Three Weeks Remaining
It is hard to believe I only have three more weeks in Seoul! Two months is a long time to be gone, but now that I’m more than halfway finished with the exchange program, it feels like I don’t have enough time to do all the things I’d like. This past week I was invited for the first time to visit with church people; I wish I had more time to spend with them because they are lovely. One woman my age took me around Central Seoul last Monday and another woman a few years older than me invited me and one of her friends to her home for lunch on Friday.
The past week was unusually busy between social outings, city exploration, work, and our weekly field trip. We visited Lotte World, an indoor amusement park popular with families, on Tuesday. The school year begins in March and ends in December in Korea, so there were several school groups visiting the park. We didn’t get to ride many rides as a result, but we still had a great time! We stopped by Lotte World Mall after to visit Arc-n-Book bookstore.
Kkotjae has a prayer trip the first Wednesday of each month, so I went with the church to a retreat center where we held worship with a focus on prayer, enjoyed lunch, and spent time walking around the center grounds. The prayer trips have been a highlight of the program.
On Thursday, we visited Chungdong First Methodist Church. This historic church was the first Protestant church officially recognized (established) in Korea. (Incheon Naeri Methodist was the first faith community started by the Methodist missionaries, but the church wasn’t the first formally established/recognized). Many important people in the Korean independence movement were affiliated with Chungdong. The church also played a role in improving the position of women in Korean society. Each of us were invited to pray for Korea and the US from the pulpit used by Henry Appenzeller. It was overwhelming in the best way.
After touring the church we spent time with two of the associate pastors. They were so friendly that we were joking with each other not long after meeting.
We visited Gyeongbokgung Palace (in hanbok rented for us by the church!) and walked along the Cheonggyecheon Stream. This was a day I won’t forget.
Friday I traveled to a neighborhood near my church for lunch with two women. It was wonderful, but it made for a long day. I left my apartment a little before 11 AM and didn’t return until 10:40 PM. Friday evening worship is great, but some weeks it takes a while to get home because we need to reset the platform.
Sunday was especially hectic this week! I left my apartment at 7:50 AM so I could arrive at church by 8:45. I prepared for preaching, attended worship at 11:00 AM, and had lunch in the cafeteria at noon. The English ministry team meets at 1:00 PM to prepare for children’s ministry. I was asked to assist with teaching this week so that the kids can be exposed to a native English speaker. We had so much fun. Then it was time to attend English worship and preach. It was nice to preach without translation, but I have to simplify my language and be sure to speak slowly, which requires most thought than preaching at home. I’m grateful I’ve had the opportunity to preach here!
The day ended with online English Bible study at 7:00 PM. It was after 9:00 PM by the time I returned to my apartment.
Although my schedule has been hectic, I am so grateful for the opportunity to minister with our Korean siblings. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything and I’m thankful for the support of our church.
Only three weeks remaining! We have special things happening every week now. On Friday (11/14) I will visit the Methodist Theological University for a class on Korean Christianity. Next week we visit the DMZ on Tuesday (11/18) and will join Bishop Jung and a group from the Ohio Episcopal Area for an overnight trip to the countryside (11/20-21). On Monday, November 24, we Ohio pastors will return to Incheon for a day. At some point we will also have a closing celebration. The time will fly, I’m sure.
I’m looking forward to returning home and sharing about my adventure. You are invited to come hear stories, see pictures, and ask question about my time in Korea on Sunday, December 7, at 7:00 PM in the Williamsport UMC sancturary.
See you again soon, family!
