PLANE TO SEOUL TO CHEONAN, KOREA March 27, 2012

KOREA! We landed at the lovely airport in Seoul before 8:00 a.m. No sleeping on the plane; too crowded and too many good movies. Then we got on a bus for two hours, walked through the bus terminal mall and then took a taxi to the hotel that we’re in for tonight. 

Our friend from Eastern Nazarene College land, Martha Wilson picked us up at the hotel and took us to the apartment on the campus of Korea Nazarene University where she and husband, Larry, live. They teach in the joint program of the Korea Nazarene University and the Cheonan Department of Education. They just signed a contract for the fourth year here. Native speakers of English are recruited by KNU and placed as teachers by the DoE. Martha teaches in a boys high school and Larry to children in an elementary school. They work as volunteers at one of the 50 Churches of the Nazarene in the city.

As we climbed the stairs to a clean little fast food place on the second floor, they said Korea is built vertically. Churches can be found at any floor, rarely on the ground floor. Supper was yummy and fellowship was great! It was good to get to know them better.

 The “dessert” of the day was the gala ordination service that we were priviledged to attend at the last day of District Assembly in Korea. Dr. Eugenio Duarte, our friend and leader from many years back and from many places. 

He preached a great sermon on Ex. 25:22, God’s careful instructions for the construction of the tabernacle and the ark of the covenant. Three items in the ark:

1)   the tables of the ten commandments – focusing on our being holy, being the people of God,
2)   the golden jar of manna – because He is the God who provides
3)   the rod of Aaron – symbol of the power and authority.

They were built of acacia wood. Why that wood? There are 1300 types of acacia wood in the world. It’s not special, it’s found in Cape Verde, a dry land, it resists drought. What use common acacia wood? It is available! Let us be available and covered with gold – the divine covering.

He ordained 38 men and women. The wives of the ordinands wore those elegant, colorful Korean silk dresses. The three women who were ordained wore classy pantsuits. It seemed to be a subtle statement of their change of rank or station.

We loved being able to joining in with the Korean and other elders in the laying on hands for the ordination ceremony itself.

Then there were pictures and chit-chat. The pictures were enhanced by the presentation to each ordinand of a clerical stole, red embossed with gold. Nice! We loved talking with Eugenio, who was surprised, of course, to see us in Korea, and with our new World Mission Director, Verne Ward, and with Dan Copp, head of IBOE and Clergy Services. We spoke of how many Koreans live in Federal Way. How good it might be if God might call one of the young ordinands, especially

one who could get a job there, could come to
Seattle area to raise up Korean congregations.

What a birthday for me! I think going to ordination services is even better than a party!