Seoman Market

 

Here's another Korean adventure to document. Monday we walked more than three miles to a traditional Korean market. I have been in traditional markets in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Johannesburg, South Africa; Maputo, Mozambique; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. I have also enjoyed outdoor markets in several areas of our own country. I was really looking forward to this adventure. I put on my hiking shoes and grabbed my 50,000 won (approximately $50) and we hit the bricks. It must have been 90 degrees with 90% humidity, maybe not the best time to start this little trek.

Nothing I had experienced before prepared me for this. The pictures don't even tell the story. This is a real, honest to goodness, Korean market. I didn't see many people that looked like tourists. Just lots AND lots of Koreans with their bags and small carts doing real life shopping. Narrow streets and alleyways filled with tables and shelves which were stacked with food, clothing, accessories and... well everything you can think of. Every direction we turned there was another alley or another doorway leading to more shops or street side vendors. I couldn't look around very much because I was afraid I would run into someone if I didn't keep my eyes focused directly in front of me. It seemed like a population equivalent to the whole state of Montana had decided to go to market on Monday.

So here's a little secret about me. I get claustrophobic. Heat and humidity trigger that closed in feeling. Crowds also kick that nasty little phobia into gear. Then if you add piles and piles of merchandise you have the trifecta of anxiety. Sadly I really didn't give the market a chance before I was practically dragging Elder Fairhurst out of there.

 I know it's silly. So I will try again. I will take a deep breath. I will go on a cooler day, at a less busy time, with one of our friends who speak Korean. I will buy something at a traditional Korean market. It probably won't be the cooked intestines or the squid. But I will buy something.

Amazing Mission Math

Some things just don't add up when you are serving a full time mission. We discovered this during our first mission, and it has proven true again in Korea. Let me give you a few examples.

I don't like heat or humidity + I have never wanted to live in a big city or in a high rise apartment=

I love living here in Daegu.

 

OR:

extra utilities + additional housing costs + a higher cost of living =

putting more money in our savings each month

 

OR

days pass by slowly + some weeks drag by =

months fly by and 18 months seemingly evaporates

 

I confess that math is not my strongest skill. Okay, I stink at math. Still the two sides of the equations just don't balance. Why? I have my own theory. Our Heavenly Father evens the sides of the equation. As we serve him by serving his children, he makes our weaknesses strengths. He fills in where we just can't do it on our own. This isn't true on a mission only. This  is the foundational principle of Christianity. This is the great miracle of the Plan of Happiness. We can not do it alone. No, not ever. Our Savior atoned for our sins to empower us. Through and with him the equations all balance. Our lives are blessed. We are strengthened. We are forgiven. We are cleansed. He only asks that we follow him. That we serve others. That we repent when we fall short.

 

This glorious message is the reason we are here in Daegu. In the heat, the big city, spending our own money, missing our family. This is the reason we love Korea and the people here, that we are happy every morning, that we are excited and energized, that our family bonds are strengthened.

 

Although I may never fully understand this miracle, I have faith in it's promise. I gain strength from my belief Heavenly Father lives and loves us. I know that he sent Jesus Christ, his only begotten son, to pay our debt so we can return to him. By that same power, our Savior will strengthen us in all circumstances if we do our best to follow him. That is the Gospel, the "Good News"!
 

How do you say popcorn in Korean?

On Saturdays we participate in two language classes held at our church building. The first is a Korean class. The young missionaries teach American members of our branch basic Korean. We attend this class to try to increase our own Korean Skills. The missionaries do a great job of teaching. We learn a little each week, but basically our most useful phrases still are:

--"Hangook mal chogum bak-geh mot habneeedah. (Korean language little only can't do)

--"Chun-chunhee mal hae-jusaeyo". (Slowly speak do please.)

I love the Korean language. It is fascinating to me. I love the written alphabet. The symbols are attractive and mostly easy to use. It's really a case of  "the mind is willing..." but the hearing, tongue and memory are weak! Often after we have attended class I let my discouragement take over. I usually say I need to pray to see if Heavenly Father really wants me to learn Korean! Well, this last Saturday I took a big step forward. I didn't let myself get discouraged. I will continue to study and learn what I can. I will stumble my way through conversations using whatever Korean words I can. I want to demonstrate to those I meet my willingness to learn their language in their country. I hope it will be a show of respect to them. I have also noticed they laugh a lot when I talk, so if nothing else I am a source of entertainment.

The second class of the day is English. Missionaries throughout our entire mission offer English classes as a service to the Korean people. The classes are free. The classes may help them with college, with employment or just fulfill a desire to learn English. Each class also includes a short spiritual thought. We hope to introduce them to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its message of peace and love. Elder Fairhurst and I really enjoy helping with the English class.

Last Saturday our lesson was on food. We gathered a few American foods we could share to help reinforce English words describing foods. It was a blast. We had mac & cheese, jerky, popcorn, chocolate cookies and other treats. We also had root beer and lemonade. We taught the words for the food and some polite words you would use at a meal. I think it was a huge success. The most popular foods were the macaroni and beef jerky. Not everyone liked the food, but they were all good sports. The funniest  comment came at the end of sampling lots of food, which included mostly junk food. In typical broken English, a young Korean man asked if we ate all of this at each meal. YIKES!!! Something got lost in the introduction where we tried to explain this was just a sampling of common American foods. We tried very hard to correct his misunderstanding. I am afraid he may still believe
Americans have chips, skittles and M&M's at every meal! By the way, the Korean word for popcorn is... popcorn. What else would it be?

A Quick Peak

We are approaching the end of week three in Daegu. In some ways it seems more like three months. I think that's because everything is still so new to us and we still have so much to learn. We have learned to read and write Korean. That's been lots of fun, but unfortunately it hasn't seemed to help us speak or understand it any better than when we came. I guess I am showing my impatience. We will keep plugging away. I have gained  more compassion for people who want to communicate but can't- for whatever the reason. On the other hand, a big smile and a bow goes a long ways. That is almost always reciprocated. I find myself bowing automatically now. Its a good habit for Korea, but one I might want to break before we land on American soil.

We walk for at least an hour each morning, except Sunday. I love our morning walks. I feel very safe and comfortable here. I have a growing sense of connection to our Korean brothers and sisters whose lives and love are rooted here in this beautiful land.  So for this week's post I thought I would share some of the sights we see each day. Some may look familiar to you. American commerce right here in South Korea!

The World Should Celebrate the Fourth of July

Living in a foreign land is a wonderful educational experience. You quickly learn that some things are different but overall people are very similar. I love Korea and the Korean people I am getting to know. They have the same loyalty and love for their homeland as I do for mine. Not only is this true, but it is right. I think it is a wonderful quality to have love and loyalty for your homeland. So please do not misread this post as a statement of Nationalism. I want to share with you my profound belief that the world was blessed in a very significant way when The United States of America was established.

The colonists that first settled our nation came primarily to escape religious restrictions and persecutions. Many brave reformists had sacrificed much in an attempt to promote the opportunity for religious freedom, uncontrolled by government. Against all odds, a land of religious liberty was established. The opportunity to practice religion without government restraint, but conversely with government protection is a priceless gift. It was in this environment that Heavenly Father was able  restore his Gospel as in ancient days when our Savior was on the earth. This miraculous event occurred as a humble righteous young man sought the truth through prayer and was answered by visitation of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His church restored. It is a world wide church, blessing members and families in nearly every country.  I believe the world is a better place because the principles and doctrines of the church practiced by faithful members bless the communities and nations in which they live. I am humbled and grateful to be part of the work of declaring His word to every kindred, tongue and people.

The free practice of all religions has been strengthened by the creation of our constitution. I believe the whole world should celebrate the 4th of July.

This is a picture of our international celebration. Koreans, Americans and even a young man from the Congo gathered in our apartment to enjoy some all American food, some fun and some fellowship.