Tagging along

As we've mentioned before Hye-Young Pastor Mike's wife is a teacher at the Jinsoo English institute. Today one of the staff members got married, seeing how Mike does most of the driving, we got to tag along. Man, weddings are always such a beautiful thing. It was cool being able to attend and see a Korean wedding. Even though we were there for a short period of time, it was still fun. Since we do so much ministry and have so opportunities to be at the English institute we've come to know a lot of the staff members. It was pretty cool not feeling so out of a place in a stranger's wedding, besides the way we we're dressed it was all sweet.

After Study Brunch

For the Saturday study we first start off together in worship, next we separate for the teachings, and after we get together again at Pastor Mike's house and grub=]. Today we cooked up some mean Mexican style eggs with a Costa Rican touch, and some country fried pataiters. The boys did an excellent job of making it all for everyone, and everyone seemed to have a good time. It was actually really good, don't want to say what was in it, but I can say we're an official Calorie Chapel now. The really fun part was that five minutes into the meal everyone kept thinking that there was something missing. Even though it was preatty much an American meal, here in South Korea, they showed us it's not complete without kimchi.

A NEW CREATION

Today we started yet another bible study here at Calvary Chapel Daejon, Lord is doing great things. If you ever find yourself in the area you should stop by. On Saturday's now we have a more in detail sort of I.B.S. study. Daniel is taking us through the book called "A New Creation" it's a great book on setting the new believer up on a strong biblical foundation and reminding the believer of the basics, which is always a good thing to be freshened up on. Daniel did a great job teaching the guys, our brother John rocked the worship, and from what we heard Hye-young and the other girls had a blessed time as well. Please pray this study as we're very excited to see the guys and gals He brings to become stronger men ans women for His glory.

Samonim=Pastor's wife a.k.a. Hye-Young

For those of you who don't know, Pastor Mike's wife is the second teacher at the Jinsoo Insitute. It was kind of cool because we stumbled into her class tonight and saw them practicing their english listening skills through the TV show friends. The cool part was knowing that even though this class may look a bit small (keep in mind it was at 8:40 pm) the same lecture was being broadcast live to several other campuses. Daniel and I were kind of tempted to up and dance to the intro music of the show, but decided not to embarass the insitute=]. It's really a blessing being able to minister here at the insitute, knowing all the main people and being known by the rest of the staff opens the doors to freely minister to the students. Please pray for the new things He has in store for this institute, as yet again He's starting up a new study on Saturday morning using Daniel and Hye-Young to teach to both the men and woman seperately. Updates on that and pictures will be coming soon to a blog near you.

Jinsoo in the flesh

Today me and Daniel got to hang out a little bit with Jinsoo. So for all you guys who have never seen him before, this is the famous Jinsoo we speak so much about. Usually we're talking about the English insitute he owns and is the head teacher of which is also named Jinsoo, but here we're talking about the real live one. It was really cool being able to hang out and talk to him a little bit. He's a really cool guy who loves the Lord, and has a heart for missions. We're are looking forward to maybe getting to know him more and continuing to minister through the doors God uses him to open for us there at the Institute.

UBS...at SyungMyung University

University Bible Fellowship , UBF is pretty much like another type of Campus Crusades for Christ. For those of you who don't know, those are organizations that get onto the college/university campus' and share the gospel of Christ. Pastor John is a ministry leader here in that organization and we went to one of the local colleges around the church(there's four pretty much next door to the church) to see some of the things that are going on. UBF is new to the campus here and hasn't really been established yet, so everything is still being set up and put together. Pastor John and Joseph(a student of the campus/helper of ministry) are already on the move trying to get the good news out and share with the students of the new things God wants to do in their campus but most importantly in their lives. Lord God allow these students and all the other lost ones around the world to get those scales knocked off their eyes, see you clearly, and walk with You never looking back Abba we pray-Amen.

108 steps of agony...countless lost souls

So for today's adventure with Pastor John after the hospital visit we went to the "biggest" buddha statue in Asia. It's actually really fun going with Pastor John, he knows a lot of the history of the culture, and isn't scared to be a tour guide. The steps up to the buddha count off at 108 steps. They're suppose to symbolize some 108 agonies of man, speaking about the agonies in human life and things men cause in their unregenerate nature, but man after about 55 steps it sure was turning into some kind of agony alright. The location and architecture was really beautiful but seeing the hold Satan has on the people was a sorrowful thing. The people come up the stairs, go to the platform in front of statue, bow anywhere from a couple to I loose count amount of times, circle the statue with beads in hand some other amount of times, walk on a trail, go down to a fresh spring fountain, take a drink, pay some more money, walk down more stairs, and then exit out the front. Seeing an elderly woman going through the process, sweating bullets, getting drained out, and then needing help down the stairs was more of a reminder that not by works lest any man should boast. Nothing we can do can bring us into salvation it's all through His grace that we're saved, nothing of ourselves. No matter how much better it might make one feel or closer it might make them believe their getting to personal salvation it leads to no where and nothing but being taking over by the wiles of the enemy. It's sad to see the hold he has taken upon the Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, and Americans alike. Nothing besides His grace can save us, join me in prayer and be filled with His spirit daily to preach the gospel and see the Lord set the captives free; here, there, and until we're in the air.

Hospital Vistitation

Today Pastor John's adventures started off with a visit to the hospital. Pastor John's daughter recently had surgery on her knee, and will be hospitalized until Saturday. She's doing well and says that she hasn't really been experiencing any pain, praise the Lord for that. The hospital rooms here in Korea do seem a little crowded and no doubt can be frustrating seeing how 4 different aged women shared one TV in a room, but through His word we see that God can be worshiped anywhere in spirit and in truth. Even in lonely frustrating places we not only can worship our holy, omniscient, omnipresent, awesome God, but shine His light and be an example to the unbelievers in conduct and in word.

Day in SEOUL

So since Jinsoo O hagwan (Jinsoo Institute) was closed for the day Mike decided to have us cancel everything and take us up to Seoul. As you can see traveling there was half the fun, but it was all really great. We spent most of the day there shopping, sight seeing, riding the subways, but I think the best part was the definitely the food. Alright im being honest but it was good=]. It was a fun day and total blessing for us all.

AAAAAA...ha...ha...haiy!

MMMMMMMMMMMMMM...real mexican food, well as close to real as you can get over 6000 miles away. Coming off the train we saw a Mexican food poster on the wall, read it was close, and boom we were off. It was a really good place, with actual real pinto beans used...ya for those of you who are familiar with Mexican Food in Asia that's something rare to find. The owner is actually from New York but is fluent in Spanish and lived in Guatemala for some time. He promised his food would be as authentic as it gets, and it was...he even had Tapatio and extra lime. As you can see it made us happy and the plates came out clean=].

We got a new RIDE

Okay so it's not really our ride but it was a fun one=]. After the subway we got on the KTX train and heading out of Daejon and towards Seoul. To our surprise this morning it was snowing, it was unexpected since everyone has now been looking forward to spring since the last "snow" day, but stilll it was an extra blessing. The snow left the scenery view covered in white so it was really beautiful and pleasant. If you can't really tell this train is actually a bullet train, it was fast but smooth. Usually a trip up to Seoul would at least take 3 hours but we got there in one. It only had a couple of stops so on the bullet train it was pretty much a straight shot there...hee...hee...hee.

Rode in airplanes, subways, taxies...all across Southern Korea=]

Okay well the title is from a Paul Wright song but has a new twist=]. Alright so like we've seen public transportation in Korea is really sweet. We we ere able to take the subway today and to my surprise it was a lot like the one in Taipei, it did bring back good memories none the less (Stina Cotton hope you guys are doing good, miss ya...ayyyy...). The really cool part about the transportation here in specifically Daejon is that the bus cards Mike bought us are also good for subway use. So no if we have to get to the other side of the city without wanting to take 5 transfers on the bus, we can just catch the subway. Definitely a plus, thanks again Mike.

hopping around

Today we went to Outback Steakhouse, it is the first relax day of the month so we celebrated. We ate good but that wasn't the best part. It was really cool to go kangaroo hop down memory lane of the last trip we had to South Korea. Last time we were here Mike took us (the Oki team) to Outback in substitute of shopping. There we had a blast, some of the girls were upset because of the shopping substitute and ended braking wine bottles;^], but it was all okay. Everyone on that trip left laughing on a full belly and and having a good time. Today looking back, we did the same thing=].

(F.Y.I.) They have something new at outback...chocolate dip for the bread=^O

Holy Cross Cafe

So since Friday Nights is Wii Fellowship, we go out Sunday nights and just talk over coffee. We found a sweet Christian coffee shop called Holy Cross. It's on the top floor of a nearby building and is a pretty sweet place. It's fairly reasonable in price, but was definitely worth it. We had a fun time in fellowship, playing games, and not worrying to much about being to loud=]. On Saturday we told the workers we'd be back and bring friends but i don't think they thought we would bring so many, the elevator didn't expect it either. We packed it out, scared everyone a little by jumping, but made it safely up and down. The sweet thing about the cafe though is that it is run by a church, they have a youth service there in the afternoons, and regular service in a different sanctuary. In a sense pretty much the same thing as the Koinonia Cafe, well at least that's what it reminded me of it. So from now on Sunday nights will be support the Christian Coffee Shop Night...hopefully it will stay 30% off=].