This Thursday morning was disappointing for my children. Especially for Samuel. It was supposed to be our field trip day and at the last minute we found out it was cancelled. Mainly because a few families just decided they did not want to have it this week. I found out late Wednesday when I called to find out why our hand phone text had not been sent out. Part of it is the culture, they plan things last minute and cancel last minute as well. Also, they try to accommodate all and will cancel plans if it does not work for just one family. For example, they cancelled a mountain hike early spring when I called 1 hr before to say we could not come because Liz was sick. All the other families cancelled even though they had prepared their picnic lunches and one even got up early to make kimbop. I am thankful for their flexibility and that this same leader dropped everything this day to take Liz and I to the doctor. They are a sweet group and a blessing to our family. This is tough on my kids , because this is the only chance they get to be with friends their own age and that speak their own language. We meet only twice a month ( 1 field trip/play time, 1 report day) and my kids look forward to the field trip for weeks in advance. So this started out as such a discouraging day. No field trip and even the scheduled play date with Samuel friends was cancelled. My kids spent the morning moaping and complaining how it was so unfair to cancel just for a few families when many would have been able to come. They would take even just a free time at the park with friends. It is tough on Sam and Caitlyn who remember all the activities they did on a weekly basis with our home school group in Oklahoma. They miss all the activities and the friends. It is also tough , because they have no way to interact with friends their own age other than this group. It is just not possible. Because Korean children their age go to school long hours, then go to institutes after school and then spend the time left studying. We seldom see any children outside playing above Korean age 10(American age 8-9) We only see them coming home from school or traveling to their various institutes (Math, Science, English, Piano, Taekwando, ect.).
My children feel very isolated and lonely for friendship. So please pray for them in this area. I tried to encourage them and we spent the morning studying Bible/character and doing household chores. After lunch I encouraged them to go outside and play. Sam and Adriel went out to play, but Caitlyn stayed inside to do various activities. Elijah played inside because his buddy Jonathon was sleeping, and Liz took a nap while I prepared dinner. When Liz woke from her nap I suggested we go outside to play. So Liz ,Elijah and I went to join Samuel and Adriel on the playground.
I found Samuel playing dokgee (Koren game like pogs) with some much younger boys and Adriel was watching. One of the boys ( Korean age 10) asked me if I was Samuel's mom. I said yes and we exchanged introductions. Afterwards, I went with Lizzy to play on the slide. This boy followed me. He told me he lived in Dong Boo Apart( The playground is inbetween the two Apart. complexes). He asked if I would like to go to his house. I just smiled and kept playing with Liz and listening to the boy tell me about his little sister who is 5yrs old( 4yr Am. age) and so cute. He kept asking if I would like to visit his house and meet his so very nice and kind mother. I said several times that would be nice, I bet your sister is cute and I am glad you have such a wonderful mom. He finally said, "come to my house now." I said, " That is nice for you to ask me but, I bet your mother is busy and not ready for a guest. He assured me his mother would be happy to meet us and I would love his wonderful home. So what could I do but gather up the kiddos and follow him to his Apartment.
We met his lovely mom at the apart. playground. He introduced us and I met his cute little sister and his mother's friend. He informed his mother( in Korean) that he had invited our family to his house. I tried to smile and excuse myself , but it did not work. She was a little surprised , but Korean are very good at showing hospitality and are very flexible( as I shared earlier). So we (me , Samuel, Adriel, Elijah and Liz) went to their apart. His mother rushed ahead to prepare for us and warn the father of our visit. The mother's friend corralled us together and escorted us to the families home. Dad met us at the door and warmly welcomed us inside. It was very awkward for all of us at first, but we were welcomed inside and treated like very special guests. The house was a little bigger than ours , but so neat and clean. It was decorated so lovely. Bright flowery wall paper, lace curtains and such a friendly atmosphere. We were invited to sit down at the Korean style table (low table no chairs) and they started bringing out snacks for us. Big plates of water melon (watermelon can cost between $7-$11 now) some Japanese snacks (little bread sticks wrapped in seaweed ) cereal, candy and another friend came with sandwiches (chicken lunch meat and potato salad I think). The children went off to play, the father excused himself to the bedroom with his laptop and us ladies sat down to try to get acquainted. Did I mention my Korean is almost nothing and the women knew only a little English. The hostess tried to get her son to come help us talk, because his English was very good, but he only smiled and said, a few words in Korean and then went off to play with his buddies. If it would have been my son , maybe I would have beat him:) Who knows what happened when I left:) I felt a little uncomfortable, but tried to visit. The last lady that joined us knew more English than the others. They really wanted to know more about me and my family. I kept apologizing for the surprise visit , but they said, it was okay and that they were happy to have me. We exchanged hand phone #s and the other ladies said, "we want you to come to our house too. We want to meet your husband and older daughter." They said they wanted to meet again and learn more English. I said," I will work on my Korean." I stayed for about 2 hrs and then said I must go my husband is on his way home from work. I tried to leave much earlier, because I felt like I was imposing on them, but they kept insisting I stay and visit. This was an awkward , but a blessed time for me. I would love to have more Korean friends , but my lack of Korean normally only allows me to have friendships with bilingual Koreans. I found out all the ladies were christian and very active at their church. I hope this will be a start of some lovely friendships.
This has taught me so many things. I need to be more flexible, more organized at home and ready to adjust my plans as God directs. Hebrews 13:1-2 says, Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
I am no angel , but these ladies showed me hospitality by showing me brotherly love and entertaining a stranger in their home (me). Bill Gothard describes hospitality as "making sure the environment is suitable for those we serve." This ladies house was definitely a suitable environment to entertain a stranger as a guest. Clean , nicely decorated and open even to a surprise visitor. She was also flexible in changing plans if unexpected conditions require it". I am now asking God to help me be ready to show hospitality when he directs me and to be flexible in adjusting and adapting myself to the wishes of God whom I serve. What a blessing it is to serve my Lord and Savior who continues to keep my life full of surprises and adventures. And I am blessed for the new christian sisters he has sent my way and who were so kind to me a Foreigner in their land.
