The night we returned to Orlando after finishing the short term missionary midyear event in Spain, we heard from our sister that Jung Hye’s mom had passed away. Mom died on February 1, 2016 at 10:35am Korea time at the age of 61. The next morning we arrived in Korea for the beginning of mom’s three day funeral services. This was an especially difficult time for Jung Hye because while we were traveling internationally for the previous two weeks she didn’t get to see mom’s face as she normally would online back in America. More than that, she missed holding her hand and saying goodbye in person.
After the funeral events we prepared mom’s home for sale and shared in the sadness of losing mom with our family. As we were cleaning up we found mom’s bible. Jung Hye would call mom every Sunday to share from the scriptures and pray with her. Mom’s bible was open to the last verses that Jung Hye shared (Matthew 7:7-11) with a small ruler for highlighting. Even though mom’s physical health deteriorated we are thankful that she received Jesus personally and through finding her bible open to His word we are all the more encouraged and thankful. We can no longer see mom on the earth but when we think of her in God’s peace and at rest we are thankful and long even more for heaven.
We are coming back to the States and even though we weren’t able to get in touch with many people while in Korea we are thankful for those who visited us during mom’s funeral services to pray with and encourage us. We are thankful for our ministry friends in Korea who came to send off our mom with worship and prayer to our Lord. And we are thankful to everyone who attended and sent their love, prayers, and encouragement to us in this time of mourning. Thank you.
Jung Hye’s brother who is not a believer yet said after the funeral: “Sister, your friends and guests were different from the other guests. They look so happy and content. I want to be like those people.” We are thankful and believe that God is still working for our family. Please pray as we return to the States that God encourages our family and that we adjust back to the States quickly and well after being gone for a month and a half of international ministry and travel. God bless you,
Prayer Requests
1. Family and Health: Pray that God encourages and gives His peace to our family. Pray that God gives us good health and a baby in his time.
2. STINT Midyear: We finished the STINT Midyear Conference in Spain well. 200 short term missionaries, 100 long term missionaries, and 50 missionary kids attended the conference to be refreshed spiritually and physically. They went back to their ministry fields in Europe, Africa and the Mid East. Please pray for their physical and spiritual health and that their ministries will be fruitful.
3. Big Break 2016 Outreach: On March 1st we leave for 4 weeks of outreach. About 3,000 students will share the Gospel in Panama City Beach during their spring breaks. Pray that we will serve out of the overflow of the Holy Spirit in our lives and that many people meet Jesus personally to see their lives changed through this outreach.
4. Our Team: With Jung Hye and I gone for so long our team has had to carry an extra heavy load during our busiest time of the year. Pray that God increases their dependence on Him as He gives them strength and encouragement.
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