Our time here in Korea is officially over in a few hours. It is hard to believe the time has come and has brought along a new chapter! There is so much to say and many reflections in my heart, but for now.. I'm simply sad to leave yet I feel the timing is so right. It's been a week of good byes and it's been sad, but I feel hopeful and ready. God is the giver of all good things and this week has been full of such good things!

We met with great friends, ate last time Korean foods, went hiking, my girlfriends threw a going away party for me, we had our goodbye at church and one last romp on the beach.    

God has been good to us here and I'm so thankful for this entire experience...
Today we fly away and into God's hands we entrust our journey.
Korea will forever have a special place in my heart!

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English Camp at World Vision!

Today was World Vision's English camp! My official last day there and it was quite sad! However, it was truly blessed by the Lord! Baptist Student Union students from the states are on a mission trip here in South Korea and came to volunteer. This was my third time being apart of World Vision's camp and being able to work along side the BSU mission team. Each native English speaker was paired with a Korean and we had about 5-7 kids in our groups, in which we had to make up a song, dance, or act something out! My little kiddos and I sang, "If your happy and you know it!" because Jesus makes us happy! The Lord really worked. There was so much Spirit, joy, and love! Being able to share and talk about Jesus to the children is so awesome! God is so mighty! Thank You, Father!

Here are my 1st grade students~ Love them so much!

She spelled her name wrong, bless her heart! She is still learning ABCs--hehe!

This is my friend D! He's from Ethiopia and an awesome man who loves the Lord! He was able to volunteer and help out. The kids love him! Good job, guys!

Everyone from the BSU team did an awesome job! This team danced to Lecrae! Yeahh!!

My team won 1st place!!! The kids were so very happy--thanks judges for being kind to us on my last day! ;) After the contest, the lights went out and a cake came on stage. My Korean co-worker Joseph asked me to come on stage and explained the gratitude for me being able to work with the kids. It was my pleasure by God's grace to have been there for 2 years! Everyone sang a farewell song to me in Korean and I was trying  so hard to hold back the tears..but they came! World Vision, the workers, and children will forever have a special place in my heart!!

After camp, us workers went out for a Korean dinner--I tried dishes I always wanted to; a cold noodle dish, and squid legs! My co-worker blessed me with really beautiful parting gifts; a traditional tea set and tea as well as a photo album of my time there. Also the students wrote me notes and made a book of them--such kind mementos of love I don't deserve, but am so thankful. Goodbyes are hard and leaving Korea is proving to be bittersweet..

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Buddha's Birthday in South Korea

For the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you. ...-Jeremiah 10:3-16

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Blessings:

Sunday morning subway rides.

Our cozy little church in a cafe.

Friends.

Bamboo beauty.

Being part of a traditional tea ceremony.

Drinking green tea the traditional way.

Dressing as a Korean queen!

...and my silly king!

My husband's film screening

Hearing him share his passion, his art

Good friends, a beautiful day, bouquets of flowers and yummy cakes!

Psalm 100:5
"For the Lord is GOOD, His loving kindness is everlasting."

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In the neighborhood

Yay! I love Saturdays! Today we woke up to sunshine and a warm breeze and decided to just keep the day simple and to enjoy the neighborhood. I love the weekends I can share in with my husband; we ate ice cream in the park, enjoyed the nature around us, stopped through the fish market, and had a lovely blessed day together! Here are some common sights as we walk through the streets of Korea:
Art in the park

Beautiful, beautiful, nature

Tanks full of creatures from the sea

Colorful rice cakes--Mmm!

Acorn jelly and seaweed

Here shops a lot of times have men stand outside with mic and try to get people's attention to buy their goods--also, the shirts here have hilarious/bad uses of English (Notice shirt in front, "Live Our Life if Only...something A?) Hehe!

And sometimes..we stop and eat like Americans because pizza hits the spot! This is our favorite little pizza stop--pizza school! Here in Korea sweet potato crust is common and oh how I love it! Also corn is a common topping, too and you can even get squid on your pizza if you just so ask!

Here was just a glimpse into our little neighborhood! This weekend is Buddha's birthday, which is a national holiday here, which means for us, no work! We have a three day weekend and some awesome plans made: Tomorrow my husband is having a public film screening. He made a film last year here! So excited!! You can go check out his trailer over at (www.josephboylefilms.com) Monday we are early morning hiking and beginning our final week here! I don't think I'm going to miss a day of blogging, I must share the story of our final week day by day! Have a great weekend, friends!

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Full of Kimchi

This morning we were delighted to get a call from my husband's old co-worker. We went out for lunch and he suggested we eat at a duck restaurant together. My first reaction was, "Duck!?" I'm not a huge meat eater and just thinking of the poor duckies made my stomach say no. However, since we're leaving oh so very soon, I thought why not try it out! What I love so much about Korean cuisine is all of the healthy fresh, pickled, and spicy veggies! I've grown to *love* kimchi and my favorite is "mul kimchi", which simply means water kimchi! Yum!

I also love sitting cross-legged on the floor under a small Korean table using chopsticks--such a cultural experience! Mini steel dishes keep coming out from waiter filled with pickled this or that, tiny anchovies, differen types of kimchi, sauces, and raw veggies. I counted and we had 23 dishes on the table!

Also, a lot of restaurants here are styled in the fashion of: cook your own meat on your table. Then you get a basket of fresh lettuce and this is where it gets fun and tricky when your a first timer eating this way...
Step 1: Choose a piece of fresh lettuce

Step 2: Fill lettuce with kimchi, garlic clove, (meat--but I made mine mostly veggie!) seaweed, and whatever else you want!

Step 3: Wrap- up in a bite-sized bundle and stuff the whole thing into your mouth!

We're in the final days of enjoying all we can of this country..duck and all!

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