Winter 2012

(This is not an uncommon sight...)

Spring is almost here.  We had snow flurries this past weekend, but we'll get up into the 50's this week.  I hear it's been HOT in Georgia.  I know you all have enjoyed the flowers and the opportunities to be outdoors.

Today is Monday, our weekly day off from school, work and ministry responsibilities.  Barry and Sam went to the local English library and Will's playing a Wii game here at the house.  I've got a cold so it's a good day to just type and think, hence the blog update.

We've had a good Winter.  We're finally settling into the new routine.  I'm home more, which means I can keep up with house work and cooking.  I really missed cooking last year!  I didn't miss the housework, though.  Our relationships and connections here are stronger and more established and we are really enjoying that.  It's so nice to feel at home here.

Barry's birthday is in a couple of days.  He was presented with a cake and a song at the Y.E.S. service last night.  That was fun!  Hopefully, we'll do something unique as a family to celebrate his birthday.  I'm still brainstorming about that.

We're continuing to homeschool Samantha (7th) and Will (4th).  That's going well.  I'm always trying to tweak our schedule to improve things and teach the kids, especially Will, how to manage time and not get overwhelmed with the tasks at hand.  So far, so good.

Barry is still teaching various Bible studies and sharing at the Y.E.S. service each week as well as teaching English to the KidsWorship staff 5 days a week.  He's mentioned lately how much he enjoys teaching the middle school students because of their receptivity and interest.  I'm still leading worship for Y.E.S. and Tuesday night prayer as well as teaching a Bible study on Sunday nights.  The Y.E.S. band is preparing for finishing a CD by June.  Barry and I are also working with KidsWorship recording children's songs and videos for their kids curriculum.  I spoke in Korean for the last one.  Oh dear!  That one's going to be funny...

We're writing curriculum now for our summer camps and ministry opportunities in Mongolia, China and Korea.  We'll have 6 straight weeks of camps and training seminars starting in July.  We'll fly 4 additional team members in from the U.S. for that.

Another project that we will carry over into life in the U.S. is developing more children's discipleship materials (teaching, songs, videos, etc.) with no copy write so that we can copy and distribute it freely in other countries.  Right now we've got open doors to China and Mongolia.  We're also looking at Taiwan and Thailand.

As for when we return to the U.S. right now it looks like we'll spend October in Europe and then come back to the U.S. in November.  Our schedule is always changing, though, so I'm not sure how it will all pan out.

Our house in the U.S. is still being rented out. Our tenants have done a fantastic job paying rent every month and the contract will end at the end of October 2012, which is perfect.  If we come home in November then the house will be ready and we can prepare to move back in.  So, despite setbacks, like having to replace the HVAC, everything is working out.

That's all I can think of to share.  We're just grateful for the opportunity to be here, support His work in the Eastern Church and help share the Word with the Nations.

Love,
The Blackmons

First Bloom

Here's our first bloom in our little "yard." Spring is right around the corner!

Work

As we returned to Seoul this year, Barry and I sense a need to make the most of our remaining time here. We want to work and invest our time in the relationships and ministry projects that the Lord has given us while we have the opportunity.

My employers and visa sponser, S&P, have graciously offered to support us as we continue our mission here. They are willing to provide our visas and insurance in return for 3 hours of work a week teaching English. Barry will also work an 5 hours teaching Tae Kwon Do.

This arrangement allows us the incredible opportunity to spend more time working for KidsWorship, more time for translating and writing songs, more time for leading Bible studies and small groups so that we can invest as much as possible in the remainder if our time here.

We are very thankful and humbled by this incredible situation. Like they say, where God guides, God provides - abundantly!!!

Below is a picture of Joy-Bird in our "yard."

Annnnnnd We Are Back...

We had a GREAT time in the US with family and friends. Christmas and New Year's were fantastic. We spent the last 2 weeks of the trip hosting 7 of our Korean brothers. We had a blast showing them our "world" here in America and introducing them to our "people." We also got some recording done -- 2 songs ("On the Cross" and "Wonderful"). I think they'll be on iTunes under "kidsworship 5.5" soon.

Now, we're back in Seoul with time to focus on settling into family life, homeschool and our ministry priorities. We miss our friends and family back home, but it's good to back here with our Korean family.

I'm going to try and post more frequently even if it's short just to stay connected with y'all back home.

November

Oh man it's almost Christmas!!!  Time is flying by.  It's time for an update.

Korea is getting colder, but it sounds like Georgia has us beat!  Y'all had your first frost before we did and it sounds like you may get a snowfall before we do.  Crazy Georgia weather.

Right now we have a friend staying with us for 10 days.  We met him last year at Taize in France.  He is Dutch and is a worship leader.  Kidoong went to Holland to visit him and his church, "Door Brekkers," a couple of months ago.  He arrived last Thursday, Thanksgiving Day (more on that later...).  Rutger joined us for a worship team retreat and participated with me and the YES team for leading worship for 2 services.  He did a great job and we all really enjoyed having him. 

About Thanksgiving... well, let's just say that I'm glad "thanksgiving" is not confined to food, family and geographic location.  I'm hoping for a little turkey when I come back for Christmas.  I had to work extra for Thanksgiving and there was no time for cooking or celebrating in the way we would in the U.S.  I struggled with homesickness that day.

Barry and the kids are doing great.  Most kids make a paper chain to count down the days to Christmas.  Sam and Will made a paper chain to count down the days until our flight back to the U.S.!  It will be a happy time.

See you all SOON!!!

Autumn, My Favorite!

Hello from Korea!!!  It's been a month and I'm sure it's time for an update.  So here we go!

Barry and the kids just got back from Yesan Retreat Center with the KidsWorship gang.  The kids had a blast climbing around and exploring in the area.  It's a beautiful place.  I had to stay home and work, but I'll get my dose of Fall colors and mountain scenery this weekend at the Y.D.B. retreat at Horeb.  I'll be helping out with worship and soaking in the sights of Fall.  I can't wait!!!

October has flown by and our visit home is fast approaching.  Our flight tickets are set for December 19th and we'll stay in Georgia for 5 or 6 weeks.  Slowly, but surely the details for housing and vehicles are falling into place.  Some dear friends of ours from Statham offered us their home and a vehicle for about 2 weeks around Christmas while they are out of town.  THANK YOU!!!  We'll also stay at Snow's Mill for a week and stay with our family some.  We do not own a vehicle at the moment, so we'll enjoy our 2 weeks with wheels fo' sho'!  I haven't driven a car since December 2010.  Be afraid...

Our home in Statham has found new tenants as of November 1st.  This will help us with our mortgage payment and keep the house occupied in our absence.  Our agent, Burgundy is amazing.  She's done a fantastic job dealing with everything via email.  We thank God for her help!  She is truly a blessing.

I'm working 5 days a week and Barry and I are serving in the ministry simultaneously, but like the majority of folks out there we still have to trust God for our finances.  It'll cost 6k to get us all back to Korea after our visit home.  I'm still hoping for the day I can snap my fingers and jump from continent to continent, but so far it hasn't worked...  We feel confident that the Lord wants us to return to Korea to continue working for a season so we're expecting Him to provide.  He already has in so many incredible ways!  There are not enough hours in the day to tell of all He's done.  Following Him is such a wonderful adventure.  He created the universe and everything in it, I think He can manage a plane ticket or two (or four.)

In terms of ministry, well that's a multi-faceted topic for us, but over-all we're praying that the Lord will help us to faithfully teach what He's taught us and that He'll create a hunger here for His word and give "the spirit of wisdom and revelation" spoken of in the book of Ephesians, that we may all come to know Him better.  We have plans for recording an album with the YES team this winter and Barry is leading the English service in the Word every week.  We're also working with Pastor Kidoong and KidsWorship team to create resources to share the Gospel around the world.  Wahoo!!!  The Lord will return.  While we wait we want to be found doing His work.

"The Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations."   ~Isaiah 61:11b

September

Happy Birthday, Mom! 

Happy Fall!!!  It's been an eventful month (in our hearts).  This picture was taken at a botanical garden type place that we found near our apartment.

Life is moving along at a steady pace.  Barry teaches English in the mornings at the church now.  I think he really enjoys teaching and working with the young adult students.  We're still doing the Sunday night English worship service and Barry still leads Bible studies for various age groups during the day on Sundays.  Things at my school are going well.  I enjoy working with the kids.

The latest news is that after praying and thinking and talking extensively, we feel like we need to stay a bit longer in Korea.  The plan is to come home for Christmas and then continue our work here for a little longer.  I will still work at the school, but I will have some weekdays open to wrap up some of the KidsWorship projects I need to get to.

There are a lot of details yet to be dealt with, but we're trusting that God will help us fill in the gaps as He leads us.  We may have already found a potential new renter for our home in Statham.  We're working on those details now.  We'll need to pay someone to move our junk out and do some painting then the house will be ready to go.  That saves us the headache of having an unoccupied house in the U.S. and it will help a little with the mortgage payment. 

We're all really excited about coming home for a bit.  It'll be so nice to catch up with friends and family in Georgia.  We'll need to borrow or rent a car while we're home and we're still working on living arrangements, but it's falling into place little by little.

While we're home we will lead a 2 week trip for a group of folks from South Korea.  We're not sure how many people are coming yet, but we know that we will spend 1 week in Georgia and then we'll split up and spend the other week in either Nashville or Orlando.  We plan to do some recording in Nashville and the other group is attending a conference in Orlando.  The dates will fall between January 9th and 23rd.  I'm happy to have the opportunity to see my two "worlds" come together -- Koreans in the U.S. among my home friends and family.

I guess that's it for now.  Love and miss you!