Preparation
I’ll leave for Seoul, South Korea in less than a week. The Conference shared more information about where I’ll be staying and serving while I’m away.
TRAVEL TO AND FROM
I’ll depart John Glen International at 8:15 AM on Wednesday, October 1 with a layover in Salt Lake City, and arrive in Icheon-Seoul International at 3:20 PM (Korean Standard Time) on October 2. Total flight time: 18 hours, 5 minutes.
(Korea is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time during Daylight Saving. Once Daylight Saving Time ends, I’ll be 14 hours ahead of everyone at home.)
My return flight is scheduled on November 30. I’ll depart Icheon-Seoul International at 6:00 PM and arrive at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International at 5:35 PM. You read that correctly: I will land in Atlanta before I left Seoul. Crazy. My connecting flight to Columbus is the next morning at 7:55 AM. Total flight time: 15 hours, 5 minutes.
I’ll be on leave December 1 and 2 to unpack, readjust to the time difference, and reconnect with my family.
EXPERIENCE & ITINERARY
The purpose of the Co-op experience “is to enable participants to deeply engage with the life and spirituality of the Korean Methodist Church.” There are two participants (including myself) traveling for the full Co-op Program. Each participant is assigned to a congregation as a ministry intern. I am assigned to the Kkotjae (in English: Blooming Hill) Methodist Church, where I will participate in worship (with a focus on support for English worship planning); engage in weekday services; observe their educational programs; participate on the ministry team; fellowship with the pastoral staff; attend all-staff meetings on Saturdays; and occasionally participate in evangelism, education, trainings, and meetings as needed.
I’ll serve in the church on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Mondays and Tuesdays are designated for personal rest and self-directed cultural exploration.
My colleague and I will take field trips with different churches every Thursday to various locations around Seoul for fellowship and cultural experiences. Seoul is smaller in area than New York City, but is much more densely populated (Seoul has roughly 10,000,000 people, while NYC has roughly 8,000,000). The city is divided into 25 districts. We will visit several of the districts, including Ganbuk, Seongdong, Jungnang, Gangnam, and Itaewon. I’ll visit modern points of interest, like the Namsan Tower, as well as historical sites, like the Gyeongbokgung Palace.
On November 10, my colleague and I will attend a course on Korean Christian Theology at the Methodist Theological University. We will also join Bishop Jung and a few other Conference representatives for a regional trip to Seoraksan, Gangneung, and Sokcho on November 20-21.
I’ll stay at a residential retreat for retired women ministers and missionaries run by the Korean Methodist Women’s Society of Christian Service. The facility opened in 2020 and is located in the Seongbuk district.
UPDATES
I’ll provide weekly journal-style updates on my experience at this site. I’ll post daily updates on my personal Facebook and Instagram accounts. Updates to my social media accounts will not be public, so please send a friend/follow request if we are not already connected.
Everyone in our charge is invited to join me on Sunday, December 7, at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary of Williamsport UMC for a time of sharing and reconnection. You’ll see pictures of Seoul and discover how God might want to use the Co-op expiernece to bless our congregations.
