Dear Family and Friends,
Hello! I hope that all is well with you. Summer is finally here in Korea, but it’s not the Southern California summers that I’m used to. I’m adjusting to the humidity and the rain. Regardless, it has been an amazing year living abroad in Korea. This may sound cliché but my time here really flew by. It’s been a while since I’ve spoken to some of you so I wanted to reconnect and fill you in on some of the great things that are happening in my life.
Work has been going well at both my boy’s and girl’s middle schools. My teaching contract is coming to an end and it’s quite sad at the thought of leaving my students. Teaching English to kids has been tough at times but overall very rewarding and delightful. Apart from work in Sokcho I travel to Seoul on the weekends to attend Jubilee Church. I am so thankful that God has been so faithful in providing a church community where I can fellowship with other believers and grow in my relationship with Him. Also, God has opened my heart and given me an opportunity to serve on my very first mission trip.
This summer from August 6th – 13th. I will join a team from Jubilee Church and minister to the youth in a city called Namyanjoo for the Heartland 2011 mission trip. Namyangjoo is a rural city about 40 minutes outside of Seoul. The children in this town are less privileged and come from broken families who cannot afford afterschool academies for their kids. Our mission team will be teaching English and ministering to 250 elementary school kids from grades 1 – 6 through a VBS (Vacation Bible School) English Camp at Joo-Pyung-Kang church. We will also have a youth program for the local teenagers who will be serving with us as Teacher’s assistants at VBS.
God has provided an opportunity for our team to serve a community that is in need. To ensure blessings upon this time, I would like to request prayer from you over our trip. Specifically, please pray for the students that they may come to know God personally and experience His amazing love during the VBS and after. Also pray for our mission team that we may serve God in unity and be an image of the Holy Spirit. And please pray for physical and spiritual protection over all the volunteers and students.
Another way you can be involved is to help provide financial support. If you are able to support this trip please visit www.jubilink.com (Heartland 2011) to make your donations. I would be grateful for any level of support you are able to offer.
I am really excited about this mission trip and the things that God has been doing in my life. Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter, and if you have any questions or prayer requests, please let me know. Take care.
Blessings,
Matthew Chang