I Heart Autumn

This is something I really love about Korea- legit four seasons. You will never be confused as to what season it is here. In Summer you will sweat, in Winter you will cry and your tears will freeze on your cheeks, in Spring you'll see all things bright and beautiful and in Autumn...

...My heart does backflips, moonwalks and macarenas. I love Autumn.

Kyrios_2011

If I haven't mentioned it already- I am ever so grateful for having found an awesome one church when I arrived in Korea. 

This year, the English service of Dongshin Church celebrated its 10th year of existence and, for the second time, hosted a weekend conference at a Christian conference centre 45 mins outside Daegu. The conference is called 'Kyrios' which is Greek for Lord or God. No explanations needed. 

The theme for this year's conference was "Sent by God. Sent to reveal. Sent for their sake." and all the workshops were centered around how we can be better ambassadors for Christ while here. I think, in general, people who come to Korea, put life on standby since everything they know is on the other side of the world. It was so refreshing and a great reminder that the very place we are in, God has placed us here to fulfill part of our purpose. 

We had a Korean-American guest speaker who came in from the States for the weekend and then a few other people from our church and churches nearby, hosted workshops which ran throughout the day in between praise and worship, marshmallow braaing and baseball playing. 

When you learn so much that you never knew before, it's so easy to curl up into an 'I know nothing, I'm stupid' self-loathing ball but this conference did something else for me. That HUGE gap in my knowledge became something exciting- a gap that CAN be made smaller if I just put in the time to fill it.  

So here are some pics that I snapped using my trusting friend's (Stephen Elliot) beast of a camera. 

(That's Christine Wang. You saw her in the Gyeonju pics. Lovely gal!)

With Esther and Deacon Grace

Rene Sohn. What a woman!

Greg Boy. The Braai Master with a don't-mess look. (Saffer and worship team mate)

Gloria and SJ (worship team buddies, too)

"Oi!" Hehehe. Gabi Boy Skinner (Greg's Saffer wife). Her awesome blog is here

Stephen is the guy with the ukelele and the same one whose camera was entrusted to these hands (brave guy!). 

Raquel and her mesmerizing eyes.

Kathy :)

Laurie and camera-shy Richard

As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

John 17:18,19

Sponsored Weekend Away

A lovely 2 day, 1 night trip to the cultural capital of Korea with beach kite flying, traditional paper making, evening lantern walking, soap making, temple visiting, green tea sipping, rice cake beating and more on the itinerary. 

Having studied this Uni, I know how splurging on these kind of trips for over 150 employees is a very strategic move- keep them happy and they will stay. And guess what? It worked (on me, that is). So I take my hat off to people who took the time to plan for this trip and to get it approved by the bigger bosses. 

It was such a lovely get away from the Daegu sky scrapers that mess up a clean sky line and to just see old school Korea. I was also glad that there were people I knew going on the same weekend as me (Raquel, Daniel, Christine and Charde) who made for good photo partners and crazy 8 competitors while the rest were out getting their drank on.  

I'd break it down for you, but I know reading's a mission so I'll let the pics (courtesy of Charde Mills) do the talking:

 

Yes, that bag is too big for 1 night. I don't own a smaller one. Please don't judge :)

The schlep of  putting your shoes on after eating the traditional way

Ryla, making soap. Smelt amAZING!

Made some pencil cases too. This one's my baby :)

Cuties at the temple. But, poor Burberry- the victim of severe brand damage. Eish.

Great, Keke. Be the one who looks at the leaves as if they're bullets. Hmf. 

I became a kid again while trying to fly my kite. At this point- it had finally taken off :D

... And God smiled down on us. (P.S. Those 'hills' are actually ancient tombs)

Then... we beat the life outta the rice to make traditional rice cakes. No- this was not  an attempted murder.

Lantern walk in the rain (which made a 15minute guest appearance)

Man made pond with the lovely reflection of the modern edition of the Silla Dynasty's King's palace.

Perfect reflection on the pond waters.

Typical temple roofs. Rigid lines representing male and smooth, rounder  lines female (I think that's what they said)

Three lovely Saffers, a Canadian-Korean and a Taiwanese-American. This is the beautiful world we live in.

That thingy behind us is over a thousand years- but the youth in front of it... Ha!

Cute halmonies (grannies) willing to pose with the Saffers :) 

Few things are as fun as wannabe Destiny's Child 'Survivor' photo shoots. Yep.

Definitely one of my favourite weekends in Korea since I got to learn about and do things I probably wouldn't have done on my own. So if ever someone from home decides to visit- this is definitely one of our stops. Beautiful Gyeonju :) *No promises that I'll be sponsoring you!*