Day 10- Jeju City (Full Circle)

I've made it! Full Circle. After 10 days, I could now say that I have seen some of the most beautiful scenery in Jeju. Reflecting back from Day 1, I remember Halla Mountain with my 20+ pounds backpack. It must have been the most challenging, yet rewarding thing I've done since my marathon last year.
Camping right along the beaches of Jeju has definitely been a blessing and a highlight on this trip. The cost is free! And I had views that beat out any five star hotels. Sunrise Peak at Gwangchigi Beach was one of those sites that I will remember for a while. Walking Olle #'s 7,8,9, and 10 were also memories that will last a long time. Carrying my heavy backpack sure made me feel like Christian in the classic, "Pilgrim's Progress" I probably packed more than I should but it was a learning experience nonetheless.
I will also cherish the people of Jeju. I have met some of the most generous people here. Although some came from Seoul to start businesses, they still added to Jeju's charm.

Dear Lord,
I thank you for giving me an opportunity to spend some time with you in Jeju. Thank you for reminding me of your beauty through nature and your grace and kindness through each hiking trails I took. You truly have been so good. I give you the glory. Thank you for giving me a job, without which I wouldn't have access or the means to do the things I did.
As I press on once again to the daily routine of work, may you help me to be gracious and kind. And to represent you in the best possible light.
Help me to shine for you alone and not for others' praises. May people I come in contact with, see something deeper and supernatural in me and that can only stem from you and my relationship with you.
I ask for a focused mind dear Lord as I go back to work and as I continue to live the life that you have given me. I give you glory because you are my strength and my first love.

Day 9-Hyeopje Beach

It's Tuesday, almost noon and I'm here at Gwakji Beach. I've almost completed my travels around Jeju. It's very windy but the sun is shining brightly. Last night I arrived at Hyeopje
Beach. I set up my tent there. I would say that it's the best beach area in Jeju. It may seem a bit crowded late in the afternoon but once night falls it's fairly quiet. It's amazing how shallow the water is here. In the morning at around 8:30am, I had the chance to go and swim and have the beach to myself. In between beaches are these areas where you can have your own private beach. That's where I snicked out until the water was actually above my head. It seemed like I was half way towards the island in front of the beach. That was a great time.

Day 8- Marado

After spending the night in Marado with Mr. DaeGuen, I had the privilege of meeting some of Marado's residents. They seemed to be a very peaceful community. Each one had a role to play whether they were the lighthouse operators from Chunyo do, police officers that were younger me, or just the sole teacher on the island; each one brought something special to Marado. I really cherished my time with Mr. Daegun. His kindness to me had to be because of his faith in God. He is a man with 3 children and a wife willing enough to let him go and teach at Marado, faraway from his home in Choneon near Seoul. Life in Marado is very simple. But it's also hard work. The only two students in Marado are SuHyeon and Hyebin. 11-12 year old girls who look like sisters. Their parents have also shown kindess to a stranger like me. Hyebin's parents set up a feast last night. We also had rice porridge this morning. Simply an amazing experience. Something unplanned and yet God made it an experience that I will cherish. Thank You Lord for your kindness.

Teaching my Students to sing "Come Now is the time to Worship"

This was during my 1 week training at a Ikani Ngombe village in Iringa, Tanzania. I taught some students "Come Now is the Time to Worship." We sang the song at their church that Sunday.

Reflections Tanzania Africa: February 2009

Dear Friends and Family,
I don't know if I'm wasting my time introducing new vocabulary words at the beginning of each Form 2 English period. But the word for today is what I hope for all of them to become. INDUSTRIOUS...its an adjective which means someone who works very hard. While I hear about students still waiting to get school fees from their parents, I discover a student like Jovin who has found other means of paying for his.
Jovin is the boy wearing shorts on the left side of the photo.

Here is a sixteen year old boy who I remember vividly last year.
On my way to fetch water I see Jovin surrounded by thousands of small plants contained in little plastic pouches. At that moment I quickly snapped some pictures without understanding what he was planning to do with the plants. I did ask him what kind of plants they were. They were tiny bamboo shoots. I have never seen them that small before.
It's now February and Jovin is in my FORM 2 class. I can see how serious it is for him to be in FORM 2. And I especially know that he goes home after school, eats food, returns back to school to help carry bricks, sand, and afterward, continues to his father's vegetable garden to help til dark.
Jovin's mother and sister Froida. They were planting beans on my way to fetch water

Jovin forces to open his eyes during my class sometimes. I know how hard he works knowing that the government Exam in November is just around the corner.
On Monday, I have assigned a writing activity in English class. I haven't given any creative writing lessons yet, however I used this is as a chance for them to show their prior knowledge as well as apply their knowledge about the Working Words on the Parts of Speech. Although Jovin didn't quite follow my instructions for the writing exercise, I did discover something admirable about this boy. I want you to read what he wrote:

My name is Jovin Choga. I am a student of FORM II. Last year I was make many trees to our garden. I did make one thousand and five hundred those belongs to me. But also to this month of this year, |I sell there trees of ninety thousand shillings. 90,000shillings.
Also, my parents they are very happy and me I'm very happy because I have ablility to pay school fees of this year. But today, I want to say that every person should make your work which can help yourself

Yes, he didn't quite understand or follow the prompt, but here is a great example of an INDUSTRIOUS boy who has found a way to pay for his own school fees this year. Although I plan to share his composition in class as an example of what not to do, deep down inside, I am proud of Jovin. And I will cherish his industrious drive as another affirmation of why I came to Africa.

.....Even teachers can learn a thing or two from their students...

Day 7 Jeju Island Summer Adventure 2011

Olle#10 was the course where I walked with Yuna. She's a 21 year old college student from Seoul who's spending a few days in Jeju by herself. She seem to be a free spirit who could converse in English well. She walked with me all the way. I did enjoy her company. I asked most of the questions about her family, education, hobbies and random things. Funny thing is I don't think she was going to ask for my name.

One of Olle #10's feature is Mt. Songaksan where we climbed to the top. It was a beautiful view. I remember saying to myself "Too much beauty-it's beauty overload." Yuna and I finished the course in 5 hours. After a few minutes of trying to find the end point of Olle #10, we managed to ask questions about a guest house. Olle Staff recommended the Sunflower Guest House, which is owned by a U.K. and Korean couple. It's a fairly new guesthouse. We had SamGyupSal for 10,000 WON. Hostel guests ate together which was quite a unique experience. After an hour of chatting, I was off to bed.

It's Sunday morning. My mom's birthday is today. I head to Marado, the southern most part of South Korea.

Reflections: Accomplishing Two Full-Marathons

Donga-Il bo Marathon 2011

I don't really know what to say...But I thank God for giving me the health and the motivation to accomplish such a feat. I could not have done it without HIS grace and love towards me. Soli Deo Gloria!


Chuncheon Marathon 2010