Germany's Rainy City (Ludensheid)

Friday
Our first full day at this location and they gave us the morning off, they thought that we had just arrived from the states and needed to get over jet lag. In the afternoon we worked outside on the mountain. I went around and picked up wood from up on the mountain and brought it down to stack it outside in the storage area.
Saturday
That night we went to the church which was part of the FCJG ministry. We did the worship and the message. Most of the people there were from a part of the ministry and some were locals and people from the rehab.
Me on the bass for worship
Me praying for Alex
Alex gave his life to the lord that night.The rest of the week was spent doing a lot of different things. We spent some time helping with their newsletters, organizing and putting them in the envelopes. We went out to the mall and stores and just walked around talking to people. We had a few long times of prayer for the city, people and ministrys working there. On our last day we spent the whole day working on the base and cleaning it. I did the hedge trimming......all day. That evening we had a Germany BBQ with tons of meat and bread. That night we all went out for ice cream, and it was the best ice cream I have ever had. It was a ice spaghetti, it looked like a plate of spaghetti with bananas and chocolate syrup.
Me and my ice cream

Germany and the Freaks (Berlin)

Monday
We spent some more time touring the city and learning more about the history and major parts.
We went to a remaining part of the wall still standing in the city and we went to checkpoint Charlie.
Germany Team Guys
Trying to escapeChris and I along the riverFrench Dome

After dinner we went back to the church and did a small service for the kids service.
Tuesday
In the Morning we went to the Garden of Desire and did worship and prayer there.
The Garden of desire in front of the Berliner Dome
A few of the guys went and prayed over the cathedral. We saw people coming and going in and out and taking pictures but they only saw so much, they seemed to miss the messages put in plain view about Christ. in the picture you can see in the center there is a statue with gold writing next to it, there is written two scriptures......but I'm not sure what they are.
That night we hung out with the youth that were at the church. The church that we were staying at has a ministry that was a hang out room for local youth and they did a BBQ for them o that night. So we hung out with them and talked, most of them were drinking and smoking and us not doing it and not taking any when they offered allowed us to show them something different. Us not doing the same thing as them allowed for more conversation and more to talk about.
Wednesday
In the morning we prayed over the YWAM team there. We went to the apartment where they had set up a main base and guys living area and prayed over it and the people who lived there. We went to the girls apartment which was in an old soviet apartment building. We prayed over them and the house, that it would be a place of peace where it feels like home.
That afternoon we went to Kreuzberg and did worship in the park. The park that we went to was mostly known for drugs, alcohol and problems. We went there and did worship and prayer in the area as a spiritual battle for the area. The whole time we were there it was raining.
That night we had pizza at the church with the leadership of the church. We had dinner with them and a time of fellowship then went into a time of worship and prayer for each other. That church was doing a thing called summer to go where they hosted outreach teams and worked with them.
Thursday
we spent the day traveling to FCJG, a ministry in Ludensheid.
That night we had a short introduction time.

I'm in Germany! (Berlin)

Wednesday to Thursday:
We left the base at 11 in the morning and flew out at 4 in the afternoon. Our first flight was from Dallas to Frankfort then we caught our connecting flight to Berlin. We didn't do much that day, but from 5 to 6 we had a welcome party with the YWAM Berlin team. The Church that we are staying at was originally used by the secret police back when East Berlin was the Democratic Republic of Germany.
Friday:
In the morning we left for a tour of the city. We took a train to downtown and walked around checking out the main sites and historic places.
St. Mary's Church
Neptune fountain
Altes Museum

Berliner Dom
TV Tower
I thought it was really cool how this was made my the Democratic Republic of Germany(Communist rule) and when the sun shone on it it formed a cross in the air. Christians used to laugh at it cause the Government was so against religion but one of the things they erected shone the glory of God.

Brandenburg Gate
Capital Building

That afternoon we went to one of the parks and met up with a local group to do some street ministry and invite people back to the park for a service.
Saturday:
We got up and met with the leaders of a kids club to plan out what we were doing. We played Games with the kids for an hour or so. I was in charge of helping out with soccer, which was strange because I haven't played since I was young. Then we brought them all in for a bible story and one of our dramas.
Sunday:
Today we went to the service at the church we were staying with. We started out the service with our Clincher drama, which I will load up a video of as soon as possible. Then three of the team members shared a testimony and I was one of them. I shared about my coming into ministry, taking a leap of faith into what God has called me to do even though i am unsure and not capable of doing it by myself depending on God. I talked about not fearing what you have to do because greater is in you than that which is in the world.

We had the afternoon off, so I decided to walk around the area and check out stuff but everything was closed. So I went back to the church and went to sleep.

At 4 we met as a team and we were supposed to go to one of the parks and do street evangelism, but it was raining out and nobody would be there. We prayed as a team and decided to go to the park with the TV tower and have some worship and prayer over the area. When we were worshiping we had a guy come up and listen, so we talked with him. His name was Frank and he had skin cancer for which his doctor gave him 6 months to live. We prayed for him believing....NO.....knowing! that God would heal him (so please pray for him). He is going to see the doctor tomorrow, so we know that God is going to heal him and use him. Then we had a couple stop and watch, one of our girls went over and talked to them. They felt like there was something drawing them into us, but they claimed it was the music.
Our intercessory prayer team felt like we were to pray into the ground and dance for the lord, in the middle of the park full of people. It was amazing.
TV Tower Park

Chicago or Bust!!!

Chicago!!!
Our time in Chicago was nothing less than amazing. Most of the ministry that we did was just building relationships, praying over the city and for people. The first day we were there we walked around and took surveys and talked to people There, Then to get home we had to ask for $.50 for the bus ride home. The bus fare was to show us what the city was like and how on a daily basis people have problems and need help but don't want to ask for it. On the second night we went to one of the parks and handed out food to the homeless and talked with them. The last night we were there we walked around "boys town" and prayed over the area and talked to people (boys town is the gay section of town).

Art outside in daily plaza downtown

we had been in the plaza all afternoon talking to people passing by and praying for anyone who wanted it. We had cards that said we were praying for people so we handed them out and asked if anyone wanted prayer for anything as they went by. I believe we as a group prayed for over 150 people that afternoon.

Me on the 99th floor of the Sears Tower
we were given the day of on Saturday, so I hung out with John and Jackie Gardner. We went to the sears tower and walked around the city and the park. I tried my first Chicago style hot dog (hot dog, bun, pickle, onions, peppers, tomatoes, relish......and so on)

We left Chicago on sunday morning. We had planned to do a service at one of the churches, but we got canceled. We traveled all sunday and spent Monday and Tuesday getting ready and having meetings to prepare.

Us crammed in a 15 passenger van

Outreach started! Houston

Saturday:
We left at 9 on Saturday morning with one van, 1 trailer and 13 people. Our first stop was at the YWAM Houston base leaders house for orientation. We spent some time there introducing ourselves and they told us about their ministry and the "what to and not to do". We left their house and went to the rescue center in the third ward of Houston to drop off the girls and the couples then the guys went to the MLK community center to drop off their stuff and figure out our sleeping situation. We were told that at the community center (gated in buildings) not to leave the property and ask if we are ok to play basketball outside, it was a very bad community to be hanging around in.

The first night we were there we went to a tree in the center of Montrose and did worship and prayer. After that we went out in groups to the streets of montrose and did our first ministry time. We walked around with bottles of water and snacks and talked to pimps, prostitutes, drag queens, gays, homeless, drug addicts and more. we just gave them a bottle of water, snack, talked and prayed with them. What could be a better way to be Christ to someone than just be kind and loving to them and praying for them. It is amazing just talking to them and treating them with love they recognize the wrong themselves and you have no need to tell them about it.

Sunday:
We got up and went to a church to do a service. It was a small church of about 50 people and they met in a Chuck E cheese kinda place. We did our dances, Dramas, testimonies and one of the girls in our group did a lesson on shame, how it was something that just held us in our sin and kept us from our growth with Christ. After the service we help them clean up and they took our whole team out to lunch.

Monday:
We got up and worked at the rescue center. The rescue center is a small gated in block with 4 houses in it. The girls took care of the kids and sorted clothes while the guys emptied out the buildings and organized all the junk.
in the afternoon we had a meeting about what to do for the service that night and we headed our for an hour and a half drive to Galveston, TX. We were going to a youth retreat for one of the Houston churches......a church of over ten thousand and half of the youth group was there which was about 250 teens. Their team led worship then they turned the service over to us. our plan was:
-dance (Spanish hip hop dance)
-introductions and information
-dance (called Jump)
-Me speaking on taking a leap of faith
-Clincher drama
-David Elliot
-Personal time of prayer
It was an amazing night. At the end our team was spread out all over the room to pray with people and hear their stories and confessions (if they wanted to). Its an amazing thing to get your problems off of your shoulders and tell someone and get prayer for it.

We had been going from early in the morning till late at night so a few of us decided to hit the energy drinks.

Tuesday:
We got up and went Downtown for a time of prayer. We went up to the 60th floor of the Chase bank tower, where there is a lookout. We spent time praying for the "7 spheres of influence"
-Business
-Art/Entertainment
-Media
-Family
-Church
-Government
-Education
We just spent 40 minutes praying and interceding for those influences in Houston.

When we were done praying, we went out to eat. The base leaders treated our team out to Chipotle, if you don't know it is a burrito restaurant with delicious and large burrito.
After eating we went down to the planned parenthood building to pray and do worship over that. On that one city block there is a planned parenthood abortion and planning clinic and on the other half is a Christian run pregnancy clinic. We prayed over both of them and a lady came out of the pregnancy clinic and told us about how she had been working there and they were reopening to compete with the planned parenthood clinic.

Wednesday:
We got up in the morning and went to a place called open door ministries, a place for recovering alcoholics and drug users. We worked in the kitchen from 10:30 until 2 organizing the pantry, freezer, refrigerator, and doing other miscellaneous jobs.

That night we went to a parking lot in the Montrose to do a service called "Street Church". A church service for anyone from the streets; pimps, prostitutes, gays, homeless, drag queens and anyone else from the streets. We did the service then gave out meals and clothing.

That is our time here so far. I am trying to keep this as up to date as possible, but it is kinda hard being so busy.

As far as finances go, I am still in need of another $1500 for outreach. We leave for Germay on the 9th of July.

Thank you
God Bless
-Ben

No even a week left.

Well, I has been good. I only have a few days left before we head out for stateside outreach on Saturday. For our stateside we will be going to Houston, TX and working with the YWAM base there. We will be doing street ministry in poorer and downtown areas, working with a churches and street kids.

Next Saturday we leave Houston for Chicago. In Chicago we will be taking Urban outreach Classes, learning about how to do outreach in large cities. In the afternoons and the nights we will be putting what we have learned into practice.

Then on the 9th of July we will be leaving for Germany. We are flying out of Dallas with one layover in Germany.

I am very excited about this outreach. There is so much we are going, and great things are going to happen. I am going to be honest and tell you that I am also freaking out about it. During my first school the school took so long and outreach was something that we couldn't wait for it to happen, as much as I am excited about it.......this school has gone by so fast that it feels like there should be more.

Please keep my in prayer. First for my focus on what I should be doing during this time, and second for Finances. I still only have $750 in so far for the outreach and I am in need of $1,850 to play off the plane ticket and the grounds fees. I know That God will supply for what he has called me to do.

Thank you
-Ben

The end of week 7

This has been a great week, we are back to classes. Our teacher was a man named Ed Sinke a pastor in El Paso,TX. He was speaking on Evangelism. One of his main points was being real, being a real person when doing ministry and living out a Christian life. He wanted us to think about our walk and what we believe, not just follow it because we have to but why we do and why it is worth it.
This next week we have a lady named Bev Kline, who started the Fatherheart living alternatives ministry here in Lindale. Fatherheart is a place for young unwed mothers to have their children and learn to raise their kid. She will be speaking for 3 days this week and then on Thursday we will be volunteering at the ministry.
This weekend is a conference for all the staff that are part of this base and the ministrys pioneered from it. So this base will be empty from Friday to Monday. So with nobody around I don't have much to do. I will be doing security for those nights and working at the entrance guard shack during that time.
We are still not sure where we are going for out stateside outreach. We are still going to Chicago for the Urban outreach. We leave for Germany around the 7th of July. I am still in need of the money for outreach, but my tuition is fully paid off. I know that God will supply for all those needs.

God Bless
-Ben
-Ben

A Gift from God

I have been playing guitar more and leading worship a few times. Something I have rarely dome before. I am still lower level guitar player, So I am working on that.
A few weeks ago I was trying to sell my Playstation Portable(PSP) and my acoustic guitar, but it wasn't working out. I tried going to local pawn shops to trade them in for a nice acoustic/electric. At all the shops I went to they would only give me $120 for both of those items, and the guitars were at least $200
I went into one one shop and found a guitar That I liked. I asked the lady there about trading those items for that guitar, but the owner of the shop was not in. So I waited a while and played, then talked with her for a while. She was a Christian lady who had supported YWAM since she had moved to Texas. When the Owner Got back (Her son), she told him who we were and what we were doing. Thought the trade was in my favor, he did the trade directly for the guitar. He said "I know you will put the guitar for good use for a good purpose.".
So that is my Gift from God. I am trying my best to put it to good use and learn to play better
-Ben

Current Needs

Ask and you shall receive. I have a few needs that I would like to bring up, God has called me here and it is a time of dependence on him. I have a few needs that I would like to bring to your attention. I would like you to ask God if you are to be a part of it or not.

Needs:
-$2400 for Germany Missions trip
-$ spending money for the trip
-Prayer covering

Please, don't feel like I'm just wanting you to reach into your wallets, because I don't. I want you to pray about it and ask God what you are to do. I would rather receive a dollar that God has blessed and spoken to people about, than a thousand that he hasn't.

Checks can be written to: YWAM, with a separate note for "Ben Collins outreach". if my name is on it it cannot be used as a tax write off
support for the trip can be sent to:
YWAM
C/O accounting
P.O. Box 3000
Garden Valley, TX 75771

Anything sent to me personally
Ben Collins (SOE)
P.O. Box 3000
Garden Valley, TX 75771

Thank you
God bless
-Ben

The Beginnning of the Half way week (6)

How does time fly? It feels like I just arrived. I am now entering the sixth week of the Lecture phase of the school. This week is Ministry prep. week, the week where we learn and practice the dramas, dances, and music for our trip. I'm not sure what I will be part of for this trip, but I will give you that update when I know. This week is usually a hard week to go through, there is usually a big spiritual attack on the schools because you are preparing for ministry, so please keep that in prayer.
We meet every Monday for missions team meetings. Last Monday we talked about what will be happening during the trip. It is a lot of walking around, street ministry, youth gatherings, church events, and prayer meetings. We will be staying at one of the YWAM bases in Germany....its a castle.
Last weekend I volunteered at one of the bases to help do grounds work at one of the schools. that night they had a bonfire for us. this is a picture of a few of us who were there.
We are trying to get a bunch of people to volunteer time in town on the weekends. we are not sure exactly what we are going to do yet, but we are trying to hook up with some of the local churches in order to get something going. last week we were talking about revival in America, not just a small revival but the country as a whole. We figure that God has called us to do more than nothing on the weekends. Faith without works is dead, and works without love is worthless so we are really trying to go into this with the most Christ like view on things. God didn't call the government to take care of the poor, hungry, or those living in sin; he called the church to do it. Two weeks ago we had classes on the Holy Spirit and gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was quite a different week and a new experience for me. Thursday of that week she prophesied over the class individually. I will try to get that up so you can hear it as soon as possible.

2 weeks down, 10 to go

The nice thing about our base is, when you leave, you feel like you have never left. Not too much changes around here and you always feel like you have been here a long time even if it has only been a week.....or two weeks. I Love It!

The first week we where here was an orientation week. We went over a lot of what happened during the lecture phase of the school, basic rules, and basic class sessions. The second week we had a teacher named Larry Allen speaking on the Atonement of Christ and God revealing his character to us. Larry Allen is the teacher of another school called the School of the Bible at our Dayspring campus in Tyler, Texas.

I have enjoyed getting into the swing of things again. I am trying to not use my car very much, so I went to the dump pile in the back of the base and picked up about 5 bikes, and built my own to ride around the base, and get some exercise. We have some professional mountain bike courses in the back of the base, so I have been hitting those after dinner on some nights. I got all muddy the other day after it rained.

After getting muddy on the trail, I went to the girls dorm to wash off the bike and myself. When I went to spray the bike I stepped on a board that was laying on the ground and realized it had nails sticking up out of it.......after stepping on one of them and putting it about a half inch into my foot. It ended up being a fun night, I had to go to the hospital, get and x-ray, and get a tetanus shot. So please keep that in prayer that it heals well.

For my DTS I paid for the tuition, and God has provided for all that was owed so far, and will provide for the rest of what is needed. It cost $3,345 for the tuition on both of the schools, $2,200 for South Korea and over $2,400 estimated cost for the trip to Germany. God provided for the costs in the past and will for the future. There is still $955 due for the school tuition and another $2,400+ for the Germany outreach.

Three years ago when I was wanting to go to the Summer of Service and Training program here in Texas God provided for that and more, he provided enough for me and two other people. I paid for the tuition of the Discipleship training school, but God provided for the outreach. God as provided enough for me to get into the School of Evangelism, and I know that he will provide for the rest of what is needed.

If God calls you to something, he will provide for what is needed, that is where you come in. I'm not just talking about money, which is a big need, but I am also talking about prayer. A ministry bathed in prayer is the most successful. I need your support in keeping my ministry focused, wise and fruitful. I am also in need of your help financially, your help and support is what keeps me doing this, without you I would not be here. God doesn't supply a money tree, he supplies others to support you. I don't consider you my supporters, I consider you my partners. You partner with me in what God is doing in and through this ministry. I would like to to thank you for your past, present and future support, may God bless you and keep you

-Ben

Back in TX

Headed back to Texas for my School of Evangelism. Two of my friends driving from Rhode Island came to our house on the night of the 25th, We left on Wednesday the 26th from Delaware. The first day of traveling we left Delaware at 7 in the morning and drove 3 hours to Virginia Beach to pick up two other people going into our school. From Virginia Beach we drove another 3.5 hours to Durham, NC to pick up another person going into our school. Last we traveled to Asheville, NC to pick up the last person for the trip and spend the night. We got there and they had dinner for us, then took us out on a quick tour of the city. We went up on one of the mountains and took pictures. This is one of me Standing by a cliff looking over the city.

The next morning we left on our 909 mile, 14 hour drive to Texas. We rented a trailer to take all of our stuff. We got about 400 miles into the trip and the second car(not mine) broke down. had no oil in it and got a bad batch of gas with water in it, so it took up a while to get it running again.....about 7 hours worth of fixing and tinkering. With a lot of work and prayer we got back on the road at about 8 and drove the rest of the trip. We arrived at the base at 3 in the morning Central time (4 in the morning Eastern time). So it was quite a long trip and I am glad to be in TX again. Thank you for all your prayers and support. I still need your support, so please keep me in prayer especially for finances, I am still in need of more for tuition and outreach.

God Bless
-Ben

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My month between schools

I now have a month before the School of Evangelism begins, and I am currently back in Ohio trying to raise support for it. It will cost another $3,350 for the school and another $2,000 for the outreach, which I am pretty sure that I am supposed to go to Germany. So I am telling what has happened these last 5 months and trying to raise funds for the next five. It is not by my power that the money will come in, but by God. So please keep me in prayer as I do what God has called me to and that the supply would come in.

The Last Two Weeks

Our last two weeks were spent in Asan, and this is how it went.
On Sunday the first we left from our hostel in Seoul to Asan at 3:30. We arrived at the Asan city hall at about 5, then unloaded all of our things. 6 o'clock we gathered in the main meeting room of the city hall and had an introduction video we watched, were greeted, and introduced to our host homes. We left to our host homes for the night. Going home with my host family, they didn't speak a lick of English, so when I got to the house and their son was home from college and he spoke English I was relieved.
Monday We went to the Taeckmin methodist church for a service. We didn't do anything during that service, we were mostly there for appearances. When the service was finished we ate snacks with the kids and played with them a little. For lunch we went to a very nice restaurant (complements of the city) and had an interesting dining experience. In the afternoon we went to the Habitat for humanity village outside of town, a part of the jimmy carter work project. It was a dump community until HfH came in and built a small community of houses in that land. During that time we took a tour of the area, then went back and played games with the kids and ate with them, just a time to show people love.
Tuesday we went to Samil Presbyterian Church. We did worship, gave a few testimonies, and did one of our drama's. Samil is the church that the Korean "English as a second language" students from are base are from and the home church of my former roommate. In the afternoon we went to an Orphanage in the city. We were told about the orphanage and then we played with the kids, danced with them, karaoke with them and just did our best to show them the love of Christ.
Wednesday we packed up and left our host homes (Chinese new year is a big holiday so we left so they could celebrate it) and went to the city hall. We dropped off our stuff and headed out for a hike up the beautiful mountain outside the city. after going up and coming back down we went back the the city hall and got our belongings and headed to a Condo outside of the city. In the afternoon we went to a Korean history Museum an General Yi's memorial shrine and museum. It was cool to learn about the history of the country that we were in.
Thursday we had the morning to sleep in because the church that we were supposed to visit canceled on us. so we had a meeting at 11 and then we went to a historic replica village to learn more about Korea's past.
Friday we got up and went to some kind of bible museum. it was strange to me because we had to dress up in these white robes (just imagine what that looked like) and it had the life up Jesus in clay models, and a replica of what a temple would be like. it was kind of strange. The Afternoon we spent at a nursing home, doing worship, talking and socializing with the people there, and then serving them dinner and feeding it to some of them. It was a different experience.
On Sat. we met in the meeting room of the building next door, and had a "dwell" time. We spent time as a group seeking God and spending time with him in his presence. It was nice to do that alone together for the first time since we got to Korea. For lunch we went out to Pizza Hut (complements of the city of Asan) and had pizza for the first time in a while. After lunch we went out to E-mart for people who needed to shop, I jsut got batteries and hair wax(like gel). Later that afternoon we went back to our host homes.
Sunday we spent the day with out host homes. I went to church with them in the morning and then spent the rest of the day off resting at the apartment.
Monday we started teaching English in the schools and it was quite interesting. it was hard to get the kids to talk, and when they did, they weren't as advanced as we were led to believe. It was hard to get them to do anything and they were too embarrassed. In the afternoon we went to the salvation army children's center and spent time with the kids there and served them dinner and cleaned up afterwards.
Tuesday we were teaching English in the schools. In the afternoon we spent time at a daycare playing with the kids and doing activities with them.
Wednesday we started teaching English in an all girls school. we had classes of 30 and had one class for 3 hours, it was quite fun. In the afternoon we went to a daycare and played with the children, then went to a church and taught English to the kids there.
Thursday we we back in the all girls middle school teaching English with a different class for another three hours. In the afternoon we visited the Hyundai plant just outside the city. It was cool to see how they make their cars with so many machines. We left the Hyundai plant and went to the Samsung LCD plant. they showed us how they made LCD screens and what they were used for.
With the help of our base director the city of Asan signed an agreement of sisterhood with the city of Tyler, to share economical ideas and trade students and education. We are the first Americans from Tyler to come to Asan since that happened. It didn't hit us until we were here but we are representing a lot being in this city. We are representing; YWAM, Tyler, Texas, and America for God.....WoW that is a lot! Its amazing what God will do with you if you just obey his call.
So that is up till now in a nutshell. Miss you all and am looking forward to heading back up north.

I Love South Korea

Good Lord the Lord is Good.
I am having a great time here in SK. The flight was long and fairly boring, the movies weren't that great (but luckily the return flight will have better movies like rush hour 3 and ratatiulli?) We arrived at the Icheon/Seoul Airport on Thursday night and went right to the Seshin Methodist church in a suburb city of Seoul at about 10. The next morning we got up at 5 because of the jet lag, got ready then went to breakfast at 7 (24/7 Mcdonalds across the street, just as crappy as they are in America). 8 o'clock we left for the church's brand new retreat center.
We worked with a weekend youth event happening there with youth from that church, about 130 of them. When we got there we went right into doing worship (barely had time to tune and make a set list), we had activities with the kids as a whole, and did some teachings. Then we had lunch, my first time with Chop Sticks in SK, I had several kids show me how to properly hold them. Then in the afternoon we had more worship, then we split the kids up into 4 different groups and had them go to different activities/games that would help them work on their English and have fun. I helped work with one activity where we gave them all a picture and they had to make up a story about the picture and what they thought was happening. Then we had dinner, pork cutlets, it was good. After dinner we had one more worship time, a teaching and then a time of ministry. That night we had 5 come to Christ for the first time, 13 rededicated their lives and many other we prayed over, but those are Just statistics, we are praying that was really what was in their heart. we finally went to bed at about 10 that night......a.k.a. 8 in the morning back home......bla!
Saturday we had some more worship then broke off into small groups and talked with them in smaller groups(9 people) about what they thought about the weekend and what God had done with them. Then the program ended. That afternoon we went back to the church and stayed there for a little while until we split up and want to host homes.
It was amazing to me getting close with these kids really quick, usually outsiders are not as welcome into such groups. The kids/youth were amazing and fun to hang around with, and very cute. One kid kept calling me Chris Jericho, a WWF wrestler who has a pony tail and goatee like mine. There were a bunch of people who were calling me Legolas.......it took me a day and a half to figure that one out.
Last night I spent my first night in a host home. I got there and used the Internet, then took a shower. That night we spent 2 hours sitting in their living room talking and working on English.
Today we went to the church and participated in the services. at the Youth (high school/college) service I gave my testimony(last minute idea), which was great because it fit right in with Josh's (our leader)message. then we played one of our worship songs for them, my whole group finds it funny because I get so into the music and I start moving around to the music. We went to the park after the youth service and gave out traks and did our skits......I hate doing tracks.....its lame.....and NEVER WORKS!!
Tonight for dinner we had Pizza...........it was not like the usual Za.....it had a TON of toppings on it includig slices of potato. We had some time off before going back to our host homes for the night so a bunch of us went to a local coffee shop (Seven Monkeys Cofee) and chilled there for a bit.
We worked with a DTS this week, and now we are working at one of the churches in Icheon for an English camp. It is kind of like a VBS.
I am loving this country, the people, the city, the culture. I think I might come back after college to teach English.




God Bless
-Ben Collins

We Have Arrived!

We arrived last night at the Youth Center in Morris, IL after an 18 hour trip. we are settling in and preparing for the work ahead. tonight we will be going to a bible study at someones house and leading worship and prayer. I will keep you updated on what we will be doing, when I know.

Thank You
Keep us in your prayers
-Ben

Leaving

We take off tomorrow morning at 4 for Morris, IL. Please keep us in prayer as we travel and start our ministry.

God Bless
-Ben