That's What I Call Adventure

Yesterday was the last day of the first canoe camp! The last week has been full of rain and flooding so we were not able to canoe but yesterday the rain had subsided and enough time had passed so the river was beginning to go down and we decided it would be okay to canoe the rest of the course. The river was so fast we stopped on a rocky beach close to our final destination and enjoyed the cool water and rested. As dinner time came along we shoved off and went through the last stretch of rapids, where my canoe was close to a full blown wipe out. Thankfully we were able to stable the boat and came out with smiles and exclamations of how awesome that was.

When we made it to the campsite and unloaded from the truck Ji-Won came to me and explained that one of the girls lost her glasses and she believes they were on the rocky beach where we rested. His idea was to drop us off above the place were we rested so we could canoe down, look for the lost glasses and meet him at the beach where we finnished before. I agreed with the plan, helped pack up the equipment and joined Yeay-Jin and Shin-Wan in the truck.

The sun was just touching the mountain and a light mist was floating along the surface of the river. The drive was beautiful, the river was transformed in the evening sun and I was perfectly content to get a chance to enjoy the evening river. It took about 30 min until we reached the place where we could unload and begin the search and rescue. The first destination was only moments away and we began to scan back and fourth for Shin-Wan's brown rimmed glasses. The glasses were never found. The girls and I tried all we could think of to help us find them but had give up the search as the light was fading.

Soon after we left the safety of land I realized the mist had grown to be a dense fog. After passing a large rock projection that split the river, we stayed in view on the left bank as much as possible as we rushed forward on the swirling water. The river was intimidating in the daylight but as we surged forward through the uncertain path ahead the little trip reached a whole new level. We soon began to here the rush and thunder of the rapids ahead and I was suddenly not as excited about them this time. Because my sight was impaired by the dim light and fog all my other senses were hightend. the roar of the rapids seemed overwhelming and close, the water seemed to come alive all around us, I could feel each under current pulling on the boat this way and that and my arms felt the tug and strength of the water against my paddle as i continued to maneuver the boat straight and close to the left bank. I brought us closer to the middle of the river were the rapids were less intense and we rocked and crashed through to return to the left side as the river leveled out.

My mind was wondering to possible outcomes for this adventure while at the same time I was trying to be encouraging for my paddling partners. When we made it through the roughest section I began to look around a little and try to gain my barrings of where we were. I knew that at some point the river split and we needed to stay to the left because the right side would take us around past the beach were we were going to meet Ji-Won. As we paddled I commented, "Wow it looks like a whole different river in the fog." Silence followed and soon one of the girls asked, "Are we going the right way?" For a moment I was not sure but reminded myself we had stayed by the left side the whole time and must just be disoriented by the fog. We continued on for longer than I remember it taking but also figured that must be another trick of the fog. I could tell the girls were a little restless and wanted to say something that would quiet their nerves and reassure them. I looked to the right and saw a light up a ways on the side of the mountain and though I wasn't sure, decided it might be our campsite and told the girls it was. I explained that up their is were we were earlier today and we are going to the bank on the opposite side of the river. Soon I could see the road on the mountain side that we drove on earlier and was encouraged and thankful that my guess was right. It was hard to tell if they understood what I was saying but they did finally recognize the road and light which encouraged them. Shortly after we rounded the corner and I could see Ji-Wan wadding in the water ahead.

Through all the moments of fear, anxiety and uncertainty part of me was also thrilled. I was alive, I was braving the river in the fog with two students, we were tired from the week and hungry from the day's activities, but that only added to the experience.

Currently I am tired out and about to go to bed. I have tomorrow to prepare for the next trip and set of adventures.

Home Stay

I enjoyed a weekend at the Yoo apartment! We had a lot of fun and I was so blessed and encouraged by their kindness. The first day, Saturday, we meet and went ice skating at Time Square Korea style and it was great. I also had a chance to talk with this guy from Canada who is teaching at the English Academy as well as his Korean student/guide for the day.

They insisted on

buying everything and even went as far as to buy me these green Crocs! It just so happens that I have developed some ring worm of my feet and the Crocs are just right to help me keep my feet dry. On that topic Mrs. Yoo studies medicine and acupuncture and made some medicine for me!

Sunday morning me and Eun-Jin make pancakes and proceeded to church followed by shopping and a delicious home made dinner of bergogie and everything delicious.

Monday we went to the Aquarium at COEX, which was amazing! Can you guess what kind of fish this is?

Hiking with The General

A few weeks ago I had the day off and decided to go an a little adventure!

Me and the General (Dog) went on a hike up a nearby mountain. I was not planning on any tag alongs and when the dog started following me i thought he would soon turn around and find something more interesting. I was wrong and he stuck around the whole trip even crossed a fast stream and climbed one steep mountain.

This is the view at the top, it was a cloudy and a little rainy but over all a good day for a hike.

Well not really, but I made the best of it :) I brought one candy bar that I had to sneak because the dog was kinda hungry and i didn't want him trying to take it from me especially because it was chocolate and that is bad for dogs as most people are aware of.

I started the trip fairly optimistically, glad to be free and in the woods. It didn't take long for me to realize that there really wasn't a good trail or at least not where I was hiking. The first hour or so I wasn't clear on where I was going and had a number of dead ends, turn around's and trail blazing episodes. Thankfully once I made it part

way up I came across a trail that actually looked promising. The trail was good and lead me right up the mountain. I realized just how steep the trail was when I attempted the decent.

Coming down the mountain, was when I began thinking about what would happen if I fell and got hurt or died. I mean that would be kinda sad to die in the woods were nobody would be likely to find me and what a mess of trouble that would create! However, I soon began to think about how in a way I am kinda invincible, i mean ya nobody knows when they are going to die but at the

same time we kinda have an idea when we are on the path that God has laid out for us. I know, that God has more for me and he has more life he wants to live with me before we are together for eternity. I was encouraged and reassured by that thought.

Part way down I heard a rush of water to my left and decided I had been on the trail long enough. It was a little tricky getting to the water, but once I found it the cool clear water was so refreshing. I decided to take the river down for a bit and didn't regret my choice. The stream was beautiful, fast, cold and turned out

to be a great shortcut.

Here are some pictures from The Canoe Trip

It was lots of fun!!!