A wonderful and very emotional day.

Rev. Kim

Our first day was wonderful and full!!!  We walked 12,500 steps and many of those were steps or a climb up one of the many hills on Ewah campus.  Today the steps were less ... Only about 4,800, however the content was heavy, enlightening, and spiritually lifting.  We began the day with some powerful and passionate history of Korean Methodist women from the late 1800's and on who paved the way for Korean women to be some of the most educated women in the world.  Rev. Heasun Kim has written and edited writings for a book for the KUMC on the subject of Korean women's role in the church.  

Our team with Dr. David Suh and Rev. Heasun Kim on the walkway for the new underground building on the campus. 

Another highlight for us on a subject that most of us were unaware of was the human rights issues relating to the comfort women of Korea during WWII.  It is very difficult to translate feelings and our experiences of the day.  Korean women have worked tirelessly to bring the human rights issues to the forefront for years.  They have held a protest in front of the Japanese embassy every Wednesday for 20 years.  We will be participating this protest on Wednesday, September 11.  

Two of our women have spent time working to get US legislation passed which asked our government to take the human rights issue of the treatment and use of comfort women to the Japanese government.  This has been passed but still no apologies from Japanese government for the crimes against women. 

Helen and Karen 

A Great Way To Begin Our Journey

President  elect Lallene Rector Of Garrett Theological
Seminary, Bridget Cabrera of UMW National
Rev. Haesun Kim of Scranton Women's
Leadership Center. 

We had a great day on Monday... Filled with radical hospitality shown by our hosts, wonderful people who greeted us our gave us a tour, a ton of walking up and down the hills of Ewah and Yonsei Universities, and to top it off deliciously prepared Korean food.  All good.  Here are a few photos to help you get a feel for our day.

We have arrived safely

It could be that I'm tired after the 13 1/2 hour flight from Chicago...it could be that Blogger and the Ipad don't get along but things have disappeared so I'm seem to be making slow progress for the posts.  Maybe things will improve over time!!

Little by little our fabulous group of 10 Ubuntu Sisters gathered in Seoul.  It's been a long day of travel for everyone.  We are thinking that to arrive early evening is probably the best as we have an opportunity to get cleaned up and the into bed before midnight.  If I hurry even I will be close to bed by midnight. 

This evening our devotions were centered around the early missionaries who came to Korea  to share the gospel and begin schools for the children who were not able to attend school. We look forward to our time here to gather more of those stories.  In our conversations with Koreans this history is very important for it defines a special relationship with the people of the US.  
Our Korean sisters who are part of our team have been extremely helpful.   We are blessed with that many translators.  

Front row: Mary, Paula, Kathryn, Molly, Bonnie, back row: Barbara, Hae

Just one picture to share tonight.  This is the "Chicago 7" waiting at O'Hare before going through security.  

Preparing for the journey

As we finalize the suitcase packing, our team continues to share resources that relate to the journey to South Korea.   Team member Helen just shared a link to a wonderful article entitled "The Struggle for a Korean Peace Treaty"  to give us some reading material on the long plane ride ahead.   I've provided a link for you to also learn more about the continued movement for peace in Korea.   Thanks for checking in on us from time to time.    

 

Another Journey Begins...

Another Ubuntu Journey is ready to depart.   Ten women from California, South Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, New York, and Alabama will gather in Seoul, South Korea on Sunday, September 1.   We will meet for the first time  (face-to-face) around 8:30 p.m. at the Vabein II hotel. 

Our journey will be one of peace...being that this is the 60th anniversary of the signing of the  Armistice  after the Korean conflict between North and South Korea.  We are so thankful for the pre-planning and preparations that have been taking place for the past year for our 12 days in South Korea.   Women under the leadership of Rev. Heasun Kim from the Scranton Women's Leadership Center are the hosts for our journey and have planned a variety of experiences around the theme of Peace.  I would encourage you to follow Scranton Women's Leadership Center Facebook page as well as check in on their website.   Advocacy and training lead the women's organization in many areas of the Asian world.  

 

Your prayers will be much appreciated.  We are excited to be visiting a country with a very ancient history and culture.  Once a mission focus for the missionaries of the Methodist Church, the United Methodist Church in South Korea has come full circle and now the church is a mission sender bringing others to Jesus Christ through evangelism, education, and advocacy.   What a joy it will be to explore  how they see the message of Jesus in the world from a South Korean  point of view. 

 

I hope you will come back next week and join us from a distance on our Journey with our sisters in South Korea.    

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons(and daughters) of God.   Matthew 5:9

Celebrating Operation Classroom with Bishop Yambasu

Carolyn, Gina, and Joe enjoy the moment. 

Celebrating 25 years with Operation Classroom as a mission focus for the United Methodists of Indiana was to be expected when Joe and Carolyn Wagner stepped aside this past month.   Their influence and tireless work with the people of Sierra Leone and Liberia will forever be remembered.   Thanks Joe and Carolyn for your unselfish leadership in a place and with people love you dearly. Gina Riendeau is thrilled to stand beside as she shares their passion for mission with others. 

 

On that evening Bishop Yambasu and his wife enjoyed the festive time and took time to have a photo with the members of our Ubuntu team who were present for the Operation Classroom Celebration.   Grand evening, great people gathered, and many memories revisited.   Let's pray for the future of Operation Classroom as it moves forward for we know this is where God has called us to serve. 



Bishop Yambasu, Rita Gather-Gant, Mrs. Yambasu, Vickie Newkirk and Bonnie Albert

Kono Musu and the Kissy Women's Centers

Thanks Carol for sharing a link to the wonderful article that was prepared by our Ubuntu Host Beatrice on the Women's Centers in Sierra Leone.  Our team has such fond memories of our time visiting the Kono Musu Center.  

Here we are with all of the women and a few men who are learning life changing skills. 

     
A special day was created just for our visit by Beatrice as our schedule was for us to be there on a Saturday.  We were welcomed with great Sierra Leonian hospitality.  
When United Methodist Women pay their Mission Pledge, it is ministries such as this that we are able to support.   The article written for the United Methodist Women's resource section of their website is under International Ministries.   More than 2000 girls and women (with a few men) have moved on to being self sufficient with the training received at these centers.  
Please consider a special gift for the Women's Desk of Sierra Leone to assist with women's and children's ministries throughout the country. These funds may be sent though the channels of giving and marked as Women's Desk of Sierra Leone.