©  Focus on Jesus.  Focus on Souls.  ©

Life is like driving on the freeway. You don’t know when you will change lane or which car and when it will change lane. Sometimes, you change lane and have to change back. Sometimes, the traffic comes to a halt and you think you’ll be stuck for a long time. You begin to focus on worship and prayer. Shortly, the road opens up and you fly on praising God…

Kids have chosen violin as their music instrument in school since 4^th grade. Edmond, now in 7^th grade, asked for private lessons. Mrs. Sunny Lim, one of the top recommendations from kids’ violin teacher Mrs. Gray, became his private teacher. She had just begun a student string orchestra in winter 2001. In June, Edmond participated in a spring performance in Mrs. Lim’s church. That night, I discovered her church, First Korean Presbyterian, was the one whose street outreach team had been serving Santa Ana since 1994. We became part of the team in October 1999. Yang, one of the SASO veterans and singing worshiper, was terribly surprised when seeing me the Chinese showed up in his church.

For the past three years, Jesus held the Korean, Chinese and American sub-teams together. Korean Church has the largest sub-team about five to twelve people every Saturday. Among the sub-teams, we smile and greet one another. We have deeply appreciated one another’s love, effort and commitment to Jesus but had about zero fellowship. Language may be a reason. Time may be another. We put off all household matters, reach the destination, serve in SASO, and then leave to carry on our other responsibilities. Being different parts of the body of Christ and serving on the same team, I wished for fellowship and communication. Of course, we are soldiers. Following orders from the Commander-in-chief and trusting fellow teams are our highest priorities. Fellowship could be a luxury item.

With great grace, the Lord prepared a violin teacher for us from the greater Korean church family. In a personal way, Father is showing us we are indeed part of the family even if there is barely any human communication. I also felt He’s showing me that unity is possible in the Lord – beyond denomination, churches, nationalities or whatever segregations human could invent, so long as we focus on humbling before Jesus and obeying Him.

Sonya started taking lessons in July. Both kids were to attend Mrs. Lim’s fall string orchestra performance on Saturday November 2 at the First Korean Baptist Church in Irvine. (Not sure why Koreans like to name themselves ‘First.’ Maybe thinking others would call themselves second, third, fourth, so on and so forth.)

These kind of setbacks usually brought back unpleasant memories of the past Not only I refused to allow myself being disqualified for the heavenly prize, but also refused to allow guilt to eat me alive. Again and again, I relearn the course: to choose to forgive, to depend on God for strength and wisdom, to humble, to stay free and let Him build characters in me.

Tuesday night, Sonya heard from his dad. Louis had changed his mind and would take them. The Lord turned the situation around. Friday afternoon before leaving with his dad, Edmond said he did not ‘feel like’ joining the performance. Sigh. Mom sensed another training reinforcement was coming her way.

Shortly after six, I arrived at the Korean church. All performers had just finished rehearsing and were having meal in the dining hall. It was quiet in the main sanctuary. I prayed and thanked God for Mrs. Lim and all who were involved in the orchestra performance, the church and the opportunity for kids to play. When a Korean Christian goes to some place, immediately upon arrival he or she almost always asks the Lord to bless the place and the host. So, I learned from them and ask the Lord to mightily bless the Baptists.

Sonya brought a girlfriend, Katrina, from the San Fernando Valley. Katrina is 11 and has a 15-year-old brother. She is sweet and not shy. Like Sonya, Katrina also has divorced parents and a stepmom. She and her parents are Christians. Katrina gave me permission to pray for her and family. Then Sonya prayed for Katrina to be able to hear the Lord’s voice.

One of Edmond’s close friends Koki was also in the orchestra. Koki practices violin two to three hours daily. Koki came to our house sometimes. We prayed together for him and healing of his asthma. For three years, however, it had been hard to have a real conversation with his mom Mikiko. Around seven o’clock, she came and sat not far from me. I moved few steps toward her and asked, "Would you like to sit by me or do you want me to move by you?" At this exact instance, a lady came and sat on my seat. The Lord was humoring me and kicking me out of the comfort zone. So I moved to sit by Mikiko. We chatted a little. She told me she was ‘a little bit’ of a Buddhist. Well, God loves Buddhists. With this, I shared with her the truth about Jesus, the cross, lamb’s blood and resurrection. Next I felt thankful and mission accomplished after waiting three years for a divine opportunity to share the Good News with Mikiko. May the Holy Spirit continue to bless and lead this family into salvation.

The string orchestra had about 50 young musicians, including violinists, violists and cellists, and three teacher performers. The majority was Korean. The minorities were Japanese, Chinese, American and Indian. They played for about half an hour. The last piece was Amazing Grace. An old Korean pastor gave a benediction. Church service continued after the performance. The players and their families packed up to leave.

Sunday night, Edmond showed me what he wrote down after Holy Spirit had instructed him:

"What I did was wrong and I should have prayed to the Holy Spirit. That is what I am always supposed to do because God knows what’s good for me. It’s not a matter of going or not it’s about the prayer and obedience."

Nothing happens by coincidence. With a seemingly little concert event, God has designed much dynamics into it. Every small thing abounds in His love and grace.