Chiang Mai, Thailand (October 2019)

Since I started SfK Ministries, I travel a lot. So my stay in Chiang Mai is rather short. In fact, I end up missing a lot of opportunities to meet up people who visit Chiang Mai.

Nonetheless, occasionally, I am able to meet up with some visitors.

Jung Kwon Park is Director of Moi Coffee Division at Hesed Cambodia. He came to attend a coffee certificate continuing education program during September. He and I were able to meet up during a short time span of my stay in Chiang Mai.

Hoon Jae Jun was one of the participants in SfK MBA BCT Kathmandu that was held in August 2019. He and his wife visited Chiang Mai briefly and we were able to find a mutually convenient time one day after I returned home from my trip to California and one day before they returned to Kathmandu. What a timing!

Caleb Kim has been serving in East Africa for the past 25 plus years. Currently he is serving as the Dean of Institute for Africa Reality Studies at Africa International University in Nairobi, Kenya. He supervises a program under which he approves the granting of doctoral degrees in Islamic Studies. He came to Chiang Mai to teach an intensive Fuller Theological Seminary course. He serves as Adviser on SfK's Islam Outreach programs.  Again, our get-together was made during my week-long break in between trips in October.

I am just grateful for these opportunities. - Jeffrey

Phnom Penh, Cambodia (October 2019)

I made a short visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The primary purpose was to assess the leadership capacity of Hesed Cambodia through interviews and to provide a mini training on BAM for the leadership team.

The training was conducted for three days with two hours of training for each day, totaling six hours. It was far too short to cover the contents sufficiently, but the responses were favorable.

The interviews were with all Korean staff and Nareine who joined Hesed Cambodia with his palm sugar business. I took the leadership out to dinner in appreciation for their sparing time for me.

For a day, I spent a day with Mr. Bong Rae Lee of Joybells and Hesed Global who started Hesed Cambodia approximately 4 years ago. He also serves as Chief Investment Officer of SfK Korea. I observed a business meeting that he was presiding over and also we met a couple who want to start an energy drink business to help the garment factory workers with affordable and healthy drinks in lieu of cheap fake coffee drinks.

Also, we met with Mr. Sukjoo Choi who started a dried mango business two years ago to help a local church congregation members and is now in the process of incorporating the business to scale it up. Bong Rae Lee and I plan to make investments in the new venture. Hopefully, the venture will grow in sales enough to be able to apply for a grant fund from KOICA. We will see.

I saw some former participants in the SfK MBA Boot Camp Training held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in January 2019, such as Yang Hee Park, Woon Jae Lee, Insol Jung, Hye Kyung Umh etc. It was joyous.

I stayed at the lodging facility inside Hesed Cambodia's palm sugar facility. I ate the meals at the home of Mr. Jong In Lim, who leads the operations of Hesed Cambodia. He used to work for Samsung SDA and also ministered to a local church in Jeju for 16 years. They were people of God demonstrating godly characters. I am grateful for their hospitality.

I had an opportunity to dine at one of North Korea's restaurant businesses in Phnom Penh. Cambodia and North Korea have diplomatic ties. Nangmyun or buckwheat cold noodle soup was delicious!

After discussion with Bong Rae Lee, I agreed to make another travel to Cambodia in December to provide a day-long training for a group of select Cambodian staff and to lead a strategic planning session for Hesed Cambodia leadership. That would be the last overseas trip for me in 2019. - Jeffrey

Long Layover at ICN, Korea (September and October 2019)

On my trip to California in September 2019, the layover in ICN was 8 hours. I was able to meet up with two of my friends.

The first meeting was with brother Young Woong Kwon and his wife. Mr. Kwon attended SfK MBA BCT in Chiang Mai in 2018 and is now serving in Nepal. His keen interest in serving Nepalis through missional business makes our reunion joyous.

The second meeting with Rev. Jae Chul Jung who is serving as a member of SfK Korea board of directors. His full time job is with ELand Group overseeing Asia Mission and all other corporate social responsibility areas. He served in Malaysia through a BAM and is supportive of the BAM movement in Korea. We shared common values and philosophy. Look forward to expanding our collaboration through SfK Korea.

On the way back, the layover was even longer at 13 hours, which allowed me even to make a trip down to Osan to have lunch with my mother and two sisters. Also, I was able to join the breakfast gathering with KBM Global colleagues.

Originally, I was going to have breakfast with BJ Kim, who used to work for Qatar Airways as the ICN Country Director for 16 years and has now moved to IATA Korea Office, and Ferdinando Choi, who runs the ICN operations for AeroMexico. But, the plan has changed to this breakfast because Danny Kim of Madrid also wanted to meet up with Young BAMers at KBM Global. Elder Kyungsup Kwon was also present, making the event more meaningful.

The buffet lunch for Korean and Asian foods was abundant with choices and delicious. Regretfully, I did not take any photo of us together. Oh well...

It was my first time taking advantage of long layovers at ICN mainly because Bethel Korea Church made the arrangement with Korean Air. But, actually it may not be a bad idea to do so intentionally. - Jeffrey

Calgary, Canada (September)

The second stop was to Calgary, Canada, where a long time friend of mine lives: Young Sik Yoon. He is one of my high school buddies. I became part o thf only two friends clubs while in high school and he and I are the only ones who belonged to both of them.

He has been involved in various investment projects and he must have been doing well. His house where I stayed for two nights was new, large and comfortable. His son, Geon, was still living with them, unmarried.

On the first day, he offered a B.B.Q. dinner in his backyard. It was delicious and I ended up eating too much.

I saw Calgary City only from a distance.

Rather, I walked around the neighborhoods where Aspen trees were colored with gold all over the places. They last only for three weeks and my visit was made in perfect timing.

 On the following day, Youngsik drove to Banff, about a two hour distance, which is one of Canada's famous national parks. Canadian Rockies begins here and stretches south to Colorado Rockies.

Lake Louise was foggy, but its beauty could not be covered up.

On the way there and back, the mountains were covered with snow at the top, pine trees in the middle and golden aspen trees in the lower parts. Just beautiful!

There was Banff Gondola, but we could not ride it due to time constraints.

The Town of Banff looked similar to sky towns in Colorado. It was cozy and cute.

Fairmont Hotel is a famous venue for hosting international conferences. Obviously very exclusive and expensive.

Calgary and Banff were far too beautiful to visit only for two days. Probably I will return, Lord willing.. - Jeffrey