75 Words

Day 9, 10 - China

We have arrived in China!

Internet it spotty and video uploads will be more difficult than before, so we'll do what we can.

We landed in China and were basically off and running.

We had dinner with some local friends and leaders and spoke in their fellowship that night.

Dad teaching the small group of believers.

I was given the opportunity to teach as well.

Dad makes an animated point during the morning service at fellowship.

Pastor Peter leads the congregation in worship.

Tomorrow, we start a 2 day pastors conference along with various other meetings along the way.

That's all from here.

Keep us in your prayers.

Day 5 - Teaching and A Portrait of a Student (Video)

We started teaching yesterday and in 2 hours made it through the introduction and the first 5 verses of 1st Peter. 

Only 99 more verses to go in 8 hours.

Meet Betsy, one of our Taiwanese students here at WOLBI Jeju Island.

 

Day 4 - A Visit To A Buddhist Temple (Phideo)

Spent some time sight seeing on the island today.

One of our stops was a Korean Buddhist temple still very active.

 

This is the Chief Buddha

These are 'prayer requests' that hang from the ceiling.

Some of our students enjoying the temple brooms.

 

Pray for South Korea.

Day 2 - Cheju Island, South Korea (Video)

We've arrived to the Word of Life Bible Institute on Cheju Island, South Korea. 

The B.I. is nestled among trees and rock outcrops about 4500 feet up on a mountainside.

The campus is beautiful, the staff welcoming, and the students energetic.

It's going to be a great week.

 

Day 1 - 환영 Korea! (Video)

 

Yes, that is Jay Chou. 

Yes, that is Novembers Chopin.

Yes, you just flew to Korea with us in 2.5 minutes.

No beverage service needed.

Day 1 - 환영 Korea!

 It was a long, long flight.

These pictures capture the mood pretty well.

At some point early on, there was a push for productivity.

That push gave way to this Korean airplane food (sounds like bimbimbob).

And at some point over Canada (go ahead and insert your own favorite Canadian joke here), it became apparent I had turned the corner from sane to delirious. (this was only like 4 hours into the flight.)

Delirious enough to play the computer at Yahtzee until I won…which I didn’t. It took me many, many games to realize the computer was cheating. (perhaps delirium setting in?)(or maybe a transcontinental conspiracy?)

Things had deteriorated so much that I was actually explaining to the bear how a seatbelt really isn’t going to help in the event of something crazy. We had a one way conversation for a while and it was only when I realized that I had been bested by a bear (a cuddly white one at that) that I quietly retreated and put my seatbelt back on.

 

 Eventually, we landed, cleared customs, and made it to the hotel.

It's 3:57 A.M. here in Seoul, so sleep has been scant.

On the upside?

A video is forthcoming.

Stay Tuned.

 

T-Minus 29.5 Hours

Whenever I'm about to leave on a long plane flight, I watch this video.

 

Mostly because I love it when Michael Clark Duncan and Steve Buscemi's characters get in on the harmony. 

Tomorrow I leave for a 2 week long trip that goes a little something like this:

 

If you substitute all the locations in this song with:

Dallas, Incheon, Jeju Island, and Dalian...it sounds like Johnny Cash wrote this song for my trip. (not to mention I laugh when I think about Johnny Cash trying to say Dalian in his country voice)

Throughout the trip I'll be updating this site with pictures and video. (mostly of the food I'll be eating and maybe some cats (gotta go viral right?))

Time to go pack.

Mark, Out!

P.S. Be checking out www.keepbelieving.com for trip updates as well.

 

Fatherhood - A Trip To Oxford

Today was a good day.

It was Eli's first trip to Oxford, Mississippi.

Home of Pulitzer Prize Winning Authors, Oscar Winning Actors, and Legendary Football Games.

We started out at Big Bad Breakfast where the biscuits are made with pepper (freakin delicious) and the bacon is cured in house (also delicious).

Then we made our way to Ole Miss where Eli received his induction into the finest southern tradition known to man, becoming (he, like me, wasn't given a choice) an Ole Miss fan. 

(before viewing photos, go here and play the song in the background (Pete Boone be damned))

 

A game-day progression for Eli to get used to for the future!

Stuff I Like - Blogs Worthy of Your Time

I've added a "Stuff I Like" bar to the site. ---------------------->

These are the first blogs that have made the cut. 

Check em out.

My Kind of Wittty: A blog on everything from triathlons to the mysteries of St. Paul. Bri is an able writer and humorist.

John C. Blog: An account of cultural happenings and life commentary seen through the lens of John Thompson of (soon-to-be) Northwestern fame.  

Leah's Ideas: Recipes, Theology, and Family. Tasty, Deep, and Endearing. Come for the food (real and spiritual) and stay for the pictures of my nephew. (See below)

Three Little Ladies: Stories from a SAHD (stay.at.home.dad) of triplets. With multiple postings of his beautiful girls, you'll find your time well spent here.

Not A Dinner Party: From raging liberal rants to hilarious life encounters to unrestrained love for all things China, reading this blog will enrage you, cause outbursts of laughter, and bring light to the elephant in the room of the world (China).

Keep Believing Ministries: Want a sermon for easter, christmas, or pretty much anything in between? You'll find video, audio, and a mountain of sermons all of which are free. A great resource for the pastor, lay-person, or time-waster.

 

 

A Chinese Flashback - Foot Massage in Dallas

I've wanted this for some time.

Like 5 1/2 years.

We found this place.

FootJoyTx

$30 Bucks Per Person Got This:

45 Minute Foot Massage

15 Minute Hand Massage

Also, they took 1 hour and 20 minutes.

It was perfectly Chinese and perfectly amazing.

If you're in Dallas,

And you miss cheap and amazing foot massages from China,

Heaven has arrived.

All is right with the world.

(also, it's down the street from the best dumpling shop in America)