The Roberts in Korea

Seoul, Spelling, Spectacles and Style

Yesterday the girls in the house wanted to spend the day shopping at the Coex Mall in Seoul.  So, we jumped on a bus in Daejeon and two hours later found ourselves walking through the underground Coex Mall.  It was a fun day.  We ate some Mexican food at On the Border (that was worth the entire trip).  We walked and shopped and saw some sights.  We tried on glasses (spectacles).   We read some interesting signs (spelling).  We experience the power of alliteration (style).  The shopping trip=a good memory.

Seoul Sights

The other day we took a day trip to Seoul.  Dina needed to get some official paperwork from the US Embassy as she is working on getting her drivers' license here in Korea.  Yipes.  During our trip to Seoul we took in some unique sights in the part of the city where the US Embassy is located, plus we went to the Coex Mall and had a good time.  I have included some pictures.

Loud Pro Volleyball

We are still on break so the other day we jumped in a taxi and went to a professional volleyball game here in Daejeon.  It was quite a loud and exciting experience.  The volleyball is intense, but the crowd is the real spectacle.  The fans here in Korea really get into cheering for their teams.  With all of the clappers, the music, the cheering and the drum pounding I made a metal note to bring earplugs to the next pro volleyball game that I attend.  It was a fun time.

The guys played the first match and then the women's team played next.  The mascot for the visiting ladies' team was a pink spider.  Yipes.  Here is a quick video from the men's volleyball game.

 

remember...

We never know how things will turn out.

If you are looking ahead to 2012 and worrying or wondering about the future, you are wasting your time.  You would do well to stop ruminating over the unknown and start remembering the work of God in your life over this past year.

God is constantly imploring his followers to remember...

"Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm." Deuteronomy 5:15

"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years,..."  Deuteronomy 8:2

“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel." Malachi 4:4

[Jesus says] "Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?" Matthew 16:9

"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,..." 2 Timothy 2:8

"And he [Jesus] took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

Sitting here at my cluttered desk on New Year's Eve 2011 I am remembering...

...that my sister has a new kidney.

...that God has done the impossible at our school (TCIS).

...that I have lived another year with my precious wife and two wonderful daughters.

...that I have enjoyed a year of good health.

...that I have friends and family who are growing in their walk with the Lord.

I can't do justice to these rememberings.  In print they look so clean, simple and easy, but you know as well as I do that life is messy.  With the good comes the bad and amazingly, in God's economy, out of the bad God brings good.  This is where remembering really makes a difference.

We never know how things will turn out, but that is ok.  We don't need to know the future. We just need to remember how God has worked over the days and months of 2011.  We need to allow his faithfulness in the past to speak words of hope into our future.

Remember...God loves you.

Happy New Year

This Place

Here are a couple of pictures of this place (South Korea) that we live in.  It is amazing how we so quickly take for granted all that is around us.  The city of Daejeon is a very nice place to live in South Korea.  It is a big city (1.5 million people), complete with a wonderful mass transit system (taxis, trains, subways and buses), but it still has a small town feel.  Mountains, hiking trails, lakes and streams can be accessed within 30 minutes from the city and thanks to the Bullet Train, that runs right through Daejeon, we can go North to Seoul in 50 minutes and South to Busan in 90 minutes. 

There are lots of people in South Korea.  We were grumbling a bit about the traffic and the people the other day when we were Christmas shopping.  It didn't last long though as we remembered the great privilege it is for us to live in this unique place.

Christmas Fun

It was our privilege and opportunity to visit the Peace Village Orphanage for a time of Christmas fun this year.  The church we attend organized a trip to the orphanage.  Santa showed up and all of the kids at the orphanage recieved gifts.

Silver Bells 2011 by Jaeyoung

Here is a clip of our good friend singing "Silver Bells."  He has a beautiful voice, is a great guy, has a wonderful family and runs and owns an excellent Korean restaurant.

 

 

 

Snow!...finally

Up until Christmas Eve day it had been a cold and dry winter here in Daejeon, South Korea, but finally, it snowed.  Here are a couple of early morning shots from the front window and the back window of our 16th floor apartment.

Christmas Eve at Jaeyoung's

On Christmas Eve a large "Idaho" contingent gathered at Jaeyoung's restaurant for a time of great food, spirited singing and warm friendship.  The Zickefoose family, the Miller family, the Hill family (and Jennifer's parents--the Coles) and the Roberts family all spent Christmas Eve with Jaeyoung and his family at a little restaurant in the center of South Korea.  It was a time to treasure.  We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

Merry Christmas 2011

Here we are on Christmas morning wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas!  Our Christmas morning started early this year, but it wasn't because our children were eager to see what Santa left under the tree.  It was our privilege to lead the music and worship at church this morning so we were up early for the set up and preparation at church.  We opened gifts in the afternoon.  It was a treasured time--mostly because we were together as a family.

May you be blessed this Christmas with the realization that the God who came near did so out of love for you.