Worship Thought - Disciples

You know a person grows up hearing about Jesus twelve disciples.  They become a generic group.  Unbelieving, doubting, quick tempered, uneducated fishermen.  Yeah there is a tax collector in there.  One denies Christ.  One betrays Christ then kills himself.  It is all very... well frankly depressing.

This past week those of us in the English teaching program (English and Korean teachers) have been learning more about these disciples from an adaptation of the Desire of Ages.  I have had it on my mind all week and can't go to sleep until I type it up.

First let's talk about John.  There is a reason why he grew the closest to Jesus.  He was the youngest and so had a more child-like heart than the others.  He was more receptive and trusting and so Jesus was able to communicate His deepest teachings through him to His people.  He had to lose his temper and criticism of others though.

Philip was a sincere man honestly looking for the truth.  His downfall was that he was slow to believe, even with Jesus' miracles.  I can completely understand that.  So many times I wanted to believe in things I was learning about Jesus, but for some reason I wasn't quite as trusting as I should have been.

Nathaniel, like John, had a child-like trust as well.  He had his share of unbelief as well.  But he studied and learned and grasped.  Jesus patiently cultivated him turning Nathaniel from student to teacher.

Jesus spent time with His disciples, as He called them and gathered them around Him, to pray for them and ordinate them for the coming ministry.  He spent a lot of time at this point out on the hillside.  A lot of time in prayer when everyone else was sleeping.

While this was going on, someone who looked important pressed in among the disciples.  He showed that he was a smart and skilled person.  He wanted to join this inner circle.  The disciples took him to Jesus.  Jesus looked at him and saw Judas: knew what choices he would make and the selfish reasons he had for wanting to join them.  Jesus didn't turn him away though.  There was at least a sliver of desire in Judas to be a good man, and Jesus would give him every chance He could by having him within His influence day after day.

"Later history of Judas would show the danger of allowing worldly consideration to have weight in deciding someone's fitness for the work of God."  However with Judas, Jesus took him as he was and worked with him just like He did with the others.  Judas clung selfishly to revenge and sullen thoughts, thus allowing Satan access.

All the disciples were corrected, and they all stayed with Him despite that.  As each of the disciples slowly came closer to Jesus, they inadvertently drew closer to each other as well.

Jesus did not choose to use angels who had never fallen.  He chose to use those who are like those He wishes to save.  His disciples differ so much in a way that allowed those they were reaching to be able to connect with one of them.

We are flawed.  We make mistakes.  We have our doubts and less-than-perfect past.  Our lives aren't so grand now either.  However Jesus is using us to reach others.  He gladly will give us personally the education He knows we need.  He eagerly embraces each person and strives to keep us as close to Him as we allow.  He doesn't force, but He never gives up.

He is our Humble Hero.

Festival

Today was a very interesting day.

Started in the auditorium with worship and opening ceremonies.

Then there was neat stuff to enjoy the rest of the day.  Even if you were a teacher!

There was artwork displayed in the halls.  There was videos and such the kids put together.  They were all good too.  There was the talent show.  The talent show is absolutely amazing!

The students imitate those they idolize.  K-Pop groups.  Their dance routines.  In some cases, guys dress in girls' outfits and performed to a girl band's song .  Funny, but not as neat as some of the other stuff that they did.  Truly talents kids though.

For us English teachers, we had a game where the students tried to get us to get as many words as possible before time ran up.  It was good practice for them, no matter their level in the English language.  We took down their points score and such.

The prizes we told them about though disappeared.  Another teacher who hadn't planned the prizes with the Korean teachers and us came and took them.  Gave them away at another activity.  Oh well.  We will find another way to reward the students I hope.  They did their best.

It rained all day but it didn't diminish the spirit of the day.  Koreans love the arts and are more willing to participate than American students.  They gave it their all and we had a blast!

Eggs

As we all know, in the United States we have a lot of white eggs in grocery stores.  They are so big.  If you want organic or brown eggs, they cost a pretty penny if you can even find them.

Here is South Korea, all the eggs are brown.  Should the event occur where white eggs are found, and it is unlikely, then they are extremely expensive.  

In the cafe, all boiled eggs are brown.  Fried eggs are yellow and brown.  It takes some getting used to.  They look like they were steamed too long. 

This morning we experienced something even more unusual for a western.  Small, little quail eggs.  Wow.

Sports Day

Today we had no school.  The entire school (except junior high schoolers) participated all day in sports!

There was so many activities: calisthenics, tug of war, hula hoops, jump rope, soccer goalie shots, dodge ball, free throw baskets, kickball, soccer, relays, obstacle course, and many more.  I was only out there an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon.  So these are only the activities I saw them competing in.

It started bright and early.  They are big on ceremony.  They had a lot of fun.  For the obstacle course, the girls had to get items from the crowd part way through and take those to the finish line.  Teachers was one "item" and I got to run it :)  It was fun.

The parents provided lunch.  Oh so nice and tasty!  We got free gifts too :)

The students got prizes.  It was a lot of fun.

When I wasn't there, I was in my office writing lesson plans and creating tests for next week :P

Lunar New Year

A person's age is different by Korean standards than we are used to.  Everyone has the same birthday.  The Lunar New Year is when it is celebrated.

If you are born in December and a month later is the lunar New Year, then you are a year old.  If you are born a day before, then you are a year old.  In the same way, being born the day after the lunar New Year, you have to just sit tight and wait for the next one to be a year old.

I might be 22 years old in the States.  However here I am 23.  When the New Year comes around, by Korean standards I will be 24.  Interesting isn't it.

Old and New

One of my Korean teachers has an interesting way of putting things.  When asked about eating dog she said she couldn't.  I asked why not?  Was it suddenly against the law?  Was she allergic?  Not at all.  Her generation and younger just prefers not to.  They don't like it.  Same with rice cake.  She doesn't like rice cake.  She prefers bread.  In fact, anyone in their 20s or younger are a lot more westernized than we could realize.

She refers to anyone in their 20s or younger as the New Generation.  Everyone older doesn't mind the old ways.  They like to eat a lot of traditional foods that the New Generation wouldn't even try now.  They still live in many ways as they did 50-100 years ago.  The further away from big cities you go, the more you see of their old way of life.  Namsan is an example of that.

Far enough away, there are elements around the village of their old lifestyle.  If you walk just a little further to some of the even smaller settlements you will see more.  Toilets are wherever you squat out there.  A shower is a bucket of water.  Homes are small structures that we would consider a beat up shed.

In town and in bigger cities are the younger citizens of Korea.  They are becoming more and more westernized and the difference is surprising.  A lot of what I read online before coming over was good preparation for their culture.  Some of it though, at least in town, is outdated.

Energetic Night

So I got through my last class and settled into my office chair with a sigh.  Monday was over.  Now the fun could begin.  All us English teachers and our amazing Korean teachers gathered together to enjoy a few rounds of intense monopoly deal.  Great game.  Great social rejuvenation.

Then as we were heading out for supper, we realized that cafe food just wasn't going to cut it.  We wanted pizza.  So it was called in and one of us took his motorcycle into town to pick it up.  Each English teacher bought their own amazing pizza.  One got a bulgogi pizza.  One got a sweet potatoe pizza.  I disappointed Koreans everywhere and got a plain cheese pizza.  This was a disappointment because it is the only pizza without corn on it.

We played 6 amazing games of rumikube... each of us winning twice.  It was a lot of fun and I know I couldn't stop laughing.  The coke didn't help: caffeine and sugar.  Both get into my system and I get super jumpy and hyper.

After that a friend and I went to the weight room.  It was my first time there.  He showed me where to get the key, what equiptment was there, and then we each started exercising to our hearts' content.  I got my 10 inclined situps out of the way.  Need to do more next time.  Then jumped on the bike and did arm curls while biking.  150 arm curls per hand.  I think I am going to get a bigger weight next time.  Benchpressed the bar 20 times.  Then enjoyed the treadmill.  I couldn't jog on it without making it stop running so I settled for a fast walk.  After the bike, it was a good workout.  Finished up with their idea of a hula hoop.  Bigger, thicker, heavier, with knobs on the inside that give your stomach and back quick a beating up.  That will take some getting used to.

Then we returned the key and cooled off as we walked back to our respective apartments.  I feel pretty motivated so am going to practice the four hip hop routines I know.  Then I will try to master Tai Chi again... well, the next form that has kept me at a standstill.

I was pretty blah this weekend.  Kinda in the dumps a little bit.  Didn't really get out much except for an amazing walk.  Classes today were a joy.  I couldn't stop smiling even when some of my classes had impatient students unwilling to return to studying after midterms.  Other classes my students were a dream and eager to participate in class.  For a Monday, it was a good day.