We are midway through our first day in Korea and it is going great. After arriving at the airport last night we were warmly greeted by our hosts - Mr. & Mrs Kim - and had a Korean dinner at the airport (the food here is delicious!!!). We then travelled to our hotel and on the way we had the opportunity to drive over a newly constructed bridge that is 21 km long (I think we should talk to these engineers and get connected to the Mainland).
We climbed into bed around 11pm (about 7am on Sunday morning for those of you on the west coast) and had a fairly decent sleep. We couldn't get any hot water in the shower and had to call the front desk to get some help. Apparently what I thought was the room control temperature and had turned down to about 16 degrees for the night, was actually the hot water tank temperature, so after it was turned back up to its proper temperature there was hot water.
We were picked up at 8:30 am and taken to the Ewha Christian school and University. This school is apparently the number 1 school in Korea. There are 720 students in grades 1-6 and we met with the principal, had a tour of the facility, sat in on an elementary chapel service and ate lunch in the school cafeteria (more great Korean food!). The gracious hospitality we have received has been amazing.
We also went to the Ewha Kindergarten (a separate facility - here is a picture of their playground) and to the Ewha Christian Women's University (here's a picture of us standing in front of their new student community center - it is underground and has a theater, a bank, fitness center, restaurant, study areas and more)
After lunch in the cafeteria we visited for awhile with the principal in her office. It was encouraging to hear her passion for weaving together Christianity and education to prepare students to impact the world.
From there we went to the Onnuri Community Church for a tour of their facility, but as Monday is a day off for most of the staff, it was a fairly self guided tour (apparently this is the one of the largest churches in Korea with a congregation of around 40,000).
We're back at the hotel now for a couple of hours and then we will be picked up at 5 and taken out for a Korean dinner (have I mentioned that the food here is fantastic!).
Tomorrow we are headed out on a bus tour to the demilitarized zone between North & South Korea. It is about a 2 1/2 hour drive there which will take us through the countryside so that should be very interesting.
My Dad and I have commented several times about the gracious of God to bring opportunities like the Christian school, GLEEM and others along our way. What a thrill it is to follow His leading in our lives and cooperate with Him in the expansion of His Kingdom. Yeah God!
Huddy would love that playground!!! You should have had a pic of you and Dad coming down the slide!!!
You and Dad look great - nice outfit btw ;) You are a sight for sore eyes! Love you!
Posted by: Naomi Gaglardi | Monday, October 26, 2009 at 09:48 AM
Oh, and I want that bridge too - $2.12 billion isn't that bad, I don't think.....I'd even be willing to pay a higher toll than current ferry fares!
Posted by: Naomi Gaglardi | Monday, October 26, 2009 at 09:51 AM