funny sign #3

Sometimes the signs are funny because you're just not sure how it relates to the store. I can't remember now what was in this store. I was walking with two friends when we saw it and it gave each of us a chuckle.

Thanksgiving

Living outside of the United States during the major holidays that we celebrate is strange and yet wonderful. Last week as we anticipated Thanksgiving, everything around us said nothing that the holiday was quickly approaching. We were still filled with anticipation and expectation as we thought about enjoying a few days off school, sharing a traditional Thanksgiving meal with friends and putting up our Christmas tree.

Thanksgiving Day was spent resting and putting up our Christmas Tree. Sadly, Todd was sick and slept most of the day. While the kids and I decorated our tiny tree, Todd laid on the couch and watched.



Later in the day, we whipped up some homemade noodles and had chicken and noodles for dinner and finished our day by snuggling up on the couch and watching Elf.

Friday, Todd was still not feeling well so he stayed home to rest and the kids and I headed to our friends Scott and Dionne's home for a sleepover. It was a perfect evening for fellowship, wine and food with these precious friends--we just missed Darlin.

Saturday was our planned Thanksgiving Feast with our friends here in Korea. The day was perfect. Thirty friends gathered for delicious food, games, laughter and fun! For many, it was their first Thanksgiving away from family and friends but this day with all the familiar things of turkey and stuffing, that distance did not seem as great. It's incredibly beautiful when you bring 30 different people, from 30 different families, with 30 different histories and stories together.



We finished our night by making our trek home. It was another Korean adventure! It went something like this:
1. Wait 15 minutes for local city bus #2.
2. Bus #2 to the E-Mart in Gwangju.
3. Bus driver takes 15 minute break, while we sit on the bus.
4. Claire negotiates our release and the bus is running again.
5. We reach our bus stop and thankfully find our next connection, the 660 to Jukjeon.
6. 45 minute bus ride to Jukjeon
7. Arrived to Jukjeon. Ten minute wait for the 810 to Dongbaek.
8. 810 to Dongbaek.
9. 10 minute walk from bus stop to apartment.

We arrived home at 11:45, tired, happy, full and thankful!

North and South

Many of you are probably aware of the news stories covering most headlines today regarding an assault by North Korea on a small island in the West Sea which is part of South Korea. If you haven't heard, check out any of the major news streams and you can catch up on what has happened.

We have received several e-mails in the last 24 hours asking if we are safe. We are safe! First, we are quite a distance from where the attack took place. We live in Dongbaek which is part of Yongin-si, South of Seoul. On the map, we are point B, point A is where Yeonpyeong island is.


View Larger Map

The current situation is serious as it has affected the lives of civilians. This is the first time since the cease-fire of the Korean war that North Korea has fired on Korean soil harming civilians. There are several reactions here in South Korea to the current situation. Many people simply respond by saying, "Oh, here they (North Korea), go again doing something stupid." Then life carries on as normal and it's just another incident reminding everyone that the leader, Kim Jong Il is a madman and has no concern for his country and it's people. Others are outraged because the lives of civilians have been affected and feel that the South must respond.

Last year our community spent a major part of our weekly times of worship and prayer, praying for the Korean peninsula. We continue to pray for the North and the oppression that the Korean people live under there. We are praying for South Korea to be prepared to receive their brothers and sisters of the North when this land is reunited.

That's our posture during this present situation--prayer and hope. Please pray with us.

This week's funny . . .

Click on the picture to see the full version!

Say What?

It's pure entertainment reading signs here in Korea. Things get a little lost in translation. I'm going to try to post one funny sign a week. Here's this weeks funny sign:

Albert, Yujin & Minsae

A few weeks ago, Todd and Lia were walking home from the bus stop and stopped at the park for a few minutes. While Todd waited for Lia to climb and slide and release all the stress of her day, a lady approached Todd, giving him a flier to visit the church she attends. A few minutes later, another woman approached Todd and asked, "Do you go to Joyful Church?" Todd explained that someone had just given him the invitation and he had not been there before. They spoke for several minutes and she asked if she and her husband could have us over for a meal. Todd thought for a moment about how often we did this when we lived in Columbia and said to himself, "hey, why not!" and gave our phone number to the kind woman whose name is Yujin.

A couple of days later, Yujin's husband, Albert, contacted Todd and made plans for us to come over.

Albert and Yujin have one daughter, Minsaem, who is 5 years old. We went to their home on a Saturday afternoon and enjoyed a wonderful Korean meal. Like most foods, homemade Korean food is the best--especially when the cook knows her stuff! We had such a wonderful afternoon hearing each of their stories of how Jesus had changed them forever--they spoke with such gratefulness and joy.

Last week we had their family to our our home--I made pasta and didn't serve Kimchi--thankfully, they thought the meal was quite delicious and we again enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship.

We visited their church a couple of weeks ago and had a wonderful time of worship along our Korean brothers and sisters. We were warmly greeted and hugged all morning--we felt genuinely welcomed to Joyful Church!

I have told several new teachers here how incredibly valuable it is to build friendships with Koreans. It would actually be possible to live here and not have any Korean friends. The friendships that we are beginning to have with Korean nationals is extremely important and wonderful as we live in this culture and endeavor to understand it.

Todd and I are grateful for the courage Yujin had to say hello to us and the kindness that she and Albert have so beautifully shared with us.

Mount Bugakson

My personality in various circumstances wants control. There are times when I can go with the flow and I'm pretty chill about things but with big things I tend to want control or I begin to feel fearful and anxious. Since coming to Korea I've been learning to let go of that control. We have learned to remain flexible, keep a good sense of humor and don't panic. I've also tried to be a bit more spontaneous in trying things. You may be have thought I am pretty spontaneous but it's usually in more controlled settings that I'm familiar with. For example, visitors who just show up at our doorstep. My response is Yes! I love drop-ins who stay for dinner and then maybe decide to stay the night. But with unfamiliar things, I sometimes want a plan, the details.

A few days ago I met my friends Greg and Becky in Insadong. Becky has been visiting Greg here in Korea and I had the pleasure of joining them on many of their site seeing adventures. On this particular day, I was going to show them a few of my favorite spots in Insadong and then they were going to visit a palace near by. I had been to the palace the week before so I opted out on another visit. I was going to sit in a tea shop and read and perhaps do a little shopping in the area. Until . . .

Until I looked at Mount Bugakson. The mountain was shades of yellow, orange and red. It was breathtaking. I decided that I should be spontaneous, and go for a hike on Mount Bugakson. I went to the information center and asked how do I get "here!" on my map. The kind information lady explained how and off I went. Bus #2 to the top of the mountain. Walk 10 minutes to the trail. Enjoy.



I wasn't disappointed. The view was fantastic and the hike incredible. I sat at the top of the mountain overlooking Seoul for a while and then began my quiet and peaceful climb down.

That's when I got a little turned around. I ended up in a completely different area then where I had begun. An unfamiliar area. I felt a bit nervous at first but then thought to myself, "this is all part of your adventure today. enjoy it!" And so I did.

While I was standing by a map of the area I was in, I met Seori and her mom. They were also trying to find their way back to Insadong and offered for me to join them. Seori speaks great English so we made the trek back to Insadong and enjoyed a wonderful conversation.



My only regret of the day is that Todd and the kids weren't with me.

Halloween

Halloween is not a typical celebration here in Korea. Last year, Halloween came and went and we totally forgot about it. This year, Zach was thinking about it a lot. He wanted to have a party or go trick or treating. Trick or treating is not really an option since most Koreans would be incredibly confused if we came to their door in costumes and requesting treats.

I was out for a walk last week and saw a group of children in costumes walking down the street. I said, hello to the children and their teachers and they explained that they are an English Class and were having discussions about American Holidays so they must celebrate Halloween! It's not one of my favorite holidays to be associated with but the kids were having a blast and thought it was well worth getting out of class time to walk around asking for candy.

One of the teachers that Todd works with has two sons. It's been fun getting to know them and for the kids to have some other kids to connect with. Last year, Jeanie was Zach's teacher. Jeanie is from Korea and her husband is from Oregon. We decided to have a little Halloween Party for the kids at their home--much to Zach's delight. Zach and their oldest son, Ray, made all the party plans, Jeanie and Tim, made tacos and bought a pumpkin pie at Costco. Basically, we just needed to figure out how to get to their house, which is about an hour away.

Our evening was great! The kids had a scavenger hunt, we ate some yummy food and watched Ghostbusters. Which I hadn't seen since 1984!

I had a few pictures but they have somehow disappeared from my file. I can't find them anywhere. Weird.

A very belated Happy Fall and Halloween from S. Korea!