Reflections on S Korea

I have been so bad at keeping up with my blog. But I have put it into my schedule and it will be my goal to blog at least once a week.
So I have been back for about a month or so from S. Korea and have had some time to dial down and reflect on my recent trip to South Korea. If you did not already know, I traveled to S. Korea to lead worship for a Bridal Paradigm conference. The teaching focus was primarily on Jesus as the Bridegroom and the church as the bride of Christ. It's a very simple reality but once you understand it you will be emboldened in love for Jesus and you will live differently because of this reality. It's great. My main role in the trip was leading worship for the sessions of which there were 2-3 a day for 8 days.
*side note* i learned about 10 songs in S Korean! I loved it!

Here are some things I took away from my trip:

1. The Korean's know how to worship Jesus..period. I was struck with how they received the preaching of the Word, worshiped Jesus through music, and loved one another (and me too.) I've never seen a room so engaged in any of these arenas much less in all of them! I want to be more like them. If I feel like I've heard a teaching before I usually check out. That's so messed up. The Word of the Lord is living and active and is always fresh! And even better the Holy Spirit will always remind/teach us if we are open to it. Bottom line, I need to worship like a Korean. ha.

2. They loved well. They lavished their love on us throughout the week and for me it all culminated in the last day. They gave me a box of 12 packs of these little throat lozenges that I loved. They noticed that I loved them earlier in the trip (by my consumption!) and wanted to bless me. I began to weep because I felt the Love of the Lord by this gesture. I can't really explain it and I'm even tearing up right now... But these people exude the Love of Jesus.

3. Prayer. They have paved the way for the rest of us in the place of prayer. We met an intercessory team that had been praying for this conference for months prior to the trip, every morning they meet as a church to pray (this is common in all S. Korean church's), Head Pastors are known to pray for hours a day. I am challenged even as I return to KC to press in to prayer and commune with the Lord even around my home.

4. Their food was so good! I have never eaten such quality food in my life. Mostly vegetables, rice, seafood, beef and yes.. yes.. dog. Besides the dog the food was all so healthy and even after eating a big meal I did not feel like I was stuffed. Crazy. I probably can't prove it but I believe the healthy diet is why Koreans usually look roughly 10 years younger than they are. (that is a good stereotype!)

All in all our trip was a success. I witnessed healing of headaches, disc issues, and even cancer. I fell in love with the people there and greatly desire to return. There is something about worshiping with people of different language.. You would think that it would be hard to do but it's not. You enter right in and feel a connection with them. It's because we worship the same Jesus. Though we do not speak the same language our hearts unite as we worship Jesus...