More about the trip: Apart

Before going on this trip, i knew a fair amount about NK. I was aware of the oppressive regime and the resulting prison camps. While I didn't know extensive information about them, i knew they are there; that they exist and my Christian brothers and sisters (and others seen as threats to the regime) are held there and exposed to cruelty though hard labor, scientific experimentation and torture. Besides this appalling situation (compared frequently to the soviet gulags and nazi camps) there is widespread malnutrition and starvation in the country. All of this weighs on my heart now- as it did then. Of course, this isn't the NK i saw with my eyes when i went there. I saw what visitors are allowed to see: i visited a restricted region, in a controlled environment. Granted, there was still plenty there to stir me and the team to prayer! The poverty, fear, deception and control were evident. But I was continually haunted by what we weren't seeing.

Everywhere we went, I noticed we were surrounded by beautiful green hills. From the city to the country, everyplace was hemmed in by green hills. If i hadn't hiked one and found it to be quite real, i think i would have questioned whether they were natural, or some kind of artificial barrier to limit our view of the area. I think the Truman Show effect is that believable there. But indeed, i observed that the terrain is naturally hilly. So, i would gaze at those hills and wonder: how far apart are we- my brothers and sisters and i ?

Those prison camps are real. They exist. They aren't nowhere... so they have to be somewhere. Somewhere over them thar hills. How far, Lord? How far apart are we, my brothers and sisters and i?

And i would look out at the hills and pray for them, heavy and haunted in my wondering.

Last night i was looking at published satellite imaging and research about the prison camps of NK and got my answer: the city we stayed in was less than thirty miles from a well documented labor camp. My heart sinks every time i think of it. I was right to look to the hills. They were so near. My imprisoned brothers and sisters and i were less than thirty miles apart.

Thirty miles.

I am glad Our Father reminded me of them. I am glad when i saw the hills I knew the Family was out there. I am glad i prayed for their faith, encouragement, perseverance and their bold witness. I am glad i dreamed of their freedom. But still my heart is so burdened when i think that i was within those borders, so near to such suffering and kept so apart from it. But the Lord knows. And He heard my prayers there. He hears them still. And He touches His children, somewhere over them thar hills.

More about the trip: Afloat

Needless to say, because we were in as a tour group our daily activities necessarily varied from what would typically occupy a team's time. We set our hearts to not be frustrated by this but to walk in obedience to the Lord within these unconventional circumstances. We knew we were called by the Lord to pray fervently for this nation and to glorify His Name where He is not honored. So whatever our itinerary held, we looked into it for an opportunity to pray and to worship the Lord... and our leader who negotiated the trip with the local authorities had tactfully appealed for some activities to better facilitate those ends. For instance, he asked for a nature hike, and an afternoon on the beach. These are not typical activities offered by the government tour agencies.

We were taken out of the city proper to be near the sea for two days. One morning, we went on a scenic boat ride around a beautiful little cluster of forested islands; it was fun and we even saw seals! The highlight though was throwing bread to the seagulls. The birds, of course, were common. However, the opportunities they afforded were less so. It was while participating in this feeding that our guides became uninhibited for a few moments, giddily throwing crumbs and laughing like children. It was awesome to see them a little bit off script. So many on our team were steadily stirred throughout our trip by God's heart for these young men assigned to guide and monitor our group. I am certain the Lord is desiring to break through into their lives one day in the not so distant future. Other fun while afloat? Well, who's to say whether those flinging their hands in the air were feeding sea gulls or praying over the nation whose flag we were sailing under that bright morning? Haha. Joyful and expressive prayer was hidden in plain sight, the wind drowning out our voices as God Himself inclined His ear. It was a joy to share that excursion with our guides, and to freely proclaim that "The earth is the Lord's and all it contains, the world and all that dwell in it."

More about the trip: Adaptation

Granted, was a little surreal to be in NK. When you wake up early in the morning to slightly creepy music box sounding tunes filling the streets with State devotion songs, and watch everyone mutely making their way to work... yeah- its kind of unsettling. But in general, I and most my team adapted quickly to the restrictive circumstances, finding ourselves able to forge through the somber mood of the environment and be beacons of life and freedom in our warmth, laughter and care for our guides and one another. In an climate of fear, suspicion and duty, we acted intentionally out of love, trust, and joy.

The tributes to the revered founder of the state are manifold. Monuments, hymns, paintings...there was even a flower species bred to be named after him. This giant boulevard led nowhere... just up to this large rendering of the beloved founder. In all the places i have been in the world, i feel the idolatry in this atheistic state was perhaps the most shocking i've seen. For people to bow to an image, i can at least imagine that believe they are bowing to a symbolic representation of some greater spirit/essence that they are intending to worship. But here, praise is uttered to a man. To a man, as an end in himself. Not as the symbol of something greater- but straight out worshiped as man. It was shocking to hear translation of what was sung of a mere man. For a society founded on atheistic presuppositions, there is certainly a deep (and deeply troubling) devotion to this god. Maybe he is in many ways a symbol after all... a symbol of State.

Its unbelievable that you can begin to adapt so fast in such circumstances- we were no doubt helped by our Father who sent us to represent Him. But i was still amazed at how normal i felt even when i saw surreality on all sides. Kind of like being on the set of The Truman Show (if you have seen the film) ... and while being on set you don't forget who you really are. And there is still gravity, air, sleep & food. You are still you. And there is still normal dirt. And you still have to use the restroom when you drink tons of water. You sweat. You eat. You still find things funny, and you still smile. Its you, and its the real world... but with a mask on it.

If anything, it was weird that I didn't feel weirder more often. Rapid adaptation was a gift from God, allowing us to focus on prayer and on loving our guides and representing Christ to them. It was such a privilege to be in that place and pray within its borders for the knowledge of God to flow there like a river of life to hearts as dry and dusty as the broad empty roads of the city.

More about the trip: Arrival

Due to my location in Asia and the sensitivity of my occupation, I was unable to write extensively about my time in a region i will now refer to as NK. Over the next week or so, i hope to now share more images and stories. Thank you so so much, all who were praying during these last couple weeks. It was vital. My team and i were very aware of the conflict in the spirit realm over our mission, and knowing our brother and sisters were praying was a great encouragement. I am confident that this unified effort in prayer and sending was a pleasure to the Lord and that it was with joy that He answered us. He answered with favor through out our journey and with insight into His heart for NK. I hope to share some of that in the next few entries, now that i am getting settled in back in Maui.

We began by leaving the city where i was teaching- even though that city is just across the river from our destination region. However, we had been granted access through a northern border crossing, requiring us to travel 20 hours by train and then several more by bus to reach the checkpoint. It was a long journey, but we used it to bond as a group, and prepare our hearts for the days ahead.

Crossing the border was unforgettable. All baggage is checked and all literature and media devices must be inspected and cleared. Mobile phones and other communications apparatus are not allowed. We stood in a wet shell of a building, waiting as our baggage passed through inspections. An government representative approached me and my two friends from Maui at the front of the line asking, "Do you have any literature? " We weren't sure what was considered literature, so we asked. He replied "Let me help you- the first thing is bible. Do you have any bible?" We knew we were supposed to be permitted to bring in a single bible per person as long as the book had no missing pages. Still, it was a tense moment. We replied one after another that, yes, we each had one bible. "Remove them from your bag, please. Cameras and other digital memory items, also." So there we stood, at the border of NK with our bibles in our hands. One by one the team members behind us were asked. And we heard them each say they had one bible. "You all have one?" the man asked, scanning our group. We waited tensely... the fact that our group was unified in this feature was a testimony and we were unsure of the reception. He then did a head count of the group to save his time, noting possession of a single bible each on his record. He then warned us that we must be able to present the bible we entered with, intact, upon departure. And with that he left us standing in the stillness of that humid room, bibles in hand. My bag went through a machine on a conveyor belt, and i walked through a metal detector carrying my bible and my camera... the two things considered most dangerous by NK authorities. It was an unforgettable moment for me and others on the team. We were in.

After a four hour journey from the border on wild unpaved roads, bucking roughly along in the complete darkness to the sound of our guide's lecture on the glories of universal social evolution (communism) we finally arrived in our destination city. We ate a late (10pm) dinner and then found our hotel to be in a not at all uncommon power outage. We checked in by lthe glow of a single red candle stuck in a green bottle on the clerk desk, and made our way at last down silent and musty corridors to find our rooms , carrying flickering tapers to light our way. We woke up in the morning to state devotion anthems being piped into the streets by cars with speakers mounted on top. A surreal way to wake up in NK. Upon dressing, i went down to the lobby and approached the doors. Our guide was there, monitoring our whereabouts. I was permitted to go outside into the central city square as long as I was in sight. So i stepped outside the doors into the scene above. There was several members of my team pacing the unpaved expanse, no doubt in prayer. I joined them, praying as i watched the local populace going to work.

There was propaganda signs everywhere- i asked our guide throughout the trip to translate these for me and found some glorifying the founder of the state, others encouraging harder work for the cause of the state. These were the monotonous themes of all paintings, banners, and monuments.
We were in as a tour group, so we would spend our days being escorted around the city and environs in a shiny silver shuttle bus. Everything in me wanted to go in among the people, but of course interaction with locals is strictly controlled. That was expected, but still frustrating. A guide to every ten people was assigned to us, as well as a driver and security detail. We were under their watchful supervision constantly. Our communication was restricted at all times, including in the relative privacy of our rooms. In our orientation we were informed that our rooms would likely be wired... so we had to assume at all times we could be heard. Our rooms were strategically spaced out through the hotel so we were not next to one another- yet another thing we had been briefed on (its an additional form or security employed by authorities to minimize unsupervised gatherings etc. ).
So arrival in NK left us all a little unsure of what to do and say in the utter strangeness of all the control and restriction- but its crazy how fast many of us adapted...

going going gone

Last night as we lit lanterns, we watched them float up and away...going and going until they were gone. Tomorrow I will get on a plane and fly away, too... going, going and then gone. Its been an absolutely remarkable trip to Asia- teaching the Word, representing our Savior where He is not honored, and loving His people wherever they are found. I have loved every minute of being with Him where His heart is- it is such a joy to have been sent. The fellowship and communion in that place with Him is such a sweet and precious thing to me.

Asia will fade below me tomorrow, disappearing slowly until i lose sight of it in its own ever present haze... going, going, gone.

Home is on the horizon now...

birthday girl

Though my 30th birthday was spend mostly in buses and trains, leaving the region in the north and traveling back to our origin, my friends arranged a belated birthday dinner back here in the city. They got me a rather ridiculous cake, and then took me to walk along the riverside and take pictures of the lighted bridges and floating lanterns. It was a special night with friends, rounding out my extended (and well traveled) birthday.

going to need some time

After thirty hours of traveling, i am back within access of communications. Settled in at a riverside cafe, i sat down to write about the past week and realized that i am going to need some time to make my photos and stories into a coherent account. The time we spent in a restricted region to the north of here was remarkable in so many ways- and after literally only a few hours of sleep in the past couple days i don't think i am prepared to do them justice. Knowing that i have seen what very few people in the world see firsthand is a little overwhelming... seeing all that needs to be set right in that place is a little overwhelming...yet i don't feel awfully overwhelmed. The One who sent me also carries me. But i do think i am going to need some time to be able to communicate the experience effectively.

Thank you for your prayers throughout this past week- your support has been more valuable than you can understand. Together we have made in impact for the Kingdom- proclaiming the truth and glory of the Worthy One to the ends of the earth, in places where "men suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness" (Romans 1). But He will not suffer them to obscure His glory forever- no border will finally restrain His purposes.

Because of the communication censorship in the country where i am currently, blogs cannot be accessed. My sister has been making these posts for me from content which i email to her- thank you so much, Marcie. I don't want to swamp her with posts since she is a busy mother of two, so I plan to wait and post more about this past week myself when i am back in the States next week. So thank you, readers, for your patience. In the meantime, i will likely have her post once or twice again as i close my time here in the coming few days.

There will be pictures and stories- much more sharing...but i am going to need some time.

as far as He carries us

I'm leaving tomorrow with a team of believers to go into a nearby region to represent our Father. The people in this region are considered unreached- most having had little or no access to the One we love and live for. Its our desire to go as representatives of Him and His love, and by doing so to make inroads for His Word to go forth to hearts so desperately in need of the Truth. We are not guaranteed admission to the region, but we have been promised it by officials. We are taking a train all day tomorrow toward our destination and will go as far as He carries us. Thus far, the doors have opened wide before us.

Please lift me and the team up as the Spirit reminds you this week. I hope to post next weekend upon returning.

Grace and peace, friends.

all around

So one day we are in an obscure and dirty little market eating dumplings, and the next we are having a traditional meal and going "tasting" at a fine tea shop. Haha. This last outing of barbeque, tea and trekking around town in the rain was a fun one... refreshing to be here with like minded friends, enjoying fellowship and encouragement way over here as we serve. Such a joy :)

so close, so far

There is a place where nations are divided by a river- so close, so far. And freedom does not live there, though one side knows more of her than the other. I sit in a cafe on that side, but my heart bleeds prayers for both. Rain is falling, and i think i feel the tears of God. Things are not as they should be. And it burns inside as i look across this muddy divide. One day they will know His name- one day they will know the One that saves. All along the river, people look across into that silent land... and its like they are waiting...though they know not for what. But i know. And i pray from across the river today.

street view

Just a glimpse of life here at street level.

hitting the ground running

After nineteen hours of flights and layovers, I made it safely to Asia. Thank you for lifting me up! Early the next day my friend Jasmine and i caught a four hour bus up to the city where i am teaching. After I arrived, there was a couple hours to freshen up and then... time to meet the class and get underway!

I am now several lectures into the week and really enjoying being with this class- they have great questions and are hungry for a better understanding of the Word. So far, feedback reflects that the week is going well, so i am stoked:) I love seeing the Father reveal Himself through His Word as we learn to tune our ear to hearing His voice there.

The schedule is a welcome downshift from my last month in Maui- i have my afternoons free and am able to further work on my material as well as spend quality time with my friends that are serving here. I'm definitely where i am supposed to be right now.

It seems that the internet here is slow and unreliable, but i hope to send a few more photos soon from a cafe.

Thank you for continuing to lift up my time of teaching and service here!