Pray that I be obedient to the Lord in all circumstances, so that he may best be glorified.

Much Love to you all!!!