Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless … Read More
North Korean Refugee Children
Yesterday I was clever, so I changed the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. Story by Sydney Kahle We have had several different avenues of outreach while in South Korea, a meaningful one has been with North Korean refugee’ children. We have worked diligently to build relationships with them and to help them gain more independence … Read More
Dreaming of The Kingdom of God: Reflections From Our Trip to Gyeongju
As you read this beautifully written story by our Korean friend Hui Eun Gwak (Rachel) about our day in the old city of Gyeongju, you will understand the passion Koreans have for their history. Rachel’s family brought us to Gyeongju-si to see the beautiful sites, and to learn about their ancestors’ history. They treated us to an authentic Korean meal, … Read More
Painting Murals in South Korea
God knew from the beginning that painting murals would be a popular thing this year, and so he sent us Colleague Taylor Haff -a creative with a beautiful talent for drawing and painting. Taylor was given the task to lead our mural projects for two local churches, and she rose to the occasion leading a group composed of church members, … Read More
Seoul: Gangnam Style
Story by Taylor Haff. The Abante team has been in South Korea for three months with their main focus in Pohang City. Although the heart of our mission has been primarily in this small and beautiful city, we did venture out to a place with far more internationals, taller buildings, and busier streets. The team, along with our temporary new … Read More
Teaching English in South Korea
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Every year that Abante International teams go out on mission, the colleagues serve in several areas, according to the needs expressed by the locals and those hosting the teams. Undoubtedly, in South Korea, the focus has been to teach English to young learners as well as … Read More
Finding Joy At The Joyful Church
I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. “How did you get connected with the Joyful Church?” We are often ask this question by people in Pohang City. We smile, because our story is rather unique…On March of 2018, founding director Brian Schlottmann (my husband) … Read More
Papakaio School
For the past three and a half months, the team has been living in the Papakaio community in New Zealand. However, Papakaio has become more than just our temporary residence location. In this small community there is a primary school next to the town’s City Hall. It is small enough to make you think it is insignificant, but it is … Read More
First Fruits Specialty Coffee
Nestled in the busy corner of Central Street and Olsen Avenue you will find a gem of a coffee shop that is quickly becoming a local’s favorite since its opening on March 24th, 2018 at the Labrador location. We got connected to the venue through common friends of the owners, and much like everyone I spoke with, by word of … Read More
Austalia’s Gold Coast
Our team was in the Gold Coast of Australia for about two weeks. During our time with the Aussies, we visited a couple of churches, made good and solid contacts for future work, and engaged locals during Schoolies (a three-week graduation festival celebrated by Year 12 school graduates from every corner of Australia.) The schoolies festival in itself is a … Read More