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From Champaign
  Hi History Makers!!!! Thanks for all your gifts (I'm going to write thank-you's) and prayers for me. By God's help I could carry books to the USA staff conference, which was very graceful and informative. It's strange but good to be back in America, where things are a little bigger (like towels and roads) Now I'm in Champaign- Urbana (apparently it's not Urbana-Champaign if you're here in Champaign.) living in Msn. Mark and Anna's large house. All the shepherds and missionaries live in beautiful 2 story houses, and I felt welcome at worship service. They really geared everything toward students and it is very fellowship-oriented. After service we ate at Msn. David and Rebekjah's house, and then played kick-ball (like baseball, but you kick a ball) on the lake in the backyard, which froze over. The brothers and sisters were fighting with the snow, throwing snowballs and shoveling snow onto each other. They turned on me , because I was one of the new guys, and Jsohua Tice tried to tackle me but I outran them! Suddenly today , it started snowing like crazy! It's winter wonderland out here. About 2 feet or more came, with more to come. It's beautiful but a little frightening. Life is going to be exciting. Can you please pray for me to get a job and take the GRE well? Thanks for everything for one year. Below I want to share a 1 year Anam Center missionary testimony. I miss you all. May God bless you. Caleb M. Cook 2006 Thanksgiving Testimony Psalm 100:4 'Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise' The year of 2006 has been a year full of adventure and thanks topics. Through the year I could see God answering my two main prayer topics for coming to Korea: obeying Jesus' World Mission Command to "go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" by serving South Korea, Chinese, and Japanese ministries, and to learn Jesus' servantship: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." Part 1: Graduation, and "Going Into All The World to Preach the Good News" First, I obeyed Jesus' World Mission command. I graduated Arizona State University in the winter of 2005, December 15th, with a bachelor of science in mathematics. I was trying to graduate desperately because I wanted to go to Korea again, ever since spending a summer there in 2004. For three semesters I was studying Korean by taking classes and studying on my own time. I kept a summer job while taking classes to graduate, and saved roughly 2000 dollars, enough to buy a plane ticket and have 1000 dollars to live off of. Two days after I graduated, I left for South Korea. I cleaned my room and bid my parents goodbye. It was hard to part with friends. But most of all, I was excited to go back to Korea. I went with two prayer topics: to 'go into all the world and preach the good news', and to learn Jesus servant's heart. Through the first five and a half months’ of training in Anam Center, I learned that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Especially I learned that I can give five loaves and two fish to Jesus, who can make a miracle. When I first went to Anam center I was so excited to meet old friends again. But as time passed, the “honeymoon phase” turned into reality. I faced some difficulties. I had to get a part time job. Korean language was challenging and frustrating for two reasons. First, listening comprehension was so difficult. Secondly, the shepherds always tried to speak English to me. It was like a fight to see who could start a conversation with which language first. I could not learn Korean as fast as I wanted. At the same time, we began to have an English Group Bible study called GBS, on Wednesday night. At first many shepherds came but then attendance dropped and the date was switched to Saturday night. Besides this, I began serve English Worship service with the other coworkers—Sh. Ko Chang Hoon, Sh. David Kim Jr., and several others. There were around 10 or 15 people. Although I fished at Korea University, I couldn’t find many students interested in an English Bible class. I was frustrated because I though they would certainly want English study. I could not be content and felt somewhat like a failure. Second, God gave me personal world mission vision for North Korea as a permanent missionary. In March, God blessed me to go to Beijing. I met two missionaries, who were quietly pioneering Beijing University. I met precious brother and sister shepherds. They were full of the love of Jesus and faithfully studied bible and attended worship service in the missionaries' home. It was a house church that had to be hidden from outside eyes. We had to be very careful not to show that we were a Christians, and not to expose the ministry. In China I began earnestly praying for North Korea Mission. In Anam Center we had been studying Joshua. Though Joshua study and testimony writing I wanted to have Gen. Joshua and General Caleb’s bold spirit to pioneer the promised land. Caleb asked for the land of Hebron as his inheritance to conquer, based on God’s promise to him. I decided to ask for North Korea as my land of inheritance. I could share testimonies with them and God showed me that he was opening the door to North Korea. After coming back from China I faced more failures. I lost my part time job. I had fallouts with coworkers. My money was spent on living expenses and a plane ticket to America. I felt lonely because I had no bible students and my shepherds were so busy. They were remodeling the Center and the mission house. On the second floor, where I lived, they repainted the inside, removed and replaced the wallpaper and the floor covering. We had to gather all our possessions and move them, and the house was so messy we could not go inside all day for two days. At that time I realized how I am very helpless in this world. I have no home, no money, no job. I felt scared because I didn’t know where I could get money, or how I could solve my future problems. It was through this helplessness that I began to go to God in prayer. Every morning I got up for early morning prayer. I prayed to God on my knees about all my worries and all my problems. I also prayed for others. Through morning prayer I gained peace because I knew God was listening to me. Then gradually God turned my failures into successes. Like the little boy who gave Jesus only 5 loaves and 2 fish, I gave Jesus a small amount of faith and time. But the blessing was enormous. First of all, I stopped living a night lifestyle and lived entirely so that I could worship God with early morning prayer. By going to bed early, I could not only do early morning prayer, but also Korean daily bread, physical exercise, and Hanja study. I learned 500 Chinese "Hanja" characters which was the 6th level in the Hanja test. Besides personal morning trainings, I also began to study Moses Kim’s Korean messages in their entirety; in one message I had to find at least 200 or 300 words. I also began to read Korean books, such as '새벽 예재자'('Morning Worshipper'). Though this Korean study God opened my ears to understand much better than before. I was amazed that if I listened well I could understand the Korean Testimonies. Secondly, helped me to serve world mission as an international bible teacher. God sent new Korean, Chinese, and Japanese sheep to GBS. Most of them never studied bible before and we were teaching them about Jesus for the first time. Two of these Chinese sheep, Shang Shin and Ming Ching, came to the WMR conference and want to become bible teachers in Shanghai. For the money problem, God send money to me through part time jobs and my Grandmother. And even my visa problem was God’s plan, because I had been praying to go to North Korea as a missionary; in Beijing I met missionaries who can help me go to North Korea. Though these failures I learned I can always depend on my father God in heaven to give me what I need. Thirdly, through morning prayer, I learned to depend on God. After I lost my job I was worried. How can I support myself, or go to China and North Korea, or get married? Many worries crowded my head. I don’t like it when I cannot tell where, when or how to solve a problem. That is why I was so worried. There were so many unknown factors. But when I prayed in early morning prayer, I cried out to God. I laid all these worries at his feet. Then I had peace throughout the day. I could only confess that God is my Father in heaven, who provides me everything. God provided a part time job, spiritual training, food, and sheep. Even when I came to America I needed shirts and I found 2 new shirts in my drawer at my parents’ house. I needed 70 dollars for a tux rental and my mother had withdrawn the remaining money from my bank account in America, which was 70 dollars. I also prayed for others. I asked God to send me three sheep and I received five. I asked God to help my brother get married in June and his wedding was the most graceful I'd ever experienced. I pray that God may help me pray everyday in the early morning. I pray that I may be a man of prayer, who depends on God for everything. The brothers at Anam center accepted and loved me. They always came to me and talked to me, and put their arm around me. When I played soccer with them, ate with them, sang praise, or talked with them, I felt that they loved me as their own brother. I believe that Korean shepherds can be graceful shepherds to American sheep who need love like me. Third, I saw world mission firsthand at the Seoul World Mission Report. The mission report was to be in Seoul Olympic Stadium; Sh. Moses Kim was in charge of preparing the housing for missionaries at Seoul Youth Hostel near Seoul Tower. I went with him to prepare, and I myself slept at the hostel for 2 nights. It was amazing to meet many missionaries from all over the world. I personally met native shepherds from Germany, Russia, Africa, as well as met friends and shepherds I knew from Chicago UBF (Sh. David, Pastor Ron Ward, Msn. Deborah Yang , and new shepherds from Toledo UBF. The conference was blessed with Mother Barry's message in Korean which was surprising and graceful. One Japanese brother, Mori Shingo, and two Chinese brothers, Mingshing and Shunshing, attended. We could all understand the testimonies of native shepherds and missionaries with an ear piece interpretation device. Most of all, we could see God's history being made all across the world, and renew our world mission vision. I continued to pray for personal vision to North Korea someday. Part 2: Servantship Training in the Second Half of My Journey In the second half of 2006, God answered my prayer topic to learn Jesus' servant heart. Jesus said in Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." I prayed to be a servant in Anam Center. First, I was served. Many shepherds went out of their way to serve me. Sh. Issac Kim lent me his expensive DSLR camera, because I couldn't buy my own. It was a dream come true for two weeks. Sh. Hyuk sang Han invited me to his hometown, Choonchun, for the Korean Thanksgiving and Moon Harvest Festival called Chusuk. His mother served us lovingly and the two of us had much time to talk and develop our friendship. Shepherdess Bogyung, from my fellowship, helped me find two part time jobs. She worked at a Christian Junior high and found students that I privately tutored, as well as a twice-a-week English class at the Junior high. Not only earning money, and teaching at a Korean school as a foreigner, but actual classroom time teaching all became valuable experiences. I thank God for showing me true servants' hearts from people in my life. Second, I learned to serve in common life. In June I entered the brother's tent to learn how to serve others I live with, to give and receive Jesus' love, and to prepare for world mission. 15 people in one house was sometimes chaotic: cell phone chargers and socks mysteriously disappeared, there was nothing to eat sometimes. But common life was perfect training ground. I saw opportunities to serve in the little things like hanging up someone's laundry, or washing someone else' dirty dishes. Third, I learned the passion of the servant. In July we had the Summer Bible Conference entitled "Jesus the Christ". Anam Shepherds worked endlessly to prepare life testimonies, orchestra pieces, a musical play, dancing and messages. Some rode a train 4 hours to Busan to invite their sheep or family. It was a passionate struggle to the very end to complete the work of God. I received one word through John 19:30, 'When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.' I was upset because my sheep Yang Hong lyal cancelled coming at the last second. But God gave me a thanks topic, in being able to serve sing-a-long with guitar, and play in the musical. I played the leper. In truth I felt like a leper, an outcast, from shame of inadequacy, failure, and sinfulness. In that condition I met Jesus who touched and healed me. In the play I shouted, "Lord, please heal my leprosy" ("주여, 나의 문둥병을 고쳐 주소서!"). I served as a messenger twice per month in the Sunday English Worship service, coworking with Msn. David Kim Jr. from Arizona. I slowly learned to serve in the brother's tent, by cleaning one room everyweek, doing dishes, hanging up other's laundry, helping with math homework or English, encouraging, preparing meals, and giving shoulder massages. I was invited to Gwangju, where I saw the original UBF building of Mother Barry and Samuel Lee, I visited Junnam, and Chosun Universities being pioneered, and toured the new center under construction near Junnam U. The brothers let me live in their tent and I shared my life testimony in Korea in 3 services; Sh. Barnabas Kim from Anam 7, invited me to deliver a message at their Sunday Worship service. I learned about the bright spirit of the people of Gwangju ("the city of light") through the history of the violent 5/18 democratic movements. Fourth, I served world mission. Sh. Daniel Baik visited Anam Center, and I thank God I could learn about serving through helping him. Briefly I moved into his house. He wanted to see Seoul so we went sightseeing, and jogging along the newly rebuilt Chungyechun stream, went to downtown Jong-ro, taught English class together, went shopping at Costco to stock our refrigerator, made spaghetti for Sh. Timothy Lee's birthday, and had lots of fun. The two of us went to the Japan Summer Bible Conference together, and I thank God that He allowed me to serve the conference by recording all the programs on digital video. The two of us Americans were helpless in Japan, but Msn. Daniel Jung provided all the help needed. We saw the hope of Japan UBF to raise 12 disciples at Tokyo University and Waseda University, and I met Japanese brothers Hideyuki Nakamura, Yohei Sawasaki, and Takehita Mizuno, as well as some sisters. The second generation were many, and the love of Jesus was bright among them. The Summer Bible Conference was held in beautiful Fuji Mountain, titled, "Precious in the sight of God". All the programs were blessed, and native shepherds delivered life testimonies, messages, and performed dances. Afterwards we toured the Japanese countryside and went to hotsprings. Like the boy with five loaves and two fish, me and sh. Daniel used five rewriteable DVD's and two batteries, storing files on his laptop computer, to record all the conference programs. It was later distributed on DVD to Japan UBF! Finally God called gave me calling for U.S.A. Mission, and renewed my spirit to serve Anam Center: Msn. Mark Yang invited me to come to Urbana Champaign, Illinois for internship training. I prayed and decided to go, buying a plane ticket and setting graduate record exams test dates in America. This new direction would end my training course in Korea. It would bring me back to America, my homeland, and eventually Arizona, to cowork and raise disciples. Unexpectedly however, I was asked to delay by three months. At first I complained inwardly for having to change flight and test dates; but then realized the huge blessing of having three more months of training in Anam that I thought I wouldn't have. This unexpected turn helped me put my training into perspective. I rededicated my time to training, took no part time jobs, and began to do center repair and construction work with Sh. Jacob, taught english classes for Winter Vacation School with Sh. David Jr., served bathroom cleaning and morning prayer chair cleanup. God even allowed me enough remaining money from my jobs to buy a Nikon DSLR camera and serve photography for Anam Center events and happenings. This renewed spirit came from the LORD and I can only thank and praise Him for again helping me to serve. Now I pray to finish training with a full spirit and go back to America to cowork in Urbana Champaign and Arizona. One Word: God, thank you for training me and answering my prayers in a foreign land Thanks Topics for 2006: -Anam training: morning prayer, English service & morning messages, guitar worship, bathroom, photography, GBS, brother's tent, coworking, -financial provision: 2 part time jobs, tutoring at center, Grandmother, Parents -health: no major problems! -family: brother's marriage, better relationship with Mother, Grandmother's healthy surgery, -sheep: brother Noel and sister Hyun-ah's faithful GBS study, Your Best Life Now group, Purpose Driven Life group -prayer topics: for training, for ASU, for North Korea, for marriage, for graduate school, -touring: to Gwangju, Japan(Tokyo), China(Beijing), Gyungsung Center(경회대, 외대), Dongkyo Center(홍익대) -friends: the brothers: 한혁상, 이디모데, 박철한 박준길, 안대일, 박권순, 송대장, 영봄, 정환, 영환, 이믿음, 박성근, 전원재, 정현우, 김일권, , Daniel Baik, John Jung, Stephen, -Shepherds/Missionaries: 고창훈, 고현주, 이바하, 김모세, 양마가, 김민성, 김리브가, 오바울, 오바울아, 이재헌, 김룻, Deborah Cheng, 이디모데, 김바나바, 김룻, 김다이빗 David Kim Jr., 이사라, 김지혜, 김인원, 정다니엘, 정마리아, 박에스라, 박요한, 문요한, 문요하나, 심여호수아,  로뎀: So good to hear you~~~ It was a blessing having you with us. -[02/20-12:45]- |
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