We did a quick visit to North Carolina last week. And thank goodness we went in the midst of a crazy heat wave with temperatures lingering above 100 degrees! (Sense my sarcasm?) Ah, the sticky, sweltering, sauna-like South. It's beautiful.

Lauren Sanders' wedding was the main reason for the trip. She's a dear friend of mine that I first met in China when she was a short-term volunteer. When I returned to the States a few months later we reunited in Raleigh at church. I've never met anyone quite like Lauren. She gives so much to everyone, never expecting anything in return. She's humble beyond words and an incredible encourager. When you're around her, she makes you feel as if you are a celebrity. Needless to say, Lauren has had a profound impact on my walk with God. Over the years I have observed her faith and learned from her tremendously. I wouldn't have dared to miss her wedding day. She stood with me on mine and I was privileged to do the same at hers.

From her bachelorette party...


Yep, a Hummer limo. The inside looked like a club. Our driver informed us that we would be charged if anyone threw up. Ha! Little did he know, we don't quite roll like that.


Retired cheerleaders

Bay Leaf Girls

Seminary Ladies--I believe we were trying to look pensive...?

I was actually there for Lauren and Bruce's first interaction. Though there wasn't really much interaction, save a little touching. Ha! Let me explain. Lauren and I were sneaking back on campus after having ditched one of our classes for lunch at Chik-fil-A. Lauren is behind me and suddenly I spot a friend sitting at his desk. I stop in my tracks, turn around to wave at him, and like dominoes, Lauren and I collide, forcing her to do a face-plant directly into Dr. Bruce Ashford's chest. Neither of us can muster a word, and like two twelve year olds we burst into a fit of giggles and shuffle off. A year or so later and they're married. Ah, our loving Father--ordainer of awkward moments you'd like to forget, knowing that He has something far bigger in mind. Who knew?!?


Seeing two people get married who love God and love one another is such an incredible thing.



Another blessing was born a few weeks ago. Miss Lydia Karis Yun. She's beautiful. Her parents love her deeply. As Ben put it, "DJ Yun has definitely become a dad!" He still tells his usual animated stories, it's just that now he frequently pauses to listen to every sound coming from little Lydia's room at naptime. It's quite endearing.




We're back in Ohio and feeling restless. We are due for a vacation. :) So in a month, we're heading to NYC. Bring on Broadway shows, The Met, Chinatown, Little Italy, Curry Hill, and all the lovely vegetarian restaurants in Union Square (thank you, Ben for finding them!) Can you tell we like food? I think it's time to rent You've Got Mail. Mmmmm...New York.

Ah, my cup runneth over. What a refreshing weekend it has been!

Ben and I went to the Concerned Christians for Afghanistan conference on Thursday. Ben was able to see several former co-workers and we both sat in on a few training sessions. The biggest blessing for me was meeting Brother Yun, also known as the Heavenly Man. Brother Yun, a short, stocky, Chinese man with a disarming grin, is without a doubt one of my heroes in the faith. I read his book (Heavenly Man) years ago and pictured what he would be like--humble, wise, joyful, and full of faith--and to my sheer joy he was all of those things and more. After he spoke, Ben and I went to meet him. (Okay, please excuse me for sounding like a teeny-bopper obsessed with a boy band, but I just might gush here.) Brother Yun met my eyes from a distance, grinned even bigger, and beckoned me over. I shook his hand and said in Chinese "thank you." He proceeded to do the Chinese "Whaaa! Ni shi...." (Amazement, followed by, "you are..." Back when I lived in China I was frequently faced with such comments because most people were baffled at my heavily accented Chinese combined with my Chinese appearance. (Basically, "You look like us, but you sound ridiculous! What are you?" To which I would respond with my typical, "My dad's from Taiwan, my mother is American, I am an American." As I told Brother Yun this, he interrupted with, "No, you are--blah, blah, blah." He said this in Chinese and I had no idea what he said I was. I assumed it was something about being an American born Chinese, half-Chinese, a halfy...you know something like that. I proceeded to describe the terms above in my broken Chinese and he again said "no." Finally his interpreter told me Brother Yun had said that I was "heavenly." Now that's a compliment I've never been given! Bless his sweet heart. I'll never forget meeting him. He later talked about us being heavenly ambassadors. So yes, I will definitely take being called heavenly.

Brother Yun spoke about the Chinese church. He commented that it seems that in the western churches, believers are ranked by education and job status and who belongs to what organization. In the Chinese church, however, believers are ranked according to how many years they have been in jail for their faith. Those who have been in jail the longest are the giants of the faith. Later, one of the conference hosts asked any of us that had been in jail for our faith to stand up. We all sat uncomfortably. Then a former Muslim stood along with Brother Yun and his translator. I will NEVER FORGET the look on Brother Yun's face. It was pure joy! In fact, he turned around grinning and pumped his fists in the air!

"Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented--OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY."



Brother Yun along with a South Korean overseas worker spoke about the South Korean hostage situation. What beautiful encouragement they provided! They reminded us that the Lord's thoughts are not our thoughts. That we should rejoice always. That the hostages are bringing so much attention back to that Afghanistan and that it has initiated tremendous prayer for Afghanistan. We were reminded that the hostages counted the cost before they left for Afghanistan, even writing their wills. We were reminded that this is not a physical fight at all, but rather one fought on our knees. We prayed for encouragement for Afghan believers, and for the 80 plus South Korean workers that have been ordered to leave Afghanistan--to leave their ministries and disciples. We prayed that if one worker dies, that ten more people will go in his or her place.

You know, lately life in the West has begun to allure us and we have found ourselves concocting ways to make our calling fit into life back in America so that we don't necessarily go back overseas. While neither Ben or I admitted to what we were doing, we were both very aware of what job searches in the D.C. area actually implied. But God has different plans for us, and we know it. Nothing brings us more joy than overseas work. God used the CCA conference to remind us of that. We left feeling tremendously blessed and wonderfully encouraged.

On a very different note, I quite possibly went on the best run I've ever been on in my life today. I needed to run 8 miles so I headed out to my favorite trail again and just as I began, it started to rain. Sprinkling at first, but then turning just a hair shy of the same kind of pressure I get in my shower. My shoes were full of water, rain was gushing of the brim of my hat, my shirt and shorts soaked...and it was so much fun! Other runners and I were all but giving each other high fives. Everyone was all smiles and "hellos". I even ran an extra mile for the heck of it, purposely running straight through huge puddles. Who knew rain could be so much fun?