God has His plans

As I said in the last post, God had other plans for us. The evening we before we left to visit Alabama, I received a call at 10:10 pm. I was just getting ready for bed and the call came from Patrick O'Neil. He identified himself and said he was calling from Seoul South Korea. First thought was a scam. Some rich business man died with out an heir and I would like your help in getting the fortune out of the country. But is was not a scam, but an inquiry if I would be interested in interviewing for the International Lutheran Church in Seoul! I said sure, why not! We talked about the call and he said he would send some information and if I was interested to contact Lutheran World Missions and get and application to fill out. We thought and prayed about it for a couple of days and decided it was the perfect time for us to pursue a foreign mission call. Both the kids were stable and on their own, our parents are all in good health, so why not.

So now we have two potential calls before us. South Korea and Alabama! Talk about random and what a world apart these two calls where. The Korean church was an English speaking church with a mix of English speaking Koreans and Ex-pats from around the world. A week or so after our Alabama visit, Gary Faith called and said they were going to submit my name to the District mission board for approval. He said, unless they knew something he did not know, I could expect a call from them. They were going to meet the following Friday (March 6th). During that week I also had a phone interview with the Team from Seoul Korea. I was upfront with them and told them I would probably have a call coming within the week from another mission field. Their time table was to announce who would be receiving the call in mid April.

Friday, March 6th Gary Faith called and told me the mission board voted to extend the call to me and to expect the call documents the following week. They came on Monday. I was excited, yet nervous. I had never been in this position before and was not sure what to do. The upcoming Thursday was our Circuit meeting and I arranged for a meeting with my Pastoral Assistant - Rev. Monte Frohm, Rev. Ralph Wiechman (Circuit Counselor) and Rev. Art Umbach (District Facilitator). In the meeting I informed them I had received a call and was looking for guidance. All knew of the "issues" that I had been facing (another time perhaps I will elaborate) and suggested this may be a good thing for my ministry. Their counsel was to tell my Council president and vice president and head elder of the call via phone and then on Sunday inform the congregation. I did just that. The reaction from several members of the congregation was saddness and disapointment in my receiving a call and possibly leaving. I informed them to keep me in their prayers and I would give them an answer on Sunday April 5th. Now the personnal prayers and deliberation began and dispite all that has happened to me, it was not an easy process. I wanted clear direction and an answer from God, but He wanted me to work through everything first.