CM2007 Rehab

Okay, so I thought, really, seriously, that I would just start posting pics and commentary on the conference. Instead when Kim and I returned to the US, we have found ourselves at a barely functioning level. Such are the accumulated affects of planning an event for 2 years, and a 3 month sprint at the finish line to see it all come together. Now we are in Ft. Collins, Colorado at the US Staff Conference after a week in Colorado of doing laundry, seeing some friends, and speaking at a couple of events.

The big win for us this week was hiking 6 miles on Friday in Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park. It was a perfect day, and though exhausted at the end, it was a blast to see 3 sets of waterfalls, and also to know that we could still do this hike. Our hiking equipment consisted of 2 plastic bags from Target with Gatorade, nuts, peanut butter, and crackers. Other more professional hikers looked at us like we had gotten lost on our way back from the grocery store and wandered into the park. They had walking sticks, and Indiana Jones hats, and backpacks from the "I'm a professional outdoorsmen" catalogues. I was not dismayed. The watefalls looked just the same to me as to them!

So, our Campus Staff Conference starts today and we are doing somewhat better after our week of rehab. We will have 6 breakfast, lunch, or dessert receptions on Monday and Tuesday for staff interested in what we see God doing among the students of Central and South America, Africa, Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. So, I will get to the CM07 highlights and pictures, and commentary eventually, but it will all take awhile. But do not worry, the best stories are yet to come...of students who are believing God to work miracles in the lives of fellow students around the world. And I hope to tell some of these stories in the weeks and months ahead. In fact, if you are our there bringing the gospel to the university students of the world, feel free to post a short story of what happened right here in the comments section.

Sitting in the airport in Seoul, on our way back to the US. I'll write more later, but I wanted to give a few pictures. Needless to say, there was so much going on that I didn't take time each day to update. I'll put more in later, like some stories and commentary on the conference.


This fashion show opened the conference. It was pretty cool actually. It gave an overview of Korean culture and also tied in the glory of God in the gospel.



This is what it looks like when 15,000 students file out at once to eat Korean box lunches.



Worship leader and singers the first night of the conference



Kim and I meet up with our nephew Kurt and his wife Ruth, and Matt and his girlfriend Laura. They had just been on the Rome Summer Project.



Korean BBQ is good, and its good for you. Even had some kimchi with it.

It's time to catch a plane.

Unbelievable

I'm exhausted from so many conversations in the last 2 days I can hardly think. It's 12:30 am here, and I haven't stopped meeting people since 7:30 this morning. I'd love to download some pics, but that will have to wait for now.

Sorry for those around the globe who have tried to get on the video link, though I did hear from someone that they were getting it to work. I think I've been most amazed in conversations about the students from the more "closed" countries, who are seeing more Christians gathered together in one place than they can even imagine. But American students are equally inspired by the parade of nations and the gathering of those from all over the world. Today my conversations ranged from Central Asia to Moscow, Mexico and East Asia. Only one more day to enjoy this incredible gathering.

Happy Independence Day all you Americans. Enjoy the hamburgers and watermelon.

Opening night

Here is the picture from the first night. It was an awesome evening. Right in front of Kim and I were 3 of our staff from Nigeria. There was a huge sense of excitement and anticipation at this incredible gathering.

This was the first run at feeding of the 5,000 delegates from around the world, right out in front of the Convention Center. I met with our STINT Team Leader's who are heading all over the world in the Fall. We had them come to Korea to experience the reality of what we are all trusting God for at each location. Teams like this are why many of the students are here in the first place; they came to Christ through a student missionary effort.

10,000 more Korean students arrive tomorrow.