Giant Apartment Buildings

In Korea, there are scores of these huge apartment buildings, all over the place! They’re in Seoul, Daejeon, and every other city that I’ve been to. They all look the same, and there are literally rows and rows of them. The first time I came to Korea (from the suburbs of Lompoc), I was very intimidated by all these buildings. It seemed eerie, that most of the population all lives in these buildings. (like something out of a science fiction thing, or something.) Now I am more used to them. That’s just the way things have to be.

See, Korea has a big population, but has such a small amount of space. I’ve been told that there are more people who live in Seoul than there are who live in Canada! Wow! So instead of building outward and taking up precious land that could be used for farming and whatnot, they build up, and use less ground space to make more housing. (Of course, that makes parking a problem…)

And yes, I do appreciate the amount of free wilderness space it opens up! Oh yes!

But what you don’t see are all the smaller buildings that these apartments hide. Many of these smaller buildings look different and are unique from one another, so don’t go feeling that Korea is full only of buildings that look alike.

Here’re some pictures depicting the Yuseong area of Daejeon. Look, there are many different sorts of buildings you can see!

New Faces In Sunday School!

We’ve got some new kids that have started coming to our Sunday school. In this picture, the two boys on the right, Dave and David, have been coming from since I’ve arrived in Korea. Lately we’ve had a few other girls, two sets of sisters, start coming to the Sunday School class. They are, from the left, Holly, Jenny, Ginny, and Ka Young. You can tell who is related to who.

After some songs of worship and then a time of Bible teaching in English, Mike usually busts out some game. Sometimes there’s a quiz game where the children have to find something in the passage of scripture that we had read that day, or something like that. Mike keeps score and we see the winner at the end. The games are fun, I think.

Lance is a teenager who helps out each week with the Sunday school. Sometimes he provides some translation when it is necessary. I always appreciate his help and participation—I think that helps the kids to get going and participate, too!

 

Keep trying to win the quiz game, Lance!

John-Michael Has Arrived!

 

Raised in Florida, straight from CCBC Okinawa, John-Michael arrived in Korea to come and help out at the church alongside the rest of us. As I’ll be heading back to California shortly, he’ll be helping out by leading worship and doing bible studies, and all the rest of the ministry we do here. He’ll be here for December and January, then plans to head back to Okinawa for another semester of Bible College!

It is wonderful, for God provided for us a worship leader while I’m out of the neighborhood. The Lord always provides for our needs, in His timing and in His way. It’s always important to give thanks.

John-Michael’s forte? It’s piano! (no pun intended.) It’s actually been a blessing to be able to have him play piano with us during worship—it really adds an extra element, beyond just guitar, cahon, and voice.

We took him hiking his first or second night here up on the hill. It was really dark, but still a little visible, and fun!

Here he had to give us a convincing speech to persuade us how useful he’d be. His daily food rations would be calculated according to how well he convinced us. We do this for every newcomer.

Just kidding! He gave a small devotion for us on Saturday as preparation for some bible studies he’ll do here.

May the Lord bless you, John-Michael, and guide you by His Spirit as you lead the church in worship, and serve Him in all things in Korea! May He build you and use you to bless and build up others in the most holy faith.

Yes, It’s December: Snow #2!

Who likes college applications due on the last day of November? That’s what I was doing on the last day of November. Finishing those applications just on time (I had a bit of extra time—I had ‘till 5pm December 1 when California hit midnight on the last night of November), I could finally emerge and enjoy December and the Christmas season, celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

At our M.E.L.T. English talking session, Iza explained the whole deal with the candy cane to some of the guys at melt. Now, I am not sure if this is what really was the case, or if it was just some added tradition that happens to fit very well, but here it is: now the curve of the candy cane, flipped one way, looks like a “J” for Jesus, and flipped the other way, looks like a shepherd’s staff, representing the Good Shepherd. The white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Christ, “Who knew no sin”. The red stripes represent the literal stripes Jesus incurred in all His suffering, His back being whipped and shredded-- “by His stripes we are healed.”

Whether a symbol of that divine event

Happened to be the original intent

Ff he who candy cane did invent

It’s interesting, nonetheless.

More Winter Welcome: Snow!

And yes, last week, we had another shower of snow. Awesome!

This time, it fell harder and more than before! Check it out!

There had been a little bit of snowfall before this point, and then it instantly became beautifully clear. And it all hit again!

You can totally see the snow this time from the picture on the right!

Is that not enough? Then here’s another (short) video!

Reading The Word With Peter

Once a week, if he isn’t busy, Peter and I get together at our favorite stomping grounds, Holy Cross Coffee Shop, to read the Word. Right now we’re reading in the Gospel of John. We read through a small portion, study it, and discuss it. Let me tell you, each time I come with an open heart to receive whatever the Bible has, to really look into the scriptures, I find God’s word burning within me! Many times coming to the study, I find myself tired and sometimes not feeling in the mood for Bible Study, but when we dig in deep, what zeal and passion arises from discussing these written words! If I am willing, my attitude changes, and I see real changes in my actions, as well! Oh, that I would spend such time every day, looking into the word, really seeking to find the treasures of wisdom that change my life!

“My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.”

Proverbs 2:1-5.

Thanksgiving Day!

In Korea, they don’t really celebrate the Thanksgiving Day in November like we do in America. But wait! Don’t feel bad for us! Koreans have their own thanksgiving celebration of similar holiday caliber, which they celebrate at a different time of year. Remember Chuseok in October? Yeah, that’s the one! We celebrated then.

Even so, we didn’t just do nothing.

Before and during Thursday Night Bible study, we busted out some delicious food for those who came. Here’s a picture of some of it. Cobb brought an amazing 7-layer dip which was simply delectable! Jake, that is something we’ve gotta try to make sometime soon! It’s like, super bean dip for tortilla chips! And then, an interesting mix—the combination of cheesecake and pumpkin pie to make pumpkin cheesecake! It was good.

 

That was just part 1.

After Bible study, some of us went to an art museum, or some sort of concert hall in the city to watch and listen to an orchestra play in concert! A friend of ours was able to procure for us free tickets. Alright! Quite wonderful, to hear all those stringed instruments working together, under the sway and authority of the conductor’s baton, making a melody which stirs your mind!

I wasn’t allowed to take a picture of the orchestra playing, but here’s everybody outside in the lobby.

After that, we ate at a cool burger place called Kraze Burger.

They were pretty good burgers—really good, in fact!

So, It was a nice to do something on Thanksgiving. Was it able to replace all my family back home? Of course not!

Thursday Night Bible Study With Cobb

We here in Daejeon break the mold and do a Thursday Bible Study in lieu of a Wednesday night study. Anyhow, Pastor Cobb, a military retiree, comes down from Calvary Chapel Cheonan and teaches those who come. Right now we’re studying through the book of James. There are quite a few hard lessons that are found in the book of James—it doesn’t necessarily “tickle the ears”. But still, important and necessary it is for our growth and walk as believers. Regardless of whether it’s a happy, fun message or not, it’s recorded in the Scriptures, and it’s something God wants us to know! Even so, it is wonderful to study this book.

Even so, everybody looks jovial! Perhaps because some of these pictures were taken on Thanksgiving Day?

There’s No Gettin’ Off This Train We’re On

Recently, I was late—very late. So late, I had to take a very late bus downtown, and missed my ride to Cheonan city to help with an English class and a couple Bible studies. Not only that, but I also forgot my handphone—err, cell phone. (Handphone is the term they use in Korean.) The worst mistake was forgetting my phone, because though I was a bit late, I could’ve called the pastor and coordinate meeting them as they drove out of town. Since I didn’t have my phone, I had to go all the way back home to get it. (it reminds me how important communication is, with one another, and also with God.)

So I took a train. Woooo! It was a decent price, too--like 5 bucks or something. Never before have I rode on a full-fledged train (the subway doesn’t count!), so I was pretty excited! The interior was a cross between a commercial airliner and a bus—just without the noise. So silent, so speedy, such a splendid seat!

I took the K-Rail. Yes, it went pretty fast. I also got to see some very industrial areas that I was not privy to see taking the highway expressway.

I do hope to take the train again sometime soon. Just not under the same circumstances.

Trains are awesome, so are boats,

if you miss the bus, don’t forget your phone!