Life Update

Isaiah 55:8-9

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This verse is fitting for where we, as a family, are at right now. We are adjusting to a major shift in calling. I italicize this word because it is hard to define, hard to understand and hard to accept.  Being called -

There is a difference between a called individual and someone who fills a hole," says Pastor Chris.  (Click quote for more info)

Jesus called the 12 disciples. They were purposed for very finite reasons to come alongside Christ, be trained by him and then sent out.

Derek and I know without doubt that we were called to this church, this ministry, this city, to come alongside, be in community, be trained and now, we believe, to be sent out.

Over the past year, Derek has felt a change in his heart, brought about by God. This change has renovated his passions in ministry. Where he once felt on fire to serve in worship and youth, that fire has dimmed. We firmly believe that Derek's giftedness in music has been from God and meant to serve his church and his people. That type of gift should always be used to bring glory to God and will not end. God has over the past year built in Derek a desire to teach and preach. Part of his calling to ministry here at our church, I believe, was to train Derek up, expose him to the pulpit, and give him opportunity to learn about leadership in a church. After being giving many opportunities by our Pastor to teach Sunday school and preach Sunday mornings, Derek has felt this stirring in his heart became a thundering beat that can't be tuned out.

For months we have prayed about whether or not we should even entertain this change going on inside of Derek. We asked questions - is this something YOU want or GOD wants, has our calling changed, what does this M.E.A.N? The answers haven't always been very clear so we took time away completely from thinking about this. AND we had a baby - great distraction.

Derek returned to his hometown back in January for a week for a RE:train class. While there he was able to articulate better this calling in his heart.

Derek feels called to minister, teach and preach

to his hometown community of Stanwood, Washington

by way of planting a church.

Sounds crazy, right? That's what I thought, too. But after much prayer - and frankly - questioning both God and my husband, I'm on board. I believe this is what God is calling us to. Is it comfortable? N.O. Is it certain -  not nearly. So, what is it? It IS a huge step in faith to go, to leave our comfortable, loving, community-rich, God-loving church here in Texas, to become members of a church we hope to plant someday. Will God bring about his good and perfect will this way - unknown. Do we believe God wants us to be in Washington? Yes. Is this a hard decision for us? Yes. Why? The reasons are many and I'm sure will be a part of a blog post at some point. We know that for one side of our family, there will be joy and smiles and for another there will be sadness and tears at the growing distance. For some friends, we are moving closer, for some we are moving a country a part. For friends here that have become family, we are leaving unsure how often we will see each other again. The many faces that have been familiar to our son will no longer be seen. But as God promised Moses, He has already gone before us and made a way.

I'm sure a lot of this is confusing for those of you reading it. This is a blog for family and friends to stay connected to what's going on in our life. So, feel free to call us and ask questions.  Here is a final bit of information that might explain where we are a bit better. 

Derek has received the blessing by our Pastor and Elders to seek out opportunities to live out this calling in Standwood. That means they have given Derek permission to look for employment opportunities or ministry openings that would enable us to start the process of assessing whether or not we will plant a church. It also means that Derek is now the interim worship leader at our church and his job has been posted online. In less than a week, more than 10 applicants have applied and one is scheduled to come out and "audition" for Derek's job. This is moving WAY.TOO.FAST for my comfort, but it is moving. We have no idea about the timing of this transition. We ask that you guys pray for us, for discernment, wisdom, unity, peace, provision and thankful hearts!  Also, please pray for our church here, that the new worship leader will be the perfect fit for the congregation and God's desire for their worship. 

Have you every had one of those days when you just have to cry out/scream/rejoice in the hope that someday all suffering will end, all injustice will be made glorious, all the baggage and burdens will fall off like leaves from a tree...

Okay, we are having one of those "days" that has become months! We long for our Savior who we KNOW longs for the day when every knee will bow before him! So, today while you are in prayer, pray for the Fekkes family! Pray that we can let go of our critical nature, that we can embrace and love the unlovely, that we can REJOICE in all things, that we can celebrate the Lord and HIS timing, that we will heave ears to hear his call and we will have hearts that overflow with desire to share his love with others!!!!

One of Many Blessings {School Prayer Group}

The Group of Blessings

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

THIS is really REAL to me...why? Well, I went on a short term mission trip a couple of years ago to the most - and I mean the MOST - amazing place in the world! Barvas! Where is Barvas? Well, first, you have to fly to England. Then you take a short commuter flight to Glasgow. Then, you take a 13 hour drive through the Highlands (...most beautiful country lands in the world...) Then, you take a bridge to another Island. After that, you take a 3 hour ferry to the farthest outer Hebrides, (a chain of Islands closer to the arctic circle than to London.) Once on the Island, you drive yet another hour long drive to a small town, pass through it, until you come to the outer rim of the Island. Now, you can look out across the vast ocean and see America...well, if you have some pretty spectacular eyesight. Anyway, you have finally reached Barvas. How did I get there?!? God sent me. That might seem like a lame claim to some, but it's true. I was praying for God just to affirm my desire to go on a mission and then HE DID! Everything worked perfectly - didn't seem to at the time, but it did. 

The Beauty of Barvas and the Beautiful Friend - Ashley

My sweet Barvas sisters - Rachael and Angela

I went to Barvas and found my love - My Jesus. I also found a passion...sharing his Good News with young women/girls. God sent me to a lovely place to learn how to love on lovely ladies. It wasn't a mission where I was seeing poverty or disease or persecution. What I saw was God's daughters not knowing his infinite love for them. And I mostly saw that in myself. God taught me about that infinite love while I was there through the friendships, vulnerability and sisterhood of the women of Barvas and my mission team. The trip changed my life and I know I wouldn't be the same had not every single experience had happened. 

4 of these ladies were in our wedding if thats any indication of how awesome they are!

So...that leads me to now. Almost...I came to Korea with that same passion - sharing Christ with women who think they fall outside of Grace. God opened that mission field up to me in a big way. First, with Nancy. What LOVE! He gave me a sister! Second, with Amanda! I got two sisters in one day! Next with Mary! Oh man...I met my other half! What I pray for strength to do, she does! It's amazing! With these three ladies pouring into me and building me up, I was able to help start a women's group. How amazing that turned out to be. It really showed me that if I really wanted to serve God as a disciple to women, I would have to really understand what it means to be one. He sent me on this journey of self-reflection and discernment. I have learned so much about sin and how I can fail the Almighty by not seeing Him. Instead, I always saw my Sin! I read a lot of books, I heard a lot of testimonies and through all of it God taught me something new. 

Then, he threw me a curve ball. He gave me Derek. To me, Derek was the missing piece in the puzzle. Without D, I didn't know how to fully love and minister to married women - for one - and women in healthy, Godly relationships. I had a lot of advice, but not a lot of experience. Above all, I have a healthy relationship with my hubby that pours God's truth into me daily. And, being a stubborn prideful cross bearer, I really needed it. Most importantly, Derek gave me tangible Christ-like/minded/guided love!

That long story to say this...women's group ended. Many of us went our separate ways and I was tired. I had lost some of the passion and was wondering around trying to find it again. I tried to replace it with different things, but nope..."For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord"...

While teaching my winter camp at school, I had a girl student who noticed that I had a headache. She gently grabbed my hand and said, "Teacher, I'll pray for you." That spiraled into the coolest thing. We had a later talk where I told her that I was a Christian. She was a bit surprised. (Foreigners here do not have the best reputations for living a life of Christ.) She confessed that she led a prayer group with other girls here at our school. They didn't have anywhere where they could come together and be free to pray over their passions. So, I offered my classroom. Every Monday, these girls come to my class during their lunch time and pour out the love and joy they have for seeing North Korea won for Christ and for seeing our school for Christ. They have taught me endless things for which will forever be on my heart. These girls have a real, abiding love for Christ. It's humbling to see. It's beautiful. I have a special relationship with these girls. We have a language barrier, but as one so boldly pointed out, there will come a day when our languages won't matter and we will all worship together! Oh man! 

So, to finish, to thank these amazing girls, my amazing husband treated all of them to dinner last Saturday afternoon. They feasted on Korean BBQ cooked by defected North Koreans. They met a lady who had escaped from North Korea and they were nothing but smiles! What a gift! 

We met at Starbucks

They were so excited that their teacher was buying them lunch!

Check out the post Mongolian Grill to learn about this restaurant

There was a fire show on the grill

Our food before the grill! Daisy Teacher's was the biggest!

Happy Girls!

They are so amazing!

More amazing-ness!

Daisy Teacher - my co-teacher and fellow sista in Christ

R to L: Lydia (the leader), Jada and D! ohh and food!

I'm not sure where God will grow this passion next, but I know that everything he has done through Barvas, women's group, and these ladies is nothing short of infinite love for me!  

Spring Update:
Last night, we visited a Mongolian BBQ. If you have never experienced this type of cooking before, google it and GO! You choose a type of meat; chicken, pork, beef or seafood. Then, you get a bowl with your uncooked meat in it. You choose from a salad bar style set-up all of the vegetables that you want. I chose chicken with carrots, broccoli, peppers, cabbage, spinach and zucchini. Next, I piled my overflowing bowl with noodles. Last, I added a spicy mustard sauce, some hearty wine sauce and another I'm-not-sure-how-to-describe-it sauce. To finish, I gave my bowl to the head chef who then threw it on the flat grill. It came to the table on the largest plate I have ever seen. The total cost was 11,000W ($9.40) with all of the proceeds going to North Korean defectors. 

So, here's the awesome story. A South Korean-American moved back to South Korea about 3 years ago. He started attending a church in Ansan and became a Christian. He and his pastor have a heart for North Korea and all their defectors. They began fundraising in America and recently used the money to open this Mongolian restaurant in Ansan (where we live). They employ North Korean defectors, (people who have escaped NK in order to obtain a better life for their family's). One of the first employees escaped famine and poverty 3 years ago. A year later his wife and son joined him. Only recently could his little girl also escape to reunite their family again. 

All NK defectors are given a unique opportunity in SK. The government sponsors a business learning and skills program where defectors are taught skills to help them acclimate to SK. They also have programs with churches that sponsor defectors in home-stays. Regardless, the average income for defectors in SK is still way below the national average. The pastor and chef at this restaurant are praying that by employing NK defectors in the restaurant, they will learn valuable skill sets that if and when there is reunification, the defectors could then return to NK with business skills that would be useful. Planning the menu was key to this endeavor. What food could NK defectors take back to NK and be successful with. Mongolian BBQ is just right. All the same ingredients in NK food with similar cooking methods. 

The best part is that all proceeds are benefiting NK defectors, their families and their futures. Also, it aides the fight to reunify the pensuila and to bring the name of Christ to NK. 

The world's most persecuted Christians live in NK...

PS...the food was GREAT! 

I (Anlee) lead a girls prayer group at school that consists of about 10 girls. Every Monday these girls come to my classroom to pray over NK. Their hearts yearn to stand with their brothers and sisters and to see the injustices cease! Derek, the amazing husband that he is, is going to take this group of prayer warriors to dinner at the restaurant as soon as they finish their midterms. The girls are excited that they have others to stand with them in prayer for NK. 

My sweet friend and bridesmaid, Mary Hooke, also has a heart for NK. So, in the fellowship of the body of Christ, would you guys pray over this ministry! 

We hope to be regular attendants at the Mongolian BBQ here in Ansan!

Oh, and it's SPRING!

I know I'm long-winded, but we want to keep you updated on our lives here.