Beautiful Weather

I've been home for about 36 hours still feeling jet lagged and with cold and cough. Went to see my oncologist yesterday for a check up and I passed with flying colors.

I am so glad to be home with the girls and Speicher, he didn't forget me. The weather here has been so wonderful and I am so blessed to be able to come home. Although, I do feel bad for leaving Jesse in the cold and I miss him a lot.

Our church has Missions Conference this week and I am able to attend the last couple of nights and what a privilege to meet the missionaries to India, France, Ivory Coast and Brazil. On my first night to attend our pastor acknowledge me as a missionary to South Korea. I am humbled by it. I do try to witness to others about our Lord Jesus Christ. I was teaching Ladies Sunday School my last 3 weeks in Korea (our Sunday School teacher was on vacation) and I am blessed that I am able to share to others about my testimony about my Savior.

Happy New Year!!

I am wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. Year of the Tiger, Jessica was born on the year of the Tiger. Jesse and I had a very quiet one. I cooked pancit (filipino noodles), black beans with sausage and chicken lugaw (chicken and rice soup and I added ginseng root.) We stayed up until midnight and went to sleep soon after. For New Year's Day, Jesse and I went with some people from church with the Pastor and 3 of his children to downtown Uijeongbu train station to pass church tracks. It was very cold. It took us about 30 to 40 minutes then we all went to Dunkin' Donuts for donuts and hot chocolate after. Jesse and I tried to go and see the movie Avatar in the Korean theater but the wait was 4 hours. It was a very busy place and we decided to wait until they show it on the base.

Today, Jesse and I got invited to Meeok's house for lunch. Lunch was with her fiancee Mr. Jung, Meeok's mom who lives with her and Sally It was good, all Korean dishes. We viewed Mr. Jung's pictures of Osaka, Japan afterwards. He lived there for 17 years as an interpreter and he just moved back to Korea to marry Meeok's. I'm sad that I will not be here on their wedding on February 6th. In 11 days I am going back to Arizona for warmer weather. Korea is very cold and it has been hard on my body especially my joints. It has been snowing a lot the last week and they are predicting more to come. I am glad we have the company car this weekend, it makes going places easier, although there's taxi. I like Korea but I'd rather have the heat of AZ. It will be hard to leave Jesse, it's been fun being here.

I took this picture from our window. It' the entrance to our complex

The front of our apartment.

Merry Christmas

Our first Christmas in Korea is wonderful. Thank you Lord for Jesus.

I am also thankful for modern technology. We had Ichat with Jessica, Melissa, Joe and Speicher while they opened their presents. Cooked rib roast and stuffing and brought to our Pastor's house for Christmas lunch. There was turkey, Korean dishes the Korean ladies brought and my roast came out good. Afterwards there was a white elephant gift exchange which was fun. Korea doesn't celebrate like back home. It seems like a regular day because the stores and restaurants around us are open. Tonight we went to see the movie Old Dogs and when we came out it was snowing. I wanted a white Christmas and here it is.

The pictures were taken by the computer's camera

Here we are chatting with them, Jesse wearing his present from them, a Phoenix Cardinal jersey #13.

Portrait infront of the tree.

Jesse and I are very proud of them. They've done very well alone.

24th Anniversary

For our anniversary dinner we tried a Brazilian Restaurant. It is barbecued meats, 9 different kinds including sirloin and a whole pineapple with cinnamon. They bring the whole big skewers and sliced the meat unto your plate. There's also a buffet of salads, sushi, soup and desserts. Our server is actually from Brazil but he has been living in Korea for a while.

The restaurant was on the top floor (10th). They put us in our own room.

Buffet, the place was empty because we were the first one there for dinner time.

Jesse's Eskimo

It has been just in the 10's, 20's and 30 degrees fahrenheit. No snow but it is SOOOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOLD! I WANT SOME ARIZONA HEAT PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

It hasn't really stop me from going out, I just layer it and bundle up. It reminds me a lot like Massachusetts.

Wonderful Sunday!!

I taught Assurance of Salvation at our Ladies Bible Study. I am only subbing while our regular Sunday School teacher is on vacation to the U.S. for 3 weeks. It was good to be able to share and learn that we can know for sure of our destiny according to the word of God in the Bible. Pastor Tom made us reflect when Jesus said "If I had not come." in the book of John. This afternoon, we went to Meeok's Korean church for their Christmas Cantata which she conducted. The Cantanta sounded great, even though I didn't understand the words I was able to follow since the melodies are the same. After the cantata we listened to the Korean Pastor's sermon, did not understand any at all. Afterwards we had pizza fellowship, only in Korea where you can have sweet potato as part of the pizza topping. It was good. Then in the evening went back to our church and everyone sang Christmas songs and some shared their blessings for 2009 and then had cookies later. It was a blessful day!

Me, Meeok, Kyung Hee (Mary) and Jeung Hee (Sally)

These ladies have their own separate Korean church, they all come to Uijeongbu Baptist Church for the services to learn and understand the Bible in English. They are a blessing.

Lunch at the Costales apartment

Meeok wanted me to meet her fiancee, Mr. Jung. They have a wonderful love story, and I will tell you sometime. We invited them for lunch at our apartment and Jeung Hee joined us too. Meeok taught me how to cook Bulgogi, marinated thin slices of meat. Jesse picked up some ready made sides, kimchee, seaweed and small shrimps. All yummy. It was all good, the company and the food. I am very happy for Meeok and Mr. Jung. They make a good couple. I am sad that I won't be here for the wedding in February.

Meeok and Mr. Jung