Hello! How have you been making it through this hot summer? When I was younger, I never paid much attention to Korea’s traditional seasonal calendar. Seollal and Chuseok were about all I needed to know. But these days, I find myself looking up the traditional seasonal markers more often. As summer began this year, I wondered just how hot it was going to get. Looking at the calendar, I realized that we had recently passed Daeseo(大暑), traditionally the period of greatest summer heat. Before long comes Ipchu(立秋), marking the beginning of autumn, followed by Malbok(末伏), the last of the three hottest periods of summer. Once these have passed, the scorching heat will gradually begin to give way to autumn. Just thinking about it somehow makes the heat feel a little less intense, and these days I find myself unexpectedly counting the days according to these traditional seasonal markers.

Here at University of the Nations Jeju, we have been passing through this hot summer in an atmosphere filled with an even greater kind of energy. This summer quarter, we hosted the Leadership Training School (LTS). Around 120 YWAM missionaries connected to more than 30 nations gathered together on our campus, many of them from the younger generation. YWAMers from diverse nations, ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and languages came together from around the world. In English, Korean, Spanish, and American Sign Language (ASL), they worshiped and prayed, received teaching and shared with one another, worked and served, and built relationships together—all while being equipped as leaders within YWAM.

The Bible Ministry Center also held its first Kids Bible Camp in quite some time. The center develops children’s Bible study materials based on individual books of the Bible and then uses those materials in camps where children can study Scripture and grow as disciples of Jesus. This summer’s camp focused on the book of Ruth. We look forward to the day when materials covering all 66 books of the Bible will be completed.

At the same time, UofN Jeju is preparing for the upcoming fall quarter. Behind the scenes, staff are busily preparing for DTS (English and Korean), CDTS, FFM (Family Ministry School), FCM (Foundations for Counseling Ministry), and DBS (Discipleship Bible School). We are praying that many young people, families, and seniors will come to UofN Jeju this fall to be trained and begin lives shaped by vision as they follow the Lord’s calling.

I am reminded of Jesus’ words to His disciples: “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.” (John 4:35) There is still much work to be done. The gospel needs to reach more places and more people, and it needs to be communicated in increasingly tangible and practical ways. Jesus also said: “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37–38) In the same way, UofN Jeju continues to pray today: “Lord, send us laborers for the harvest.”