Update: Our South Korea Missionaries

Josh and Megan Carstensen are our missionaries in South Korea. They sent this update…

It’s been awesome to read and hear about all the new growth at the Resolved these past few months. In my few conversations with Duane I have seen a refreshed zeal for reaching the lost that is exceedingly contagious. Continue to seek Christ first as we are all missionaries together in this gospel spreading venture.

For the first time in my life I spent Christmas alone, which was both depressing and refreshing simultaneously. Depressing in that all of my family was 6000 miles away and refreshing in that I could focus on Jesus and his birthday without the annual holiday distractions (which I admit I do enjoy and miss when they are gone.)

Meagan was able to go back to California and visit her family for three weeks while I rested for the week of Christmas and then went back to work. After my weeks lonely rest I helped lead a winter missions camp of about 200 kids. It was a fun leading many of the foreign volunteers from America as they adjusted to Korean culture and teaching life here. We had fourteen American volunteers come for the camp and it was nice being able to speak to others who understood both my language and my culture.

When this camp ended Meagan made it back to Korea and we together taught and lead a four week English intensive camp. This was a long four weeks as the camp was fourteen hours a day. Each morning I spoke through the book of Galatians which was nice despite battling many of the students sleeping. After the four week camp we had a week of work “to ourselves” where we lesson planned and prepared for the upcoming semester, and last week was “14 hour meetings” week and family camp (more long meetings).

Lastly, this semester we started out with “CPE campaign” (Clean Pure Excellent) where we spent all week focusing on our spiritual growth and faith, and tomorrow we start classes.

Unfortunately this semester our athletics budget was cut and we are not going to be able to participate in much of the conference play as we have enjoyed in the past. This is a major disappointment to our kids as they really enjoy athletics and it is one of only a very few outlets that they have from school.

Change in direction: Our school is in the process of getting accredited which has both its plusses and its minuses. The goods from what we have been told include possible government funding, a “non-profit” tax haven (people can donate to the school as a tax write off), school recognition, our students could enter Korean universities more easily….the negatives include, probably losing the Bible department (as our school will no longer have “Christian” in its title or curriculum,) changing campuses (moving towns), change in the entire structure of our school.

So there are many changes in the near future that we are in deep prayer about. We have not been told much about the new changes that might take place so we are a bit concerned.

As far as next year goes, at this point we are planning on being here, however that might not be possible. We are praying and seeking the Lords direction and guidance as to whether or not we are supposed to stay in Korea. We are open to anything that the Lord has for us so if we are called back to the states this summer we will happily go and if we can stay here we will happily stay.

This to pray for.,,
1. Our school and its leaders as we are seeking accreditation (that we would get the accreditation only if it will help further the kingdom and keep the school on its original mission.)
2. For Meagan and I as we are praying about next year (If not Korea where to next?)
3. Our continual adjustment to a different culture (this is always hard and rarely goes away.)
4. Our Seniors as they are four months away from leaving their home country and venturing off to America to go to college (this is both an exciting and scary time for many of our seniors.)

With much love,
Josh and Meagan Carstensen