Sam and Yumi

I felt compelled to tell of a few wonderful people I've met during my short time here in Kona - namely Sam and Yumi.


Sam and Yumi are the parents of my roommate Min, and are all South Korean. When I first met them, I had just come from a long day by the ocean and - intending to sleep for a few hours before lunch started - came back to my dorm.


I was greeted by Sam and Yumi in the room, and they invited both myself, and another of my roommates Papa to lunch with them and Min.


Continuing to utilize the saying 'When in Rome....', I agreed. As we walked out to their rental car, we talked of cultural norms between different nations, and shared quite a few laughs during the drive to Coconut Grove - the local marketplace.


We all decided to go to Bubba Gump's Shrimp Company (lovingly named after Forrest Gump) to eat.


They shared their faith with me, and I with them. I have never met a more open and supportive couple in all my life, and I had known them for about fourty minutes. I shared about my misgivings and fears surrounding my walk with God, and they were nothing but supportive.

Yumi - who by the way says that 'You and Me pray together' - that's why her name is Yumi (You+Me) told me that she believes in God's healing and strength - she told me that she believes that God will move strongly in my life while I'm here.

At the grand Ceremony of The Nations where every flag from every country was flown and honored, the entire student body (all 276 of us) prayed and sang worship songs en masse.

With my uneasiness increasing exponentially (regarding my trouble with corporate worship and singing to God), I sat in my chair and began praying and asking God for strength. Suddenly, I felt a pair of hands resting on my shoulders, and I heard a soft voice behind me whispering blessings of God's peace and light onto me.

As the tears streamed down my face, I could almost sense a strange sort of lightness entering my body - as if a great weight was being lifted from me. It felt like some of my shackles - shackles that bind me to my old beliefs of God, memories of Him associated with malice and darkness - had been broken.

When the service concluded, I stood and saw that it was Yumi who laid hands on me and prayed with all of her heart for me.

That night, Yumi and Sam departed from the YWAM base back to Korea. I hugged them both, and they beamed at me - They believe that wonderful things will happen. They told me that one day, they hope to see me dancing and singing the praises of The Lord with all the fervor of my heart amidst the crowds.

They prophesized that wonderful things will happen to me during my time here - though something already had - our meeting was one of the most wonderful things I could imagine.

They had known me for less than a day, and they had wept at my side. They had prayed over me and blessed me, and gave of themselves to lead me back home.

I'll never forget them.

Thank you, Yumi and Sam. God bless you both.

-Dan