Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Settled in Salem

   
      It’s been a really wild few months of transition for the Willson family! We’re now wrapping up lecture phase with our Korean Discipleship Training School, Jubilee just turned four, and we've settled into a great apartment that suits our needs great. Our place is just two miles away from the campus and we got a killer deal on rent, too.

      Our cross country road trip was such a great experience for the whole family. We trekked nearly 5,000 miles over three weeks and survived with a one year old and a three year old! Actually the kids were amazing….I think they were better behaved than I was, especially when I was cursing my phone and its GPS’ homicidal tendencies. It tried to strand us in Harlem during rush hour while we drove through NYC on our first day of driving. (Sure Harlem has cleaned itself up a lot…but still) The kids were fantastic, sleeping in strange hotels and houses and 8-10 hour driving days. Dada was fueled by energy drinks, coffee and cheddar cheese combos. So, so many combos.

      We visited with lots of precious friends from our ministry in YWAM throughout the years…some I haven’t seen since my DTS 9 years ago! We also visited family on the West coast. I think Jubilee’s fondest memories of the summer were all of her days swimming with Great Grandma in her pool in California. J My personal goal was to visit both IHOP and Bethel, which I achieved even if only for short visits. What God is doing in Kansas City with the growth of YWAM and influence of IHOP is really exciting. It’s funny that the Kansas City Starbucks now has Google Fiber internet….the fastest in the country…because being in the Prayer Room feels like hiving a fiber line connection with the Heavenly Father. Nerdiest possible analogy, I know. 

      Arriving in Salem was smooth and on schedule. For reals I’m a master planner*pats self on back*. Driving across the country gives a man a confidence boost if nothing else. I’m also losing hair, proof of my maturity…might be connected to the excess of combos and energy drinks, too. We’re joining a busy campus of around 50 staff from all over the World. This quarter there were four schools running simultaneously. The Fall Discipleship Training School(DTS), the Korean DTS, the Introduction to Leadership School and the Outward Apologetics Seminar. The campus also operates Salem Ropes, a huge outdoor ropes course and rock climbing wall that hosts thousands of visitors from the community each year.

      We have 11 students in our DTS, 8 single women, one single guy(nice odds!) and a family with three kids, and all from South Korea. Last month we went through three significant weeks of healing and restoration. Plumb line, Spiritual Growth and the Father Heart of God were the themes. It was a time of deep ministry and inner healing, public confession of sin and proclamations of forgiveness, and re-rooting our identities in Christ.

      Bora is the go-to translator this quarter. She translates the lectures for our DTS as well as the corporate prayer and intercession meetings and corporate worship. I have been part time with worship ministry, transportation, and watching the babies while Bora translates. It’s been extra special to bond with Jinha these past two months.
We’re still technically shopping around for a church, we’ve checked out a few different ones. We’ve gone to an Acts 29 affiliated church several times, going to check a couple more out in the weeks/months to come. We are asking the Spirit to lead us not only to a church that doesn’t necessarily ace our scorecard of theological finer points and requirements, but a community of believers where our gifting might be in great need. Please be praying for us as we continue to network in and around Salem.

      We got to spend this past weekend with some new friends in the coastal town Yachats, OR. It was an unbelievable spot, right on the ocean and totally free to people in ministry. It was so relaxing for the family and Jubilee and Jinha got to play with kiddos their age.

 

 

      With Jubilee turning four she has also turned into a little independent lady(read ‘toddler from hell’) This is normal, but mixed with the stress of the big transitional move she’s reverting in many ways and isn’t sleeping in her own bed any more these past couple months. We’re exhausted, but empathizing. I can’t imagine moving around as much as she does at this age, neither Bora or I experienced it, I’m officially raising an MK now. Please pray for Bora and I, that the Lord gives us wisdom to respond lovingly in the way necessary, to choose the right battles, and for energy! Please pray for little Jubilee’s heart…she just said goodbye last week to her three little friends who left for outreach and won’t be coming back. Thankfully she has some friends her age that aren’t moving any day soon.
     
      Thanks for tracking with our family. We're so grateful to have the prayers of our friends and family all over the World covering us. Your prayer is invaluable and crucial to our family. 
Lot's of Love,
-The Willsons