Hoengsong - "O taste and see that the Lord is good."

"On a lofty mountain peak, He's there. In a meadow by a stream, He's there. Anywhere on earth you go, He's been there from the start.
Find the answer in His Word. It's true. You'll be strong because He walks with you. By His faithfulness, He'll change you, too. God answers prayers."
- This is one of my favorite camp songs.  
God created everything for all of us to enjoy!  When I think of that, I feel so blessed and loved.  


For the church picnic, we went to Hoengsong which is about 30 min. away from Wonju. 
There are so many mountains in Gangwondo area.  So Beautiful!!
We went to this place in May that the water was still pretty cool.  All of us had a great time.
As you can see below, there is a little park that people can walk around or have a little picnic.
By the dam, there is a small water museum which is kids-friendly.  : )

 

 

 

 

Another easy thing to make - BooChinGae!

This is really easy to make!! 

For the batter:

200g / 7 oz (about 2 US cups) white all-purpose or cake flour

1 large egg, beaten

250ml / water

Pinch of salt

Sift the flour and salt together. Combine the egg and water. Add the liquid to the flour gradually, to form a thinnish batter. If you can, set aside to rest for at least 1/2 an hour.
(Store here sells the mix for this recipe.  But if it is not available for you to buy, this recipe will be a good one to try!! )

 

Then, cut some vegetables and mix them with the batter.  (You can put anything like potatoes, zucchini, onions, etc.)

 

 

Spread out as thinly as you can on the hot griddle or frying pan. Cook over medium-high heat until crispy and golden brown, then turn over and cook on the other side. Cut into wedges or squares.

Have it with soy sauce.  It is yummy!!  : )

Kimbap : )

I remember helping my mom making these when I was young.  This is the first time that I try to make these by myself.  In Korea, when kids go on a picnic or a field trip at school, mothers usually make these for their kids.  Many people think that Kimbap is like a Sushi roll.  It may look like it, but it does not contain raw fish like sushi does.  You can put any vegetables as you wish. 

I am not really good at explaining, so here is the instruction that I got from koreanfood.about.com. (I am sorry that I do not have a bamboo roller to show you in the picture.)  I left some comments to help you. :  )

1. When rice is almost cooled, mix with sesame oil and salt. (Rice needs to be sticky.  When you cook rice, put a little less water than a usual amount.-Nurie)
   
2. Stir fry carrots briefly with a dash of salt.
   
3. Saute spinach with a dash of salt. (You can use cucumbers instead and stir fry them.-Nurie)
   
4. Whisk eggs until evenly yellow and fry into flat omelet. Cut cooked egg into long strips.
   
5. Cook bulgogi according to recipe directions. (I fried spam ham and cut into long strips. - Nurie)
   
6. Using a bamboo sushi roller or a piece of tin foil, lay the dried seaweed shiny side down.
   
7. Spread about ½ cup of rice onto 2/3 of the seaweed, leaving the top 1/3 bare (if you moisten your fingers or a spoon to pat down the rice, you'll get less of a sticky mess).
   
8. Lay the first ingredient down around 1/3 of the way up from the bottom of the seaweed.
   
9. Lay the other fillings down on top.
   
10. Roll from the bottom (as if you're rolling a sleeping bag), pressing down to make the fillings stay in.
    
11. As you continue to roll, pull the whole thing down towards the end of the bamboo mat.
    
12. Spread a tiny dab of water along the top seam to hold the roll together.
    
13. Set aside and continue with other seaweed sheets.
    
14. Cut each roll into 7-8 pieces.

Gangneung

 

 

I started liking sea or ocean after I visited Israel.

My favorite spot was the Sea of Galilee.

(I know it is not really sea, but it looks so much like it.)

 

Looking at the Sea of Galilee, it seemed as if there was no end.

Sunrise was even more beautiful!

How gorgeous!!

I felt so close to God as I was at a place where Jesus ministered His people

so many years ago and was looking at such a sight.

As I was enjoying what God created for me,

I was reminded of His thoughtfulness toward me.

I will always remember what I saw and experienced there.

 

"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God." - Ps 40:17

 

That is why I become to love to visit a place like Gangneung

where I can see endless waves and beautiful sunset.

 

 

 

Gangneung is a city on the east coast of South Korea.

It has many popular tourist attractions. 

From Wonju to Gangnueng, it took about two hours.

Bus fee was about $7.00 one way.

From the bus terminal, there are city buses available

to take to go to any of these places.

 

 

 Picture below was taken at the Gyeongpo Lake.

 

 

 

 

 

Gyeongpodae is a pavilion overlooking a Gyeongpo lake.

You can see both sea and lake from there.

 

 

 

 Ojukheon Museum is the birthplace of famous Korean scholar Yulgok and his mother Saimdang.

Yulgok was a prominent Confucian scholar. 

It shows how much Korea was influenced by Confucianism.

 

I hope you enjoy the pictures!!  : )

 

Easy Mini Corn Dogs

1. Insert sticks into little hot dogs.
2. Prepare batter and dip hot dogs into the mixture, rolling to cover completely.
3. Fry 2 to 3 corn dogs at a time in hot oil about 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

*** For batter, I used Korean Pancake Mix which is little sweeter than American ones.
Here is the recipe that I found on website if you want to make it.
(Flour - 150 gram, Sugar - 10 gram, Salt - 2 gram, Baking power - 5 gram, Water - 120 gram, Egg - 1)

ASL in Korea! : )

 

 

I have been teaching kids some American Sign Language in nursery.

They are really doing well!  I took a video of Jonathan, Pastor's son. 

He learned few Korean signs from his Kindergarten class before. 

Definitely, he is a quick learner! 

I hope you enjoy!  :  )

 

 

 

We have services in Korean and English. 

My pastor here is from Philippines. 

 So, that is why Jonathan is pretty good at speaking in English.

Pictures with my students! : )

 

In Korea, many children go to different tutoring places after school.

A place like this is called "Hagwon"

My Hagwon is only for tutoring English.

I have about 8 classes a day. I have about two to ten students in each class.

They are mostly elementary students.

I have five middle school students and one college student in my class.

 

Korean children are pretty busy. 

They go to school at 8 a.m., and after school they go to different Hagwons.

I know of one student who goes to five different Hagwons after school. 

Guess what time he usually gets to go home?  Around 6 p.m.!! 

Everybody does not have a schedule like that boy.

Sometimes, kids are tired when they come to my class

because they usually have a long day of studying.

I feel for them sometimes because they do not get to be kids. 

When I go home after work around 8:30 p.m. or so,

I see kids walking home by themselves after studying at Hagwon. 

 

Teaching is hard at times, but I do have some good students.

Definitely, it's been a good learning experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fish Bread?!?!

Fish Bread???  That sounds funny, right?? 

 It does not taste anything like fish.  It is named Fish Bread because it looks just like a fish. 

Outside is crispy, but inside is soft filled with cream or black beans. 

People sell it on the street only during the winter.

It is not really the healthiest thing to eat, but it is so yummy!! 

I do have really good story behind it.

 

 

 

 

 

There was one place where a lady sold fish bread close from my work. 

I bought it from there pretty often.  Then, I got to know the lady.

One day, on my way to work, I saw that lady walking, too. 

I started talking to her and later found out that she was my neighbor.

I gave her a track and told her about my church.

Few weeks later, I found out that her daughter, You-gin needed some help with math.

I told her that I would be willing to help her daughter, You-gin. 

So, You-gin came over to my house few times. 

About a month ago, You-gin and her sister came to church.

They heard the Gospel.

It was such a blessing that God put our paths to cross.

I am hoping and praying that she will come faithfully. 

 

I fail to pass out tracts to everybody whom I meet on daily basis.

But this experience will help me to remember the importance of witnessing.

 

 

"Lost people matter to God, and so they must matter to us."
- Keith Wright

 

Brownie Cookies : )

This recipe is not original with me. I got it from the pinterest.

I baked these cookies for my Sunday school kids for Valentines Day,
and kids really liked them.

It is sweet, but not too sweet.  It is pretty soft. 
I want to call it "Brownie Cookie".

 

Cocoa Cookies½ cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1½ cups all purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 tsp salt

Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and stir. In another bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, cocoa and salt together. Add flour mixture, a little at a time to creamed butter mixture and mix until smooth. Form dough in a ball and wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Put dough in freezer about 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350º. Spray cookie sheets.

Roll out dough on floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut cookies with cutter. Place cookies on sheet at least 1" apart. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired.

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on rack.  (Once again, this is not my recipe.)

Enjoy!!!

How to Cut an Orange! : )

 

In Korea, for the dessert, people often eat fruits.
When food is served especially for special guests or meetings, it needs to look pretty.
I am not really good at cutting fruits or vegetables pretty.
I am working on it.
 

My friend cut an orange like this last week,
and it WAS very pretty.
I tried to do it as she did, but it did not turn out as pretty.
 I wanted to blame on the orange. : )

I am sure there are a lot of different ways.
But here is what I learned last week.  : )

 

Bus Ride!!!

Before the Kowach family moved to Chuncheon, I had a Sunday school party at my house.  Then, I invited two missionary kids, Elisabeth and Eliza for a sleepover.  I wanted to do something special with them before they move.  We had to ride different buses to go to various places. Even though it was cold outside, they were excited about riding the city bus. First, I decided to take them to get some sticker pictures done. Then, we went shopping.

 

I cannot compare with a bus ride in America how people let the driver know to stop for their stops. But in Korea, before a stop where one needs to get off, he needs to push a button to let the driver know. Both of the girls had a chance to do that, and it made them really excited.  Later, we came back home and had them call their parents.  When I heard them talking to their parents, one thing really surprised me.  They told their family that the most memorable thing that they did was riding the city bus.  Then, I realized that none of their families has ridden the city bus because they have their own vehicle.  Definitely, the little thing made them really happy.

 

 

In Korea, it is easier to get around without a car.  Riding a bus may take a little longer than just driving a car to a place. But it helped me so far. A monitor is sometimes set up so people know which and when buses are coming.  : )     

 

Praise the Lord for God's protection!

No matter where I am, He always takes care of me!!  : )

My Princes and Princesses

This is my Jr. Church during the main service time. We are learning about Esther, and that is why we made our own crowns.

  They are my princesses and princes!!

These kids make me so happy.  They are so lovable!

I often feel like I need their love more than they do.  : )

 

 

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me,

for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;" - I Timothy 1:12

You can find these printable crowns at www.firstpalette.com.