Maemueal do Trip :)

This was my first vacation that didn't involve family! That mostly meant, I missed my family but also realized things like this cost money! All in all i had a great time with my friend Grace and after all was said and done was glad to have spend my time as I did and fully enjoyed the beauty and the refreshing atmosphere of our island.

Our room was perfect, our food was good and all self made, our timing couldn't have been better and at every turn we saw Gods grace and his guidance.

Our little vacation was toped off by a perfectly timed bus trip back to Seoul in order for me to play volleyball on our church team. We won both our games and that means june 6th we play in Jamsil Olympic stadium for our church's big "Sports Day" event :)

I don't have any pictures of the games but lots of everything else!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water Skiing on the Han Gang

This outing was fairly off my radar and didn't really expect to be going water skiing until they gave me a my gear and we were off!!! The main plan or so I thought was to check out a section of the river for a canoe program. We did end up canoeing around and I was able to bring both my students up to speed on the art of stearing. After many circles and laughs we were able to go in a straight line.

When we arrived at the dock, it was just employees and one club member hanging around the stove area inside the office/practice area. As we walked up the wind was whipping through the valley and the waves were small but very much in existence and larger than I would like to skii over. I soon learned through translation that the wind just picked up before we arrived and was likely to soon die down, I was not so sure...

In the end they were right and after about 20 minutes the water was calm and the sun almost shinning. Yet it was still cold and the water looked even colder to add to the interest of the whole affaire I was not given any instruction, because I have done it before and was deemed fit for the line as soon as it was my turn!

It was good to watch my companions have a go at it first, I was able to remember the challenges and techniques I had used in the past to have a successful go on the ski's. When my turn did come I was nervous to be sure but found courage and was soon in the water and shocked at just how cold it really was.

The good news is I got going no problem and only face planted once when I tried to maneuver back into the wake zone and my ski edge hit the wave causing me to lose balance and find myself face first in the water. That was when the cold really hit. After I communicated how cold I was, had my ski's back on and the driver/instructor was on a course for the dock we launched off once more and this time the cold seemed to go right through me but thankfully adrenaline was also kicking in and I was yet able to enjoy the flying sensation and the pleasure that comes with a good water ski.

Back at the dock I was cold and shaky but happy to be their and grateful for the experience!

Gardening

This spring has been spotted with farming and gardening :) Part of my job is as a director for a twice a month Nature School and in between our saturday meetings we have been working to prepare the land and plant our own ILF Garden! As part of the Nature School each student has their own garden so we have been planing all sorts of vegetables and such! We are always in suspense when we go to check on the land. Neither myself or my partner Daeboum have had much first hand experience with this much planting. We are currently mystified over the sweet potato process and how it seems to be working! I am looking forward to watching our peanut plants grow and all the rest looks very promising. I have also had my hand at some beautifying gardening around our office. I am even more surprised and excited about my success on that front. Our flower beds are thriving and all sorts of plants that I have been taking care of and that appeared to be near death are quite happy!! I was especially happy to see our office orchids begin to bud again and now it looks as though we will have a number of new flowers to grace us with their presence

Spring!!!!

I have really been blessed by Spring here in Korea. I can't say as i have ever experienced such a magnificent spring transformation and one that has happened so gently and yet explosively. The mountains are yet transforming while the valleys and river areas are in full spring swing! I never could have imagined all the early spring flowers that have come and gone like a beautiful procession overlapping and complementing each other. The amount of tree's that have blossomed and are still blossoming is incredible, the season of cherry blossoms was particularly enchanting especially with how quickly they came and went and with such exuberance! Pictures don't do justice and really I am glad to be able to experience a spring like this one first hand.

River Adventures

I just put these pictures on the ILF website and thought to upload them here :)

 

Yesterday we had a good time water skiing and canoeing on the Hangang River, even though the water is uber cold! I was quite happy to find that it was fairly easy to get up and get going. The only problem was how my hands were quickly turned to ice in the wind.

 

Our main reason for water skiing was so we could try out the canoes in that part of the river and see if it would work for this summer and other programs we hope to offer.