That's right, we're home. Seven weeks of mission concluded. We are absolutely exhausted but hope to recover with your prayers.

We met them. We have persons in our hearts, and not just imaginations now. They're pretty ordinary folks who have suffered super-ordinary things. They're the greatest, just like we thought they would be. We captured their stories as they captured our hearts. We did some teaching, some learning, some interviewing, some traveling, some visitations. All that we said we would do.

Now we return to the constant documentation, posting of true tales and sermons, prayer, giving. We had planned a meeting for August 15, but that will be on hold for awhile.

Thanks be to God and to His people for an opportunity of a lifetime. Thanks to Seoul USA for setting it all up.

We feel we understand some things we couldn't have comprehended before. Like, being in another country, even a nice free one, is excruciating. Like, being on the outside of a group is simply not as fun as being on the inside. Like, sometimes life does not seem fair. But through it all, God's grace is sufficient for those who will call on the name of the Lord.

We learned that the cross given "us" is not like the one given "them." Trying on other people's crosses is an exercise in frustration. We learned that He will never give us more than we can bear. So we continue to have passion but not panic for those who suffer. God is in charge. When we pray, much happens. The world is not ours to save on our own.

We continue to bless the other side of the world while not forgetting our side. The friend, the neighbor, the co-worker, the church member... they all hurt sometime.

I personally learned how woefully low is my spiritual energy and ability to cope when coping is sorely needed. I developed a hunger for God and all He is ... I learned how wonderful the simple things of life are.

That's some of the stuff we picked up among hundreds of other things. I can only hope that those we "went to teach" picked up something from us.

For those reading this on email, I commend you to my website, which has been filled all summer with our various episodes. You can read of the Sea Launch, the people we met, thoughts about persecution, and all the rest.

Those reading this on the "other" mail may have a friend who can walk you through some of my blogs, or feel free to ask for hard copies. I'll be glad to send them out to you!

The sites:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/aservant70

and the weekly posting of "Baekjeong"

http://baekjeong.com/

Blessings on you all! Keep the dialogue going as you wish!