Korea Update: Long Overdue Update

[Kyeon Heo]

Greetings!

I want to first and foremost apologize for not sending my updates on a regular basis. So much has happened since I got back from the states this past summer and I really do feel like time is flying by. I want to thank those who have been praying for me continually and bugging me to send updates. :)

1. School - DIMA

I am about to finish up my 2nd year at Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts and it's truly been a blast. I've built some good relationship with some students and it's always a blessing worshipping and praying with the Christian students. 

• The more I teach at this school, I feel as though my heart is really growing for the college students yet I feel so inadequate because I'm not really sure how I can help them.
• I've built some good relationships mainly due to the Student-led Christian Organization as well as others who seek more english conversation help. In the Student-led Christian Organization, it's been about a full year now where they have no one to shepherd and preach the word of God. They often meet on wednesday nights for bible study and have prayer meetings every other night. It's been such an encouragement but at the same time, it really broke my heart because I really couldn't help them in any way. Due to my involvement in my church and the conflicting schedules with our weekly meetings, I was only able attend a few of their services. 
• Please pray for the students as they are truly in need of a shepherd  who can lead them, disciple them, and train them before they head out into the real world.

2. Church - Covenant Church

• I've been serving as the "young adult pastor" here at my church on the Korean side for about a year now and all I can say is that God is graciously and faithful. 
• I've been given the privilege to lead worship and preside each week in the main service on sundays and it's really been training to depend on the Lord (mainly due to my poor Korean ability).
• Heart Motive Lecture Series - Starting the beginning of this year, I've been meeting with my pastor and talking to him about how important and effective it can be for Koreans to learn about heart motives. After much preparation, we started teaching it to the Korean congregation in October. I informed Pastor Min and asked him for his prayers because I don't want to ruin people's lives lol. Long story short, we've been meeting bi-weekly for the lecture series and people have been very responsive. (Praise the Lord!). Please continue to pray for me as I prepare and translate each lectures in Korean and try to deliver in the most accurate way possible. I also don't want this to be just an informative lecture but with spiritual power. I desperately want to see Korean churches change! 
• Lots of spiritual battles in our church - within the past few months, one couple just gave birth to a beautiful child but later found out that he has severe case of down syndrome. A week later, one of our sister's mother passed away, people started losing jobs, more family members became very ill and a few left the church. Please pray for our church that during these times, we will not just focus on ourselves and our problems but to come together and pray!

3. Future

• The past month for me has been nothing but hectic as I need to decide very soon what I'm going to do next year. My contract is up in March of 2013 at school yet they expect me to extend. 
• This is already my 3rd year in Korea and I'm not really sure what to do? I want to come back to the states because I need to finish school (seminary). However, I'm just not sure if this is God's timing? Especially with my involvement with my church, I'm trying to discern what would be best. 
• I don't want to just stay another year in Korea just because I feel bad leaving the church, but I want to be convicted, that God has a purpose for me here in Korea for this upcoming year. 
• Selfishly, I do miss America a lot, and I often feel like I'm wasting my time here in Korea. However, when I look at the cross and try to think about why He brought me out here in the first place, it humbles me again and again and my only prayer has been "What is your will Lord?" What do you want me to do? Help me to obey!
• Please pray for me that I'll be able to discern and seek to listen to His voice, not my own. 

Thank you so much for reading this and praying for me! Let me know how I can pray for you as well! :)

Kyeon