Entering another new month

Wow, today is the last day of July. Tomorrow is August. (Duh and DUH!)

I know it's a cliche, but time really does fly.

When I was here in April, I wondered how I would think about my trip a certain amount of months in... now I'm here and I feel like it went by too quick!

An update for you bloggers..

After much thought and prayer, I've decided to stay here another month! :)

There are many reasons for it but I really do love everything here and I have the opportunity so.. I want to make the most of it. It's a tremendous privilege being here and ... I am just really glad to be here. So, instead of September, I will be back in October.

The process in making the decision was kinda long and stressful at times but I really have learned a lot through it, especially what a wonderful family I have. I respect and love my

So, I must say I am quite sorry for the lack of updates.

It has been a very very busy month with guests and many missions teams here and hosting them, with our other ministries still ongoing at the same time..

Then there was a certain time where I got sick and got hospitalized.. bummer.

This past week, I got to start teaching English to the seminary here (AECS)... it's a privilege and also very good time just to share what little I know with them and hopefully benefit them.

Right now, with my students, I'm going through the topic of sin and salvation with my students. Many of them know the common answers like Jesus saved them and to go to heaven, they need eternal life... but I've been trying to go really in depth and put things in a way that they can understand. I tried to help them understand the idea that they cannot save themselves by giving the image that we are all drowning in the middle of the Indian Ocean (cause you know we're in India...), with no land in sight and you can see a light in the distance. Now, you have a choice... you can try and swim with all your might to some sort of safety from drowning.. or you can call out to help where the light is (cause you know Jesus is the light..). So I presented this choice to the students and I was like, what's the smart choice? It helped me teach them that trusting in their own selves for salvation will get them nowhere. They have heard so long about sin and salvation, since they have heard it for so many years but I really wanted them to know the severity of sin and how much they needed to be saved from it, not by anything in them but from the one and true Savior, Jesus.

My students are awesome though.

I don't know if I wrote this in a previous entry... but really, there is nothing like the smile of a St. Paul School student. I pass by so many of them everyday, before school starts or walking to the class I'm teaching, or in my classrooms, or after school or wherever on the street... man when they smile, it melts my heart. These kids are seriously so precious not only in my eyes, but more so in God's eyes.

Now.. there are some naughty kids. So, I have to be a little tough with them but overall, I am just so happy to be around these students...

In my heart, St. Paul School is #1 in the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, I'll stop talking.

Here's some pictures from the last month or so.

Enjoy!

Feel free to ask me any questions if you're curious! :)

Dancing with the students at Sunday School worship!

Although I do not dance well, it is still fun :)

Hahaha one of the Sunday School children memorizing Scripture with motions :)

I believe he is memorizing Proverbs 3:5

Some of the students from my math and english classes came out to Sunday worship!

(Plus, one of the short-term missionaries in the back.. he's a funny fellow)

So..... many...... students!!!!!!! :)

One of the missions teams from Korea with the St. Paul School band and missionaries :)

Hahahahaha this kid is awesome!!! I'm digging those shades

A couple of my 4th standard students learning some wonderful math :)

Hyunwoo, he's like the younger brother I never had but always wanted :)

When I was sick in the hospital.. he was there too! Cause he had the same exact thing, haha.

A wonderful brother in Christ :)

Our awesome brothers and sisters from ANC did some great ministry here!

They spent about a week mentoring and leading select students from 9th standard.

The disciplers and disciplees! (<-- are these real words?.. haha)

This is the only picture I could find of me. What a (insert your own word) face.

I would say... stinky :)

After every assembly, where they gather all the students to welcome the guests...

All the guests must shake hands.. with all 2000 students! That sure is a lot of times to say "Good morning!" and "Jesus loves you!" hahaha

One of my 4th standard students came to the office randomly one day...

and gave me this! Seriously... these kids are so precious.

I have never been an happier uncle :)

Some of the 9th Standard students at Sunday Worship! Some awesome kids :)

My 8th Standard boyeeees! :) LOVE THESE BOYS!

A lot of pictures of the students... but that is really where a big part of my heart is!

Their smiles and eager desire to learn ... St. Paul School, #1 in India!

I will try and post more pictures soon!

Continue to pray for the ministry here and also for myself, that I would be an effective and useful servant for the work God gave me to do here. If you could, please pray that my teaching to the students at St. Paul School and AECS (the seminary here) would be effective and that God would use it for His glory :)

Off I go now..

Catch ya later!

Jimmy

God is Good, All the Time!

Namaste! (Hello!)

Truly, God is good... all the time. All the time, God is good.

My main focus these days has been on teaching my St. Paul School classes.

Although it is only for 30-40 minutes in the morning, it is still an important and awesome time!

Teaching has been such a privilege and joy.. it really is the best part of my day!

I'm currently going through my second set of lessons with my classes, which is on the doctrine of God and what He is like. I have a few classes where I just get a lot of blank faces.. but I have a few classes where everyone is geared in to what is being taught. It's a work in progress but I am definitely praying daily that the words and lessons I teach wouldn't just go in one ear and out the other but really sink in their hearts and would really impact and pierce their hearts and minds!

Today, I started reading "The Five Points of Calvinism" by David Steele, Curtis Thomas and S. Lance Quinn. MAN, this is good stuff. I highly suggest it to you all to read! :)

One quote I'd like to share comes from J.I. Packer, "For to Calvinism there is really only one point... the point that God saves sinners."

THAT IS THE TRUTH! That is why I'm here in India... why I am teaching these students from Scripture, why I believe in the Gospel. I was saved and therefore I hope to share this message with as many others as I can, that they would be saved also :)

I shall share a few pictures with ya'll :)

Enjoy!!! Pictures always are worth a thousand words... PLUS MORE!

So, on Saturdays, the students get to dress up in their colored uniforms...

It's really nice to see because they're not all wearing the same thing for one day at least.

I might have to get me one of these uniforms and blend in with them.. hahaha :)

One of my students that I taught last summer... now he's in 2nd standard(grade)!

He grabbed me and he was like "Teacher James!"

Definitely couldn't forget his face... he was one of those kids who kept running up to me during my lessons, haha.

Hahaha, I found this really funny...

One of the students was teaching her classmates. She was pretty serious too..

Education is no joke!

Hakyung and Hyungjin... two of the missionary kids.

They are a bundle of energy and joy.. that never runs out, haha.

One of my 10th standard classes singing songs.

Every morning, to start the day, they sing at least 2-3 songs.. pretty cool!

Ongoing construction at St. Paul School!

Here they're concreting/cementing the surface!

I wish I knew more about what's going on... haha oh well.

It's cool to just look at!

We watched the Korea vs. Greece game with fellow missionaries and church members...

This is after Korea's second goal.. look at the happiness on their faces!

I didn't realize how exciting soccer is.. GO KOREA!!!! :)

Teaching our Sunday School children about why we sang the VBS Song "Power"

and talking about God's power! :)

And.. I'd like to end with a song that's been on my heart lately.

It's a classic, old-school song that never loses its meaning or power!

"God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus

He came to love, heal and forgive

He lived and died to buy my pardon

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living, just because He lives"

AMEN! :)

Please continue to pray for St. Paul School.. for every classroom, student and teacher... so that the school would be used to raise up men and women of God who believe in Jesus Christ and the grace that He gives so freely!

Please also continue to pray for AECS and all the preparation ongoing... for all the professors and all the students that are coming. They'll be here starting in about 2 weeks!!! Wow, how time flies.

Until next time,

I hope all of you are well! :)

May God continue to reveal more and more of His never-ending love to you, that you may go forth and share that blessing with others and bless them!

Class is in session!

St. Paul School has begun!

Which means... I get to start teaching! :)

Today was my first day teaching, it was awesome! The students were finding out their new classrooms so they were shuffling in and out during my lesson but nonetheless, it was very good to teach these students about Jesus Christ and the Word of God! I'll be teaching 6 different classes in 8th and 10th grade, so I'll be seeing a new class everyday. It should be exciting and I will definitely share of hopefully many stories and testimonies!

St. Paul School, #1 in India!

^ Those of you who have been here know what that's all about... hahaha :)

(These next thoughts are very random... read with caution.. haha!)

Two days ago, we went on an adventure into the city market, which is basically where they have wholesale for anything you could possibly want. It's like one store next to the other.. and it stretches on for a very very long time. There aren't really crosswalks at the market (actually none in India), so crossing the main street was much like playing Frogger.. I think if I was one of the frogs in the game, I wouldn't last too long, haha. It's pretty chaotic and challenging to walk across a street.. appreciate the sidewalks we have in the U.S., haha! Basically, we went there to research prices for various things that they need here at the schools... a very fun and enjoyable experience in the deep heart of the city.

Lately, I've been listening to a lot of instrumentals and hymns. Music is awesome! Hymns especially.. the words are so powerful, I could never get sick of those songs. The words are so rich with meaning and it makes me wanna praise God that much more. Some of my faves include Fairest Lord Jesus, The Love of God, It is well, In Christ Alone... yeah among others. Instrumentals... there's no words so you just get to really soak in all the instruments and sounds... if you get the chance, check out Craig Armstrong - PM's Love Theme (it'll probably be familiar from a popular movie), Michael Giacchino - Let Us Drink Milk, Explosions in the Sky - First Breath After Coma. Hope you like em!

One thing I have been learning (among many things) is to take advantage of every opportunity. It is something they really stress here.. to make the most of every opportunity. Paul talks about it in both Eph. 5:15-16 and Col. 4:5 ... not to let times go to waste but really maximize every chance and opportunity you get, every day you are given, every person you interact with! I know it strikes me at the core since my time here is very limited (it's almost going to be 2 months!) but definitely I want to take this to heart with my opportunity to serve and teach the students here... but also that you would be mutually challenged and encouraged to make the most of every opportunity you're given.. no matter what it may be!

I've also come to appreciate how many different ministries that are ongoing all at the same time here.. it's pretty amazing. For instance, on Saturdays, they minister to lepers who come to hear a message from the Word of God and are given a small donation as the government allows. On Sundays, they meet as a Korean church to minister not only to the Korean adults working here in Bangalore but also the children and the young adults. Many of the young adults who come here to work or intern have never gone to church before so this is a way for many of them to come to know Christ! Even in India, God uses the ministry here to reach out to those Koreans! Then there is St. Paul School, which is an established school recognized by the govt. (Nursery - 10th grade), built upon Christian and Biblical principles... so that we may reach out and share the Gospel to the future men and women of India to be godly Christians... AECS (Asia Evangelical College & Seminary), which trains men and women to be pastors and full-time servants of God.. and these probably aren't all of them. These are the only ones I'm aware of so I'm sure there's a few more but it's amazing! God is working in many powerful ways, so please if you could continue to pray for all the work being done here and all of the servants!

Alright I think I've talked long enough... picture time!! ... enjoy! :)

So about 3 weeks back, we had a picnic day with some competition involved.

This was the "young" team but young doesn't necessarily translate to victory.

The "old" team took us down pretty bad (probably cause I sucked, HAHA)

The "old" team... 4 of the missionaries God has placed here in India!

From left to right: Caleb, Moses, James, Johan

Korean adults are so passionate about table tennis... beats me why, haha!

The entire group! :)

We sent requests to various ministries asking for donations to the seminary here...

Our first package of resources from Sovereign Grace Ministries! Yes!!

Hopefully the first of many to come!

The banner Edward made from scratch for St. Paul High School!

Impressive, indeed... the picture doesn't do it justice! :(

Ministering to the lepers with the Word of God!

Pastor Prabir, one of the faculty members at AECS, preaching about grace!

Yeah... not what I originally thought it was from far away...hahaha

Also, lanes dont really exist in India either...

It's more like fill up every possible space and wait for green!

No such thing as lane discipline.. even if they paint lanes, haha.

I shouldn't learn from them... or else I will be an endangerment back home!

First day of school... it's like an endless amount of students!

They just keep coming.. and coming, hahaha!

Teacher Babu, one of the 10th standard teachers...

We got to share a meal with him a couple weeks ago, a really awesome brother in Christ!

Remember him in your prayers as you pray for St. Paul School!

And they just keep on coming... hahaha

Students starting off their day singing praises to God! :)

Please pray for...

1) St. Paul School - all the teachers and the students, esp. the ones I am evangelizing to and sharing the Gospel with, that they would really understand and come to truly know God!

2) All the workers and missionaries that are working daily for God's kingdom and also for all the ministries I mentioned above!

3) God would continue to use me as a light and witness to all I come in contact with!

Thanks!! :)

Hope you enjoyed this post!

Eggciting Things are happening!

Namastey!

A new month... a new post! (haha, maybe I'll update more frequently than that..)

So, it's been about a month since I've got here to India. Man, oh man, even if I've mostly been in the office doing mostly translations or just reading a lot, I feel God has been teaching me tremendous and great things and also allowing a lot of time for me to pray and reflect. As someone told me, it may be calm right now.. but the storm is coming! And, I think I'm excited for this storm...

Okay, so after writing this update, I realized it's very long, so I'm going to break it up into 3 sections: 1) One thing I've learned/been reflecting on lately, 2) Updates of the ministry going on here and cool things that happened recently, and 3) Pictures! :)

NUMERO EK!

Of the few things I've been learning lately, one has been that God works in ways we do not or probably ever will not understand. For most of us, yeah I'm sure we know that, but re-learning this in such a new way is still very awesome. One of my students from the classes I taught last summer when I came with KCM, his name is Vipin, recognized me when I went to a Sunday school worship last week. At first, I didn't recognize him entirely but when he said hello to me and asked if I remembered him, it immediately hit me. He was a kid who didn't listen to me at all during class and was one of those kids that thought he was too cool for school. He also claimed he was a crazy break-dancer so I made him breakdance during break time in the hallway and I think I got in trouble for that... hahaha but yeah when I went to Sunday worship, of the few kids that still came out and attended, he was one of them! Now, there were a few kids in that class that I probably expected, "Oh yeah, forsure they will come out and they will be faithful Christians!" and I thought to myself that the rest wouldn't. How funny that one of the kids I least expected was actually one of the few that came to worship! He left early so I couldn't have a conversation with him but I hope I see him again soon, especially when St. Paul school starts next month (SOON!), so I can see what the Lord has taught Him!

Okay so that was a long story, I hope I didn't put you to sleep..heh heh, but through that instance, I immediately thought to myself, man I got so caught up in myself. I forgot the truth that it isn't me or my crazy words that's gonna save these kids from their sin, it is God and the truth of HIS WORD!

I realized that in the grand scheme of things, I'm either planting a seed in the hearts of those who I teach/preach to or I'm helping water/grow a seed that God has already planted. I'm not saving them from hell, that's God. I'm here to simply proclaim and do as much as I possibly can and allow the Holy Spirit to come and move their hearts to repentance! I understood that much of the time, the labor and work that I do I will probably not ever see the fruit of, while I am on this earth. (That's probably true for the most of us.) Since we're not at all places at all times knowing all things, unlike our God in heaven, we probably don't get to see the fruit of our labor always. Sometimes we do, and when we do see it, man how encouraging it is. But I think it definitely adds to making us humble servants because we don't always get to see what we sow but we have faith that God will continue to water and reap the fruit, through other servants and His power! The way I thought of it is that we work in an invisible ministry, in the sense that we don't see everything exactly as it is but that's where faith kicks in.

So, with the ministry that is in store for me to do, to teach with passion to these students and share everything that I have been blessed with to them, and preach the truth to whoever God calls me to, that I would do it with faith that God is constantly working in the hearts and I am simply being used for His glory. Also, as I eagerly anticipate the new school semesters, I hope to be given many opportunities and avenues to share His Gospel ... so if you could pray for these requests, prease :)

NUMERO DOW!

So, that's just one of the many things I've learned while I'm here. I'll share more as time goes on.. because I'm sure I have much to learn. So...we had a mango party this past Sunday with some of the other missionaries... where it's just mangoes galore!!! I don't know what it is but fruit outside of the U.S. is so much better.. SO MUCH BETTER! And.. what else.. I think my Korean is getting a little better. Now, it only takes me maybe 20 minutes to translate one sentence! An improvement of 10 minutes! :) I'm purely guessing, though.. Last Saturday, we played soccer with the people from BKC for more than 2 hours.. at the hottest time of the day! I don't think I've been that physically sore or fatigued for a very long time... aka I'm outta shape! HAHAHA but I will get into shape.. YES I WILL! Mmm.. moving on from my lack of conditioning..

Like I said earlier, St. Paul School starts next month so I think we'll start to get opportunities to teach Gospel lessons and maybe other subjects also! AECS, the seminary here, begins at the end of June so slowly but surely it's coming! In the meantime, as they prepare for the new semester, a lot of construction has been going on. At St. Paul School, they have been constructing an expansion building for more classrooms = more students = more lives for the Gospel to reach! At AECS, they are continuing to organize and set the foundation for the seminary library, which has about 30,000 books as of now! (WOW!) We're in the process of hearing back from other groups and foundations to donate seminary books so that is exciting! Construction continues to be ongoing at Berikai, which is about 2 hours from where we are and where the future headquarters is going to be! They are in the process of gaining permission to construct buildings and get electricity... also, we are waiting to hear back from the Minister of Education to get his signature and approval for St. Paul PU(Pre-University) College. With this, now students don't have to leave St. Paul School after 10th standard(grade) but PU allows for St. Paul School to have 11th and 12th standard, leading into university! It's like this gap that exists right now so they have to go to another school.. but having this gap filled would be tremendously useful for the ministry here, and as a transition for many of them to be exposed to AECS and be led into ministry! There is so much I can ask you to pray for but I guess after reading this, if you could pray that God would continue to graciously provide for His ministry here and continue the mighty work He has begun and continue to lead this ministry as He desires!

NUMERO TEEN!

Okay, this is starting to turn into one of my email updates.. har har har..

So here are some pictures for your viewing entertainment :) Enjoy!

On our way walking to the AECS campus.. one of the fields we walk through.

Playing soccer with some of the seminary students

For some reason, when I took this picture, I thought of that one Chris Brown song... name the line and win a prize! (on our way to Chennai about 2 1/2 weeks ago)

At St. Andrews Church in Chennai for Sunday Worship! Awesome time!!

At the beach in Chennai.. watching kids fly kites

Missionary Johan, Missionary James and Edward as we munch munch!

So... what's the other quarter...?...

Edward in action! haha!

As I mentioned earlier.. MANGO PARTY!!!!

Until next time...

Alvida!

A few pictures!

A few pictures from my first days here!

Worshipping with one of the local churches... what a blessing indeed :)

My desk!

My room!

Our favorite Samba!

Yum! Seminary food rocks!

Electricity has been out the last few days... this is my source of light for my room.

And that's it for now! Maybe more later? Maybe!

I guess I will use this blog to recap here and there and share thoughts and meditations that I have during my time here. I guess that's what you do on a blog, eh?

Something I reflected on the last few days is how blessed we truly are living in a place like America. I know this is said over and over, often times where it loses its meaning but when you come outside of the environment you have grown up in, I think you can really see what that statement means. Even something I know is such a blessing but I take so much for granted is the gift of being a fluent English speaker. One of our main ministries here is to be English teachers at the seminary here, AECS (Asia Evangelical College & Seminary). Right now, they are on vacation so we're not teaching right now but I am able to see the last few days how God is using us the last few days.

This week, we've been working in the office, doing a lot of translating from Korean to English (which takes forever... and for all we know, we can be totally translating something wrong!), helping the missionaries revise and proofread documents, and drafting letters for them among other tasks. It really makes me think, our gift of being able to speak English proficiently is used in tasks and things that seem so menial or much like time-killers and used to help the ministry here and do things that we can help out in. At morning prayers, we are reading about 4 chapters a day in the New Testament and they ask Edward and myself to read, so that they can hear and follow along with the text and hear a clear pronounciation. Even something like that, reading to them, somehow is used to encourage the missionaries and seminary students here.

My prayer is to be a willing and able servant all throughout this trip, in whatever is asked of me. No matter what, I hope to serve wholeheartedly with complete joy for the glory of God alone. So, being able to have something like a proficiency in English has made me appreciate how beautifully and masterfully God has created us and how He is able to use anyone that has a willing heart :)

Until next time..

ciao!