"When all is said and done" will be a LONG time from now.

Hey guys, this is Matt again. Writing this from my super comfy desk chair in my room just seems so odd. Yesterday I was in Korea...today it seems like some sort of dream. I feel as if my mind is leaking memories with disturbing speed, so I hope this reflection will, at least temporarily, stem that flow.

For me, this trip was filled with wonder, excitement, frustration, revelation and a deep sense of greatness. Let me explain that last one. As we listened to testimony after moving testimony, heard the many plans and ideas for reaching N. Korea, saw the faces of those who had escaped death and yet passionately wished to return for those they left behind...I kept having the thought run through my head of, "holy cow...this is huge!". Though Christianity has been a part of N. Korea's past (it was once called the Jerusalem of the East for it's massive 19th century revivals), the amount of effort and risk and collaboration that is going into making Christianity a part of its future is staggering. And here we are, a small church from a small city able to become a part of this enormous movement. By deciding to actively partake in this endeavor we are not merely inserting ourselves into a well established machine that has been running for centuries (as it would be with most countries), we become part of the leading edge of N. Korean ministry. That fact is daunting, humbling and exciting...everything that missions should be.

But before we expect to change anything about this situation there are so many things that we must first change about ourselves. The most important barrier we must deconstruct is our American preoccupation with relating "success" to "results". With N. Korean ministry, we simply do not get the results that most missionaries in other countries expect to get. If missionaries to N. Korea get funds, they might go to, say, balloon launch flyers that might get confiscated by the government (most notably the Chinese) and the launcher may be jailed. If the flyers do make it N. Korea, they might all just get turned in to the police. If someone does read them, they might get jailed or killed just for doing so and might not even convert. If someone does convert, they'll probably die. On top of this, we don't even get to see any of the effects because the country is closed. Sometimes a person escapes with a story of their dedication to Christ, but that's not likely. Most N. Korean defectors who make it to S. Korea are actually saved in China because ones who are saved in N. Korea are killed or jailed. Many missionaries in China are jailed. Many things are confiscated. Much money is "lost". This is the way it is. It's HARD. But the last time I checked God didn't command us to reach the nations "so long as it's easy". Success in N. Korea does not mean results (though, not to completely kill the party, there are some amazing testimonies that come from this)...success comes from persevering in the name of God no matter what the circumstances may be. That is how we must view our work, our calling as missionaries.

A guy in our group (Andrew Schmidt) pointed us to Esther 4:14 and it was a great reminder of God's sovereignty and our role within it. God will work in N. Korea, and it is our immense privilege to be able to come alongside His will in that country. He does not need us to accomplish His will there, and yet we have a chance to see Him move in incredible and mighty ways.

We are only twelve people...yet we firmly believe that as a church we can do so much to increase His kingdom. Please help us in spreading a passionate vision for the salvation of the N. Korean people. We can't do it alone.

Thank you for all of your prayers and support. I humbly ask, however, that you do not stop interceding in prayer on behalf of those who will die if they so much as speak the name of God aloud and for those who will kill them if they do. Never stop praying.

Thanks guys.

(I'll post a more personal reflection when I have more time.)

-Matt