Costly Sending

Yesterday was a LONG day.  Amy, Joann and I met up at Toys R Us to buy supplies for the Kerala (OT/SLP) portion of the trip.  "The world's JOY store"?  Sure, it stripped me of joy! lol JK haha but it really was EXHAUSTING.  Filled with little kids who looked like this:

LOL. Cute, huh?

Anyway, we did really well and bought a lot of useful therapy materials (and we did it on a budget)!  Afterwards, we had some girl time and enjoyed some yummy Mexican food and even scored a free dessert. The Lord is on our side! :]  Afterwards, Amy and I went to meet up with Christina, who had been slaving away ALL DAY making therapy materials for us to take to Kerala.
















Meet Christina sa-mo, wife of PR, mother of Evie and Ellie, Occupational Therapist, and... CRAFT-LADY-EXTRAORDINAIRE!

Chris played a HUGE role in helping Joann and me train and prepare for the Kerala portion of our trip.  So after the medical missions portion is done in Bangalore, Joann and I are riding solo!  Solo on a train that's going to take us all the way to the southern tip of India to Kerala.  There, we will be serving at Sathyanikethan (Shelter of Truth) Disability Center and Special Needs School. We hope to encourage the teachers there and share with them various occupational, communication and behavior strategies.

Both Joann and I just recently graduated in our respective fields (Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology).  We are both not very crafty.  Christina, a seasoned pediatric OT, brought us together to make a game plan.  She is very crafty.

She wanted so much to go with us and be there with us but wasn't able to this summer.  But instead of being sad about it and having an "oh well" mentality, she sprung into action!  She decided to be a costly sender and help us prepare all of our materials.  What this means is: printing, cutting, copying, gluing, laminating, cutting, velcro-ing, cricut-ing, gluing, punching, ripping, cutting, laminating... and so on.  Yes, it is tedious, menial, and maybe even carpal tunnel-giving work and although it sounds like something anyone can do... it is not an easy feat.  Countless hours were put into the work and still more must be put in.


OOOH, LOOK~

We also wanted to be an encouragement to the teachers there and made personalized posters for each of them.  The quote on the bottom (one of my all time favorites) says this: May HE who has chosen to limit some of his children be merciful enough to guide the hands of us entrusted with their care. – R. Wayne Mosers

Thank you to Christina and all of you costly senders who have been sacrificing your resources and time!!!

Faithful Servant

We had our last Sunday training this past weekend. It was our last... because... we.... are.... LEAVING... FOR.... INDIA... IN.... A... WEEK!!!!! *breatheeee*

This week's training was really special. Richard Yoon, GLMC's very own missions coordinator, shared about the importance of post-missions and our roles in blessing and encouraging the senders when we get back.  Nate shared a short devotional about storing up treasures in heaven, having a Christ-centered perspective and living counter-culturally, as difficult as that may be.  Then we had a time of sharing.  We went around (and around, and around) in a circle and shared about how a specific member of the team has encouraged us.  It was such an amazing and refreshing time and even though we weren't able to get to some of the logistical prep stuff (we ran out of time), I believe God was glorified as we strove to love one another.

I absolutely cannot believe how quickly it has come and I'm reminded of 2 Timothy 4:7 when Paul proclaims, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith".  Of course the race is only beginning (haha) but the training journey has also been a great race in my mind.  It's been like a mini-race.. or.. ooh~ the semi-finals!!! The more I think about it, the more our trainings have really been a "good fight".  It has been a time in which we had to persevere, be uncomfortable, be broken, humbled, molded and tested.  However, it has equally been a time of great growth in faith and reliance on the Lord.  God loves us and provides for us and He has been SO faithful in showing that to our team.
















In India, when you greet someone, instead of saying, "hello, hi, what's up," you greet by saying, "faithful servant", "obedient servant" or "useful servant", etc, etc. Our past training sessions have helped me consider what that means.  It has helped me try to conform to those titles and roles.  I was reminded each week as we trained hard that we are going to India for a purpose greater than ourselves.  We are going to India to be servants-- casting away our own selfish desires and needs.  We are going in the name of Jesus Christ to proclaim the good news.  Man, I am... so humbled and amazed that God includes us in His great plan.  What a privilege it is to serve.

When I went on my first missions trip back in undergrad, I met a missionary who explained that many people have it wrong.  He said that whenever he talks to people, they ooh and ah about how amazing he is and how much he sacrifices and how difficult it must be for him.  But he said that being a missionary, going on missions and serving God, is a great blessing and privilege.  He said that he feels honored and thanks God every day that He's chosen to use him for His purpose.  I still remember that brief conversation and all of those words spoken to me.  I think it stays ingrained in my mind especially because I know that this is true.

So as we countdown the days to departure, even though I am overwhelmed with anxiety, doubt, frustrations and fears, I remember how privileged and lucky I am to be a part of His great commission and plan.

Sincerely,
Faithful Servant

Partnering with KCM

Introducing... the KCM India team!

Last night (Weds, 6/22) our GLMC India team got together with the KCM team being led by our very own Pastor Richard.  We met at VIP Chinese in Cerritos.  (I was the only one there on time and thought I was in the wrong restaurant and even got back in my car to drive somewhere else... -_- sometimes I forget I'm Korean..."Korean time")

But slowly yet surely, all... 30 or so people started trickling in and the mingling began!  Over jja-jiang-myun and kkang-pong-shrimp, we had an amazing time of breaking the ice and getting to know one another.  So many special and amazing hearts on that team.  It was so encouraging to see how the Lord is working in these college students and molding them to be faithful servants.

On a side note, I also found out that PR is somewhat of a KCM "celebrity" LOL. Many of the students on that team mentioned how they REALLY REALLY wanted to be on that team once they found out PR would be leading it! GLMC, we are so lucky to have this celebrity as our pastor! :D

We'll end on that positive note.

10 days! AH!!

Dinner with C.V.

Great food and great company!

C.V. Vadavana is the founder of Sathyam Ministries International. (You can check out their website here: http://www.sathyam.org/default.asp. So much AMAZING work being done through them.)  He is visiting this week and we were fortunate to meet with him for dinner. (Thank you DP for organizing it!) PR and family, DP, CV, his US liason, Christina, and a few of our GLMC India mission team members got together at Mario's Peruvian in La Mirada tonight.

Throughout the course of dinner, CV answered our questions, shared about his ministries and was also able to honestly share some of his discouragements and frustrations.  He shared about how in the past, many short-term missionaries have come to India and have since forgotten completely about the work they were once a part of.  I think it was a good warning for those of us going out this summer.  It's easy to go with the mentality that we're going for a new experience (something I personally struggle with); take and receive and then forget.  But we need to remember that the reason why we go is to PARTNER with the missionaries out there.  I encourage everyone who has gone on short-term summer missions (STSM) and/or will go to be mindful of this and think of how we can CONTINUE to encourage and be an active part of the ministries.

C.V. also shared about cultural differences in India and gave us simple ways to show tangible care and love to the people we will encounter in India.  For one, we're going to make sure to have lots of candy and small toys on hand to pass out to those we minister to.  We have so incredibly much here and have been blessed with GREAT material wealth in the states and GIVING even the simplest things can really make the difference.  C.V. mentioned "the kids will be so happy with the things we put in the garbage".  So please, remember those less fortunate in India and gather up old goodies and put them aside in a box and we'll collect and donate!

We want to really PARTNER with C.V. and Sathyam Ministries and support him year round in any and every way possible.  Please lift him and his ministries up in prayer... right now! Yes, right now! Also pray for those people going out on STSM-- that we will seek to foster life-long partnerships. For His Kingdom!

Teachings

Every Sunday, our team has been meeting at 9am-11ish for trainings.  During each session, we brainstorm, have team time, share prayer requests, pray, and receive teaching.  Every week, we've been super blessed by some awesome brothers from our church who have shared on an important topic.

These teachings included:

1) Biblical Theology of Missions (Daniel Paik aka DP)
2) The Mission of the Church (Pastor Richard aka PR)
3) Overview of India and the "Dalits" (Peter J. Kim aka Peter)
4) Unreached People Groups (Clark Fobes aka Clark)
lol... "aka" hahaha

I think I can speak on behalf of my entire team when I say that we've learned an incredible amount from each of these teachings. Each of them helped us feel more prepared for India and also I think helped us grasp a better understanding of why we go on missions. Maybe I will share a little more on what specifically we learned from each lesson but I will do that later so look out for an update!

Medical Stations

Here is the basic run-down of how the medical missions portion of our trip will look like! (Sorry for the cheesy pictures. Thank you Google Images!)

 Station 1: Check-in
- Sign in on the roster and fill out slip tickets (name, age, chief complaints, etc.)
Purpose: To greet each person with love, joy and kindness; give them a first impression of why we're there (the Gospel).

Station 2: Vitals
- Record blood pressure and pulse
- Record blood glucose level for men and women 30 y/o and over
Purpose: To show the love and compassion of Christ through words, interaction, and physical touch. Some of the people we will encounter are considered "untouchables" so by coming in physical contact with them, it may possibly be very counter-cultural for them... just like the gospel message.

Station 3: Visit with Dr. Hubert
- Talk with the MD
- Hubert writes Rx and/or gives medical advice
Purpose: To reflect that Christ is the ultimate healer and restorer of not just our physical ailments, but of our sins.

Station 4: Pharmacy
- Fill Rx
Purpose: To provide and give freely to those who are suffering and hurting, just as the gospel is given freely to those who are suffering.

 Station 5:  Prayer
- Receive prayer
Purpose: To share the gospel with them and to pray for their healing and salvation.

Introducing...!!!

I thought it'd be fun to dedicate a post to introduce our team! This way, you can remember us better and keep us in your prayers! So here goes!


INTRODUCING...

Jeff Kim, Husband of Stephanie and father of 3 precious daughters-- Charis, Adeline, Johanna; Assistant Principal and "video guy"

Roles:
-Team Leader
-Video Team Lead (Church Planting Video, Mid-Term Missions Video)
-Men’s Small Group Leader
-Communications Officer

Hubert Kim, Husband of Susan and father of cutest-baby-ever, Nay-Nay (Naomi); Surgeon and team comedian

Roles:
-Medical Team Lead
-Director of Health Station
-Team Medic 
-Hydration procurement helper

Amy Lee, Wife of Pastor Howard; Academic Adviser at Biola University and mother of 25234290 cats (jk... 4 cats? hehe)

Roles:
-Women’s Small Group Leader
-Video Recorder/Interviewee
-Evangelism/Advertising
-Medical: Intake
-KCM Liason
-Co-Photographer

Joann Song, Recent graduate of USC (MA, Occupational Therapy); lover of children and dancer-extraordinaire
 
Roles:
-Health Station Administrator
-OT Kerala portion

Nate Ong, 3rd year student at UCI; professional bball player and musical genius

Roles:
-Praise Leader
-Luggage Control
-Hydration Procurement
-Financial Advisor

Grace Lee, Recent graduate of LLU (MS, Speech-Language Pathology); "rainbow showers"

Roles:
-Team Photographer
-Team Journalist/Blogger
-Church encouragement: Body worship
-SLP Kerala portion





 
Please continue to remember us and pray for us!

Training: Prayer Hike

We had our first Saturday training this past weekend and it was a huge success!  Jeffanie opened up their beautiful home in Irvine for us to meet.  The Kim's provided our team with an amazing meal to fuel us for our long day.  We had a great time of sharing and discussion including team roles, plans, and preparation regarding medical logistics.  We also started learning body worship and of course had a wonderful time of prayer.  Then we headed to Laguna Hills for our prayer hike.

First off, let me tell you: A prayer hike is NOTHING like a regular hike. :]
Each of us led prayer topics as we hiked and we intermittently sang praises together, practiced our body worship, role-played evangelizing, and participated in challenges like, "tell the next person we pass, 'God bless you!'" Most importantly, we were challenged to be intentional with every single minute while on this hike.  It was such a blessed time and I think the Lord definitely brought our team closer together on this hike.  He reminded us that we are in it together and I think we all learned what it means to persevere and lift one another up (even when we're tired and overwhelmed).  God continues to amaze me and it is SO visible how he is giving each and every one of us a clear vision and heart for India.

Countdown: 2 weeks

AHHHHHH!!!!!
I CANNOT believe that we are leaving to India in 2 weeks!
So many things have happened in the past few weeks that has been confirming God's goodness and hand over our team.  I am so in awe. Through fundraisers, donations from our church and through a few very amazing individuals, we are doing really well with our support raising!

Thank you to our GLMC family for participating in our bulgogi slider and slaw family Sunday, 1st annual bike-a-thon, coin jars, and individually supporting so many of our team members.

Also a special thank you to Howard and Amy Lee's aunt, aka Dr. Grandmother, who donated $3,000 towards medical supplies for our trip and to Hubert and Susan's friend who donated $5,000 towards our trip.

Our team was talking about how God has been so amazingly faithful in answering our prayers.  He is doing great things and I think really teaching us about the power of prayer and faith. We all have this... feeling... that something amazing is going to happen in India. Can't wait to find out!

With that, please continue to keep us in your prayers because I am CONVINCED that our God is a God of answered prayers! AMEN!

Hearts in India

First post!!!
Let's pray for the people in India we will encounter... that God will work mightily in their hearts.