Africa Mission support team

Africa Mission support team
Originally uploaded by come and see africa

We had a yard sale to raise funds for Rwanda. People donated all kinds of things. About 20 volunteers came together to work on Saturday, June 4th. I never knew how much works are involved with yard sale. We collected stuff for almost 3 months, and for two days we sorted, marked a price to each item, set up tables with goods, and made sales. We made $1450. There has to be a better way to raise funds than this!

Al bought this tool because no one was buying

Al is buying tools
Originally uploaded by come and see africa

Anna trying to sell this stuff to me

Anna or Jan?
Originally uploaded by come and see africa

Can you guess what this is?

Jan or Anna?
Originally uploaded by come and see africa

It is a hair dryer

Wednesday Fellowship

“What is for the dinner?” someone shouts during announcement time. "Ham, salad, and potatoes!", Bob shouts back from the choir. About a month ago, we started a Wednesday dinner and mid-week service. While most churches are cutting back on services, First Southern is adding them.

There is old saying that the “family that eats together stays together”. How true it is! Eating is the most family-oriented activity in every culture. By serving a dinner on Wednesday, we are accomplishing three goals: First, we stay close to our church family by touching base in the middle of the week. Second, we reach out to people in our community. Often it is easier to invite people to a meal than to a Sunday service. Third, we get a delicious meal.

Bob Shaw has been our lead chef. He has been coming to church on Wednesday morning, spending many hours to prepare food for 30 people. A full course dinner is served between 5 to 6 p.m. – with all the fixing’s. After an enjoyable meal in the dinning hall, we gather in the sanctuary for a “word of the week”. After that we break up into smaller groups to practice choir, pray, or study the Bible. As we share food and fun with one another, our love for one another grows.

It’s so much fun to belong to the family of God. I find myself looking forward to Wednesday evenings. I invite everyone who receives this newsletter to attend our First Southern mid-week dinner. I am reminded of the scripture, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” [Hebrews 10:24-25]

my birthday

my birthday
Originally uploaded by come and see africa.

I got a real dog for my birthday. I never had a dog in my life, and I thought I would try one. A Korean dog came to live with us, but she did a very bad thing. We had to send her back to the owner. She killed Chris' bird, Paco. I think I am going to stick to this hot dog for now, rather than real one.

simon's apartment

simon's apartment
Originally uploaded by come and see africa.

Here I am with my son and my daughter-in-law.

Uploading a movie to your server account

Dave Hicks created an instruction for itec 830 class. Here it is:

Once you have completed your imovie, then exported it as a Quicktime for the web(File>Export>Quicktime>Web) you are ready to post it to your blog.
Here is how:
1. Loading your movie to your server account.
2. Taking a picture of your movie screen.
3. Linking your blog to your movie.

Immculee from 2001 to 2005

Jean Min and Immaculate
Originally uploaded by come and see africa.

I met Immaculee in 2001 in Butare, Rwanda. She was a freshman at NUR at the time, when my husband and I went to Butare. My husband was giving a Christian leadership seminar at the National University of Rwanda, and I was teaching school teachers how to write lesson plans. Since 2001, we have been going to Rwanda every year, and we see Immaculee every year. She was a freshman when we first met her, now she is graduated from the university and works as an accountant for Rwandan government. She is also a board member for "Come and See Africa", a non-profit organization which my husband and I established.

How can you tell this is taken in the different year?

DSC00804.JPG

DSC00804.JPG
Originally uploaded by come and see africa.

How beautiful

Love endureth all things

Zach, Simon and Dillia,

I love you and miss you so "manta" on this V-day.
mom~

Iraq War is Real

Can you imagine that someone who you don't know will come to you and announces the death of your son? This happened to one of our church family, Annabel. Annabel has been asking for our Church to pray for her grandson Michael who was serving in Iraq. We have been praying for him every Sunday, and asking Annabel when he is going to be at home. He is at home, but not the way you expected. He died when a humvee that he was in it was blown off. He was caught in a war zone. He was only 23 years old. Why? We are at war. But I didn't think about it, or I should say that the war didn't seem real to me until today. The war is real and our soldiers give their lives for this country. Michael gave his life for you and me.

It was so hard to face Michael's father, mother, and his only brother James. As I think of Michael's death, I can't stop thinking about my own children. Michael is only 23. I never had a chance to know him in person, but through Annabel I have been praying for him and his safe return. Rest in Peace, Michael.

New semester

School started on Wed. For me, school started last week. I have been busy with conferences and workshops last week and this week. Grant workshop was very helpful. I hope to apply for faculty development for Africa and community based curriculum development.

Simon and Dilia are in Venezuela. I have not heard from him for a week, so I am little worried. Zach made a safe journey from SF to Washington via Dallas. My old car was faithful to him, he made to DC with that old car in the mid winter.

Letters from a father to his son--Iraq

Read this, weep.

Surprise visit

Jungwha and John came to the church and surprised me. I can't believe Jungwha has two kids already. I introduce them six years ago, and they got married a year later. I have not seen them for four years! It is so wonderful to see these two.



Lelia's visit. I pray that she will stay healthy while she is in Africa.

Zach came and gone.


We celebrated New York New Year. This means we embraced the year 2007 at 9 p.m, New York time. While we are waiting for the dawn of new year, we played pictionary, had a time of reflection on 2006 and shared dreams for 2007. We prayed as we step into the year 2007. I am excited to see what God is going to do with our church, my family, and myself. I am so excited, I can't contain my joy.

Adventure? or Trouble?

Chris is in Africa. He left on Dec. 28 with Lelia to London. They will meet with Frank in London, then Lelia will travel alone to Africa then meet Chris and Frank in Kigali.
Zach left on Dec. 28th to go back to D.C via Dallas . He called me from Dallas and told me that he is having trouble with the car. I tried to persuade him not to drive the old car during this time of the year. Zach insisted, and Chris encouraged. It is so hard to understand him and Chris. They think this is an adventure. To me it is a trouble. I wouldn't mind having an adventure, but I want to avoid troubles. How do you distingush an adventure from a trouble? It is time to let him go. Zach is an adult, and he can take care of himself. I did my best to help him not getting into trouble. Fixing the car, which cost me $1000, and helping him with gas. It is now out of my hand, I need to let him be an adult. I am trying very hard to distance from his adventure. Now it is his adventure that he needs to experience the consequences.

Christmas Cantata

Our choir was fantastic! We had great turn out, and the mix of music was informal at the same time reverenced. I met so many new people; they seemed to be friends and family of choir members. We had about 100 people. I am praying that by next Christmas,our membership will be 100. After the cantata, we had a candle light service and refreshment. We made a circle along the wall, then lighted candles. While each candle is lighted up, we sang, then we touched the shoulder of the next person in order to make the complete circle (we could prayed or blessed that person we touched). When we made the complete circle, we walked to get back to our seat. The moving crowds with lighted candles were really neat to see from the sound booth. I took several pictures as people sang and walked.

I learned how to embed slideshow

Learning from children

It was a rainy Sunday. When I saw Tim and his little brother Chris, I was looking at the seat where Annabel sits every Sunday. I didn't think Annabel would be here since Jane and Al will not be at the church this Sunday. But she was sitting pretty in her Sunday pink dress. I turned my head toward to Tim to tell him to say Annabel is here. Before I open my mouth, I saw Tim was walking toward Annabel, then he gave her a big hug. His brother Chris followed him and sat next to Tim. If Annabel is his grand mother or he knew her before, this may not be anything that I would think about.

I was pleasantly surprised by Tim a few weeks ago when he wanted help Annabel to Jane's car. He seemed to be restless, and a typical 10 year old boy who has lots of energy. But when he helped her out, he was so gentle to her. I had to stop what I was doing, and watch those two walked out from the church. How kind and sweet he was to Annabel. Most kids, I thought, they don't pay attention to old people, even to their own grandparents. But I was wrong. Some kids pay attention to even to strangers. Annabel was a stranger to Tim. Sometimes, kids teach older people how to love others while adults just talk about it.

Reason for the Season--Born is the King of Israel

We decorated our house with Christmas lights and a rain deer on our rooftop. I love this
season, and this year is such a special year. We are so blessed to live on the same ground where our church is. It is so wonderful to see the beautiful church several times everyday. Christmas season started right after the Thanksgiving. We decorated the church and the parsonage. Last Friday (Dec. 1st), we went to Assoc. Christmas party, and on Saturday (Dec. 2nd) was our church party.

My favorite season is Christmas season. This year, my joy has been multiplied with so many many blessings. The first blessing is our church, the second blessing is also our church, and the third blessing is again our church. What a joy to serve God in this way! We went out for caroling Monday night (Dec. 5th). Last time when I went out for caroling was in Korea in 1969. What a joy to experience it again.