Welcome to the debut post of what will be a series of posts highlighting my awesome supporters!! The series will be spread out, interspersed with my “regular” posts, so it may take a little longer than going straight through, but hopefully my posting frequency will increase & cut down on the time it takes to get to everyone. (: I am super excited, though, to start this, so with that, let me introduce to you BEN & JOYCE KIM!
I, sadly, do not have any recent pictures of/with both Ben & Joyce, so I stole this one from Joyce’s Facebook. They were married recently, and yes, I had the wonderful blessing of attending their wedding celebration. (Spoiler: I cried. Which, bytheway, is not what normally happens at real life weddings. So… mhm.)
Looking at the picture, I’m sure you’d agree with me that they are both so beautiful. But I can promise you that their hearts are equally, if not more, beautiful. And I am incredibly humbled & grateful to have such hearts in my life and investing me & this adventure. It’s a little crazy to me that I have known this awesome couple for 6 years now. I first met Joyce as one of my small group leaders in my first year of college, and Ben as her kind, somewhat quiet, boyfriend. Joyce was one of God’s greatest gifts of grace to me in my rocky first year of college, especially in being a source of encouragement and love in my times of struggle as well as loneliness. Over the years, I came to truly treasure the relationship we developed as sisters and fellow leaders in Christ – even leading small group together in my last year of college! Kind of a fun “full circle” sort of experience :p And I continued to know Ben as her kind, somewhat quiet, boyfriend, who I knew I would one day know as her kind, somewhat quiet, husband. Even if I didn’t get super close, or at all, to Ben, I was always so impressed by what I saw and knew of him.
There is an unassuming quality and strength of character and heart in Ben that can easily be missed, especially if you don’t know him well. I, by virtue of connection to Joyce, was able to be on the recipient end of a few moments that illuminated the beautiful, generous, serving heart he has. The first was in my first year, at one of our small group “parties” – either a winter one or the last ever one, I can’t quite remember. But it was at Joyce’s apartment, possibly a potluck?, and he made the contribution of a rather large order of Marco & Luca’s dumplings. And then he left us to do our girl dinner/sleepover thing. I remember being really struck by this gesture, because it honestly spoke volumes to me about his heart – in general, but also for Joyce. Because, let’s be real, that’s who it was really for – his love and support for Joyce and her serving in First Year Ministry. I think building a friendship with us, the members, was uncomfortable for him to do, so he showed his care for and investment in us through this simple act of buying dumplings (so basic, but such a staple of foods to eat at UVA. It’s a must-have for me everytime I visit. Every.time.) It was an unexpected act of generosity and friendship that touched all of us, because it was so simple and kind and casually done – without pomp and flair and any expectation of reciprocation. What a guy, right?
The second time was in my third year, when I was getting ready to go to Tuba City again for a short-term mission trip, and he supported me financially. It was truly a bit of a surprise, and out-of-the-blue happening for me. But, then, not really. Because Joyce was on the team that year. He actually gave financial support to each team member that he personally knew / had some sort of relationship with. Seriously, who does that?? A one of a kind man after God’s heart, that’s who. What’s awesome to see is how Joyce helped call out that man in him – it was already there, but she helped bring it out. If you can’t tell, I am basically gushing about this precious pair.
Their continued support of me with this World Race, despite the tapering off of correspondence over the last few years since graduation and real life, is amazing to me. I cannot begin to express how full I feel, in my heart and in my spirit, at the way they pour into Jesus’ kingdom through their cheerful giving. And, I know, through their prayers. That I happen to be one such avenue through which they take part in the Lord’s kingdom advancement is so humbling and a genuine honor.
So it is with so much love and heartfelt gratitude that I say to Ben & Joyce, thank you. I sincerely praise the Lord for you, and I pray for His continual presence and light in your lives and in your marriage, that you may keep shining for Him. You are such a gift, and I love you!
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