After visiting friends in Dallas yesterday, we packed all our suitcases and headed to the DFW airport. That morning and the previous night, over 9 inches of rain fell in the area, so flash floods were a real risk for us as we left! We headed to the airport early just in case, and it turned out to be a wise thing. We had to rebalance some things between suitcases at the airport, to make sure none of them were overweight. Then, we discovered that Joshua needed a visa (technically, a K-ETA) to enter! We knew he needed one, but thought the one he had from last summer was still in effect. The airline called Korea, and they let him get on the plane, on the condition that he apply in person for a special emergency visa as soon as we landed. All of that took time, but God was watching out for us, and we got through security with just enough time to grab lunch before boarding!
The trip was uneventful, though long. We took melatonin and slept the first half of the flight, as recommended by the TimeShifter app. (I recommend this app as a great resource for helping to overcome jetlag as quickly as possible). Once we landed in Incheon, we had to wrangle 12 suitcases plus backpacks and other small items onto a transfer bus to connect to the train station. There we rushed to get to the train platform in time for the last train of the day. After another 3+ hours, we finally arrived in Jinju! Tired but happy, we met Gloria’s father and some ministers who came to help us with all the bags.
I (Abraham) am not really a big feelings person. I have feelings but don’t always process them explicitly, or express them very well. But I can describe some of the thoughts that were going through my head. Although we’ve been here many times, including more than 4 months over the last year, this time it did feel different. I found myself asking, “Is this real? Is it really permanent? It feels different this time. Can this place really become our home? Can we really make a difference here?” There was a mixture of excitement and fatigue from the trip and the preparations. On top of that is just the curiosity of the unknown… how is this all going to play out? We have big dreams, but the exact strategy is not yet clear. How is God going to lead us?
I am finishing writing this the next day, after a night’s sleep and some rest and unpacking. Thanks for reading and following along! As always, please support us in prayer!