Family Time! Movie!

 

At the orphanage we help at, we had the chance to be a part of a special program that they put on for the kids. I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s a program to spend some special time with the kids in a family atmosphere.

Many of the kids at the orphanage still have living parents, but who are unable or unwilling to care for them. For many kids, the idea of family can be a negative thing, for oftentimes the only thing the child remembers about family is abusive or unloving parents. That’s something they take with them as they grow up, and this program was made to change that.

Over quite a few events throughout the year, the children spend time with volunteer families, and go do cool stuff, in order to give the child a positive and edifying experience with a family.

Here’s two of the kids that I was helping with! The boy, Gun-Mok, and his twin sister, Gun-bi! They’re sweet and fun to be with!

So a few families from our church helped, as well as some families from elsewhere. At this particular time, we got together and watched a movie and ate dinner with the kids.

I think dinner time was the most enjoyable time. Man, those kids really challenged my Korean speaking abilities! Every time I visit, it makes me want to get better at Korean, so I can communicate with these kids better!

Crowded Subway

We took the Okinawa group back up to Seoul when their time here was up, so that they could get back to the airport. We took the subway to the airport, and it was crowded!! Check out the video if you want!

Mexican Food

 

One of the things they don’t have a lot of in Korea is Mexican Food. I didn’t realize it at first, but it’s hard to get. Generally, we can’t find real Mexican food in Daejeon. So sometimes, when we are in Seoul…

We visited a small legit Mexican restaurant, and it was pretty good. Sort of expensive, but, you can’t really complain about that, because it’s overseas.

It turns out, however, that something new is coming to Seoul, which won’t bode well for the smaller Mexican restaurants.

Taco Bell is coming to Seoul! (and hopefully eventually to other parts of Korea, too!) Up to this point, Taco Bell only appeared on American military bases which we usually don’t have access to anyways. But this one in Itaewon will be accessible when we’re in the area.

Now I know that Taco Bell isn’t real Mexican food, so please don’t be offended. But it’s worth mentioning alongside food that we miss over here and would love to eat!

Visitors and Volunteers

Also in the Spring time, we had some people come out and visit and help out in the ministry with us for a little bit.

We had two missionaries come stay with us, Bob and Mike, and help us out with everything, especially with serving the underprivileged. They helped out at the orphanage, and also joined us as we began serving at a disabled person’s shelter.

Bob is the one on the left, and Mike is the one on the right.

Also coming back to visit were the Bible College Students from Okinawa, Japan!

There’s quite a few of the Korea group all mixed in here, too…

With all these new visitors, we for the first time started helping with a disabled persons’ shelter nearby, called House of Hope.

 

In Korea, people who are physically or mentally disabled get shunned by their families and sent away relatives who are ashamed to have them living in their household. So places like House of Hope exist to house and help such people who are put out by society.

This place was started by a Christian who had become lame himself while he was in college, due to a hang-gliding accident. Being handicapped himself, he uses his unique situation to help others suffering in similar circumstances.

When we go over to help, many times we do manual labor—usually yard work or helping with farming—yes, farming! They grow some of their own food here, so they don’t have to spend money buying it!

 

We dug up a lot of rocks in a field, and started to plow it!

We also spend time with what they call the “family” here. Sometimes we eat with them, or just hang out with them, like playing sports or walking around. They’re real sweet!

And we also get to hang out with the workers, too, and minister to them, too! Some of them are Christians, but some aren’t, and still need to see the light of Christ.

I did get to hear a testimony of one of the workers, and how the man who started the House brought that person to trust in Jesus. Awesome!

It’s not always easy, but it’s really cool to be able to come and help out at the House of Hope.

College Bible Study!

It’s been a while since the last post…but we’ve still been doing stuff!!

This spring we started doing some more College ministry. We’ve been going to a nearby college, Chung-nam University, and doing some English teaching/Bible Study. Well, we haven’t done so much on the campus itself, but have met at a nearby Presbyterian church (which is really close to the college). So, we get to hang out with a few students, talk with them, teach English, and also teach the Bible! And we eat lunch with them afterwards! I’ve got to personally make some friends with some of them, too!

 

Here’s Daniel teaching a new praise song…and singing it, too!

 

Usually, we break up into small groups for the English and Bible time.

And afterward, we’d often have lunch together at various places around the church, like at the university.

What an opportunity to be able to hang out with these guys and teach them the Bible! Awesome!