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.