Update on COVID-19 (June 27, 2020)

The worldwide confirmed cases of COVID-19 exceeded 10 million people on June 27, with the U.S. and Brazil still actively adding the number with 40,000 daily. At the same time, the number of deaths from the coronavirus exceeded 500,000. They are big numbers.

There are over 4 million active cases with 58 thousand people in serious condition. 

Out of the 10 million confirmed cases, more than a quarter was in the U.S. with 13% in Brazil. Yet, in the U.S. people are taking the micro creature lightly and casually. Protests and demonstrations related to "Black Lives Matter" movement continue, resulting in serious social unrest throughout the nation.

I am deeply concerned about the U.S., Brazil and India where the coronavirus is still actively spreading helplessly.

In the midst, Joyce still works from home, Amanda is pregnant and working, and Ray opened his Taekwondo studio. Lord, I put them in your hands. Be merciful to them and to humanity, forgiving their sins. Please give us the discernment to make right decision on everything we do. In Your Son's name, I pray. - Jeffrey

My mother's 90th birthday (June 21, 2020)

My mother was born on May 1, 1931 on a lunar calendar. In 2020, the lunar calendar May 1 fell on June 21, 2020. She turned 90 years old in 2020 because in Korea the life in the mother's womb is also counted and people become one year old the minute they are born. For an interesting example, if one was born on December 31 in the lunar calendar, one becomes one year old and the next day, the New Year's Day, one becomes two years old. In other words, a two-day-old baby becomes two years old. But, people celebrate their birthdays on the day they were born.

Because of the COVID-19, we could not travel to Korea, but my sisters and their children were able to have a small gathering to celebrate my mother's special birthday.

I made a short video clip to convey my and my wife's greetings to her. Also I combined their photos and video clips into one video that is linked below.

Click here to watch the video

Happy birthday, mom! May God keep you safe and healthy all the time! - Jeffrey

3 Months Since We Returned Home (June 18, 2020)

Updates on COVID-19
Worldwide, the COVID-19 is still spreading strongly. Brazil, India and Russia are showing significant increases in new cases. The USA seems to have flattened the curve, but in conjunction with the premature reopening of the economy, the number of cases has surged again. But, the rate of death has slowed quite a bit. Here are some of the statistics as of June 17th.

In Thailand, the COVID-19 cases have been pretty quiet and businesses reopened. But the foreigners are still banned from entering the country through June 30. We still do not know what will happen in July.

SfK Ministries
The ministry must go on despite the COVID-19. I have held a lot of conference calls. We published the monthly newsletter in English and Korean.

We are preparing to launch the On-line Business Management Training. We have sent out an invitation to a selective group of people to introduce the program and to collect their feedback. We will hold two virtual meetings, one for Korean and the other for English.

I have started to hold virtual meetings with SBS group members, starting with SBS Seoul. Their zeal was so strong that we had another call a week later. We have had the calls with SBS Chiang Mai and Los Angeles, and plan to hold SBS Heart to Heart and SBS Rwanda.

One of SfK Kingdom Fellows got married in Korea. I made a video with congratulatory blessings.

One of SfK MB Community members has been leading a movement to save a Christian hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. It used to be a prominent teaching hospital with 216 beds, but has been deteriorating over the past two decades. I have been getting some help from the U.S. to help him out with this endeavor.

Newly installed sign board

Chiang Mai Life
When we returned home on March 18, the air quality was pretty bad with the pollution index over 300 some days. After the rainy season started, the air quality has improved significantly. This morning, it was only 16. Superb!

Kristin has continued cooking delicious and healthy home meals. It has been a great blessing to stay home for the past three months. These are a few samples.

Once in a while, we ordered some Korean foods to be delivered. In general, our experiences have been so so. 

We know a couple from South Africa, Ken and Myrna, who are attending the same church and living close by. We were invited to Ken's birthday party held at a pretty cool restaurant called Chic 39. The place was quite nice and it was a joyful event.

For the first time, I made a video for Ken and Click here for a short video for Ken's birthday party.

As the Central Festival Shopping Mall reopened, we resumed our walking at this mall. Three rounds of walking on five floors equal to 10,000 steps. We have walked twice to three times a week.

I also made a short video clip of the environment. 

Click here to see a short video of our walking environment.

Learning
My learning has continued. I have completed eight courses of learning various topics. Also, I have learned and practices adding texts to the photos and making video clips. Also, I have improved my skills with Quick Book, Excel, Power Point. I am pretty happy with and grateful for the progress that I have been able to make in learning various topics. These are some of the products I have made.

We still do not know when things will become predictable and allow for planning, but surely it is time to be patient and wait on the Lord. - Jeffrey