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| Sacred Journey Participants |
by Irene Choi
youthVIEW |
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I came to Korea five years ago with my mother and brother, and during this trip people remembered me and made time to meet with me again. It’s such a nice feeling to know that people you befriend will always remember you. I love this country mostly for the people because they are the nicest I’ve met outside the United States. They made me feel so welcomed. I hope I’ll have another chance to visit Korea, because these experiences have been memorable and exciting. Kate Lavery, Church of Christ, Congregational, Newington It seemed like they (Cho Woel, our sister church) were obsessed with banners. Everywhere we went there was a banner welcoming us! We spent almost every day with the pastor and his son, which made the trip fun because they were cool. Our church is lucky to have this opportunity. So, I urge anyone to go on this trip. I grew so much. I feel closer to God and now I know people around the world. So “thank you” to everyone who made this trip possible. It was the best thing I’ve ever done. Jessica Sit, First Church of Christ, Congregational in Glastonbury During the two daily worship services, I had plenty of time to think about how truly different the world is. Looking back, I am glad that I am one of presumably only a handful of Americans to ever have trained at a Korean military camp, because it made me realize how little I know about different parts of the world. Jesus Cadet Academy was for all of us a life-changing experience that I will always remember. Brian Krusell, Church of Christ, Congregational, Newington |
GLASTONBURY (02/01/2007) -- Every four years, the Korean Partnership Committee organizes Sacred Journey, a two-week trip to meet with our counterparts in partner churches in the Kyungki Presbytery in South Korea. Last summer, 11 youth and three adults took part in Sacred Journey 2006. Only one of the students had been to Korea before. Prior to the trip, we met a few times to become acquainted with one another and to learn about the history and the culture of Korea.
On July 26, we gathered at the Glastonbury Church and departed for JFK airport. There we changed currency and took off on our 15-hour flight, crossing the International Dateline and arriving at Inchon Airport at 5:30 pm on July 27, to be greeted by torrential monsoon rains. It felt like there was a hole in the sky. Four of the Korean Partnership churches sent members to welcome us at the airport and we were taken to our respective host churches.
The next day, we all met at a restaurant for a welcoming dinner, followed by a trip to the movies in place of a rain-soaked visit to a folk village. The theater was playing “Pirates of the Caribbean”, subtitled in Korean, so the English speakers would laugh first and then the Koreans would laugh.
We had a chance to spend some time at, and to worship with, our various host churches. All the Sacred Journey participants spent four days and three nights at the Dong Suwon Church, at “English Camp.” It is so named in order to attract Korean students, whose parents are more willing to send them if they can justify it as time spent learning English. In all, 52 students attended the camp. The host church and Rev. Han and his staff were very helpful and made the experience such fun for the campers, American and Korean. The last day we all went to a spa, where we spent the night. We had a great time and many students were sad when camp ended.
The next day, we boarded a bus for a three-hour trip to another camp, the Jesus Cadet Academy, where we stayed for three days and two nights. After we arrived, we changed our attire – no sleeveless clothes, in spite of the heat and humidity – out of respect for our hosts. The Academy is very regimented, featuring energetic singing and lengthy worship services and sermonizing, as well as nightly room inspections. It is quite rigorous, but in the end we all made it through and enjoyed the experience. We said goodbye and returned to our host families.
On our last day in Korea, we met at Nam San Mountain to explore Seoul, the capitol of South Korea, and to go shopping. The next day, we gathered at the airport to bid a tearful farewell to our hosts and new friends.
We appreciated the welcome and hospitality that our Korean hosts extended to us, and hope that this warmth and sincerity will continue in the relationships between the partner churches in Connecticut and Korea, as well as the Korean Partnership Committee and the Kyung-ki Presbytery. Our youth can learn so much from the Sacred Journey exchanges, gaining an understanding that the world needs now, more than ever. We give thanks to God that we returned safely and in good health, and for the opportunity to make new friends.
Irene Choi is a member of the Korean Partnership Committee and First Church of Christ, Congregational in Glastonbury. The church is partnered with the Cho Woel Church in the Kyung-ki Presbytery. To learn more about the Korean Partnership, please contact Jim Morgan at 860.761.7123, or jimm@ctucc.org.
