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Archive for category Mission Trip

Debriefing is a weird word that has nothing to do with underwear

Aug 21

Posted by Katie in Mission Trip, South Korea | 2 Comments

I got back from Korea a little over a week ago, and can say with full confidence that I am glad to be home. However, I am still feeling the effects of my trip.

When I say effects, I don’t just mean jet lag, although that is a very real and powerful phenomenon that has held me at it’s mercy for the past week. No, I also mean the memories of Korea, all the people I came to know and love, the way of life I embraced, the scenery, the smells, the sounds. There is so much about Korea that I miss. I really miss all of my kids, even the ones that gave me trouble. I miss the way that Clara (morning TA) and I had to wrangle kids, and the way Jinny (afternoon TA) and I talked on our breaks. I miss Angelina running up and hugging me the way kindergartners tend to do, I miss talking to Ray in the mornings before my most stressful class began, and I miss trying to teach grammar in a way that is interesting and understandable to fifth graders who are learning English (okay, so that one is a challenge).

I miss quality time with the team, riding in the van everywhere, having interesting moments where no one is quite sure what’s happening. I miss how my host family gave us sandwiches, kimbap and cake for breakfast, and how every once in a while, the cafeteria would have good food.

However, as I stated before, I am definitely glad to be back home. I’m happy to be around my friends from work and my roommates. I’m glad I can talk to my family at normal times, and I’m glad that I can see Mark every day. I’m glad that I don’t have to wonder what’s going on every other minute, and I’m glad that I have a comfortable bed, a real shower and AC. I’m also glad that after this trip, I know more people than I did before, and that we will always have our trip memories. :)

I guess the point is that while Korea was amazing and wonderful and fabulous and memorable, home is here, with family and friends.

There’s No Place Like…Homestay?

Aug 12

Posted by Katie in Mission Trip, South Korea, awesome, fun, learning, life | 5 Comments

Homestay (n): A foreign student staying in the home of a citizen of the country the student is visiting for a set length of time. Commonly experienced by study-abroad participants, and sometimes by short-term mission trip participants.

As you may recall from earlier posts, I had a little trepidation about staying in the home of a Korean family. I really didn’t want to offend anyone, and I was slightly afraid of what I might encounter. However, you may also remember that I was also excited at the prospect of learning a new culture firsthand. When we arrived in Korea, we were promptly deposited in an apartment a few minutes away from the church, our base. We had been told about homestays, but they never materialized…at least until last week. At dinner one night, Pastor Ryan (our liaison with the church)mentioned that he needed three of us to volunteer for a homestay. You could have heard a pin drop. None of us wanted to leave the home that we were used to and the friends that were now more like family. Brave Kristine finally asked if she could think about it. Later that night, she and I discussed our feelings about it, and decided we might be interested, but not enough to bring it up again. Fast forward to last Saturday. We are back in Suwon after a day trip to Seoul. Pastor Ryan has taken us to Pizza Hut (as mentioned in my last post) and he is sitting on the opposite end of the opposite side of the long table. Near Kristine. I don’t know how it happened, but somehow, she and I ended up committing to do a homestay for one night, then we would decide whether to continue. I was more informed than asked, but hey, that’s how good experiences happen, right?

So on Monday, we packed our bags and got ready to go that night after Kristine was done teaching at 9:00. I got done at 5:00, so I had to walk down the mountain hill that leads to the church alone. As I went, I wondered if they would like me, if I would like them, and what the conditions would be. It turns out that I shouldn’t have worried! Mr. Park has been coming to America fairly often for the last ten years or so, and speaks really good English. His wife, Mrs. Lee, is functional in English, and good at getting her point across. They have a nine year old daughter who is very beautiful, but also shy.

Mr. Park picked us up and drove us the 15 minutes to the apartment. When we got there, we were greeted by his wife and daughter, as well as a married couple with whom they are very close. That couple invited us all to their apartment the following day for Korean food after we got back from teaching. So much for staying one night! We are now staying until Friday morning, with our last night and family dinner scheduled for Thursday. :)

It is an interesting experience to say the least, but one that I am so glad I am having. There probably isn’t a better host family out there, as they have done nothing but make us feel welcome. Kristine and I have had some great times already…especially the delicious dinner prepared for us by the neighbors! We had crab, noodles, pumpkin soup (yummy!), rice cakes and more, making it the best meal we have had in Korea! I was really full for the first time since I’ve been here!

I know that I will remember this experience for the rest of my life, and I know that next time I’m offered a chance to spend some time with locals, I’ll say yes immediately!

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Forward and Back.

Dec 31

Posted by Katie in Creativity, Mission Trip, Passion, Photography, awesome, college, dream, learning, life, list, writing | No Comments

Wow. 2009 is just a matter of mere hours away. How did this happen? How was it just the start of another semester, and now that same semester is long gone? Seriously, these past few months have been the quickest moving period of time I have ever experienced. And boy, were they full! I mean, looking back, there was so much crammed into them that we should really only be in October now.

Here are some major highlights, just so you know what I’m talking about. I went to IL, had a couple of friends get married, started the semester, gotten a new roommate, seen many friends get engaged, had more friends get married, gone to Korea, hung out with friends, written papers, done projects, worked, taken millions of tests and quizzes, gone to the symphony, celebrated holidays, spent time with family, written a letter to the editor, gotten addicted to two shows, seen friends that I hadn’t seen in forever, helped plan/ prepare to be in a wedding, worked out, etc.

You have to admit that that is quite the list, especially since it all took place in a matter of months! There are some things missing from that list, though. Things I should have done, but didn’t. There are people I wish I would have called, books I really wanted to read, days when I should have gone out to take pictures, adventures I didn’t go on, and more. But really, I will do my best to make 2009 a year where I do all the things need to do (well, not all. I would like to have a reason to go on living!).

Here are a few things just off of the top of my head that I really want to do in this new year:

1. Learn how to cook. Not just easy stuff, but medium to hard level stuff.
2. Read a LOT. For fun, not just school.
3. Finally pull off that 4.0 I’ve been wanting. I know, I’m a nerd.
4. Accomplish something in the save the world category. I’m working on this right now, actually. I will write all about it when I have something definite.
5. Write something really good. Something memorable.
6. Go somewhere I’ve never been before.
7. Blog more often.
8. Go to Austin
9. Take more pictures
10. To be determined at a later date!

I guess that’s all for now, I’ve got a few things already on the agenda for 2009…my cousin is getting married, one of my friends is going to Denmark, and I’ve got my first 4000 level class coming up. It should be a good year. :)

Seoul ’08 Photos

Oct 14

Posted by Katie in Mission Trip, Photography, Picasa | 1 Comment

http://picasaweb.google.com/katiephelps07/SeoulTrip08?feat=directlink

So Seoul

Oct 9

Posted by Katie in Mission Trip, Seoul, South Korea, awesome | 1 Comment

Let me just start this post by saying that I have never experienced anything quite like Seoul before. This place is phenomenal. There are neon signs everywhere you look, advertising coffee shops and banks, as well as any number of other things. There is hardly a blank surface in sight; every building it seems has an unlimited array of signs advertising this or that in Korean, which adds to the amazing rainbow of lights every night.

The people here have been nothing but kind and generous, giving us gifts, providing food and offering us their warmest wishes. From the schools we have taught at to the churches we have attended, we have been received like royalty.

The traffic here is never-ending, with cars weaving in and out, pedestrians jumping in front of buses and motorcycles riding on the sidewalks. There are people everywhere, walking around with their purchases, on their way to work, or just taking a break on the sidewalk. It is quite evident that we are in a city of ten million.

The market places that we have visited have been bustling with crowds, the boutiques and street vendors all trying their best to give such a good deal that you can’t refuse. I can’t adequately describe the colors, sights and sounds that fill them. The money is thankfully different sizes and colors based on the denomination, so knowing that 5,000 won is the orange one makes paying in a currency that we aren’t used to very easy.

When we visit the churches, it is so clear that these people have such a heart for God. They are so authentic in their worship that we can really feel the Holy Spirit at work, regardless of the language barrier.

Teaching in the schools has been a huge blessing. This kids are all so eager to learn, or at least experience hanging out with some crazy Americans! It has been my favorite part of the trip, and every time I’ve taught, I’ve fallen more in love with them.

We still have three days left in our trip, and I can’t wait to experience what they have to offer!

Unexplored Territory: Earth

Jun 23

Posted by Katie in God, Mission Trip, awesome, dream, learning, life | 1 Comment

I feel this crazy need to get out of the country and do something awesome. DBU makes this need worse, because nearly everybody here has gone to some amazing, far-off place to do great things for God. I know people who have gone/ are going to places like China, Peru, South Africa, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Japan, etc. I have to admit that I am thoroughly envious of them all. Not only do they get to go experience another culture, which is sweet, they also get to share God while doing so.

I want that. I want to say that I went somewhere and did something for a better reason than just a vacation. I want to make a difference. I know that this can be accomplished here in Dallas, in Texas, in America, but something inside of me makes me want to dash off to some exotic locale, share the love of Jesus and just have a fantastic time while doing so. I don’t feel led to be a career missionary…I feel like God wants me to help immigrants here in America, but I do feel like he wants me to get a little first hand knowledge before I do so.

In the fall, there is a mission trip to South Korea. I know, that sounds sooo cool. I really want to go. I mean, it is such an opportunity that I just don’t want to miss. And if I do miss it, I will just want to take advantage of the next chance I have that much more. I definitely have to go somewhere and do something awesome for God while I am still in college. There isn’t really a better time.

//UPDATE: I am so going on this trip.//