Final Days

Dear friends,

I am currently writing to you from the good ol' USA. We are back a few days ahead of schedule due to the concern over MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), but I'll get to that in a little bit.

On Monday, we traveled to DIMA - Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts, and had time to settle into our rooms and attend an orientation meeting with some members of the international studies program. We also met some of their K-Pop dancers, and worked out our plan and schedule for our collaboration with them in creating a collective piece for our joint performance on Thursday.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we were able to rehearse with the K-Pop dancers - they learned parts of our choreography, and we learned some of theirs to incorporate in our collaboration. They were INCREDIBLE dancers - their movement was fierce, and they were all very talented. Working with them was a joy; they were focused and passionate about their dancing, but also were willing to have fun as we worked, which built a wonderful environment for creativity. We created two pieces with them - one a hip-hop/contemporary fusion piece, and one contemporary piece. The friendships built in just six hours of rehearsal was yet another example of the common ground found with other college students who are also pursuing dance, and a testimony to the Lord's working in our hearts and theirs to form relationships.

We also had the opportunity to work with DIMA film students during our time there. We split into smaller groups to work with different students on dance films. Being able to collaborate with these students was a great experience - they were so receptive of the work that we brought, and were so excited about working with dancers. They were considerate of our tiredness and continually asked if we were okay to take another go at it, with different camera angles and focuses. One group brought us ice cream after filming outside all afternoon, which gave us an opportunity to get to know them as we took a break between shoots.

On Wednesday night, we received word from the international department that DIMA was being closed down and students evacuated due to the outbreak of MERS in the country. We met together that evening to talk about options and pray together over what our plan should be. Doors were opened for us to leave Korea the next day, so we packed up and drove to the airport on Thursday morning. Leaving was hard - there were plans for the last few days of our trip that we had been eagerly anticipating. We had the opportunity to meet up with the K-Pop students on Wednesday evening to say goodbyes, and had the chance to pray with them before we left.

Even though we did leave early, our time in Korea was full. We know that every encounter that we had was one prepared beforehand by God, that He was not surprised by the fact that we left on Thursday, and provided the means for us to be able to leave. We trust that seeds were planted and watered, that God's Word will not come back empty, and that His plans for us were fulfilled.

Please keep praying - for our team, as we adjust back to being in the States. We are praising God for health and safety in our travels. Please pray for the protection, health, and safety of those in South Korea. Five people have died from MERS thus far - pray for the virus to be controlled and not to spread further. Pray for healing both physically and spiritually - that people would turn to God during times of uncertainty and sickness.

We so appreciate you all in your support throughout our journey, and we continue to thank God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers, just as you have prayed for us.

Love,
Kelly

Last Friday Night

Hey guys! Grace here. First of all I want to say how much I have loved being here in Korea. God has shown me so many things about Himself and His love for us. He has taught me how to love people in new ways and how to see people through His eyes. It is truly beautiful. 

I wanted to write and share with you about last Friday night. After leaving Hanyang University, we went to Sung Young Kim and his wife Eun Young's house for dinner. We were actually their very first guests in their new home! (They were very proud that they could say their first guests were Americans.) They were incredibly hospitable to our excited group and welcomed us with food and sweet company. It was such a good time to be together, laughing and telling stories. We were able to talk about the piece Sung Yong choreographed for us, "Help". We told him some of our favorite moments of the dance and he shared his with us also. It was very inspiring to hear him talk about his motivation and intent behind the movement. 

There were a few moments while we were there, that the Lord gave me a glimpse of His heart for this lovely couple. I was blown away by the glorious light beaming from them. With every word that was said, whether it being about the Lord or not, I could tell that they both were intently listening and wanting to hear more. We were there for hours, but could have stayed for longer. They kept saying "be comfortable" and "be at home here". Their love was radiant. I actually didn't want to leave. We finished our yummy food and then exchanged gifts. Before we left, we prayed for Sung Yong and Eun Young and were able to leave our blessings in their beautiful home. The love of God was pouring out as we sat around them on their living room floor. I know He has such an amazing plan for them. They are strong leaders and through their passion for movement and creating, the Lord will open so many doors for them, in Jesus' name. 

We were so thankful for the time we got to spend with our dear friends. In the words of Uncle Kim, "to have an honest dance, there cannot be any lies in it." He has taught us how to move honestly and with utmost abandon. He has taught us what it means to help- to help is to be patient, to help is to see others, to help is to listen and love with all you have.

Days at Hanyang ERICA

Dear friends, 

I am writing to you from the backseat of a van that is pulling away from Hanyang University. We are leaving with hearts that are full to overflowing. We have been here for many days, and we have been blessed beyond measure by the welcoming and generous hearts of the students and teachers here. 

First, I wanted to thank you all for your prayers as we performed at Gangdong Dance Festival. We believe that God's truth was poured forth through our dancing, and that it will not come back empty. We were able to enter the space with a spirit of worship and a desire for God to come be our help as we spoke and danced truth about what help is. It was an honor and privilege to dance on that stage, in that space, knowing that we had been chosen for the purpose of dancing there. 

On Sunday, we performed at Gajwa Jeil Church. We were pretty exhausted by the time we got there, but the Lord provided joy and strength and energy through the joyful hearts of the congregation. We received so much blessing from the people there, and left with full hearts and full bellies due to the abundant generosity of the church. 

On Monday, as Emma and Kaleb and Alayna worked with Haejun, the rest of us took classes with the dancers at Hanyang - ERICA campus. Monday through Friday were long days- full of classes and rehearsals and attending various performances at MODAFE. Our three dancers working with Haejun's company performed on Tuesday, and they did a phenomenal job. The piece, Trauma 3.0, was so poignant, and spoke to the processing of emotions and relationships, the comfort we seek and the comfort we try to give. It was an incredible piece, and the dancers did a wonderful job. 

I think we would all agree that this week has been beautiful. Both Ms. Morton and Ms. Newland taught various classes, and we were also able to take classes from the teachers and professors at Hanyang. Taking classes was wonderful, not just because the classes were good (which they were), but because of the students we were able to take classes with. To have the common ground of being college dance students was a foundation upon which we were able to build relationships, and dancing with these beautiful people was a gift. They were so eager to learn and to share, and even though days were tiring, their energy was high and helped us to keep ours up. 

Today, Saturday, we were able to share dances with the students. They shared some of their various choreography works and other pieces, and we shared to of our works. To see the work and artistry of the students was such a gift. There was so much power and truth in their dancing and choreography, and to be able to share our hearts through dance with them was yet another opportunity to communicate God's love. One girl pulled out her phone after we performed "Voices" and translated Korean to English in order to tell me that she was deeply moved, and another girl told me that we were angels after she saw Glorious Spirit. They received what we shared, just as we received what they showed. One of my favorite moments from today was a girl who came up to us and told us that she was also a Chrisitan.  To be able to encourage those who are believers has been such a blessing and encouragement to us, and to know that there was more than dance uniting us, but also the mighty Spirit within our hearts. 

The students to sent us off with lunch and gifts that they bought for us themselves, and it was clear that they had put time into preparing the gifts for us. We took many selfies and had many hugs and said goodbye and "see you later" over and over again. There is no way to fully express how much we were connected with these students, how openly they welcomed us, and how generously they shared with us. We have all left parts of our hearts at Hanyang, and have been filled up to continue on in our time here.

Tomorrow (Sunday), we have an evening performance, and on Monday we travel to DIMA to begin our residency there. We praise God for the people and time at Hanyang and continue to lift up our time as we seek to do the work God has prepared for the rest of our time here. 

Love to you all, 

Kelly

Saturday, May 23

Dear friends, 

I just wanted to quickly share 2 things with you heading into this weekend.

First of all, I wanted to share with you a theme of these past two weeks. Almost every time we're introduced at Bal Malhada, we are asked what that means to us in English. For us, it translates as "feet speak", and once that is explained, those who interact with us realize that we have chosen a Korean phrase as our name. To see their faces light up with understanding speaks so loudly. Not only are our feet speaking, but our name is as well, opening doors for conversation about the Lord, about the verse that our name is taken from (Isaiah 52:7), and about the work that we are doing in Korea. 

The other thing I wanted to share with you is what we're doing tonight (Saturday). We have the opportunity to perform "Help" at Gandong Dance Festival. This is a huge blessing, as the Lord has clearly opened doors for us to be able to share our work at this festival, and we are so thankful for this honor. We are praying that God uses our piece to proclaim His truth. That we would not be concerned with the performance itself or the prestige of the venue, but that we would remember why we dance and who we dance for. Please be covering our physical bodies in your prayers as well- for strength and wellness as we prepare for and then dance this evening. 

We are so encouraged knowing that your prayers are with us, not only for tonight but for the rest of this trip. Thank you for your support as we continue to seek God and the works He has prepared for us. 

Words from Alayna...

Emma, Kaleb, and I are in the midst of rehearsing a piece with the Korean dance company "Rising Tide" which will be performed at MODAFE on Tuesday, May 26th. MODAFE is one of the largest contemporary dance festivals in the country and companies from seven different countries will perform during the festival. Haejun Lee, the director of the company, is also a chair of the dance department at Hanyang University. Going into rehearsals, it was overwhelming thinking about learning a twenty minute piece in only a week. However, the three of us have experienced the grace of God and the joy of the Lord in this rehearsal process. We have been warmly welcomed in by the company which is comprised of students, professors, and alumni of Hanyang. Even with the language barrier we have communicated easily and are forming great relationships. The piece is entitled "Trauma 3.0" and is focused on the pain and worry we feel for others in difficult situations. In different sections of the piece we do a lot of dancing on the floor and Haejun communicated to us that those motions are an action of wiping tears off the floor. Please pray over this piece and our relationships with the other dancers. The theme of this piece lends itself to discussions about the heart of God and the love and care He has for us. Pray He would show us in different ways to demonstrate His love to those we are dancing with and those that see this piece. We are really looking forward to performing this piece on Tuesday but need the Lord's strength and peace to cover us. May we dance for an audience of One! 

Love, Alayna 

And Now a Word From...

Hello followers!! 

This is Joshua writing. Being here in South Korea has been a major blessing to me and my life. The best examples are the opportunities I had to teach hip hop classes. The first was with 8th graders at the Chadwick International school. They were a bit shy and nervous about my movement vocabulary but my fellow teammates helped keep the energy high. The other time was at Seoul Women's University. I had a blast with them. They enjoyed the song choice, which was "Fantastic Baby" by Big Bang! K-pop for the win. High energy, happy atmosphere, and invested. I have been filled past the brim. Teaching hip hop in Korea has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. 

First Days

Dear friends, 

Our first few days in Korea have been good. "Good" is a word we throw around a lot, but I use it because our time has been truly good thus far. There have been some hiccups here and there, some illnesses, and some "what is this Korean GPS telling me?" moments, but we have been able to do and see a good deal in these first few days, without doing too much - a good way to acclimate to being in Korea. 

On Thursday, our first full day in the country, we had a leisurely breakfast and devotion together - that's something we've been able to have most days, which will not last much longer, but has been wonderful. We then drove to our hostel in Seoul, where we've been staying ever since. That night, we were privileged to visit Korea National University of the Arts, the top art school in the nation. We toured their dance facilities and met with the dean of the dance department. Their alumni are dancing with renowned companies all over the world. We then watched their ballet department's performance of variations from classical ballets. The dancers were incredible - some of them had been in the top ballet competitions around the world. While their dancing was ridiculous, there was also a feeling of pressure and nerves throughout the entire performance - the hard reality of the standards and demands of not only ballet as an art form, but Korean culture, and KNUA specifically within that greater culture. 

On Friday, we went to Gyeongbokgung Palace. We walked around for about an hour and a half, and took in the immense compounds. The palace is right in the middle of Seoul- the city comes right up to the palace gates, and the peace that comes just leaving the modern city is amazing. There were tourists from all over the world, and it was incredible to take in the palace with so many others. Grace and I were stopped by other tourists and many people asked to take pictures with and of us, which was an adventure. 

That evening we explored a nearby market and then ate at a traditional Korean restaurant, which required us to eat sitting on the floor. 

On Saturday, we had the opportunity to worship, take class, and dance with Pneuma Ballet. It was such a sweet time of fellowship, blessing, and encouragement for all of us. The freedom and beauty in their lives, worship, and dancing reminded us once again of why we dance. A beautiful way to begin our dancing here in Korea. 

This Sunday we worshipped together on the rooftop of our hostel, and then prepared for our time performing at Onnuri church's evening service. We were blessed by their hospitality- in feeding us, in Pastor Jae's sharing his heart with us, and for their welcoming spirit. It was so good to share in worship before dancing - to be recentered on the purpose of our dancing. Our prayer is that the fame and glory of God would spread across the nation, as this worship service was broadcast throughout Korea and the greater Asia area. 

Although these days have been lighter, we are only getting busier from here on out. Please pray for us to continue to draw from the fullness of God's strength, for continued health and safety, and we would continue to trust in the Lord as He is faithful to go before us and shows up in greater ways than we could expect. 

In Christ, 

Kelly