Sunday morning was a great morning at Church before heading to the Church Retreat. That afternoon we headed down to the Busan Youth Hostel, which is really nothing like any hostel I have ever seen or been to. It was more like a nice hotel. We had 2 huge rooms to sleep in - one for the guys and one for the girls. We also had a conference room where we could all gather to have our sessions and play games or hang out. A pastor was visiting from the States to lead our sessions, and he was wonderful! He talked about Ephesians 4 and unity in the church through relationships, ministry, and maturity. It was a very challenging and great weekend. It was probably the best retreat I have ever been to. Not only was it a great weekend spiritually, but we were also blessed by deepening friendships we have already started and by creating new ones. We really are blessed by this church and these people beyond what we ever hoped when coming to Busan. We truly feel as though we are forming a "family" here as we get to know our new friends - especially now that we have internet and phones (well, only one at the moment, but that's a whole different story, and not a fun one) and can communicate with them much easier.
We are still so grateful for all of you back in the States or wherever you are in the world and for the impact you have each made on our lives. Thank you for your continued prayers and notes of encouragement. We think of you often!
As I was trying to pick just one verse from Ephesians 4 to sum up what we have been focusing on these last few days, I couldn't pick just one. So here is Ephesians 4:1-16
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was givento each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
and he gave gifts to men.”
(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave theapostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children,tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
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