Gazing Across the River

During a recent trip, I was allowed to take a morning to visit a joint security area between NoKo and SoKo. It was the chance of a lifetime to gaze across the river to a place I may never be allowed to visit in my lifetime.  For me, it was hallowed ground to stand in HIS presence and remember all of those living on both sides of the river.  I did not take a camera with me since I was not sure I would be allowed to take photos. However, the place we visited was fairly "touristy" with tour buses, souvenir shops, coffee shops, etc.  The photos below are from the internet.

Map of Demilitarized Zone

Driving north out of Seoul on the highway.  

The DMZ, which stands for Demilitarized Zone, contrary to its name, is the most heavily militarized border in the world.

Imjingak (pronounced Ihm-jin-gak), and sometimes in English called the Imjingak "resort" is a park located on the banks of the Imjin River. The park has many statues and monuments regarding the  Korean War. There is also a restaurant, an observation deck, a pool in the shape of the Korean peninsula, and even a small amusement park.

Observation Deck

Imjingak is where the "Bridge of Freedom" lies. The Freedom bridge does actually cross the Imjin river. It is a former railroad bridge which was used by repatriated POWs/soldiers returning from the north.

 Memorial in gratitude to the USA.

The outing was even more special because one
of my fellow-travelers' father served in the Korean War.
In fact, she was born while he was away.

Answering His Call: Moment by Moment

We are beginning our 7th year in East Asia (not counting two summers we spent here before we actually moved to EA).  Sometimes, even m's can get into too much routine (rut).  You know, you just begin to do the same things in the same places with the same people every day. You have a good feel of the language, the culture, your surroundings....so you just go about your days doing YOUR normal things without much thought of doing HIS extraordinary things.  

Well, for 2014, Jack and I decided to have a new motto:  We would answer HIS call 24/7, moment by moment.  We would go about our normal responsibilities in the office, at our local clubs, in our normal "work" situations....but, we would also be VERY responsive to whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever HE put into our lives....moment by moment.  Let's just say, January has been incredible.  We feel like we are on "this" side of receiving texts, instant messages, FB posts, calls, promptings, etc. from HIM all day long, every day to experience extraordinary opportunities.  Our answer to most everything and everyone is:  WHY NOT?

Today is February 1.  We are in the middle of the Lunar New Year Holiday.  Our whole island is on VACATION and moving about.  It is unusually sunny, clear, and warm.  So, we decided to take a ROAD LESS TRAVELED and drive up into some nearby mountains to enjoy the scenery (minus the millions).  Occasionally, I would hop out of the car to take photos.  At one stop, near a VERY secluded tea farm, the owner came out to chat with us.  (He only spoke Chinese, but we were keeping up pretty well.)  He also had some friends visiting him from our big city and his young adult son.  (They spoke some English and translated on and off for us when we look puzzled.)

The owner invited us to tour his farm, to drink tea and have snacks in his home, to experience a massage by a VERY STRONG 63 year old man, and to have lunch with all of them at a nearby restaurant.  Did I mention it was the FIRST TIME WE HAD EVER SEEN THESE PEOPLE? But, we are determined to answer HIS call this year, moment by moment. They approached us.  They asked us. So, we responded, WHY NOT?

Needless to say, when we left our home this morning at 8 am, we did NOT anticipate this type of day.  But, WHY NOT?  Thus, the problem....we are trying very hard to "anticipate" just these types of days.  For these types of day, to be NORMAL....not extraordinary.

We had opportunity to share with these four adults today.  NONE are believers.  ALL have homes in our big city too.  We exchanged contact info, and we are anticipating more times of sharing in the days ahead. Please lift our new friends up to HIM!  Please lift us up to HIM.  Ask Father to keep us extra-sensitive to answering His call, moment by moment, 24/7/365.

May your answer to anything HE asks of you also be:  WHY NOT?