Well, a lot of things were on our minds as we left our Mexico home about 3 weeks ago to visit several churches in Cal that support us, then, for me to go to Vietnam to teach a course:

Protection for our rented house in a neighborhood recently ransacked by robberies;
Passing safely through Juarez (the most violent city in Mexico) on our way back to Chihuahua (this past weekend 20 were murdered)
Protection of our car parked near the training station without much security
Going and returning from Vietnam
Being able to meet my aunts in Korea during my layover in Inchoen, one of whom I haven't seen in 34 years
My wife and the kids getting on the train back to El Paso (without me) and returning to El Paso without incidents.

Perhaps these are petty things to our Great God who must be working on much important things like the Middle-East issues and the war on terrorism.  But aren't these sort of things we the regular folks "worry" about!  

Sure, this list of mine makes me feel and appear very "small", but when it comes to seeking the Lord's help particularly regarding my family, I don't mind losing my face.

And that's the kind of dillemma Ezara faced as he prepared to return to Jerusalem from Persia with a contingent of people. Of course, what he faced was much more serious and important than what I faced, but I think they are at least in the same ballpark.

In Ezra 8:22-23, Ezra said:
I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." [23] So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

Well, I didn't fast, but I did pray every single day for His protection for the family, car, house, and travel, and, once again, He did not disappoint us.  In Korea, I waited 2 1/2 hours for my aunts but they never showed up (Foto 5).  So I had checked myself into the international departure area, thinking that the meet wasn't going to happen.  Well, upon checking my email in one of the terminals, I learned that they were going to arrive at 10AM instead of 7AM because they lived so far from this airport.  The airport security wouldn't let me leave the departure area because that's was the rule.  I begged and pleaded and somehow the Korean Airline provided a personal assitant who took me on his golf cart to get 3 or 4 necessary signitures before I was allowed to reenter the arrival area around 11 AM.  I left Korea in 1974 and this was the first time I was remotely inside Korea!  Really, one aunt I haven't seen her since leaving Korea! That had to be the highlight of the trip.  I sincerely believed the Lord had a hand in letting me get that help.


Anyhow, we got home safely yesterday and everything is as we left it.  While our gratefulness toward Him does not and should not depend on our prayers answered the way we prefer, but when they do, it does bring a natural big SMILE on your face.

The trip to Vietnam was really fun as I got together with some old friends: Pastor Daniel Kim (Photo 2) who came with me to teach another course, and Pastor Bob Oh  who visited us for one day while he was in the HCMC.  

I taught Comparative Religion to a group of 35 or 36 mostly pastors and church workers (Photo 1), which, I would hope, was well received by them. (It looked that way.)  Photo 3 is taken with my interpreter who may be slight and short in physical stature, but she was spunky and sort of DOMINANT!  I had to stay out of her way!!! (Photo 3).
Finally, I thank AMI ministry for this opportunity to widen the sphere of influence for Christ's sake.

Now back in Mexico, I look forward to teaching again, beginning next week.

I would ask you to pray for our family, that we may bond better and learn to be more Christlike, beginning with yours truly.

Thanks

Ryun Chang