August, 2024
Dear Prayer and Mission Co-Workers,
We are greeting you all in the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
On May 14th, we arrived in Seoul, Korea, and went to the Saegero Hospital in Busan, to get a comprehensive health checkup for the first time in two years. This hospital provides free medical care for missionaries. They gave us simple checkups that same day, and made appointments for a month later for a few important tests, such as colonoscopy, endoscopy, and ultrasound.
Then, on May 22nd, we visited our daughter, Irene, and her family, in Vancouver, Canada. By God’s grace, it was a joyous and thankful reunion with the family, whom we had not seen in two years. It was the first time for us to spend a month with our beloved family under one roof since Stephen had finished his theological studies in Singapore. It was also our first sabbatical in 23 years as missionaries. In previous visits to Korea, we were so busy with the hospital appointments that we had no time to rest.
Looking back, this trip was a special consideration and amazing helping hand that God provided for us. In Irene’s house we walked with our kindergarten-aged grandson and elementary school-aged granddaughter, to and from school, played with them at the playground, and just spent time with them. Whenever we had opportunity, we walked endlessly along the natural forest paths of Canada, enjoying the clean air. We experienced healing that we could not have experienced while in Cambodia. At that time, we were finally enjoying a proper sabbatical.
As some of you may remember, our grandson and granddaughter have cognitive deficiencies, so we were always worried and prayed for them. But, as we watched them run around freely, adapt, and hang out with their school friends, we could see God’s special guidance in allowing us to go to Canada, and we thank the Lord.
We returned to Korea in July and had our colonoscopy and ultrasound tests, and the results came out well. On July 11th we safely arrived in Cambodia. When we returned to Cambodia, we were happy and felt at peace, as if we were back home. We love this country; it is our home, too.
After returning, we were busy with prayer and preparation because a 24-person mission team was scheduled to arrive in Phnom Penh on July 24th. They ministered to our people for eight days.
This mission team was a large team, consisting of elementary and middle school students, young people, and older senior deacons. The amazing thing is that God called them from Korea to embrace Cambodia and serve these people.
The mission team prepared a lot for the VBS at the Gospel and Living Water Churches. Many children attended and listened to the Word of God and enjoyed the great blessing that they usually do not have. Along with all the mission team members and Sunday school teachers, everyone was so thankful.
We are praying that more children will be saved at the Gospel Church and Living Water Church, because of those who served the Lord from the heart, with their dedication, time, and finances. We are thankful that we finished the VBS and that all the planned ministries were completed safely and smoothly, by the grace of our God.
May God, our Heavenly Father, bless you forever and ever.
In Christ,
Stephen and Lydia CHOI