Helen's Blog

        Beautiful fall season in Korea is just around the corner.  The kids just started up school again for the fall quarter and  already Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) is here!!! Chuseok is probably the biggest national holiday that the Koreans celebrate.  It is a day like Thanksgiving in which family, relatives and friends come together for a feast and spending time together.  However in Korea, with such buddhist and confuscious root in our culture, this day is often celebrated amongst many families by giving homeage to the dead forefathers on the paternal side.  I am really excited to see my relatives as it is one of the few times a year that we really all get together, but I detect a little sadness in our midst.  Within the past couple of years, already 7 members of my family and relatives passed away.  So it will be a difficult time perhaps when we come together this time.  So please pray for me on September 21,22, and 23rd as I spend time with relatives.  I am hoping to be a blessing; to comfort them and to be an encouragement and especially a light!! Pray that the Lord will orchestrate ways I can continue to be in their lives as Koreans get so busy with their own lives.

     These days I’ve been really missing my family at home in the States….I am very concerned for my mother these days.  Please continue to uphold her in your prayers. Pray for a hedge of protection from any accidents and that she will be surrounded by loving people and church family.  Also pray for her intimate  time with the Lord. Also pray for me that I will be able to send her over here or that I may be able to get the time off to visit my Family before my contract is over which is in February.

     Work and Ministry is going fine! There has been a few additions in our children’s group. It is such a joy to teach the young children bible stories and then to teach the Word of God to the teens.  Please pray for love, power and creativity in our midst!!  In addition, there are a few ladies around me that want to have a bible study and fellowship.  Please pray for me for wisdom and discernment, guidance,  and God’s annointing as I facilitate a study in His  Word to these ladies who are seeking God.  We are starting the Joyful Life studies in the book of Hebrews.

    Last time,  I mentioned about a little boy who got saved a few months ago whose father has cancer and is not saved.  Please continue to pray for “Mikey”.  Pray for Mikey’s dad’s salvation and healing and for strength and support for the family.

  I will put some pictures up as soon as I can figure out how to download my camera onto a workable computer.  Right now, I am without a computer.

Thank you for caring and praying!

Blessings!

sister helen

Dear Saints and Friends,

Sorry…I know I am overdue in keeping you posted.  I’ve been ill with severe bronchitis and am  recooperating from it now.

Well, what’s been going on?  July has been a busy month of lots of teaching preparation for both the English Institute and Church as I have been incorporating a lot of drama acts and plays in English learning and then also preparing worship, sermons and activities for Sunday Children’s Church.  God has been faithful in pouring out His annointing and blessing in  the worship and the teaching  of His word, and creative activities for both the children as well as the teens.  I am truly amazed at the work that the Lord is doing in Children’s Church. 

After preaching the gospel through the wordless book, one little boy accepted Christ.  Halleluiah! Most of the other children from my understanding has already accepted Christ except for this one little boy who was the most disruptive and naughtiest of the bunch.  He kept interrupting and making unneccesary comments…but then as I gave the gospel and asked the children if they wanted to be forgiven of their sins and accept Christ in their hearts, this little boy stepped up.  He was sincere, and I bear witness  of his genuine conversion.  Every weeks since then, I have observed His change and how attentive he is during bible lessons. He is always answering the questions and truly understands the teachings.    Unfortunately,  his dad is ill with cancer and is not saved.  So please pray for this little boy’s dad’s salvation, and for the family to be strong in the Lord at this time.  Please continue to pray for God’s blessing on the teaching of His word and for the spiritual growth of the children.

Also in July was  VBS, our first English Bible Camp with a combined group of kids from several Calvary Chapels.  It was  fun to direct and narrate an impromptu drama act of the “Good Samaritan” which was put together in around  half an hour.  The children seemed to enjoy the time.

I recently enjoyed my time on vacation with missionaries, Victor and Mai Marquis.  We went to Suraksan, a famous mountain near North Korea.  It was a nice time of traveling, hiking, sightseeing, and just keeping good company and fellowship.

Other than that I have just been seeking more clarity and direction for God’s will.

Prayer Requests:

Discipline and diligence in my devotion with God; that I may hear from Him and get more clarity on  Vision and Calling in my life….Knowing the will of God for my life.

Greater spiritual strength and stamina to teach 5 classes in a row teaching English,  preparing bible lessons  and teaching/facilitating for children, teens and women’s small group, and keeping up with on-line classes and maintaining daily responsibilites.

Improvement with leading worship; God’s leading and progress in guitar playing and singing.

Greater effort in evangelism and being a witness of Christ in the workplace and with relatives.

Greater wisdom in all matters.

Continual prayers for my mom, and brother and his family in the States.

Guidance and leading to what I should be doing next after my contract is over; whether to come home and be with my family for awhile or to continue work and ministry in Korea.

Open/close doors according to His will in Church life, ministry, next job lead, relationships.

Thanks and God bless!!!

sister helen

Hello Saints and Friends!

Psalms 71:17-  O God, You taught me from my youth: And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.

Praise the Lord!  There’s nothing like knowing your calling and enjoying the labours that the Lord has given, that you may perform it with all your heart.  Furthermore, there’s nothing more rewarding than to declare His wondrous works and truths to the next generation.  Hallelujah!  There are two new open doors for me in ministry.  I have been asked to do Sunday Children’s Church for a church nearby whose pastor graduated from the Calvary Chapel School of Ministry.  I will be teaching English Bible to a small group of children elementary school level and another small group of  junior high and high schoolers.  Please pray for me for my gospel presentation through the “Wordless book”  this Sunday for the littler ones and for their little hearts; that they would be receptive to the gospel and that seeds would be planted on good soil and fertile ground.  Also pray for me for greater discernment in knowing this flock, especially the older ones, and that I would be able to discern what message to speak on and for a good connection and relationship with them. Please also pray for me to be able to lead worship more effectively and skillfully.  I am not quite there, but I do believe God can do anything!  Continue to pray that the Lord be glorified,..more of Him, less of me,

Please continue to pray for our Calvary Chapel churches in Korea as we are looking to build an Associations.  Pray for love and unity among us,  especially for the leadership , that it would be completely Christ lead, not man lead ministry.  We sure would love more Calvary folks out here!  It would be great to get some Saving Gracers over here.  Please let me know if you know anyone that might want to serve in Korea.  There are many English teaching jobs and ministry opportunites!

Thanks for your prayers!

Blessings!

sister helen

Dear Saints and Friends,

Sorry it has been a while since I’ve written.  I have had a lot of things that I have had to digest, process, and deal with after the death of my father and then my grandmother. Unfortunately my mom, although she was on her way to Korea after she heard about my grandma’s illness, didn’t get a chance to see her as grandma passed away only a few days after we heard the news.  Once she got to Korea, we made a trip near the DMZ where a lot of my mom’s family lives and where her family including my grandma’s grave is at.  We had a chance to meet a lot of family that I didn’t know.  Many of them are not Christians, some are Buddhist and in the culture, they have a ritual to give homage to the dead.  As we were there at my grandma’s grave plot in the midst of observing a foreign ritual, my relatives brought out the gospel presentation and pictures that I had made for my grandma a couple of years ago.  They said that she kept it dear to her in one of her drawers and they thought it would be good to offer it to her. Interesting. I was happy that she kept it all this time!!! Praise God!

As far as work goes at the English Institute, things are going great!  I am amazed at the power and presence of God and the inspiration and creativity that is stirring in our midst. Even though I am not working at a Christian school anymore, I am seeing the Lord work so mightily!!! The Korean culture is inundated with  constant academic pressures and the goal is high test scores. So it’s school and then institute after institute; study, study, study everyday is what life is about. The Lord is leading me to incorporate a lot of art, music, dance, games, and other activities while teaching English.  My kids are enjoying class and there has been such an improvement in their behavior and conduct since I’ve been there.  I have seen wild, disrespectful, incorrigible kids, to now obedient, compliant and good kids having fun in English class!    In addition, my administrators who do not proclaim to be Christians are finding favor with me and have asked me to tutor their child, and if the Lord willing, they said they think it might be a good idea to round up a group of kids to teach from my church, and involve their son with them.  Interesting. So then, we had a meal together, and I asked them if I can pray.  Then all of the sudden the boy said, “I want to pray! ” The mom said, “you don’t  pray, you don’t go to church or are a Christian!” He replied, ” I do now, I am now!” and so he started to pray.  He didn’t know what to say, so I guided him.  It was very interesting!

Church life and Ministry in Korea is a steady work in progress.  There has been a turnover of leadership at the Calvary Chapel Choenan for a while now along with an effort to develop a Calvary Chapel Associations here in Korea.  ( In Korea, Calvary Chapels can be considered a cult since they have been it’s own entity.  With now 5 Calvary church plants in Korea, we are trying to bridge and form an associations to make it a legit church in the eyes of Korean government) and with things in transition, it is really hard to know my place in ministry here. I love to get involved in everything I can and   I am praying for wisdom and discernment as to what the Lord wants me involved in.  Please pray for me in this area too. We began a women’s bible study that I started to get the ball rolling a while back and now the pastor’s wives are taking turns facilitating the study. I am leading worship and prayer.  Please pray for me for wisdom and discernment in this ministry and for His affirmation, confirmation, His leading and divine annointing if He is in it. I have also been asked to be the point person for prayer ministry, but I’m not sure if I should.   There are also other ministries that I want to get involved in such as orphanage ministry, prayer and intercession for the other church plants in Seoul, and Daejeon.  At this point, I just want to sit at His feet.  Please pray for His affirmation and confirmation, direction, leading, and annointing.

Other prayer requests:

My family at home-my mom-for peace and comfort and love as she has lived a hard life and has lost her husband and mom.  Pray for her for a hunger and intimacy with Christ, God’s rule over her life.

My brother-Wil-for God’s rule and authority over His life, intimacy with Christ.  Growth in the Lord with the help of pastors and resources.

JC institute- that I would continue to be a light and witness for Him.  Excellence and creativity in teaching, touching lives of kids, other teachers and administrator.

Church life and ministry-(as mentioned), wisdom, discernment, God’s affirmation and confirmation if  He’s in it, divine guidance and annointing.  Pray for open doors and God’s leading in the ministries he wants me to partake in.

Cultivating relationships- wisdom and discernment.

My studies in Christian education and in-depth inductive bible studies.

My devotions to God; deeper intimacy and abiding in Him, hearing from Him.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  Phil 1:6

Thank you for loving me and praying for me!

In His grace,

Sister Helen

Dear Saints and Friends!

“Hope deferred makes a heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life”  Proverbs 13:12.

It’s been a week now since I’ve been back in Korea! I’ve been swamped with my on-line classes in Christian Education and trying to get settled in with life in Korea.  Amidst much work, busyness, and adjusting,  it hasn’t quite hit me yet, but but now it’s kind of sinking in….wow, I’ve been accepted as a Calvary Chapel Saving Grace World Missionary to Korea! Talk about God’s Grace!!!!   The desire that my main vocation of my life since I’ve come to commitment to Christ for over 10 years has been to be just that; to be a missionary of some sort, and having been rooted and cultivated a heart for worship and missions at Calvary Chapel Saving Grace, I am so honored and privileged to be sent out by SGWM!  So it’s potentially happening!  Hallelujiah!

Praise    I have so much to be thankful for! * I had such a precious time spent with my family in the States during my visit home to the States as my father was in his terminal stage of his battle with cancer and went to be with the Lord.  The experience and loss shared has brought my family’s  hearts together and tender towards God and towards eachother.  I have seen God work so mightily in getting my family’s attention to life’s most important goal; that being Him and our love for one another.

*I also had  smooth sailing provision for me to go back to Korea.  So true that when the Lord guides, He provides.  After my visit home to the U.S.,  I tried to settle there and make a living. I was there for 3 months and could not find work but  praise God that the door opened for me to come back to Korea with air flight and living quarters paid for.  I  am now residing in Choenan, Korea where the first Calvary Chapel church plant in Korea is, and has been my home church for the past two and a half years.  It’s good to be back!  I was welcomed back with warmth and much surprise from many who didn’t expect me to be back!

*It is also nice now that I will be serving, working and living in the same city as I have taken a job in a “hagwon” which is an English institute nearby.  Fortunately, it looks like I’ve landed one that is pretty decent.  It’s quite a change for me from teaching in Christian schools, serving the household of faith to now a secular environment, but I think it will allow me to get more involved in the raw culture and the reality of the the people in Korea.  So far I am enjoying it.  I seem to have favor in the eyes of the the administrators, Mr. and Mrs. Lee who seem to want to take me in as their personal family friend and special English influence to their English institute which is mostly taught by the natives in Korea.  But the teaching program is  very developed so it’s helping me to learn methods of teaching to the Korean people.    I think this is a good exchange because I am sensing the need to relate to the Korean people for the sake of the gospel.

*Another good thing is that I am liking my living environment.  I am in a cute and clean little cozy one-room apt. and right across the street from a exercise park, a Christian University where there are many foreign students and the subway station all so  conveniently close!  God is good!

A major prayer request-   I just found out that my grandma who is 96 years old is in a hospital in critical condition.  I am not sure that she is saved.  Two years ago, I had presented the gospel to her in a largely written out tract in Korean  as she cannot see or hear well and has altzheimers.  She tried her best to read it and  responded with her hand raised and eyes gazed up and said “amen” but I’m not sure where her heart is or if she truly comprehends.  My mom will be flying out to Korea this weekend to be with her, and I’m sensing that God will be using her to share the gospel to my grandma.  It will be a wonderful reunion because they haven’t seen eachother in quite some time!!  Please pray for my mom, my aunt and I to be lead by the holy spirit, that He will divinely orchestrate a way that will allow us to communicate the gospel effectively to my grandma. Please pray for the working of the Holy Spirit to work in my grandma’s heart  for her salvation and confirmation of her salvation.

Along with that please pray that

-I will be a light wherever I am;  as a missionary English teacher at the Institute to the kids and staff, and other places where I will be serving.

-For divine appointments and opportunities to evangelize and share wherever I go.

-That He will give me clearer vision for my mission in Korea.

-Open, close doors for specific ministries according to His will. ( ie. participating in worship, women’s bible studies, teaching youth Sunday school, evangelism to the people here and my relatives, orphanage ministry)

-Diligence and focus on my studies.

-Cultivating relationships.

Above all, a deep, intimate, faithful abiding walk with Christ.

Thank you faithful saints and friends for your grace, love, and support!

Blessings!

sister helen