L'Abri Newsletter, December 2021
December 20, 2021
Dear Praying Family,
When COVID-19 was first discovered two years ago, no one could have predicted how it would change the world. Moreover, no one could have predicted how long the world would suffer from it. Recently, the development of vaccines and medicines and mitigation policies have given hope, but new mutations have soon swept it away. How can we overcome COVID-19? Even the government and scientists don't seem to know. No one seems to know for sure. Can we have hope next year? No one seems to be able to answer.
Thankfully, we started the new term this last November. The conditions for resuming residential work were strict. First, guests must complete all immunizations prior to arrival and test negative in PCR. In addition, in accordance with the government’s quarantine guidelines, we only accepted a minimum number of guests. Even though the long break time and strict conditions, many guests visited from the first day. Follows are short introductions of guests.
Julia, a former helper, working as a translator at a Christian Hospital
JinGu, a semiconductor researcher and a faithful teacher at the Sunday school
JuHye, a former helper, working as an international school teacher in Busan
YoonAh, a friend of JuHye
Mrs. SoonJong Lee, the artist
YeJi, a struggling young Christian from Samcheok
SiWon, going to be an elementary school teacher
WooBin, film maker, presented delicious jams
KwanHyung, a Ph. D candidate in disability studies
JunHo, a Korean missionary to Madagascar
TaekBo from Shalom Liberty School and his students YeRim, SiHyun
Every Saturday for 10 weeks, we had an online Lecture called
1. The first term of the new year begins on January 10th. Since most of guests come from the metropolitan area where transmission occurs a lot, we are doing our best to quarantine. Please pray for protection of L’Abri from COVID-19. If the government strengthens quarantine guidelines, the term could be suspended at any time.
2. Please pray for the L’Abri Table season 2. The best thing about online tool is that it brings us together everywhere. Please pray that many good speakers will volunteer to give lecture in a timely manner in the coming season as well. I hope God may use this new tool for the gospel and salvation.
3. Please pray for the Old Gas Station and the mountain behind L’Abri. We have been praying for a long time, but it is still not resolved. Please pray that L’Abri will be able to prepare the next generation as God leads in any way.
4. We are repairing heating facilities and toilets in Baekamdang where SamWon lives. Please pray for the laborers who are working in this cold weather and that all work will be finished before Christmas.
Korea in the early 20th century was very chaotic. We are now in chaos due to epidemic, but 100 years ago it was a social, political and cultural chaos. In the midst of the chaos of a new Western culture, geopolitical instability and Japanese imperialism, the gospel was widely spread, and many churches were founded in Korea. Korean Christians at this time could not keep their faith unless they gave up their lives. The church becoming the servant of Japanese imperialism expelled them from the church. Considering them, the difficulties we are experiencing now seem to be nothing. As they found hope in Jesus’ passion, we always find hope in him and in them. The Christian faith always shows the same hope.
‘I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.’ — Romans 8:18 (NIV)
On the day we fulfill all our mission and reach the kingdom of the Lord, I hope we can raise our voices and sing hymns ‘All my life is the great grace of the Lord!’ I hope that God who is there and not silent will personally guide our lives until that day.
Sincerely,
ChangHee Jo