7 years ago
Nov 11, 2006
Well it's official. I have now been to more countries around the world than states in the US. I think that is a fairly important step in my travels. Obviously I just got back from South Korea. And man did I love it. The people were so great! The food was pretty good to, Japanese food is still better but the kimchi was delicious! Also, Korean nori (seaweed) is sensationally better than Japanese nori. We bought so much of it to bring back for friends, and of course some for ourselves!
Let's see. The trip started out well, we just kicked back at the airport for a while. Nothing special there.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Pastor Tom
But the food on the plane was so good! They gave out little bentos. Unfortunately the food on the way back was not as amazing.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Pastor Tom
When we got there it was cold! To be honest I expected it to be colder, but it was a little less than refreshing to say the least. We got used to it pretty quick. But in the mean time we played a little hack to stay warm.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Pastor Tom
First thing we did when we got to our hostel was find some grub. We ended up walking for a good 15 minutes to a market where we didn't even buy any food. I got some hot canned coffee though. It was so cold. We walked back 15 minutes to find a restaurant right next to the hostel where we ended up eating. After dinner we walked back to the market again before we went to the hostel. These people are crazy, it was so cold once the sun went down. Probably around 2 degrees... Celsius. Here is were we had some food. Oh, and I made that beanie the day before we left!
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Pastor Tom
When we got back to the hostel we all got settled in alright. But once we were comfortable we decided to go raid Tommy's room (not like he cared) and worship the Lord. What wonderful fellowship we have in Christ! There is something special about a small group getting together and agreeing in worship and prayer asking God for direction. He truly has knit all of our hearts together in love just like Colossians 2:2 says. I'm going to miss all these guys and girls. This picture was right before we started worshipping and praying. It was a little cold, not too cold though. We were just being silly. When we were done praying we just hung out for a while, stuffed our faces with chocolate, and headed off to bed.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Pastor Tom
I mentioned Colossians 2:2 where Paul mentions peoples hearts being knit together in love. The next day was a wonderful example of this. We went to the School of Ministry and had lunch with the 5 students there. We really didn't want to leave. The teachers and students were all so wonderful! Here is a group picture we took before we had to leave.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Pastor Tom
After we left the School of Ministry we went to see the largest statue of buddha in South Korea. Victor taught us a lot about Christianity and religion in South Korea. There are loads of Christians, but just like America there are a lot of people who just say they are Christians but don't know what it means. These were the billion steps leading up to the buddha.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Pastor Tom
But to think the worship of similar things in the Old Testament were what God destroyed entire nations for. How wonderful it is that we live in grace, yet how easy it is to forget the heartbreak that this causes God. This is an abomination. If only I could see it though God's eyes.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Hailey
Granted they are beautiful works of art, but nothing to worship or pray to!
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Hailey
You can also buy tiles to the next temple they are building near there. You couldn't keep the tile, just write a prayer on it.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Hailey
This is Victor. His main focus is working with North Korean refugees. His future vision is to continue studying Korean until he is fluant and eventually take the gospel up into North Korea. If the country is ever opened up. I would love to go to North Korea. To bad I'm American. If I were Canadian I could go no problem.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Hailey
Next we got to to go a language center and teach an english listening class. Mike, the class teacher, is able to do a Bible study with the students. Its a public school, but the class is just english listening so they don't care what you talk about as long as you talk. The students only have to try to understand. We all got to pick a verse and talk about it to the students. After that we got to talk to them for a while.
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Hailey
One guy asked what book we were reading out of. When we told him it was the Bible he said he was going to go buy one tonight to start reading it. God is so good! Ha, another guy made me laugh. He walks up to me and says, "I like your style, do you read fashion magazines?" Oh man! Someone actually thinking I have style! That was amazing! haha
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
photo by Pastor Tom
So there you have it. My trip to Korea! I do miss all the wonderful people and the awesome kimchi. I can't wait to go back someday. Next time I go it will be for more than 2 days. Though next semester I think we will go to Shanghai...
