Ministry Update

Well, my two years has almost come to an end here in South Korea. I have told many of you that I planned to stay here and with my church to open a coffee shop as a ministry to the foreigners in my community. I spoke with my pastor and the elders of my church this weekend and they have decided to postpone the coffee shop. My pastor will be returning to America in December and he does not feel four months is enough time to begin this ministry and he also doesn't want to a beginning ministry to the new pastor that will be replacing him.

I have to admit that when I first heard this I was very disappointed and began to think I would be coming back to America sooner than expected. My church elders however decided they would like me to stay and help with our ministry. I spoke with the Korean church pastor last night and he is in agreement as well. I am unsure of my exact ministry at this time but I will be staying her in Korea.

I will probably be a missionary intern for one year and if everything works out after that I will be a full time missionary of my church here. I think this classification is for visa purposes because I do not have a sending church in America. Unfortunately, I will have to still be a part-time English teacher. The nice thing about this is that I will be doing private lessons which my church will allow me to do. My current job does not allow this. Since I will be doing private lessons I can set the time schedule of the lessons allowing me to be free for ministry.

I was really struggling the first day and I wrestled with God into the night about the coffee shop but praise the Lord when I woke up the next day I was at peace. I know God has something special for me and I can't wait to see what it is. Please pray as we seek to work out the details of my new visa. I will need to leave Korea to get a new visa and I hope to visit China and receive my visa in Beijing. I will keep everyone posted as I hear anything new.

Trip to America

I have posted some pictures on Picasa of my trip home. Here is the link: Trip Home. There are also many pictures posted of the wedding on the website in the post below. I hope you enjoy. I had a great time while I was in America but I am so glad to be home in Korea.

Lydia's Wedding Pictures

I have created an online photo album of pictures from the week of Lydia's wedding. If you are curious feel free to take a look. Lydia's Photo Album

I know I said I wouldn't but...

Okay before I left Korea for America I told two very special people I would not do this but it was just too much of a temptation. I could actually communicate exactly what I wanted and they did it exactly how I wanted it. Let me know what you think!

Not the best pic to show the length but it was in a ponytail.

Rachel's Shoes

Family Pictures

One of my very good friends is leaving this Friday to go back to China. On Sunday night we decided to take group pictures. There are 6 of us who are always together. We went on vacation together in September and are all very close. I thought I would post our pictures. Most of you know how much I hate pictures but I really love the way these turned out. I hope you enjoy them.

Front Row Left to Right: Aaron, Eric, and Joshua
Back Row Left to Right: Sarah, Me, and Sherry

Left to Right: Sherry, Me, Sarah

Halloween 2007

Last Year I had only been in South Korea for three days when it was Halloween so I didn't do anything. This year I dressed up and had a party for my kids class. I am not sure what your feelings on Halloween as a Christian. I used it as an opportunity to explain some American culture. Here are a few picture from today!

A Dilemma...

I got so behind on my blog that I will never catch up. I am going to go back and do a few highlights from the last 6 months but after that I will just continue from today. So far I am on top of everything because today is Halloween and I am posting my Halloween pictures in a few minutes! Stay tuned for the past highlights like my Jeju Island trip and for future adventures as I see God unfold Himself to me this coming year!

New Hair Style

I went to the beauty salon to get blonde and red highlights like i have had for the past year. I brought Sunny to translate for me. I did not however get highlights! I ended up with pink hair. This picture does not do it justice because of the light. But here you go.

I went back and with Sunny's help I was able to get a light red which is better. Everyone really likes my hair now but I don't because it is not what I wanted. I wanted blonde and red highlights! Oh well, it will grow out!

I'm Recovered...Almost

I am free from crutches and all walking devices. I left the hospital on Wednesday night. I am on the road to recovery. I was even able to go hiking on Saturday with the doctor's permission! Thank you so much for your prayers. I am excited to be able to run again soon. I am not sure when that will be exactly but I can't wait.





Here are a few pictures from my welcome home party!




Rachel and Tony

Crystal, Alissa, and Eric

Megan, Crystal, and Alissa

Church Hospital Visit

Here are my pastor's pictures of the record breaking hospital visit. There is also a video clip. I hope you enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.co.kr/bvorhees1/GeorgiaSHospitalVisitOct2107

Almost Free

I have made big leaps at the hospital today. I had the split taken out from the back of my leg. I am so happy about this. I was getting a bruise around my ankle from it! I also had my IV taken out today. There isn't much keeping me here except for a very insistent doctor. I am able to walk on my leg without the aid of crutches so I don't understand why I can't go home. But he is the doctor so I am going to respect his wishes. I think if I was at home I would check myself out of the hospital, but I'm not at home! Well, I'm off to the Mart and a Kimbop restaurant for dinner. The joys of being in a hospital in Korea!!!

This is from yesterday pre-split removal and IV loss!

Knee Surgery A Success

I had my surgery bright and early Saturday morning. It was quite an experience. The first interesting thing was the epidural I had! I was numb from the middle of my ribs to my toes. In the middle of the surgery I was having a little bit of trouble breathing because my lungs were a little numb. The body is amazing because as soon as he finished and took out the scope my breathing returned to normal. Even though I couldn't feel anything my body knew there shouldn't be anything inside it! I think it also helped that I was listening to some very good Christian music.

I was actually able to watch the whole surgery minus the cutting and stitching up at the end. The scope had a camera on the end so I watched it all through a TV! I was able to see inside my knee and all the intricate details. God sure did an amazing work when He created us!! I am on my way to a full recovery. I will have to bee in the hospital for 5 days total. I know if I were in the US I would be home already but things are very different here. Also the cost is much cheaper here is even after staying for 5 days it will be maybe 1/4 of the cost.

Two of my 17 visitors! Megan and Alissa are some of my crazy co-workers.

I am able to have some fun though. Yesterday I had 17 visitors. I think that might be a record somewhere! I have a few pictures of my first set of visitors. Some of my friends who I teach with came to visit. I don't have pictures of all of my brothers and sisters from my church. My pastor took many pictures but I don't have the link yet. I will update when I get the link. It was so much fun. I had a walker yesterday so they were doing acrobatics with it. Then we had two dance minors so we had some dancing time. My Korean teacher said it was the strangest hospital visit she has ever been on, because we were singing, dancing and taking pictures.

Something else very different about Korean hospitals is that if patients are able they can leave the hospital. So I went for a walk today over to 7-Eleven because I really wanted some Coke and chocolate! It was so strange to be outside with my IV and everything, but "when in Korea, do as the Koreans do!"

Thank you all for your prayers. I will keep you updated on my recovery!

Knee Surgery on Saturday

I hurt my knee running back in the end of January. I went to the first doctor and he said I had arthritis, I didn't believe him. I went to a second doctor and he said I had bursitis, which is a liquid sack on my nerves or something. I was ordered to have "physical therapy" and rest. In Korea that means ice! I rested for about 5 months. I was tired of the pain and not being able to exercise so I went to an orthopedic doctor from my church. I have a Meniscus tear and I am having surgery on Saturday morning. I start my week vacation this Saturday so this is why we moved quickly to the surgery option, plus all that I had done before helped with the decision to repair the damage by surgery.

I am little nervous not of the surgery because I have one of the best surgeons in South Korea. I am nervous because the hospitals are set-up very differently. There are 6 to 8 people per room and the bathroom/shower is down the hall. The nurses only come to the room if they are giving you medicine or changing a dressing. Other than that everything is left up to the family to do for the patient. I not only don't have family here but I will be in a totally different city than the one i live in and none of my friends have cars. My pastor and his wife are taking me to the hospital and will be around for half the day on Saturday. Then my friend Sarah will be spending the night with me.

Please pray for a quick recovery! I will be on crutches for a little while afterward and I live about a 15 minute walk from my work when I am able to walk regularly. I am not sure if my motorcycle will be an option to get to work or not!! I will have to wait and see. Thanks so much for your prayers.

Megan's Birthday Party

Megan turned 26 on June 19th. We celebrated by going to Pizza Hut, an arcade, and a Nora Bong (singing room). It was a blast! I am actually going to be doing the same thing tomorrow night to celebrate my vacation starting.

I am playing a boxing video game where you actually wear boxing gloves. It is harder than it looks! The machine senses where you are as you bob and wave the blows from your opponent.

Addie and Alissa are in a mini Nora Bong.

I love racing real cars or video games it doesn't matter!

Megan and Alissa rafting down the river.

Last Day of Classes in June

I always have a potluck party on the last day of each term. It makes for a fun day. With my 8am class I decided to invite them over for an American breakfast. I made French Toast for everyone. To a Korean though bread is not breakfast. Everyone did enjoy themselves and like the French Toast.

This term was special though because Kelly was leaving and it was her last day of teaching in Korea. Each class brought a cake and many "delicious" snacks. Koreans love to use the word delicious to describe food. Here are a few pictures of the many parties we had that day.

Only in Korea would students bring alcohol to class. In my 4pm class we had student bring traditional Korean wine, Macolee (a not so good beverage), and beer. I had to take pictures because I didn't think anyone would believe me from back home, except maybe Erica since she has taught here before!

Wine

Beer

Macolee

I had a great day as always and it was a good send off for Kelly!

Going Away Party

One of my Korean friends left for Canada in June. Here are a few pictures from the traditional tea house that we went to.

Alan, me, and Eiranne before the tea house

This is Brian and his girlfriend. He went to Canada to study English.

My friend Claire and I

Deokjin Park

There is a park right near my house. I love going there to walk. It is very beautiful during the day or at night. Here are a few pictures I have taken on some of my walks.

This is a traditional Korean swing. It is so tall because in the past all Koran villages had walls around them. The girls would push each other to see how high they could go. This was the only time the girls would be able to see over the wall of the village.