Final Thoughts.....

Where do I go from here? Is it possible to have so many thoughts rushing through your head and yet feel so incredibly blank at the same time? I'm really struggling with processing everything I learned, heard, saw, and experienced. A week can fly by so quickly and fade into the distance so easily. I so desperately don't want to forget anything I learned....but since everything still seems so unreal, will I? I pray that God will engrave these many lessons on my heart.

The North Koreans will always have a very special place in my heart, and I look forward to seeing how God uses me to help them. Of the many lessons I learned one of the main ones that pops out at me at a consistent rate is that I'm a broken person. I have nothing to offer. My sin so often overwhelms me, and I can do nothing. I can't save myself. It's only when I surrender myself, my will, my very being to Christ that I find myself healed. When you grow up in the church it is SO easy to miss that lesson because I feel we only see a small glimpse of what Christ does best. Saving us. Binding our wounds. Showing us what a life without Him is like. One of my all time favorite songs is "Unashamed" by Starfield.

I have not much to offer you

Not near what you deserve.

But still I come

Because Your cross

Has place in me my worth.

Oh, Christ my King

Of sympathy

Whose wounds secure my peace

Your grace extends to call me friend

Your mercy sets me free.

And I know I'm weak

I know I'm unworthy

To call upon your name

But because of grace

Because of your mercy

I stand here unashamed.

I can't explain this kind of love

I'm humbled and amazed

That you'd come down

From heaven's heights

And greet me face to face.

Here I am at your feet

In my brokenness complete.

I will say it again. Here I am at your feet in my brokenness complete. In my brokenness complete. This is my constant prayer to God. That I will remain His humble and faithful servant. A simple vessel used by Him to further His kingdom and bring Him glory.

Oh how I long to do so much for the people of North Korea. I just want to rush into that poor, hurting country, hold those people in my arms, and just wash them over with love. I long to share with them how much God loves them....and oh how He LOVES them! I want them to know that He sees and understands their pain. God is hurting for North Korea and we should be too!

In South Korea, prayer is such a vital aspect of their faith. It is everything to them. When was the last time prayer was everything to you? To me? To us? When was the last time we prayed with faith, passion, and love? In humbleness before our Lord. The great 'I AM'. Faith can move mountains. Matthew 17:20 "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Fellow brothers and sisters. Let's move some mountains! :)

Although I titled this last blog final thoughts......I feel this is truly the beginning. May God constantly be bringing new thoughts into my mind about this trip. God bless all of you who prayed for us!!!! :)

~Kelsey