In regards to politics and forgiveness...

The day before our performance at Songnae, everybody at Durihana went out to eat.  We wound up getting Jjajangmyun, my first foray into eating what would soon be one of my favorites.  That, however, isn't so much the point, as much as setting up the scene, so I won't go into food.  God knows I have a problem in chasing rabbit trails, especially when food is involved.

When we left, we had taken vans, and there were not enough room to carry everybody back in the vans.  We weren't far from our church, so three of us (myself, and two North Korean guys) walked back to Durihana.  We were stopped on the corner of the main intersection leading back, and they looked at me and told me something I'll never forget.  They said this in a mixture of Korean and English, which, being new students to the language, was a feat in and of itself, but just the look on their faces and the tone used on top of it always brings me back to the statements made when they spoke.  I'll write what they said verbatim (The words they used in Korean will be in parenthisis):

"(South Korea), good.  (USA), good.  Obama, good.  Lee Myung-bak, good. (North Korea), bad.  Kim Jong-il, bad.  Kim Il-sung, bad.  We hate Kim Jong-il."  They then asked if I understood.  I nodded.

As I thought about what was said later, my theological mind started whirring and thinking about the ramifications of what they told me.  "They should be loving their enemies and not hating them."

But really, as I've come to really think about this, really, what would I say in their shoes?  You know, it's really easy to say in my spot that you should love a person or a group that has, unequivocally, done you harm.  Really, at that point in my life, what was the worst atrocity done to me?

I can say it was in 5th grade, and I was on the playground.  I was a loner back then.  I wasn't well liked among my peers.  One day a few of my classmates came out on playground.  Apparently, as they saw me playing alone through the windows, they decided among themselves that it would be fun to push me around for the duration of recess.  So they did.  And they came out of the doors, found me, and threw me to the ground, hit me, and kicked me around.  I ran, and they followed me, trapped me, and repeated the process.

Pretty soon, a larger group formed out of that single three students, and they continued the assault.  I did the best I could at this point to get help and ran in front of one of the teachers that was monitoring the playground.  They turned their back on it happening.  I ran into the school, and was pushed back out by another teacher.

Eventually, I was in front of another teacher, and the same thing happened in front of her.  Only somehow, she was blaming me for the mess that I was in.  At this time, I had no options left.  I bolted through the doors of the school, and hid near the safe in the school.  My fourth grade teacher found me by chance, and took me to the principal, whom took my side, and harshly reprimanded the boys who were responsible for the incident.

I was eventually able to forgive the people that did it to me.  I moved on in my life.  But that memory still stays in my mind.  And from that point on, I was apprehensive of teachers and hated school.  I never looked at those teachers that turned their backs on me in the same light.

And here I was, with these two North Korean guys, saying they hated their country and Kim Jong-il.  I never got their exact stories of what happened with them, but you can pretty much assume that they aren't fairy tales.  Every North Korean there has a story, and it isn't a pretty one.

So we're talking about a government, and a leader that commits some of, if not the, most vile acts of human rights violations in the world.  Acts that are bad enough that all these people that I surrounded myself with had no choice but to flee their home land.  That risking getting caught in China was a better solution than staying where they were.

How could I expect them to love them?  I know the scriptures, but it's a tall order to ask for.  I can't tell you how long it took me for to overcome the anger of what happened to me in the 5th grade.  What about them?  A lot of them were newly in South Korea.  That pretty much makes it clear that they suffered for a long time as a result of North Korea.

Even when they come to Seoul, their pain isn't over.  There is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  This is not an epic quest that has a full resolution and happy ending at the end of the arduous journey.  They are snubbed by South Koreans because they're from the North.  Yes, despite the same race and a common language, they are still looked down upon because of where they were born.  They struggle fitting in in a free society, after having been manipulated their whole lives under a dictatorship.  Some of them struggle to even have thoughts of their own.  Even still, a lot of them still have family in North Korea.  Some of them cry over the separation from their family.

Really, to me, it's no wonder they hate their home country.  It's no wonder they hate the Kim regime.  It's no wonder none of them mourned when Kim Jong-il died last year.  Throw the grandeur of sound theology to the wind for a second, and think, could you blame them?

Obviously, I would love to see them find a way to forgive the people that mistreated them.  I would love to see them love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.  But really, who of us are perfect, that we don't have similar shortcomings?  And how could I judge them for what they said?

Really, after coming to Durihana, I have found myself even seeing North Korea through their eyes.  When the 33 refugees were repatriated in February, I found myself angry.  I found myself, the theological student that I am, repressing feelings of hatred for Kim Jong-un.  That could've been someone's sister that I personally knew!

And then I remembered, at that moment, their words, like they had said them yesterday.  And I could understand better exactly why they said what they said.  It began to sound less crazy when you knew the atrocities that happen there truly affect the world.  Sadly, it's something that we, the free world have yet to fully grasp.  It affects all of us, but we have chosen to turn a blind eye to that and focus on North Korea's military threats and tests.

If the world would only change their point of view from playing defense against a military that only says what it says to get food aid, but yet never disperse it to the people who are truly starving, to playing offense for the people suffering so dearly, what kind of changes would we see right now?

Obamaftermath; or, Why American Christians Look Worse Than They Did On November 5th

NOTE:  I'm about to be as transparent as humanly possible regarding my political beliefs, because I already foresee the backlash that's going to come with this post.  I'm going to state my case as concisely as possible.  All I ask from you, the reader, is that if you feel the need to deride me or attack me via Facebook or whatever platform you choose to do it from, read the entirety of this post.  If you prove to me you haven't, I'm fully reserving the right to not respond to you, because I'm not going to take the time to read what you say if you don't show me enough respect to fully read what I have to say on this matter before you jump on me.

So the election is over.  Obama won.  I came back to my desk at lunch to find the news.  When I checked my News Feed on Facebook, I was appalled by what I saw. In fact, at this moment, knowing the people I've seen write what they write, and knowing what they proclaim to be, I'm almost ashamed to even call myself a Christian, because to do so, knowing that I can't be the only one seeing these things, and other Christians are doing the same, I would be associated with the brutish, childish, and arrogant behavior that was being exhibited through Facebook.

What I'm now about to state is an extrapolation on what I stated earlier on Facebook.  I'm going to hold back no punches.  If you don't like it, fine.  If you want to discuss it, fine, if it's respectful.  If for some reason you want to snub your nose at me, like a lot of you have done to approximately 50% of Americans tonight, sure, delete me from Facebook.  I will not be crying tears over lost friends if I'm losing friends over something like this.

I will not name any names, but I will certainly be providing certain statements that turned my stomach to see.

"I am pretty sure the Founding Fathers would be rolling over in their graves at how the current residents of most of their original colonies/states chose to vote... If our founding fathers were anything, it was for little government. Our nation was founded on folks being self-governed. I suppose when a nation of people go out of control, they get the leader they truly deserve though..."

"I think I'll take a sleeping pill that'll last four years. Wake me when it's over."

"Well its a sad day in America. Hard to believe Americans would reelect a president that hates America. 56% of Americans said that America was in trouble and on the wrong path. Hmmm Well it is what it is. Get ready folks...Things Are not goin to Change unless we join together and Pray for Gods Governmental authority to take over and rain down. God show us Grace n Mercy."

"God help us and have mercy on this nation!"

"Well looks like I wont be getting any raise for another 5 years. Guess will have to get a second part time job, so I can pay more taxes so others can sit on their butts. Really do not understand how this country can be so blind."

"Kiss America goodbye, kiss it all goodbye .... what shall our coal miners do now....... get fired! !!! I could say some really not so mice things now, but I will sit here with tears and worry for every single American"

This is just a taste of it.

Now, most of these people were really strong to point out Romans 13:1 prior to the election.  "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established."  Yet, since they found out Obama was re-elected, that tune has changed dramatically.

Now, before I even go any further, let me state my political positions.  I am pro life.  I unquestionably believe life starts at conception.  I oppose same-sex marriage, and believe that marriage is between one man and one woman.  I am pro-Israel, because God blesses the nations who bless Israel and curses those who curse it.  I voted Ron Paul in the Republican primary.  I was unable to vote in the general election due to my ballot never arriving in China.  Had I have received it, I would have voted for Virgil Goode of the Constitution party, and not for either Barack Obama or Mitt Romney.  I had problems with both of them.

I have problems with Obama's stances on abortion and gay rights.  I'm not fully aware of his stance on Israel.  I'm aware that the economy has grown.  I'm aware that my mother would probably be without her medication if it weren't for Obamacare, as she has been out of work for over a year due to circumstances far beyond her control. (and believe me, she'd rather work, so don't even attack her)

I have problems, first and foremost, in voting for a Mormon candidate, which any strong Christian that with a basic understanding of theology would be able to identify as a cult, which is partly why I refused to vote for Romney.  I am aware he's pro-life, and pro-sanctity of marriage.  But if you would into his speeches, you would see that he, like on so many issues, has flip flopped.  He recently made a bumbling buffoon out of himself on his overseas jaunt, and started lashing out at China, where I am currently living, which would exacerbate the already delicate living situation I find myself in right now.

And that's that.  We were honestly voting for the lesser of two evils tonight.  I know full well that my vote for Goode would've been fodder, that it was only between Romney and Obama.  But when I think of the path America should be taking, I see Obama as the lesser of two evils at this juncture, and more capable of leading this country than Mitt Romney.  And you would be surprised how many people OUTSIDE of America, CHRISTIANS even, agree with me.

That is my honest belief, you can take it how it is.  I have never lambasted anyone for voting for Romney.  I disagreed with them, for reasons I'm sure this blog post will cover, but that is their choice.  And voting for Obama, or Johnston, or Stein, or Goode, or Ralph Macchio, or whatever audacious write-in candidate you wanted to write in, was just another choice.  Granted, it's a very important choice, one that many people don't take seriously.  But it was their choice to make.

But I did watch many people post about praying before they voted this term.  I watched them quote from Romans.  But now a lot of these same people, I reiterate, have become rather ravenous since the results were posted.  Are you guys suddenly so unsure of this verse now?  If you were clinging so tightly to this verse, expecting Mitt Romney to win the election, then you really need to re-examine your own faith in God.  The God I serve doesn't give us everything we expect, but everything we need.

I can come to very few conclusions about the people who referenced this then reneged it after the results came in:

1) You believe God made a mistake

2) You believe that people have a greater influence over this world than God

3) You believe you ARE God and whoever you determined was the right candidate HAS to be President

4) You don't know God

I hate to repeat this verse again, but Romans 13:1 clearly states what should have been bore in mind when the results were announced.  If Obama has been re-elected, by a straightforward, Biblical standpoint, God has appointed him as the leader of America, with his political flaws and all.

By inferring that it's EVERYONE ELSE'S fault (i.e. everyone who disagreed with your vote), you are now denying God's very omnipotence, since Romans 13:1 states God is in control of even this election.  All the temper tantrums you throw does nothing to change this.  By throwing the temper tantrum, you are even REBELLING AGAINST GOD!  Think about that.  Shudder at the thought, because it's true.

I have already had pro-life, pro-sanctity, pro-Israel thrown in my face:

"Hummm I know God hates abortion and gay marriage. That's my attitude, I don't understand how people that claim to be christian can support what God does not support. Oh and the Bible says we should support Israel too."

I certainly don't oppose this statement.  No Christian should or would knowingly or willingly oppose this.  HOWEVER, let me ask this.  Which is more important, having a candidate who stands behind all of these things, or having a candidate who outwardly calls himself a Christian, and not by cult standpoint.  Because you can dress Romney up however way you want to, but he is still a member of the LDS church.  This is a group that not only reject the Trinity as it stands in the very biblical basis of it, but actually believe that should they convert enough people into LDS, they themselves will become gods of their own worlds.  And the evangelical church was literally rallying Mitt Romney!  Were you really so desperate to cling to those ideals that you were willing to sacrifice your very belief in the fact that LDS is a cult in order to create a strawman argument that if Mitt Romney won the election, we were magically a Christian nation again?  That's a very flawed viewpoint.

Two verses came to mind in this regard:

"Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  Repent therefore!  Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."  --Revelation 2:15-16

We don't know exactly what the teaching of the Nicolaitans was, but we can obviously find that it was bad.  Possibly false doctrine or cult practices.  But people were rallying behind Romney.  Too many people were congregating around someone who could, very well, in this present day, be a Nicolaitan.  Your only basis for this was pro-life, pro-Israel, anti-Gay Marriage.

If you are so staunchly for those issues, but refuses to merit a man based on his belief in God, and how he exercises his faith, then you should have no problems voting for a Muslim, on the (offshoot) chance that he is not only pro-life, pro-sanctity, but also pro-Israel, right?  I mean, hey, who cares what he believes about God, right?  So long as women can't kill babies, homosexuals cannot marry, and Israel's protected by our extensive military arm.  Right?

Christians should have opposed Romney as strongly as they oppose Islam if they believe in the God of the Bible.  This is absolute truth.  Neither is any more correct than the other from a Biblical standpoint.  If you wanted a Christian nation, then you would not have voted for Romney.

American Christians had their chance to vote in a Christian who was pro-life, pro-Israel (despite being non-interventional unless Israel requested help), and believed marriage was between a man and a woman in Ron Paul.  But he was severely ignored, even by the Christians.  But Romney claims to be a Christian (which, in itself is ironic, since the LDS church has long tried to dissociate themselves with the mainstream Christian church over the persecution they purportedly suffered at the hands of it, and the fact that they believe that they're right and mainstream Christians are wrong), and people church ate it from his hands.

Moreover, let's not forget that Romney not only flip-flopped repeatedly on the campaign trail regarding his political platform, but was outright caught making hateful statements, refused to be transparent during his campaign, and at times, outright lied.  And yet we throw defense lawyers to the wolves if they let guilty men go free, because they have to lie to do so.  And I was supposed to rally behind him to be my next president?

Meanwhile, we have a president, who despite his misgivings, declares himself a Christian, and declares that he reads the Bible daily and prays.  We can only take him at his word on this.  What he does in his office is beyond what we know, so we can only pray he's telling the truth, and it is between him and God whether he is or not.  And so many, as Christians, are calling out the rest of the country as lunatics for voting for him again.

It is almost like people believe that President Obama is a brainless robot* with no brain.  That he cannot change his mind.  But I have an idea.  Maybe it sounds absurd.  But we should be praying for this man.  He says he's a Christian.  He says he prays and reads the Bible and does devotionals every day.  Well here's an absurd thought.  Let's assume, and this is crazy, that he has a brain and a heart, and that God, through this prayer and Bible reading, can penetrate his heart like he's known to do.  God can change this man as much as he can change ours.

*If he's a robot, he could still be reprogrammed.  They still have memory chips inside.*

"I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." --1 Timothy 2:1-2

If you are in such turmoil over the results, then you are clearly not practicing this.  I would have prayed regardless of who won the election, even if Daniel Larusso crane technique'd his way into the White House on write-in votes.

When should these prayers have happened?  As soon as your ballot was cast, in my personal opinion.  And not the, "God, please let Romney win," kind of prayer.  The intercession on who was to be the next President, regardless of the outcome.  But seeing some people's responses, that wasn't the case.

Moreover, we should be thanking God we even have this chance.  I know that's cliche by now.  But I have really learned this over the last year.  Some of the people I hold close to my heart couldn't even envision the possibility of electing their officials.  If you don't like the choice your fellow Americans made, and refuse to support it, then I would greatly encourage you to defect to North Korea.  You wouldn't ever have to worry about these elections ever again (or at least until the government there cannibalizes itself and the country reunifies).  Then we can bring some of those North Koreans over to America, because they'd kill to have a choice.  And they'd probably be a 1,000,000 times more respectful than people have been in the last 24 hours to whoever won the election, because at least they had a say a matter for the first time in their lives.

But instead, it's better to bemoan the fact that America made a huge mistake on Facebook right?  Which, based on your beliefs, infers that God made a mistake.  Then how can we even stand firm on Biblical truths anymore?  If God makes mistakes, then maybe the whole creation was a mistake.  Or what if there is no God?  You are opening a Pandora's box by making these kind of statements.  Which is why we need to think before we speak.

As far as the effectiveness of our stance on abortion, gay marriage, and Israel, I have already delved into that in a previous posting, and I don't want to prolong this already long post any further.

Today, we had a choice to bless or curse, and I saw too many people speaking curses who proclaim to know a God who blesses all who loves him.  With us acting as God's representation on Earth, what does that say to the world about God?  Let me say this, your antics on Facebook makes the job of ministry workers in all fields HARDER, because this is what they have to contend with.  Think about that before you begin to rail out of self-righteousness, pettiness, and arrogance.

I'm sure this post will ruffle some feathers, and lose me some friends.  But I'll stand physically alone if I have to on this one, because enough is enough.

WARNING: Avoid Orbitz

When I first started my international travels, I was advised through Jake to go with Orbitz due to their guaranteed lowest fare promotion -- if someone books the same itinerary cheaper, they'll refund you money.  Now, I never had any of that happen, but I had no problems really with two of my itineraries booked through Orbitz.  But then there's always that clincher, right?

Here's all of my transactions (or attempts thereof) regarding Orbitz.

1. April 2010 - From Evansville, Indiana, Seoul, Korea - Round trip.  No hitches.  No problems.  Price was what I expected.  Nothing changed.  I had booked Economy all the way.

2. August 2011 - One way from Evansville, Indiana to Seoul, Korea.  Once again, no problems, price was what I expected.

3. August 2011 - Round Trip from Seoul Korea to Evansville, Indiana.  This one was a doozy.  At no point ever (even on the one way ticket I had booked just before this) had the traveler's insurance box been checked by default.  Yet I book this flight, and it's checked.  This was my wife's ticket to come with me to America for three weeks.  I called Orbitz and explained the situation, and they contended that I agreed to traveler's insurance and there was nothing they could do.  I asked for a supervisor, who promised a refund.  Never came.

4. April 2012 - Round Trip from Qingdao, China, to Evansville Indiana.  This is the one that will, bar none, make me never use Orbitz again.  I searched for this flight to find it $700 cheaper than anywhere else.  I click on it, and half of them say that they're now sold out, and the other half say that the fare has magically shot up $1000.  I searched from Qingdao to St. Louis  to get the same thing.  I searched hours later and saw the same rates as before, with the same results if I clicked on any of them.  Today, same thing.

I also have a video that will go up on Youtube later showing this, including comparisons with sites like Travelocity near checkout.

Needless to say, Orbitz is not living up to what I had expected from my experience with them before, and to worsen things, are now in the process of running scam jobs.

Long time no survey (Subtitle: Hey look! I'm bored again!)

I had been doing these annually. Now, I'm just bored, let's compare how much things have changed. Name: Corey Siblings By Blood: One (Half) Brothers: none Sisters: One (half) Eye color: dark brown Shoe size: 10 1/2 Height: 5'9" Innie or Outie: innie What are you wearing right now?: jacket, polo shirt, jeans, shoes. Where do you live?: Qingdao Righty or lefty: righty. Best place to go for a first date: to a nice restaurant followed by a walk (if it's warm out) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Favorites Number: 147 Boys Name: Adam Girls Name: Gabby Drink:Lemonade/Coffee (Not combined. That's just sick) Month: April Juice: Orange Juice Breakfast: Granola/Cereal Bars ----------------------------------------------------------------- Have You Ever.. Smoked: Yes Bungee jumped: No Made yourself throw-up: No Gone skinny dipping: No Loved somebody so much it made you cry: Yes Broken a bone: Yes, my toe twice, once playing hackeysack, and once playing poker (believe me, don't ask) Played Truth or Dare: Yes Been in a police car: No Came close to dying: Yes. Been in a sauna: No. Been in a hot tub: Yes Swam in the ocean: No Fallen asleep in school: School = sleep Broken someone's heart: Yes Cried when someone died: Yes. Cried in school: Yeah, that was a horrible day. Fell off your chair: Countless times. Sat by the phone all night waiting for someone to call: Yes Saved AIM conversation: Mine auto-archive. Saved e-mails: I'm an e-mail packrat thanks to Gmail. Made out with just a friend: No. Been cheated on: Yes, but I had found out AFTER we broke up, so it didn't phase me too much. ----------------------------------------------------------------- What is... What's your room like: Pretty nice I guess. Ample closets, sitting area by the window, the only thing that sucks is that Chinese mattresses come in three types: Firm, very hard, and granite) What is beside you: Lots of books, coworkers. What is the last thing you ate: Rice, sweet potato noodles, jeon. What kind of shampoo do you use: I don't even remember the brand name. It's a Korean brand for sure. ------------------------------------------------------------ Ever Had... Chicken pox: No Sore throat: Yes, that's every Tuesday and Thursday for me now. Stitches: Yes Broken nose: Technically ----------------------------------------------------------------- Do You... Believe in love at first sight: No Like picnics: Yes Like school: I liked the last school I attended. --------------------------------------------- Questions: Who was the last person you called: The IRS, last actual person, Tami Who was the last person you danced with: My wife. Who makes you smile: My wife. ------------------------------------------------------------ Who... Did you last yell at: One of my 4th graders for bullying another kid. Broke your heart last: My wife. Told you they loved you last? My wife. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Do you like filling these out: Well if I did, this would've been more annual. Do you wear contact lenses or glasses: Neither Do you like yourself: Sometimes get along with your family?: Most of the time ----------------------------------------------- What are you listening to right now: My coworker who has an aversion to silence and therefore makes as much noise as she can. I'm pretty sure if you gagged her and put her appendages in restraints, she would still concoct ways to make noise. What did you do yesterday?: Went to work. Heard the above. Yelled at a bunch of kids at times. Came home, ate, washed dishes, wrote an email and a term paper. Hated someone in your family: I did, but I'm over that. What car do you wish to have: Any car that's relatively new and runs well. Where do you want to get married: I got married last year, in a nice church in Korea. Good driver: By Asian standards? Absolutely. Good singer: I'm a good screamer and can rap pretty well. Diamond or pearl: diamond Indoor or outdoor: indoor --------------------------------------------------------- Today did you... 1. Talk to someone you liked: Yes 2. Buy something: Yes 3. Get sick: No 4. Sing: No 5. Talked to an ex: No 6. Miss someone: Yes ----------------------------------------------------- Last person who.... 10. Was in your bed?: My wife 11. Saw you cry: My wife 12. Made you cry: My wife (starting to feel like a parrot) 13. Went to the movies with: My wife (Seriously) 14. You went to the mall with: My wife (WTF) 16. Ever been in a fight with your pet: Yes (C-C-C-Combo Breaker!) 17. Been to California: Does airports count? 18. Been to Mexico: No 19. Been to Canada: No 20. Been to Africa: Why can't you ask me about Asia? I could answer affirmative to that! -------------------------------------------------------- Random..... 21. Who was your first celebrity crush: Dolly Parton (sad, right?) 22. What books are you reading now: "Here Am I Lord, Send Someone Else" and "Christ the Healer" 23. Best feeling in the world: Waking up after a good night's sleep/being around my good friends 24. Future KIDS names: Still not sure 25. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal: No 26. What's under your bed: A bunch of crap left over from remodeling our apartment that the former tenants left. 27. Favorite sport to watch: Hockey 28. Favorite location?: Seoul 29. Piercing/Tattoos: None 32. Who do you really hate?: Kim Jong-un. 33. Do you have a job?: Yes, teacher/English robot. 35. Have you ever liked someone you didn't have a chance with? Yes 37. Are you lonely right now: It's an amazingly bad feeling to be in a room full of people and feel alone, but yes. 38. Song that's stuck in your head right now: Out of My Mind by Fastball 39. Have you ever played strip poker: Nope. 40. Have you ever gotten beat up: Yes. 43. Have you ever been in a mosh-pit: Yes. Wish I could get back in one, but I'd probably end up dry heaving by the end of it. It's been way too long. 44. Ever liked someone but thought they'd never noticed you? Yes. __________________________________________ random What's the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?: Their eyes. Your Favorite Food?: Pizza, California Rolls, Jajjangmyun Have you ever cried for no reason?: Yes Hugs or kisses?: Both Butter, Plain or Salted popcorn?: Butter Favorite Flower?: Tulips Have you ever fired a gun?: Yes Do you like to travel by plane as opposed to car?: I'm growing increasingly fonder of air travel. How many pillows do you sleep with: One

What you leave behind could always be gone.

I'm a very fortunate person.

On May 31st of last year, I took off on this whirlwind journey, thinking I'd be back within a month. 9 months later, and I'm still in America.

And at this point, it's truly a bittersweet symphony.

I grew up in and around Ridgway, Illinois, a piece of land that is never featured on anything more than a state map, and spent the last 4 years of my life in America in Harrisburg, Illinois.

Anyone who is watching the news right now knows full well the calamity that happened there. An EF4 tornado struck both towns, leaving Ridgway close to halfway demolished, and rocking major areas in Harrisburg hard.

Yes, I have heard from my family and friends and classmates, and no fatalities among my loved ones that I'm privy to at the moment. My family's homes are all intact. But it could've been so much more different.

I look at photos and they barely look recognizable. I saw a video just a block away from my mom's house in Ridgway, and didn't even realize where it was until they cut to a different shot.

The beautiful Catholic church that I played my baseball across the street from is, save for the altar and the front door, destroyed.

The hardware store I used to go with my grandfather with is leveled, while the bars next door and the bank are all there with minor damage. The American Legion? Bye-bye.

And Harrisburg looks just as eerie to me. Streets I walked down filled with debris. The Wal-mart my friends and I used to meander through with damage, and the mini-mall beside it is in a pile. The hospital where my mom worked had an entire wall ripped off of it, exposing patient rooms to the outside.

And yet, as much as my prayers go out to everyone who lost, and every family who mourns, I can't help but rejoice. So many things I am thankful for, and yet I never thought I would ever have to be thankful for things like this.

I'm grateful that, given the damage path in Ridgway, that neither my mom, my aunt, or my cousin lost their homes or lives. The odds of all three of them being missed given the account of where the tornado moved are astronomical. When I found out, my heart returned to the Cindy Jacobs prophecy where "God is going to bless you and your family, and provide in ways that you cannot even imagine."

Even my stepfather, who was, from what I know, in Harrisburg during the tornado was untouched.

I'm also thankful hearing reports from my friends that they are fine. So far, I know of no one that I know and care about being dead or seriously injured. That is an amazing thing, knowing I know people who have lost loved ones.

I sit over here in Asia, and see my home area being reported on by CNN like Joplin, Missouri last year, and so many others before it, and it's just surreal. Last year, I was sitting there eyes fixed on the disaster from the earthquake in Asia, now I'm in Asia eyes fixed on the disaster in my own backyard.

Really, things like that remind you of what you take for granted and the things you should be thankful for always. Even something simple like the internet. Without Facebook and Skype, I would be waiting on pins and needles for days to find out all the reports I have found out in a handful of hours online.

Moreover, my mom was working at Harrisburg Medical Center until just before I left for Korea last summer. If she was still employed there, she would've been on her way to work during the tornado, or already there. Sure, finances have been dismal for her since, but I can't help but think that God knew what he was doing.

Really, looking at this storm footage, and hearing about it from my friends in family Stateside, I have more to be grateful for than I knew.

With that said, another storm front is moving through Friday, with possible severe storms. I'm praying that they don't get a double dose of what happened today.

But also, pray for those affected by the tornado. Both towns I call home have a long road of recovery, and people have grieving to do. But this could have been a lot worse.

And to all my beloved reading back home, I'm not there physically, but I'm with you guys.

Myung-joo's Wedding

So I had mentioned previously that I had went to a wedding the morning before the Andre Ashby conference at YDFC. Well, let's delve into that quickly, but first some backstory.

Myung-joo, I had mentioned earlier about in the performance in Songnae with Sul, and I think that's the first time I mentioned her name in this blog. But this was not the first mention of her. Remember back when I told you about the woman who played Arirang for me during my first week there? That was Myung-joo. And her story is one that Hollywood couldn't even write.

There was a story on BBC several years back about the North Korean refugee crisis. In it, they focus on her (under a pseudonym because she couldn't use her real name at that time), and her life. She was living in China, working hard at a good paying job, while trying to maintain her secret about being an illegal resident there. She had been caught and sent back to North Korea once. She was pregnant at the time, and when she returned to NK, they forced her to have an abortion.

After escaping and returning to China again, she got pregnant again. When she gave birth, there were complications. Her son had cerebral palsy. Being stateless himself, and illegal herself, she couldn't provide for him the treatment needed for his defects, and had to make a tough decision: to leave him behind in China, and escape to South Korea, earn money to bring him there, and then get him treated there.

Every parent that reads this: think about that for a second. In order to save your child, you have to leave them, and risk them being caught, or you being caught and killed yourself. How many of you have the heart to do this?

Since that story aired, both had made it to Seoul. Both were at Durihana. And Myung-joo had found a man that loved her, and cared for and treated her son like he was his own. And on that Saturday, they were married. I had the opportunity to witness it.

Now it was done at a wedding hall, and while I have a certain problem with wedding halls after witnessing a wedding there now (It's like a conveyor belt for weddings, almost takes the personality out of the entire ceremony, and they played ABBA in the middle of the wedding), to see them so happy, after such a life to get to that point, was a blessing in itself.

Camping

Did you guys know I'm not much of an outdoorsman? Heh, that wasn't any more apparent to me until the beginning of July.

I had seen the signs about this for a week or so around Durihana about a camping trip, but hadn't had it referenced to me. I kind of played it off as a "Dumb Foreigner That Can't Understand What He's Reading In Korean."

I don't like camping. I don't like bugs. I don't like "roughing it," I don't like being piled into a confined area with multiple bodies pressed up against you attempting to sleep. The last time I went "camping" was at Cornerstone Festival a decade ago from the day of Durihana's camping trip, and I wound up watching Ben Thomas be thrown down Main Stage hill, ate some bad Mike & Ike's (long story), had to go to the first aid area for exhaustion after a bad mosh pit experience, had no food within two days, and had to borrow money from a musician named "Moron" to eat on the last day. I swear to you, none of this is fictitious.

So yeah, my previous attempt at the act of camping wasn't quite the utter success one would like to have in camping. Previous attempts weren't much better. So I wasn't sure if I wanted to go, as much as I enjoyed time with everyone from Durihana. But then, I can't remember if it was the exact day before or two days before the trip, both Joseph and Sul mentioned the trip to me and wanted me to go. So mouth said exactly what I was thinking, "Ok."

My mouth was having technical difficulties at the moment. But I was committed to going, and enjoying myself, or trying to.

Assuming we were roughing it, I packed every battery I owned for every electronic device I owned, so my Droid, my Korean phone, and my AA batteries for my camera. Your definition of roughing it may be: Bring a lighter for a fire, a gun for raw meat, a swiss army knife and a book; mine is making sure my smartphone doesn't die in the middle of rocking out to Stavesacre. Sue me. I also packed some bottled water, stocked up on a few bags of Jagalchi, a change of clothes, swim pants, and my Bible. At least I'm somewhat sensible. That and I knew the other major supplies would be provided by the church.

We all pack into the vans early in the morning, ready to roll out. And of course, I'm in Gwangjin's van, which meant easily that we were getting there around 5 hours before everyone else. Let me say this, you haven't LIVED until you've taken a 45 degree curve at 80km/h in a Hyundai 15-passenger van and survived it. If he wasn't in preparation to be a worship leader, he'd make a killing in NASCAR.

We get to destination 1, where everyone got to harvest potatoes. Now for me, this isn't exactly new: I grew up in the sticks doing this with my grandfather, so I let everyone else take over while I took pictures and dodged mosquitoes.

After that we took off to somewhere else for lunch, which consisted of Bibimbap. And sat and relaxed for a while before heading off again, this time to catch fish that I can only describe as looking like eel more than fish. But, everyone was really enjoying all of this.

We then packed into the car and headed further out, at one point hitting a pothole or a speed bump, and (never being able to find the seatbelts in the backseat of the van) sending my head into a confrontation with the roof of the van. The roof won.

We finally made it to our last destination for the night, where we would be sleeping. It was then that I realized my definition of camping trip was slightly different than Durihana's, as I found out we were sleeping in Hanok (Korean traditional style houses) as opposed to the tents I had invisioned in my mind. So all those chargers I left at the church could've been used. Derp. Ohs well.

We ate then had free time. I took the opportunity to walk around the area, and look around. It was a small village area, so I mean really quiet. Like, Ridgway quiet, except for one thing that Ridgway lacked: A waterfall. Yeah, I stood out that way relaxing to the sound of the crashing water before heading back, where everyone gathered together for games and later, preaching and prayer, then it was to bed we went. I was given one of the beds, some people were sleeping in the floor. Someone else was in bed with me. At one point the door was open, and there was a nice breeze in the room. There were 9 or 10 people in the same room sleeping, I just want to clarify this.

At one point, maybe around 3 or 4am, I woke up in a dead sweat, my entire body soaked, and my mouth completely dry. I looked up to find that door had been closed, no windows open, in a room with 9 other guys. This quaint hanok bedroom had turned into a sauna. And apparently I was the only one in agony. American curse.

At that point, I knew I needed to make a change, and found another blanket took my pillow, went into the other room, found a spot on the floor, and laid down, where it was actually slightly cool. But I could barely sleep at that point, that dead sweat had made me fully awake.

I woke up around 7 or 8, with my stomach cramping to the point that I was almost PRAYING I would throw up. Joseph found me and could tell I wasn't comfortable, and asked if anything was wrong, and I told him about my discomfort, to which in one quick motion, he grabbed my hand and just started massaging my hand in one particular spot, obviously a pressure point connected to the digestive tract, to the point where I thought my hand would explode. I was shocked at how bad it hurt, but I did notice one thing, my stomach pain subsided as he switched hands, then immediately started praying for my stomach. Such an amazing guy.

Stomach now no longer awaiting its time to purge, we headed out again, this time to swim. Not at a lake or a pond, or a pool. To a waterfall. Let me say this, it is beautiful. I wish everyone in their lifetime to have this kind of opportunity.

It was at this time I discovered I may already be getting arthritis. This is way too sad a discovery, because we got to the water, and I tried to get in, and the water was so cold, that my ankles were trying to lock up, and tremendous pain shot through them, so ankle deep was as far as I could go. So I headed up to the top and sat around and relaxed and watched everyone enjoy themselves.

A little while later (and after maybe an hour of swatting away sweat bees), I was en route down for a little while, when I got asked to come back up for a group picture. I was halfway up when I slipped on a rock, and landed on the rock, straddling it, and cutting and hitting my leg so hard I thought it was broken. Everyone else was up at the top, taking the picture, so I was literally there, bleeding and in severe pain for maybe ten minutes, just trying to hold myself together until I was found, and Joseph was there first, praying and keeping me calm, then a couple of the strongest guys there helped get me down off the waterfall, and into the vans, as we headed away from that area.

I was of course, embarassed. "Oh hello Mr. American, bumbling baffoon, ruining the camping trip by having an accident."

Yeah, did I mention how I don't like camping? If I go back to camp with Durihana or anyone ever again, rest assured I'm bringing bug spray and some football pads. And my electronic chargers because you just don't know when you're going to be camping in a house.

It wasn't too much longer that the trip was over, and we were back in Seoul. I assessed my leg back in my room, went to the pharmacy, and grabbed some hydrogen peroxide and gauze and wrapped it up as best as I could. But there was still pain, especially walking downstairs at the subway. The next day, Yoonmi and I had lunch with Pastor Kim, who saw my leg, and insisted she take me to the doctor, who inspected my leg, told me it was just a contusion (thankfully), applied more disinfectant and covered up the cuts with an elastic bandage, and all was well there.

I still have a scar on my right leg from the camping experience. My first mission-based scar? Heh.

Andre Ashby Conference

During my meeting with Pastor Kim the day I got the money to extend my stay in Korea, she gave me her card to keep in touch with her. When I got back to Durihana that night, I e-mailed her to let her know exactly how much that money had meant.

She later responded to invite me to come to YDFC again the following Saturday for a conference Andre Ashby was holding at the church. There wasn't any other engagement that day, aside from a wedding I had to go to in the morning (more on that story later), so I said I would be there.

When we got to YDFC that night, Yoonmi was told she needed to work in the nursery that night, so we parted ways at the seats, and I settled in for the conference, expecting to get a lot out of it.

Notice I said "get," but that couldn't be the case that night.

About 9 years prior, I began receiving Words of Knowledge, most specifically pertaining to healing. However, this was something that hadn't happened in a long time, but the usually way they occurred were that I would get sharp, unnatural pain in a certain part of a body, more specifically, in places I don't even have problems with. It's hard to describe the pain I receive, except to call it unnatural, as in this pain is something I can discern between pain caused by something wrong in my body and these occurrences.

Fast forward to the end of worship service, and all of a sudden I get this same type of pain in my eye. This is the first time in about 4 years that it had happened, and before that, it hadn't happened in 3 years. Yet I knew it when I happened, and actually GROANED at the thought of it.

Whenever it had happened before, it was in Little Chapel Church, a church I feel comfortable in and feel comfortable approaching the pastors in, and have had to numerous times over this. So here I am, in Seoul, Korea, at a church I had only been to twice before, and had only just really met and talked with the pastor of one week prior. Let's couple this with the fact that in Korea, pastors are highly revealed to the point where people view them as unapproachable, and I didn't want to step on anyone's toes, especially with a guest speaker from the States there. Yeah, I didn't want to approach.

But then, after worship, there was a break between worship and the sermon, where music was still being played, but nothing was being sung, Andre was just standing on the stage, and people were crying. He then mentioned, "Let's just wait on God right now, he's healing people physically and emotionally right now." And at that point, the pain intensified to the point where if I didn't approach, I was going to go crazy. Plus, in my time of having this happen, I was batting 1,000 in there being someone there with the affected body part, so I was confident at that point that if I was given the opportunity, that something would happen. I approached Pastor Kim, and told her what was happening, and asked if I could share this with the congregation. She then conferred with Andre about it, who without even hesitating, offered me the microphone.

It was at this point that Yoonmi was halfway listening in the nursery to the TV downstairs, and heard my voice come up on the TV and was shocked. But there I was, conferring to the congregation about this Word of Knowledge, and within what seemed like a split second, a woman stepped out with this eye pain. I began praying for her, and she was instantly healed.

I sat down, thinking God was done with me. Andre grabbed the microphone and said, "Well, Corey, actually, I'm blind in that same eye, can you pray for me?"

I was just stunned. By then I had a lot of faith, and was ready to go, and started praying for Andre in the middle of the service for his eye, and while there was no immediate change, there were flashes of light in his eye that he had never seen before, so there was progress.

I again, thought I was done. Andre started speaking, and gave an altar call. Several were saved that night, then he started receiving words of knowledge for healing, where around 20 people came up. It was at this point where he said "Corey, would you be willing to come up to pray for these people?"

I was overwhelmed. This was NOT what I was expecting that night. I expected my ministry to be pidgeonholed to North Koreans over my time there, instead I was ministering in YDFC? Unreal.

I prayed for people for what was probably 30 minutes, seeing my first of countless slain by the spirit. Even having seen it before, I wasn't sure what to do, but felt in my heart they had what they needed, and moved on. It was just incredible.

Later, Pastor Kim asked Andre to prophesy over people from the church, including me, and he did. The video is here:

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150318517166438

So at the end of all of this, I was able to spend time after the service in fellowship with Andre, Pastor Kim, and Andre's friend, Eli, and really talk with them. It was certainly a highlight of my time in Korea, and I still look back on that night and think, "Did that really happen?"

My visit to YDFC...

I should reiterate that the term of my trip was as follows:

9:00AM May 30th: Leave Evansville, Indiana, bound for Seoul.
11:00PM May 31st: Arrive in Seoul.
10:00AM July 1st: Leave Seoul, overnight layover in Tokyo.
9:00AM July 2nd: Arrive in Evansville, dead tired.

By the last full week in Seoul, I felt like I had unfinished business, that I was supposed to leave. I continued to work with people, and talk and visit with the group, and do whatever work they asked for, but my heart was breaking. I knew I wasn't supposed to go.

I had talked to people at home, and to Yoonmi, and told them as much, and that I was praying for God's will. And I did, but I broke it down to specifics.

The reason I couldn't stay longer was a lack of funds. I was blessed enough to get the funds to stay the first month, and I was aware of that. But I knew God was capable of anything.

For Monday, I remember really struggling with this. I spent the day crying in prayer. I began to figure out how much I needed to stay one more month. I arrived at 1.2million Won, roughly $1,200. So I told God that if he wanted me to stay another month, somehow that amount would come through, otherwise, I would leave on July 1st. I didn't say I'd leave happily, but I would certainly at that point know that my time there was fulfilled, and it was time to go back to the US.

Tuesday, I went souvenir shopping, and there was various other things we did too. I got to spend time with friends there, got to go back to Namsan with Yoonmi, and enjoy our fleeting moments together.

Now, during the conference, I had been invited by one of Yoonmi's friends to their church, which was Youngdong First Church, the host of the conference. I had been there last year, and was more than happy to go back, but every week was busy.

The last Sunday was my last opportunity to go. So, I asked for permission at Durihana to go to my fiance's church after the afternoon worship session, and when granted, I left right after we finished worship, and arrived at YDFC just in time for their worship session as well, which of course was good.

Then Pastor Kim stood up front, and points to you. I was actually shocked when this happened. She then tells me "God put you in my heart since the conference, I couldn't stop watching you throughout the whole conference." Once again, I'm shocked. She then asked me to come up front and share why I was in Korea.

So I got to tell the congregation that this was my last week in Korea from doing ministry among North Koreans over the month, and she hugs me and tells me we have the same heart. I expound on it, and they pray for me. I sit back down in my seat, and am brought an earpiece for English translation. I no sooner turn it on and I'm hearing the translation of what Pastor Kim is saying: "I feel like we need to take a special offering for Corey and his ministry in Korea."

What?

I'm blown away, and already thanking God, because I had an inkling of what was about to take place.

The sermon is over, and Yoonmi and I are taken to meet with Pastor Kim downstairs. We sit there talking about North Korea, my life in America, how I met Yoonmi. As far as anyone knows at her church, we were just friends. Pastor Kim definitely thought like that. All of this was just time to wait for the ushers to count the offering. When they came back, they gave the envelope to Pastor Kim, and told her the total, then she turned to me.

"Corey," she said, "it isn't much, but this is what was in the offering for you. It is 1,200,000 won."

I almost collapsed on the floor at that very moment. Exactly what I asked God to provide was provided.

So, let's just say that on Monday, Yoonmi and I rescheduled my flight back home to August 1st. And more to come.

Performance at Songnae

During the next to last weekend I was supposed to be in Korea, I get informed that during my last weekend there, Durihana was set to perform at a church in Songnae, about an hour away from Seoul. This was going to be a benefit for the refugees and the efforts to bring North Koreans from China to South Korea. Obviously, seeing how Durihana was one of the biggest posts for this, we had to be there. There was going to be a choir, accompanied by piano, violin, drums, guitar, and, of course (where I fit in), bass. So for that week, I spent my afternoons with the group rehearsing. We worked hardcore on this, performing a medley of four songs, three of which being Korean translations of English Songs (Once Again, Jesus Loves Me, and Lord I Lift Your Name on High). In fact, it was during a evening practice session between myself, Gwangjin, and Nahrie that we were able to get Gwangjin's story.

Come the Saturday of the performance, we led people in worship, then came the actual concert. CTS (The largest Christian TV station in Korea) was there to record, so this was going to be broadcast throughout the nation. By now, I don't really get nervous going on stage. Other people seemed nervous, but for me, it's not a problem. I've come a long way.

In fact, I was quite confident. I had been given a lot of compliments leading up to this on my bass parts, and I was feeling really good. Yoonmi came to watch, and I was excited to play. But hey, what's God without a sense of humor?

We get called up on stage, and I'm one of the first out the stage door to the stage, because I'm on the opposite side of the stage from the door. And I'm not paying attention, and all of a sudden I feel a "thwack," and my eye is stinging. I have just hit my head on a microphone stand on stage in front of around 1,000 people at this church. Moreover, like I mentioned before, CTS was there, so this was probably seen by I don't know how many in Korea, plus any Korean overseas that has DirecTV could've been watching too. No joke.

Hello humble pie, boy you taste good.

But, aside from being embarrassed, things went well. I have video from the crowd, but I cannot show it, because of the fact that several people on this video cannot have their faces shown in the media, because of family that still lives in the DPRK.

There were more acts, such as Myung-joo (more on her later) and Sul playing a guitar duet, and a girl that plays violin solos while doing choreographed dances, and it was good, but Yoonmi and I left early. It was supposed to be the last weekend we had together in Korea this year, so we wanted some time together.

If that was all of it, there wouldn't be anything left to write about, and I wouldn't have written the previous entry, but obviously, there's more to come.

Update Coming, But a Foreshadowing.

I know I didn't get as far as I wanted in my writing while I was in Korea. Let's just say that things got so hectic that it became an afterthought. Needless to say, I have a lot to catch up on.

I will go into as much accurate details as I can, entry by entry, but let's just say the following, and if you don't want to be spoiled on what happened, don't read below this:

1) I'm no longer in Korea.
2) I'm definitely not in America.
3) And I'm undoubtedly not traveling solo anymore.
4) And check the ChipIn widget at the right of the blog.

God bless you guys, and I will update you further over the next few days.