Sunday, 23 June 2013

What Would You Take?


I was just looking at a series of photos taken of refugee's and their most treasured possession, the things they had been able to escape with. You can see the pictures here.

When I arrived back in Korea at the end of March all the talk in the air was of war. I didn't believe God had brought me back just in time for me to have to run, but at the same time I thought it was prudent to pack a small backpack - just in case.

As I looked at these pictures I thought about what I had packed - documents, a change of underwear, a toothbrush and other hygiene things, a water bottle, a few keepsakes that I would be exceedingly sad to lose, my external hard drive with copies of all my photos and data, and my Bible.

That backpack stands in the corner of my room next to my violin and if I had to run those two things and my handbag are all I would be able to carry... everything else - it's just stuff. And when it comes down to it, even the things I can carry are just stuff. I can buy another violin, the music however will stay in my fingers. Maybe I'll lose the hard drive with my photos, but I still have my memories. I have other Bibles in a box in NZ, but the word of God and His love will stay in my heart.

It is not things that are important, it is life, and people, and experiences, and love, and most importantly, the confidence that God is watching over me every moment of my life, and I can trust Him because He is good.

What would you take?

Sunday, 2 June 2013

Korea Bucket List ...

Things to do before leaving Korea:

1. Do the Third Infiltration Tunnel Tour. 

2. Climb BarumSan

3. Visit the Secret Garden

4. Go to a Baseball game 

5. Go to Jeju 

6. Have a Temple meal

7. Cycle along the Han river 

8. Go to the Lantern Festival for Buddha's birthday - DONE 

9. Go to the War Memorial Museum

10. Have a meal in the 'Sky Lounge' - that restaurant in the ring on top of the building near 종각

11. Visit 설악산 in autumn

12. Do a tea making class where you get to dress up in 한복 

13. Eat at that awesome looking restaurant near my current apartment - DONE

14. See the DMZ from the North Korean side.

15. Go to the top of 남산 tower

16. Learn to make 떡

17. Learn to make white 김치

18. Go to the top of the 63 building 

19. Paint a fan

20. Make a kite - and fly it

21. Celebrate NZ Guy Fowkes with my friends

22. Spend a couple of days exploring 남산골 한옥 village - and doing any interesting activities. 

23. Go to the Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine and take a class if there is one on a Sunday or Friday

24. Take the guided tour at 창경palace and one or two or more of the other palaces

25. Climb Bugaksan and visit Seoul Fortress 

26. Find and visit the foreigners market in 동대문 

27. Stay at a 한옥 - traditional Korean house - in the country

28. Temple stay

29. Visit 독도 island

30. Go to the 'Garden of Morning Calm' - DOING AS I TYPE

31.   ... And adding to the list continually :-)