How God Used a Late Bus to Transform Lives

     Okay. So, yes, I know I'm way overdue for a post. Yes, I should apologize. No, your hinting that you miss hearing from me has not been subtle. Of course my lack of touring right now implies that I have lots of stories with plenty of time to write about them. However. That is an ideal world. I do indeed have plenty to write about - years worth of stories packed away in my little brain and scrawled hastily in my journal as I flew from one tour to the next. But does that mean that I will have the ambition to polish them all up and make them presentable for the general reading public? Unfortunately, no. I will, however, endeavor to - as always - tell you my favourites (which somehow always end up being the longest!)
     The other day I told this story to my pastor, and I thought to myself that surely I'd blogged about it already - it was after all, the highlight of my spring! But crazily enough, I'd simply told it numerous times - all over the country. But in case you were not one of those people who heard it from me in person (or have nothing better to do than to read and rehear my rather verbose tale), allow me to tell you now "The Case of the Singing Asians." (a very misleading title, by the way).
   Once upon a time, I was awaiting the arrival of a middle school group which was driving all the way from Minnesota to Washington, DC. I was waiting for them at the World War II Memorial where 2 buses of Honour Flight Veterans were strolling (or rolling actually) about, posing for pictures, etc. My group was late - very late. Nearly 2 hours late. As much experience as I have making up for lost time, there was just no catching up at that point: especially when upon their eventual arrival we were again waylaid and postponed due to the novelty and wonderful opportunity of meeting the dozens of WWII vets (which for several days was the highlight of the trip for the students!) So, all of that to say, we did not get our photo shoot in front of the White House on day one as planned. We had to push it back to the last day of their stay in DC - Sunday.
Honor Flight: Heroes!

     After a long day in Arlington and Mount Vernon on Sunday, we were supposed to call it an early night and just swing by the Air Force Memorial on our way to the Hotel where we would pack for our departure in the morning for PA. But since this was their last night in town and the WH was kind of a priority, we skipped the AFM (forgive me, Air Force), and headed back into town for a quick stop on the north side of the White House.
     After our hike up 15th St, we rounded the corner onto Pennsylvania Ave. - right in front of the Presidents Mansion. As usual, upon the first glimpse of those white-washed walls, the group surged forward anxious for their selfie with the most famous house in the nation. I don't even try to wrangle them at that point. I just use the moment to look around and count all the security and secret service agents in the vicinity and to take note of any protesters - there's usually somebody out there with a sign or two! And there was. Well, there was a group assembled at least: right in front of the "End Nuclear War" tent (been there since 1989). There were fewer than 10 - all Asians - singing along with a guitar and a box drum. Usually I have more tact about staring, but obviously pulling something like that in a place like that meant you were okay with being watched! So I did. I didn't recognize the words, but it sounded (and the people looked) Korean. One of the teachers from our group came up to me and watched also - she thought they were probably Buddhists, but I wasn't convinced.
The White House (fyi)
      Once my 8th graders had gotten their fill of selfies, I gathered them all up for our ACTS traditional prayer huddle. Typically, we all gather for just a few minutes and lift up our country and our leaders in prayer: using 1 Timothy 2:1-4 and our country's 1st Amendment as our anthem! As my group of 45 gathered, I had to giggle inside a bit - these were northern kids. Here's a quick regional lesson for you- people from the North (including me) have very large personal space bubbles. So huddles don't work! The closest thing we could get was a hand-holding circle stretched to the max. Do the math: nearly 50 people in a circle = a VERY large circle! Usually we do popcorn prayers (people just "popping" in whenever there's an awkward silence.) But because we were so large, no one could hear! In addition, the Koreans were now singing in English - singing "How Great Is Our God." These weren't Buddhists - these were fellow believers! We could hardly help from humming along. Then out-right singing. Then our lead teacher looked up, whispered, "let's join them," and without hesitation our kids raced towards the little band of believers: reassembling and completely encircling the Koreans. Now with over 50 people singing their hearts out before their God at the seat of our Executive Branch, we could hardly be ignored. People from other tour groups -from around the globe- jumped in as well. Watch the link to the song above - that energy and spirit-filled presence was us! I've never experienced anything like it. Verse after verse, song after song, prayer after prayer, our God was magnified and our bond with these new found friends grew stronger. Here is where words don't suffice. I cannot describe the sweetness, the power, the humbling Presence, the awe, the juxtaposition, the tears, the life-changing moment! Perhaps that is why I've neglected to write this story for so long. I cannot, even now, grasp the preciousness of that hour! The drummer beckoned one of our kids to play (the kid who was holding - as always - his own sticks; and who'd been running from God for months). We were taught how to say "LORD God" in Korean! The prayers continued as our heart and hands were lifted in praise. For over 30 minutes we stood like that.
"hearts and hands lifted"
     Finally we took a break and got to know and hear the story of these faithful people. They were from an international church in Virginia and had begun coming to the White House on Sunday evenings to sing and lift up our country - that Sunday was their FIRST TIME! And what specifically were they praying for that night? A next generation of American prayer warriors! As they were describing this passion and petition to us, we looked around to see our students spontaneously breaking off into mini prayer huddles - groups of 2, 3, 6 kids praising God, lifting up our country, and encouraging one another! For the South Koreans, their prayers had been heard! Minutes ticked by. What was usually a 15 minute stop, became over an hour! Every time we tried to leave, new groups and prayers broke out!

Brothers and Sisters in Christ
    And it kept going. The whole bus ride home - more singing and praying (I'll never hear "Oceans" without remembering that night). When we got to the hotel 40 minutes later, they stood in the parking lot praying for another 40 minutes. The next day in Philly, our drummer - who had once been running away from God but now had rededicated his life to Him - stopped to pray with random homeless people and anyone else he could find! All Week Long! I've never seen such a transformation! Cliques were obliterated. The joy and light of the LORD shone through those kids all the way up the coast! And all the way back to the land of 10,000 Lakes!
     Perhaps one of my favourite memorials in Washington, DC, is the Korean Memorial. Partly because my grandfather fought in that War, but also because of the results of that war. Because of the sacrifice of our boys in South Korea, those people gained their freedom. And now in that small Asian country, the Gospel is thriving.  Because many Americans died, many of the Koreans can live forever; they have eternal freedom from sin and death through the death of Christ which is preached without hindrance there. And don't think that it stops there. The South Koreans in turn are putting their lives on the line for the sake of another's eternal freedom: they are taking the Gospel to closed and hostile places. They are also taking it to apathetic places like DC and America! These people have not forgotten this country. And that night, that Sunday night in Washington, I stood with my brothers and sisters in Christ  lifting up the country we all love so much - all because a bus was late.
"We Remember You Forever"
Korean Memorial 
 

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