http://janekim.theworldrace.org Jane Kim - Life out of the boat... en-us Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:10:42 GMT 30 http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=where-the-sidewalk-ends http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=where-the-sidewalk-ends Do you remember the cover of that Shel Silverstein book, where the kids are peering over the ledge?  Where they walk past the sign that says  "EDGE keep off"?  Oh man, I love that picture.  There is this thing in the kids thats like, "ok, whats next then?"  They walk past the sign, and know that there must be more even though the path has ended.  The dog is falling through the sidewalk, but the kids don't care.  The "world race" sidewalk has ended for all of us alumni.  The sidewalk has ended...the sidewalk of what society has said life is supposed to look like, should look like, the path of the race, the path of what all the voices of this world tell us that 20-30 something year old life is supposed to look like.  And, the Lord brings all of us to that point where He is like ok, come on, the paved path has ended are you going to follow me or not?  And, In the wise words of Alanis Morissette: "The moment I jumped off of it was th Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=god-kicked-me http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=god-kicked-me Have you ever felt like you have one foot and out foot out?  so what happens when God kicks you and just says, "ok, enough".    I just got back from the DR two days ago.  And everytime I go there, God rocks me.  He changes my destiny.  You would think I would start to expect it.   It is incredible what He does there.  Two years ago, the very first time I went.  I don't even know how it came about that I was going with this youth group on their summer missions trip.  I never wanted to go on a missions trip again, I never wanted to be a missionary, I didn't want to work with high school kids.  I have always loved adventure and roughing it, but I was never a Jesus freak and didn't want to be.  So the night before our flight is leaving, I break out in hives.  I have this awful allergic reaction, and I think to myself, perfect.  Now I have an excuse to get out of this.  So as I'm sitting and thinking about ho Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=rocky-mtn-hi http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=rocky-mtn-hi So, here I am in the big bad state of CO.  All I can say, is that there is nothing like the Rocky Mountains greeting you when you get here.  I am awed seriously that I get to call this beautiful place home.  Outside of the beauty of this place, this "space between" has been easier than I thought it would be in some ways...like its not as hard as I thought it would be getting used to air conditioning, driving, hot showers, bug free living conditions ;)  in other ways, its been way harder than I thought.  Not just re-entering, but transitioning to a new place, a new home, etc.  And, suddenly being away from "family" in a sense.  Building a new community out here has been challenging for me, but God is crazy good to me.  He has brought people alongside me out here.  At the same time, I had forgotten how much people are living life, working, paying bills, etc.  Feels like the world is moving faster than I am at times.  But Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-promised-land http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-promised-land Lately, I have been thinking alot about the promised land.  What is my promised land?  What is our promised land?  What has the Lord given us that we haven't taken a hold of yet?  And what is keeping us from taking a hold of it?  For me, going to Colorado in faith is symbolic of that.  People ask me, "What are you going to do there?!"  I'm not sure.  I don't know.  But I know like I knew that I was supposed to go on the race, that I am supposed to go.  All I know is that God dropped it in my lap when I was in Swaziland and that He has confirmed it repeatedly.  So here I go.  After a month at home, I pack up my stuff a-la-World-Race style, except maybe slightly more than a backpack full of stuff to head out west into the land that God promised me. :) I've been reading in Joshua about how the Israelites got their promised land.  They couldn't just sit on the other side of the Jordan and wait for God to give it to them.&n Tue, 3 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=hope-in-nicaragua http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=hope-in-nicaragua Its more than a month ago, that I was serving with the Cinco Che sisters in our music ministry.  And there is one visit that has been chiseled into my memory that I want to share with you all about.  It was called Casa Esperanza, House of Hope.  This ministry was run by a single woman, April Havlin, and her heart was for the women and children in prostitution in Managua.  We had no idea what to expect, which means it was just another day on the World Race.  But I woke up that morning with the Kingdom on my mind, and just prayed, "Jesus have us bring the Kingdom to earth today."  We set out with our two guitars, took a bus, took a taxi, took another bus, and arrived at this beautiful plot of land.  It stood on a hill, surrounded by trees.  There was this incredible sense of peace and I could immediately sense the presence of the Holy Spirit.  We tuned the guitars, introduced o Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=sowhats-next http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=sowhats-next Life moves really fast in the States, I forgot how fast.  The day after I got back, I got in my car and was taken aback by how fast everyone drives everywhere.  What's the big rush?!   But then, here I am 4 weeks later, wondering what the hold up is when I'm stuck behind someone that's driving like they are out for an afternoon ride.   So, what is next for me?  The Lord has given me bits and pieces, which is all good.  Because, I'm realizing that knowing the whole picture isn't as much fun.  The bits and pieces are this:  the Lord has lead me to move to Colorado, I will be working on an online business selling products from different ministries around the world, and I will be helping to lead a group of teens on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic in July.  So basically now that I have unpacked my bags, done some laundry, had some welcome back festivities...its time again to repack and go.&nbsp Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=at-home http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=at-home I hate blogging.  In case there was any confusion about that.  Trying to capture things in words, gives me this feeling that I am committing an injustice to the people and places and situtations that have affected me.  But I seriously feel that I owe the Lord and you all some stories and blogs that I never had the chance to sit down and put on paper or computer or whatever.  So I'm going to do some retrospectives now that I have some time to sit and think and put my thoughts together.  So get ready and hold me to it.  Being home for the past week and a half has made me feel like no time has passed in some ways.  Like when I walked out of my front door for the airport in June, the trees and flowers were all in bloom and then I come back 11 months later and they are still all in bloom.  In my room, there were clothes that I was too busy and rushed to wash before I left, and here they are 11 months later with the same food stains!  My desk dr Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=30-days http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=30-days So the countdown begins, or continues.  It has been an interesting past few weeks.  It has been different from what we expected and pictured.  If you think about it though, its never really as we picture it, but this thing called life would be incredibly boring if we actually had all the control that we think that we want.  We have a week left in our month doing this music ministry as Cinco Che with a few more organized ministry times.  One thing that I have learned though, is that "ministry", whatever that is...means living in love, walking in love, talking in love, laughing in love, because He is love.  So, ministry happens when you are sitting at a bus stop in Costa Rica wondering which bus you are supposed to get on to go to the beach as a kind stranger strikes up conversation with you or when you sitting in a cab chatting with the taxi driver or sitting and chatting on a farm in the middle of Costa Rica surrounded by sheep and horses and cows eating m Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-few-pics-of-the-cinco http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-few-pics-of-the-cinco Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=team-awaken-video http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=team-awaken-video Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=5-shay-atl-day-1 http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=5-shay-atl-day-1 With 26 hours under our belts, Cinco Che, is in full gear and fully under the hand of our living, awesome, loving, crazy about us God. I don't know if I can capture into words how God ordained the past 26 hours have been, but it has been the most fun, the most worry-free, the most God is in control 26 hours. I want to share about how we ended up living with a Nicaraguan Family, btw I don't even know their last names! So about 24 hours ago, we sat in this very internet cafe praying for the Lord to provide for us a place to stay where we could stay for the month, come and go throughout the month, and a place where we could cook to save $$$!!! The Lord gave Brady a picture of a sunflower and told her to follow th star. After we prayed, we set out to meet with our AIM contact, Carlitos and also one of our guitarists-Erick. So as we are making our way out towards the barrios, someone across the street is yelling my name, "JAAAAAAANE!" and walking towards us. Then we see Ezekiel, a 1 Fri, 7 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=where-to-next http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=where-to-next For the month, we are doing this ATL thing, where we ask the Lord what's next, what to do, etc.  And drumroll please...my team of Gabe, Brady, Brown, and Erick will be forming a band this month touring around Nicaragua ministering through music under the name Cinco Shay.  To give you a little personal background and insight, I have been lenting from my ipod for the month and have been in music WITHDRAWAL and realizing how much the Lord has wired me so I need, connect, and feel music.  Music though is seriously a powerful powerful thing when you sit and think about it.  How do you capture in words how it sometimes can just like shake the core of who you are or capture so perfectly what you feel?  Its like this feeling of something welling up in your insides.  Anyways, we have no clue what this is going to look like or sound like, but we foresee a lot of playing in parks, on street corners, in schools, perhaps on rooftops, or in barns.  But we're prayin Wed, 5 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=unlikely-people http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=unlikely-people God uses the most unlikely people.  He loves doing that because when He does, it's obvious that it's Him.  Sometimes we are those unlikely people that God uses, other times God uses unlikely people in our lives.  When He talks about His strength being made perfect in our weaknesses that's what He means.  In the past few weeks here in Nicaragua, God has done that in my life.  During our time here in Nicaragua, I've had the privilege of working with some amazing men doing construction in Iglesia Verbo's hurricane relief efforts.  All at very different points in their journey with the Lord.  I have been humbled by the things that God has done in their lives and blessed by the friendship they offered me.  Knowing their stories and seeing them walk up to the altar in front of the congregation to begin or re-begin their walk with Jesuswhewhumbling.  And God used them, a bunch of unlikely people, in my life to bring a lot of freedom and healing. An Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=thoughts-in-puerto http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=thoughts-in-puerto Sorry for the hiatus for the month of January and most of February. This is all really dated and late. I just found this old blog that I wrote a while ago. So, here we are in Puerto Cabeza in Nicaragua, about to begin our 9th month of the race, in our 9th country and God is just shaking me and showing me all of this stuff. And I guess what it boils down to, is this: the veil is torn, the curtain has been removed, yet why do we choose religion over relationship. Do you know what I'm talking about? I'm saying that He has given us this invitation, like we are being welcomed and invited to come into the cloud, to come into His presence, just like the Israelites were, but we back away, like they did, and say, "No, pastor, preacher, Moses, -whatever holy, godly person it is for you-, YOU go." And we walk away from THE ultimate invitation. An invitation into the Most Holy Place, where you personally can talk to God. Yes you talking to God, not through some rituals that we do or some u Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-little-retro http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-little-retro Retrospection, that is.  I've gotten laryngitis in recent days, meaning I can't really hang out with the kiddies for fear of me getting them sick.  So thats left me pretty much quarentined and today I was told to start wearing a surgical face mask, but haven't quite started that yet.  Imagine me in quarentine in a face mask.  Other than that we're waiting on the papayas to grow so we can start planting (oh did I mention that Casey and I are doing a community tree/garden project?).  All that to say the Lord has made it clear its time for me to stop my busyness and  time for me to just sit with Him and talk to Him.  In doing alot of that in the past week or so, something thats come out of that time with Him is a reminder of something He did about 10 months ago.  Before the World Race, there was training camp.  For 2 weeks in April, I met and trained with all the people that I would be racing around the world with, my new family in a sense Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=oh-just-a-little-something-we-threw-together http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=oh-just-a-little-something-we-threw-together So, here is what happens when you mix a little free time, 4 crazy and bored girls, and one very special turtle...Enjoy Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=sweet-faces http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=sweet-faces Manila is awesome.  I love it.  It is freaking incredible.  I am just foaming at the mouth with excitement...OR to put it nicely, I am so excited I just cannot contain how sweet and amazing our time has been here so far.  And its only been one week.  I am working with Casey on a tree planting project...its awesome how God is using stuff from my past life!  And I have been spending my free time with these sweet sweet sweet faces.  I love 'em and I just met them.  They are the children from the children's home that is just around the corner from us.  They are amazing little people, I can't even help but just fall in love with each of them.  The house that the live in is just filled with love and peace and joy...sigh.  A few pics from our first week, enjoy!         Tue, 8 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=im-just-a-kid http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=im-just-a-kid What is child-like faith?  What does it look like?  What does the Lord mean when He says, "You can ask for anything in my name, I will do it" (John 14:13)?  Does He actually mean that?  Or is it more of a figurative thing?  Why are we afraid of doing that?  So quickly, we explain things away, like how it says in the word not to put the Lord your God to the test, etc.  It sounds too simple, kind of child-like, to believe that you can ask your Father in heaven Who loves you for something.  Why don't we believe that He will heal your family member with cancer? Or that He will allow you to get pregnant when you are barren? Or that He will give you money for your next mortgage payment when you are broke?  These are all things that have happenedI know the people that have received these things from Him.  These are actual miracles that we quickly explain away with our faithless human explanations.  Are you doing it right now?  Thinki Tue, 1 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=help-for-a-friend http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=help-for-a-friend Hi friends, family, strangers, My friend, teammate, Gabe Rodgers is in dire need of finances to continue this race...she is in need of $300 by Jan. 1st or she will be sent home because of inadequate fundage.  If the Lord is pressing your heart to help, any bit will make a HUGE difference.  go to Gaberiellerodgers.theworldrace.org!  Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-big-chief-thanksgiving http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=a-big-chief-thanksgiving Celebrating Turkey Day World Race-style.  With everything from ringing a hotel room doorbell and screaming "THEY'RE HERE!!!!" to wearing customized headresses.  Thank you squad C and thank you Lord to whom belongs all the glory.                Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=china-in-a-few-words http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=china-in-a-few-words I'll attempt to capture in words probably the 4 most challenging weeks so far.  We started out in Hong Kong, which, I must say is one of the most modern cities that we have been to so far.  Disneyland, organic grocery stores, a city where wireless is pretty much available everywhere, subways, starbucks, malls galore, movie theaters.  Ok I'll stop.  Anywhoo, picture this...going from all of this to China, which felt in a lot of ways like being transported 40 years back in time.  The area of China that we went to had the feel of a war-torn country.  And as we walked the streets (literally the streets...some areas had no sidewalks) the thing that struck me the most was the absence of laughter.  Walking around the city with my teammates or with friends that we made, you could hear our laughter literally piercing the air, which probably didn't help alleviate the staring that we encountered daily.  You have no idea how much it was an oddity for us to w Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=faith http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=faith Being in this relationship with my Maker has been radical. It is unlike any relationship I have ever been in before and is hands down the weirdest relationship of my life. He wants me...and by that I mean He doesn't give a crap what I can do for Him, what I bring or don't bring. He doesn't care about my resume, my accomplishments. He asks me to sit with Him, to let me let Him be my Daddy, my Lover, my Friend. He tells me to get up and dance, to laugh, to be.After we left the rest of our squad, Team Awaken went off to do some Ask the Lord (ATL) time. For each of us it ended up looking pretty different. For me, I told Him alright I'm not going to move until to you tell me to move, talk unless you tell me to talk. Learning to depend on the Holy Spirit, no more wasting time depending on me and what I know. So, the Lord told me to sit with Him, to be quiet with Him, and to stay with Him. My tendency is so the opposite...I keep myself busy, find ways to serve in tangible ways...but He said n Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=and-were-back http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=and-were-back Hey all, This is simply to let you know that we are back from China and are in Hong Kong for the next few days and will be leaving for the Philippines to celebrate the day of His birth there and to start our month there a little early.  I will be updating sooner or later.  Also, my address until the beginning of February will be: Jane Kimc/o Jeff LongFaith AcademyPO Box 20160706 MCPOMakati CityPhilippines love you guys!Jane Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=happy-thanksgiving http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=happy-thanksgiving Man, the Lord is crazy faithful.  Crazy.  He blows me away.  The way He hears all of our crazy far-fetched prayers and how He delights over our crazy dreams, over child-like faith.  When I was in Bangkok, I went back to see one of the girls I became friends with at this one bar.  Sadly she wasn't there, but the bartender was there.  So I sat and chatted with her and she told me that all the bars , sex bars, in this one area are closing!!!!!  WOOOHOOO!!!! Please pray with me that that area, Soi 1, will be turned into a place of the Lord's worship, of healing, of hope!!!  Man, He IS SO GOOD!  I have so much to be thankful for this turkey day, my awesome mom and dad, my brother-a man after God's heart, my sister-a sweet and fierce daughter and princess of the King, my beautiful and crazy friends (you know who you are),  all of your prayers, seeing and being a part of what my Father in heaven is doing in this world, that I belong to HIM Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=un-dia-en-cambodia http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=un-dia-en-cambodia Today is our final day of ministry here in Siem Reap province in Cambodia.  Its hard to believe how quickly the month has passed.  We live on a street on the outskirts of to, by a river where children bathe, people wash their clothes and dishes, where raw sewage drains to.  In the mornings, Jenny D. and I have gotten up, headed out to a local church which doubles as a school.  When we arrive at the church we teach English to a class of 20 students, ranging from 4 years old to 12 years old.  All in one class.  The students pay anywhere from $5 a month to $1 a month for school.  We have all heard stories about people living on less than $1 a day, its different to see it with your own eyes and the mind-boggling power of the american dollar.  And it has hit me as we take this same bike ride every day by these same soot covered faces...poverty isn't something that God created, its a man-made, sin-made thing.  Its not about capita Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=detox http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=detox Last month, I attempted a detox, meaning no white starches or soda or junk food, only fiber, fruits, fruit juices and water, etc.  And basically after 1 hour gave up.  But I'm just thinking about that concept.  Why we need to detox sometimes physically, spiritually, emotionally.  My month in Bangkok was hard.  It was painful, difficult, awkward at times.  And it wasn't until the bus ride to Cambodia that I had the time and space to process.  I know that the Lord is going to use what we did in Thailand, beyond a shadow of a doubt.  But I realized how I had gone into this battle mode.  Of going going going, doing doing doing, etc.  And the stuff that we saw and the things that these girls that we talked to and became friends with, well it was hard.  There were no easy answers.  So, emotionally I kind of detached and started to go back to what was comfortable.  My oh so easy and comfortable self-reliance, self-dependence, sc Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=here-i-am-here-we-go http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=here-i-am-here-we-go Life on the race is well...by no means normal.  Living life out of a bag, following the Lord, being a vagabond in your late 20's isn't normal.  and I LOVE IT!!!  It ain't easy by any means.  But lately I've been hit by the seriously undeserved, unmerited privelege it is, to see what the Lord is doing around the globe with my own eyes and being a part of it.  An agent of change, of truth, of healing.  I love that I belong to Jesus.  Recently at debrief, Chad, one of the January leaders said do you mean it, do you mean that you surrender all?  And coming off of a hard (in more ways than one) month, I just sat there and thought about it.  And realized that when all is said and done He is all and everything I have and want in this life.  I love that You love me Lord and I just feel incredibly grateful.  About 4 days ago we arrived in our new country for the month: Cambodia.  After 17 hours of bus travel over some whacked out dirt Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=fast-times-in-bangkok-thailand1 http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=fast-times-in-bangkok-thailand1 Life in Bangkok has moved crazy fast.  You blink and a day has gone by or a week has gone by or a month has gone by.  Its weird to think that its autumn in the States right now when I  am sitting here in Bangkok, where it is 80-90% humidity and in the 80s-90's and I feel  like I am sitting in a sauna fully clothed.  I'm going to miss the leaves turning this fall in the Northeast!  But things in Bangkok have been good, God has given us the opportunity to be a part of what He is doing here in Bangkok through the Well, ministering to girls that have left the sex-trade and also girls that are still in the sex-trade.  There have been times throughout the month, where I reached my threshold and the end of my rope.  Where I didn't know what else to do, where else to go, what else to say, etc. and that's where trust began and God started to show me tangibly what it means that His grace is sufficient in my weakness that His strength is m Thu, 4 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=are-you-there-god-its-me-jane http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=are-you-there-god-its-me-jane Do you ever wonder if God actually hears your prayers?  Not just the ones that you cry out when you are feeling on fire, but the ones that you say inside your head and heart?  Being in Thailand, ministering at the bars has brought up these questions.  Standing in the red light district of Bangkok, surrounded by flashing lights, and feeling like your body is convulsing from the bumping Western music, you wonder God can you hear the prayers that I am whispering to You?  We have been in Bangkok for over a week now, ministering during the day to women who have left the sex-trade, and to the women and men in the red-light district at night.  One of the nights, Jenny Brown and I went to one of the bars in the area.  (Bars are places for men to meet bar-girls/prostitutes).  And we met Kai.  She sat at a table by herself.  Nervously fixing her hair and make-up, while we sat with a few other bar girls at the next table chatting.  She mad Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=lessons-from-a-large-green-tarp http://janekim.theworldrace.org/?filename=lessons-from-a-large-green-tarp The green tarp.   We drove through the bush of Mozambique on the back of a truck through the dusty, dry backcountry to arrive at a large green tarp, aka the Temane Orphanage.   Not quite what I imagined when I thought of an orphanage.   We all had our ideas of what Africa would look like, what orphanages would look like.   And this was not what I had pictured even remotely.   Here we were with our bags, in the middle of nowhere, by a large green tarp with 20 some odd kids, no running water, no electricityour home and our family for the next week.   We set up our tents and stuff and then met the children.   Some of the kids had homes and families in the area, but their families could not afford to care for them.   Others had none.   We came with no plans and God was really quiet that week.   So, what do you do, when God takes away your words?   When God takes away th Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT