January 2014 - Yeosu, South Korea

INTERESTING: On Sundays we go to the Korean Service (translated into English) and the English service.  There is lunch in between.
At the Korean service the Senior pastor told the story of a Korean who went to heaven.  When he got there there was a sign, "Under construction".  He was shocked. He asked the angel at the gate, " What does this mean?"
  The angel replied,  " It's because of the  Koreans.  So many of them have cosmetic surgery that we have to build special medical centres to find out who's who."

Korea - land of the morning calm.

CULTURAL: You may know that the Korean War was from 1950 - 1953.

A stream in Central Seoul post Korean war, 1960.

The country was devastated after the Second World War and then the Korean war.
Seoul city was invaded 3 times during the Korean war.

Military coups, corrupt Presidents, civil protests, arrests and even killing their own civilians continued into the 1980s. 

The same stream in Central Seoul 2010

 Poverty was everywhere.  Post 1980+ things began to improve with true democratic elections and honest government.  The contrast is seen in the two photos of the same stream in Central Seoul.

However the 80's were still very difficult for some people.  One of our students is a Pastor in a missionary church in Japan (the old enemy). He told us a story of his childhood.
They were very poor and lived in small house in a depressed part of the country.  They had very little money and very little food. As a young boy he and his brothers begged his parents and eventually prayed for meat to eat.

One day 4 small sparrow like birds flew into the house.  The Father and the boys shouted and quickly closed all the windows.
They ate meat.

US
Lots of staff and students have been sick.  Many of the students are extremely tired after 5 months of immersion English.  We have been fine. Our classes are interesting and varied and weekends we get away on the local bus system and see the surrounding countryside.  As always the bus drivers seem worried as the trip continues and the passengers gradually alight until only we are left.  They arrive at the end of the line and two old people are sitting, smiling in the seats at the back.

 I get up and ask in terrible Korean, " Going back?"  ..... silence?  " How long 10 minutes?"

Our normal limo.

By now he realises that we are not part of the film crew for a new movie about bus hijacking.  He then shows us the time table and we hop off, take some photos and then get back on.  Usually they don't allow us to pay again so we give the driver a small Australian key ring. 
Back at the depot,
"Hey, Yongshin. Let me tell you about the weird Westerners on my bus today ......."
"I know, I know they are old and gave you a key ring, right??"
"How did you know? "
At this point all the other bus drivers hold up key rings they have got!

Aileen thought he was Psy "Gangnam Style"

From the students we hear amazing stories of things that have happened to them that are miraculous.  One of the teachers has worked in India and told a story of an amazing series of events.
 She started by saying, " I think that I met an angel in India .......... "
A long story, but basically at a critical moment a man appeared, solved the problem and then she turned around and he had ... disappeared!

We are blessed to be here.  The sad part, as I say every year, is that we fall in love with many people and then we all go off to different parts of the world.    

We are also encouraged by the attitude of these missionaries of Korea.  They are so positive but like us all have doubts and concerns, yet they go forward in faith.

We are now in the final weeks.  We arrive home on January 28.  Our Australian friends will see us soon.  This will be our last blog.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Peace and Grace
Robin and Aileen