Easter in Korea

Today was a pretty intense day not gonna lie. Not in the way that it has been with all this excitement, but it was an emotional day. Easter is a day where Christianity celebrates Christ's sacrifice on the cross for our sins. I am learning though, that we need to celebrate this each and every day. Once a year just isn't enough. I find myself overwhelmed when just thinking about what he did for us laying down his life to cover our sins. Today really brought that out.

I wasn't hungry this morning so I skipped breakfast. I used the time to get a little extra nap in to makeup for staying up until 2:30am the night before (thanks Joseph "Wipmix" Kim for that one). My boy wanted to catch up since we hadn't talked for awhile. He's the one who taught me the Korean alphabet all those years ago, so I am eternally grateful to him for putting me ahead of the curve. I really believe that helped make me successful here, as the program I'm in spent one day on the alphabet and went straight to work.

Heavy G is also having some jet lag from his trip to America, so he wanted some extra time to rest before heading to church. Perfectly fine with me, I got a chance to nap and catch up on answering people from all of yesterday's excitement. We left around 11am and got to church fashionably late as usual. I think Ji (Heavy G) likes to miss the opening praise session. Plus since we stay for the youth worship we are getting the same sermon twice anyway.

After the first sermon it was Easter lunch time! The church makes lunch each Sunday, and today was 고기밥 (Go Gi Bap) meat and rice! They actually ran out of meat right when I got to the front of the line, but all of a sudden they had filled a giant plate with what was left and gave it to me. I was honored and hesitant to take it. What an incredible gesture of kindness. As I was about to leave, they also heaped another spoonful of rice on top of everything. I wasn't sure what to do since there were a few behind me that didn't get any meat, but turns out others were more than willing to share when we got to our destination to sit down and eat.

For those of you who haven't seen my Facebook posts, I apparently made the front page of Naver.com yesterday which I guess is like Korea's Google. Some of the church members came up to me and told me they had seen my news story there and talked to me briefly about it. Others had absolutely no clue, but word got around quickly. There is a lot of overwhelmingly positive feedback and I'm so happy to share with everyone. Koreans here have found my Facebook and blog from the JTBC broadcast (and also the newspaper I guess) and have been messaging me encouraging words that way.

After lunch, Heavy G was still hungry so we hopped over to McDonald's for a second lunch? Haha, we both ended up getting Reese's McFlurries, they were tiny but very good. Following McDonald's we walked back to church for the youth service. This is where things got intense.

The youth members had put together a short interpretive dance/play for Easter. You can tell they had practiced a lot and put a lot of work into it because man was it good. Like really really good. I don't know if it was the Holy Spirit working in me or what, but I cried. I couldn't control myself. Today was honestly the first time I can remember being so overwhelmed by emotion that I couldn't control myself. I'm ALWAYS in control. I've become a very cerebral person over the years, and my brain has most definitely been in control vs my heart. Well I think that's changing now. I think God is changing me and preparing me to continue my ministry into the world. While there definitely is a place for logic, love must be prevalent and overwhelming in order to win. I'm getting there.

So here I am, crying in the middle of church, trying my best to hold back tears during a youth ministry play. All this time I'm looking at the cross just thinking over and over "how can anyone look at the cross and not be overwhelmed by the sacrifice Christ made for us". I certainly can't. I didn't used to be this way. Though I wouldn't have admitted or even realized it at the time, there was a point where I just didn't care. I thought I did, but I wasn't moved by it. Now I can't honestly even think about it without crying. Yes, I'm serious.

I know this is a touchy subject in a culture where men are supposed to be macho. Men aren't supposed to cry. Men can't be sensitive. I bought into that for so long. I'm so happy God is breaking those walls down and allowing all that pent up emotion to drain. I long to truly love as we're supposed to. Unadulterated and without fear of being crushed. Knowing full well that loving another human will lead me to be crushed again and again, but that with God I can pass on the unconditional love he has shown me. Giving my all emotionally, physically, spiritually, intellectually for Him. To everyone. I am capable of that, and I will do that. It will definitely take some time to overcome the fear I've built up regarding this, but I will overcome. When I do the world better watch out, cause this 6'6 viking has a GIANT heart and a TON of love to give. Come get some.

Everyone has their own relationship with God. I'm not here making statements of how everyone should be moved to uncontrollable tears every time they look at the cross. Haha, imagine that scene every Sunday. Walking in like "did someone just die here?" Of course not! Sunday is a cause to celebrate! Christ rose from the dead and overcame sin so that we are saved! Everyone is in at a different point in their personal relationship with God. That's the great part. I'm just at a point where the cross means so much to me that it's literally changing who I am. Don't worry if you're not at that point or have never experienced that. God is doing in YOUR life what needs to be done, and in mine what needs to be done for me.

Right from church Heavy G and I headed out for dinner. I actually wasn't hungry at all, but this was going to be our only chance. YJS, and An Hyo Sang were busy so we went together. I had requested 짜장면 (Jja Jang Myeon) black bean noodles. This is originally a Chinese dish, and it normally comes with fried pork. OMG SO GOOD. NOM NOM NOM GET IN MAH BELLEH. Funny aside story. Korea celebrates what is called "Black Day". A month after Valentines day if you are single, you go out and eat Jja Jang Myeon by yourself. That day fell last Friday the 14th. I had no knowledge of this day at the time, and I almost got Jja Jang Myeon from the cafeteria. That would have been super silly. Luckily there's no meat in the dish at the cafeteria so I went with chicken curry bap again. Who knows what would have happened if I had eaten some black bean noodles Friday?!

Jja Ja Myeon and Tangsu (Fried Pork) with Heavy G! (Gratuitous soju ad with babe included)

I'm really excited for next Saturday. I've been invited to a wedding! I'm gonna get suited up (thanks Dan for a tailored suit that I can wear!) and impress all the ladies. Maybe even get a haircut and shave this week? (Woahhhhhhhhhh I'm crazy!) Dave and Sue are getting married, and I can't wait to find out what a REAL Korean wedding entails. (Sorry Sandy but yours only counts for half :P)

Otherwise life hasn't really changed much even though now I'm a celebrity. (Jay Kay El Oh El, I don't really think that). Dorm life is back to normal now that the seniors are back from their trip. Next week is going to be another tough one studying Korean. Thursday I have my speaking mid term. That's about all I can think of for special events until the weekend. Thanks again for stopping by! Please drop some comments if you have any questions or words of encouragement. I still need them even though it may seem like I'm doing really well. I love you guys. <3 사랑해요!

Korean Word/Phrase of the Day:잘자/안녕히 주무세요 (Jal Ja/An Nyeong He Ju Mu Se Yo) This means "goodnight". I posted this a few weeks back as 잘자네 (Jal Ja Ne) and Mr. Wipkim told me it was super wrong last night so I looked into it today by asking Heavy G. He said Jal Ja Ne would be used for a father looking in on his son at night and saying "go to sleep". The two I posted today are the informal/formal versions that are more common in use. Sorry Wip, I have failed you.

TL:DR I'm in Korea.