Wednesday...

Yep...slept in again. I finished packing one of my bags. I put most of my gifts and souvenirs in it. Last week, I mailed home some books and other items. (Erin, please watch for a package.) So, I shouldn't have any trouble with space, but weight might be a problem. When people tried to lift it, I just told them, "There's gold in Daejeon."

I went to Seoul again. There's a taxi driver who helped me on one trip. His name is Pyon Kwan Bok. He speaks good English, and after we found the church, he wrote down some basic information for me to use. I've shown it to each driver since, and they know just what to do. My Pyon also gave me his card and told me to call him. I hadn't done so, but several weeks ago I saw him again.

I had asked him about his beliefs before and this time he accepted my Korean/English "Steps to Peace with God" pamphlet. He has said he is not a religious man, but he drove and listened as I shared my faith in Jesus. Since then, I've called him to pick me up and we have good conversations. Mr. Pyon is like many here. He is open to conversation and polite, but dismissive of my faith. I can only live in front of them and pray they see Jesus.

I worshiped in Seoul and returned home at a decent hour for a change. Maybe if I go ahead an mess with my body clock it won't be so bad next week...wishful thinking I'm afraid. Jetlag is a mystery to those who haven't experienced it. And even some who have had it don't seem to understand those of us who have suffered. It's not that you are tired, it's that your brain just goes into standby mode. It's a cross between nausea and head rush, and it hits when you least expect it. It disappears just as suddenly. Back in June it really wasn't bad. Perhaps it's because we were constantly busy. If you don't give it a chance to take hold, you're pretty good.

When I arrived in November, I had a really rough time. I was good until Friday night, about 3 days after arrival. I was in Daejeon and at a restaurant with Robert and his family and Jamie. That's when I hit the wall. I was a Zombie and literally felt sick. But it was a strange sickness. Food didn't help. I appologized for being so unsociable, but then it suddenly went away. Then it returned again. Then it went away...

I found this on the net:

a description of jet lag
From Pattern Recognition, by William Gibson:

She knows, now, absolutely, hearing the white noise that is London, that Damien's theory of jet lag is correct: that her mortal soul is leagues behind her, being reeled in on some ghostly umbilical down the vanished wake of the plane that brought her here, hundreds of thousands of feet above the Atlantic. Souls can't move that quickly, and are left behind, and must be awaited, upon arrival, like lost luggage.

So, don't expect much from me the first week after returning home...but i'll try.

Tuesday...

I slept in again. It was a holiday afterall. I spent most of the morning sorting my stuff so I can pack a bag and take it to Seoul on Wednesday. After lunch I went out again to shop for gifts. I went to the underground mall next to Daejeon Station. Directly under the six lane city street is a tunnel filled with shops. It goes for nearly a kilometer. It only stops because of the river, but it picks up again at the other side. On the subway/KTX end are two little gift shops.

I've been there a number of times and have looked at the same little items over and over. I know the ladies there must have thought, "Here he comes again, but he never buys a thing." Still, they always met me with smiles, and it has always been pleasant to visit. Although neither speaks ANY english, they both managed to communicate that they are Christians. One even allowed me to use her computer to access the bible online to see the English translation of a wall hanging she had. It was Psalm 46. I bought it.

I've had countless encounters with people like that. I may never be back this way, but I know I will see them again. I'm not certain, but I think the absence of normal communication has caused me to focus more on the person. And that has led me to realize the more important things... their heart... their needs... and their future. I cannot wait to get to heaven and be reunited with so many brothers and sisters. We will not be hindered by language and we will recall our first meeting with joy and laughter.

Tuesday night I met a few friends for dinner and a movie. We had invited a bunch of people from ANCF, but only four of us could go. After the movie, they threw me a going away party, and we stayed up until after 2:00 a.m. sharing stories and pictures. I'm going to miss my new friends.

Monday...

Seollal... Korean Lunar New Year. It's generally the day same as Chinese New Year except with different traditions. It sounds alot like American Thanksgiving with people traveling to their home town, lots of food, TV watching and afternoon naps. I've been told that most people living in Daejeon are from other places. So, Sunday 2/3 of the church was out of town. They held only one worship time instead of the usual three. There are several customs associated with this three day holiday. I'll allow Wikipedia to explain. You can even check out the various links included:

Many Koreans dress up in colorful hanbok. (떡국) (soup with rice cakes) is commonly served. Many Koreans greet the New Year (both Western and lunar) by visiting East coast locations such as Gangneung and Donghae in Gangwon province, where they are most likely to see the first rays of the New Year's sun.

Sebae is a traditional practice of paying respect to one's elders on Korean New Year. Children wish their parents a happy new year by performing a deep traditional bow and the words saehae bok manhi badeuseyo (새해 복 많이 받으세요) which translates to may you receive many blessings in the new year. Parents typically reward this gesture by giving their children new year's money (usually in the form of crisp paper money) and offering words of wisdom. Historically, parents gave out ddeok and fruits instead.

Many traditional games are associated with the Korean New Year. The traditional family board game Yutnori (윷노리), similar to Parcheesi, is still a popular pastime. Traditionally men and boys would fly kites and play jaegi chagi (제기차기), a game where a light object is wrapped in paper or cloth, and then kicked in a Hackey sack manner. Korean women and girls would play nultwigi (널뛰기), a game of jumping on a seesaw (시소), while children spun tops (팽이).

As for me...I was up until 2:30 talking to the other side of the world, so I slept in. After lunch I ventured out into the country trying to find an old fortress shown on my map. I'm sure I had it surrounded, but never found the exact location. However, I did see some interesting things along the way and had fun trying to navigate with my bus map and Korean road signs. Whenever I think I'm lost, I just remind myself, "Don't worry, you're still in Korea." I also received an education about what some people do when there is no restroom around. I think I have whiplash from looking the other way to fast...

Monday night, I picked up Jamie, and we went to Mr. Pizza and then to his place for a movie. Mr. Pizza has a pasta dish I like, but their advertizing campaign is a bit unusual. I've been there several times, but it hasn't done me any good...

Sunday...

I was invited to speak and sing at the Korean Worship. They only had one worship time at 10:00 a.m. I'll explain that on "Monday." I shared with them a little of my experience and sang "I Will Sing of My Redeemer." It's Fernando Ortega's arrangement and one of my favorites. Here is some of the text of my brief message to them:

God brought me here in answer to a specific prayer. He has provided exactly what was needed at every turn, demonstrating His power and work in my life and in this place. I had specific expectations when I arrived. As you know, many times our expectations are not part of God’s plan. I did not expect the period of growth and stretching I have experienced. These past three months have been a wonderful time of exploration, learning, new relationships and profound personal growth.

God has used you to teach me many things. Through you He has taught me:
He is the God of laughter.
He is the God of love.
He is the God of passion.
He is the God of commitment.
He is the God of generosity.

Your Pastors and staff are precious people. I have thoroughly enjoyed our time together. We have laughed, worshipped and learned together. We have stretched each other, and I have especially enjoyed the looks on some faces as I pushed them to speak English. I love them all. Except Kim Ki Hyeon Cheondosa…he talks too much. (This was met with much laughter as Ki Hyeon is famous for his ability to talk.)

The prospect of going home brings me joy, but it also brings me much sadness. I am returning home, but I also feel that I am leaving home. I will miss the conversations. I will miss the meals. I will miss the handshakes and hugs that speak so much more than language ever could. I will even miss hearing Pastor Shin’s son call me “Grandpa.” In English we say, “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” It is sweet because of the love I now feel for you. But the same love brings great sorrow at parting. I am comforted by the knowledge that this is not the end of our journey together; it is only the beginning of our eternity together.

Recently as we worshipped here together, we were singing a familiar song. During the chorus, I realized I was actually singing the Korean words off the screen. I was overwhelmed by the glimpse of what heaven will be. Every tribe, every language, every people, every nation gathered around the throne giving praise to the risen Lamb of God.

I praise my Savior for the work He is doing here.
I praise Him for the work He has done in me.
I praise Him for the privilege of knowing you.
I praise Him for the future we share together.

Thank you for everything you’ve done to show God’s love to me.

Philippians 1:3내가 너희를 생각할 때마다 나의 하나님께 감사하며
_____________________

Sunday night I went with some English Speaking friends to McDonald's. It was the traditional American way to celebrate the Korean New Year. Following some fireworks I rushed home to get on the internet and do my last webcall to WLBC. I think I scared some people with my opening video, but I assure you it was only a joke.

Saturday...

Saturday: Ee Myeong Su invited me to breakfast in his home. His wife cooked a great Korean meal, and then he and I went to Mt. Gyeryong National Park. On the way we stopped at the Daejeon National Cemetery. Like ours in America, veterans are honored and buried there. It was a moving experience, and with the snow as backdrop, the flowers seemed to dance to life.This grave marker says: Tomb of Kim Min Seok, Sergeant, Army














After the Cemetery we made our way to Mt. Gyeryong where I discovered Korean Gatlinburg. I purchased some gifts and souveniers and kept an eye out for the Old Smoky Candy Kitchen. Alas, it was not there. One little lady was particularly nice to me. I purchased some things and she gave me nearly as much as I paid for.
The park's main attraction is Donghaksa Temple. It has been built and rebuilt since 724 A.D., the present structures dating back to the 18th & 19th centuries. A large part of the main Temple was destroyed during the Korean War. It is a beautiful place, but it stands as a testimony to man's futile attempts to reach God in his own way. Fortunately, God has revealed the only way, His Son Jesus Christ. He is more beautiful than anything human hands can build, and the future He has for those who trust in Him is more precious than even the creation we enjoy today.
Saturday night, ANCF worshiped and Ilbin and I were the only singers. It was actually fun because we had some good duets going as we swapped the melody and harmony back and forth. I've enjoyed being in a support role for a change. It has allowed me to focus better on worshiping. I've been given several opportunities to lead, and it's been great fun. Hopefully, I'm not too rusty.

The Last Week...

I haven't been able to write for a few days. It's my last week, and I've been busy with all the last minute things. I'll give you a brief run down, and I'll break these up by day rather than one extremely long post.

Friday... I've been teaching a Bible Study at the local Foreign Language Academy. The goals were to expose the kids to an English speaker and (most important) to share the gospel with them. I used Billy Graham's Steps to Peace with God. I also used the Korean version to be certain they fully understood. Click the links to see the basic content. Also, check out the wordsearch puzzles I made for them.
(Step One, Step Two, Step Four)

Friday was my last class. The kids are actually happier than they appear in the picture. We just could not get them to smile.

This is me with the Academy Director.

Correction...

I was in Seoul and Big Bass Drum Man (you remember him from June) told me that he had been reading my blog. He also said I had misspelled "Choco Pie". So here is the correct spelling:
초코파이.

Thanks Big Bass Drum Man...you're my hero!

Home...

I had a conversation tonight about "home." We talked about my anticipation of returning to Tennessee, the difficulty of leaving this place and the fact that no place in this world is really "home" for a Christian. The bible tells us we are strangers in this world, and our home is someplace else. We talked about how we try in every way to make this place our home, but to no avail. That conversation reminded me of something I wrote in December 2007, so I'll share it with you:

“Home” December 17, 2007

Home...it’s a place of comfort and familiarity. As children, we get scared at a sleepover and say, “I want to go home.” As adults, we toil through our day and eagerly anticipate the relief and security of home. Home…it’s where my burdens are lifted and my wounds are healed. It’s where I find those who know me best and love me most.

My parents still live in my childhood home. In fact, our family is the only one that has ever lived there. I realize the day will probably come when someone else lives in that house. That will be a difficult day. Strong feelings are tied to that place. It’s my home.

A scene in “Saving Private Ryan” draws attention to the intensity of our need for home. As a soldier lies dying in the arms of his friends, he cries out, “I want to go home!” In the midst of terror and pain his only desire is to go where he’s safe and he calls to the one person who symbolizes that safety…“Mama!”

I haven’t been involved in battle between nations, but I have battled other forces. Dark, spiritual forces regularly bombard me with their fiery darts. They attempt to lure me away from the life and love I have been called to experience. I have also been in battle with my own body.

Pain is a powerful thing. It can focus your attention like nothing else. Prolonged, intense pain can lead you to places you didn’t know existed. It can lead you to the end of yourself. I’ve been there, and I cried out, “Lord, I want to go home!” I was counting on His promise that this world with its suffering is not my home. He promised that my home is elsewhere. He heard my cry. He comforted me and carried me through, and our relationship is stronger because of the valley I was in.

Experiences like that have led me to ponder what “home” really means. The Karate Kid said, “Home is where you hang your hat.” I suppose he meant that wherever you find a place of rest is home enough.

But I’ve discovered something. We may hold emotional attachments to a particular place, but it is not the structure that was home. It was the people who shared that space with us. Home is not “where I am” but “who I’m with”. Home is not a place. It’s a presence. It’s the presence of love and acceptance, of security and familiarity.

My Savior promised to prepare a home for me to use after I leave this world. Yet what makes that place my home will not be the unimaginable splendor. It will be His presence that makes it my home. My home is wherever I am with Him. Even in this world with all its pain and disappointment, I can be at home.

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

With Jesus, I’m always home.