Yeosu EXPO 2012 CITY 18/3/12 Robin and Aileen

Greetings from South Korea.

We arrived here three weeks ago and have been busy. The students arrived two weeks ago and we are into classes.

So the same format as last year..!

A true/funny story.

Walking along the beach we came across a father and small son fishing.  Through our Korean friend we asked, " How is it going? Caught anything?"
" Yes we caught a fish 20 minutes ago" the father responds.
"How big? " I asked.
The hands go out and it looks like about 20 -30 cms.
"Can we see it?" we asked.
"Oh sorry we have eaten it already." the father replied.
???? Already??? I thought.  Of course they just cut it up and ate it raw, Korean style, but it was fresh! and father son bonding.

Some local news
You may not be aware that the Chinese do not consider any North Koreans who escape over the border as political refugees but as economic refugees and thus have no rights.  They are planning to send a few dozen back.  The new 28 year old (they are not exactly sure of his age) leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un has promised to jail or execute any who are returned plus all their relatives for three generations.  Like father  (and Grandfather) like son ... but perhaps worse. If this justice issue is of interest I encourage you to click on this link www.savemyfriend.org  and sign the petition.

Us
We have been busy with the start of classes.  We have also been asked to help with the new English Language Sunday School.  The Senior Pastor announced in church they were starting a new English Sunday School.  "You don't need to send your children overseas to learn English. We have native speakers at this new Sunday School"

Shock, horror - the coordinator had not expected a "beat up" like that.  How many elementary kids will come?? The photo tells the story - 122 on the first Sunday. We need to appreciate our Bridgey Sunday School teachers even more.
Aileen and I are the representatives of the world's 400 million native speakers!  It was fun ... but how many on the second Sunday?  Only 75!

S. School meetings can be a pain. An hour sitting on the floor!

We have also been asked to run a program of English language outreach into the community.  I recall that Peter Sweetman spoke of the need to be community minded in our faith.  This is a program for beginner and elementary English.  World EXPO is here in this city starting on May 12, 2012, so we hope people can learn phrases, such as "Hello", " Where are you from?"  etc.  So far we don't have many takers (2 to be exact).

We are well and involved.  We would appreciate your prayers for the two ventures above and our daily teaching. Our students are a delight. Aged from 19 to into their 40's they tell us their stories which range from interesting to amazing and miraculous ( I do NOT use the word loosely). The students find it very difficult to speak only English day and night, even in their dormitories. They need courage and encouragement.

Finally a food note.  We have eaten about 7 dozen oysters, 5 dozen mussels, a bucket (using the word loosely!) of sea weed, 2 buckets (NOT using the word loosely) of rice and many other "things".  Tonight at about 9.15 answering a knock on the door revealed the Director of the school with some eel.
" I know Aileen and you will enjoy this."
We did.
Peace and Grace
Robin and Aileen