Seoul Day Two

We went to sleep at about 8:30 last night, both thinking it may take us a while to fall asleep -- well, that wasn't true! We did both wake up about 1:00 am, but that was just a short "where am I?" moment. Back to sleep and up again at about 4:30 am. A great night's sleep! It is very quiet in the room, very conducive to good sleeping.

At 7:00 I was back in the Cathedral with Barbara and Kate -- it was much more crowded than yesterday, with the Archbishop celebrating the Eucharist -- it was the beginning of the 125th anniversary celebration. The nuns from the convent along with many of the clergy were in the chapel --

it was packed! As I turned around in my chair I spotted Brother Ambrose next to a member of the clergy who had been at our CPE program at Good Samaritan Hospital -- it is a small world! 

Brother Ambrose had his fan, which I had to borrow at one point during the service! Of course one of my favorite moments was when Sister Catherine Oh came in -- what a blessing she is! She wrote a

quick synopsis of the sermon for me as it was coming to an end. While I did not understand a word that was being said by the preacher, I told him afterwards that I particularly enjoyed his delivery. He was very relaxed and people responded to his warmth. 

Sometimes we meet angels in our lives. That was part of the sermon, as you can see on the top of the page. I feel as though I have met many angels in my life here in the Diocese of Seoul and in the Province of Korea. The Rev. Kyrie Kim also whispered in my ear about what the Archbishop was saying as he addressed the group during the announcements. It was a very special start of a very beautiful day!

We headed back to the hotel to find Ken and Steve already eating breakfast. As there were three of us and they were at a table for four, we were directed to our own table. We waited for the Rev. Nancy Frausto and the Rev. Anna Olson to get to the hotel for breakfast from the airport -- the arrived shortly after us, and Nancy joined our table and Anna joined Steve and Ken's table. It was good to see them and to catch up a little before our day started to unfold -- and in some ways unravel -- before us. You see we were supposed to head out with Fred Vegara and his wife and their friend to the Big Palace (Gyeongbokgung Palace). However because Nancy and Anna arrived later than expected from the airport, I negotiated a different "start" time 45 minutes later to enable them to eat and take a shower before we headed out. That gave some of us time to take a walk before we went touring.

Steve, Barbara, Kate and I headed for a walk down "embassy row" as I like to call it. That small street that runs along one side of the small palace (Deoksugung Palace). It is a beautiful, small windy street that has a number of embassies/consulates along it, as well as a church and a museum. There is also lovely artwork along the way. As we set out we saw a beautiful, large drum outside the small palace

and stopped to take a picture. As we did, a woman approached me and as she began to ask me, "do you remember me" -- I immediately realized it was Ella Goo -- the wonderful young woman who we met one year ago and who took us shopping before our dinner with the Archbishop last time we were in Seoul. It was so wonderful to see her -- I invited her to dinner with us, and she accepted.

As we walked along the street we say lots of beautiful art. I particularly love the "squashed" family -- it looks as though they were flattened, or as one member of our group noted, it looked as though we were looking at them in one of those carnival distorting mirrors. We also passed by the Franciscan

Friary and saw the lovely statue of St. Francis out front. When I took the photo it looked as though there was a rainbow of light coming across St. Francis -- it was the effect of the light on my iPhone camera, and I thought of deleting the picture. Seeing the result the refracted light made caused me to change my mind. I thought about all the pictures I see on Facebook with people changing their profile pictures to include a rainbow of light across them -- I had to smile as I thought about St. Francis with that same welcoming rainbow.

When we finally took off we headed to the Big Palace with Fr. Columba Lee driving us -- only to find that it was so crowded there we couldn't park! I asked if we should just head on to Insadong to do some shopping and eat lunch. He agreed -- we will go to the Big Palace tomorrow before the Convocation begins. At any rate, when we got to Insadong we parked in a small lot that had an interesting display in the back -- the pagoda like statues with stone people in between. After I took the picture we began shopping immediately and walking down the street -- beautiful! I love this area of Seoul. 

We went to Well Being restuarant and had a wonderful lunch of "wrapped rice"-- beautiful green leaves of lettuce and other green leafed veggies with red rice, bulgogi and smoked duck. All the trimmings too! It was delicious. Nancy Frausto who historically has been the queen of "don't worry about feeding me, I can go out and get tacos" has become quite an adventurous eater! I was so proud of her. She loved the bulgogi!

We then got back in the van and headed to the Leeum -- the Samsung museum. It had traditional art including celadon, other ceramics, caligraphy, etc. on one side, and modern art on the other. It was very well laid out and was definitely worth the drive to Itaewon, an area I hadn't been in before. LOVED the streets there -- lots of young people out and about, and definitely an international feel in the area by virture of the number of different kinds of restaurants we saw -- Turkish, Vietnamese, Indian, Mexican, Soul Food, etc. I didn't take pictures in the museum (it wasn't allowed) but I did take one of an Itaewon shop and of the Tourist Police van that I saw. I wondered about what the Tourist Police do -- arrest tourists that aren't following rules? 

The next and (almost) last stop of the day was at the Convent next to the Cathedral. I had asked Sister Catherine if she could give us a tour of the convent and she did. She greeted us warmly as we entered the side gate that leads to the beautiful garden -- it is definitely an oasis in Seoul! We took pictures and then went inside to have juice and tea before continuing our tour. Her hospitality was warm as always. She is such a joy to be with! We visited the chapel, and then before leaving her she should us the prayer room in the traditional Korean style area of the convent. 

We said goodbye to Columba and Nancy and Anna - Nancy and Anna were exhausted and headed back to the hotel. Columba went to join Aidan for dinner. We went pack and dropped off out packages and headed to Luii for dinner -- a chinese restaurant that is one of the Archbishop's favorite places to eat. We each ordered a dish and shared it. Ella joined us for dinner -- lovely! 

As we were walking back a band was planning at the City Hall across from the hotel -- it was wonderful to listen to live music on the cool night-air stroll back to the hotel. I leave you with various photos from the day. Until tomorrow.....I wonder what I'll see as I wander around Seoul .......

Seoul Day One

After having left Los Angeles at 11:30 pm on Saturday, September 26, we arrived in Seoul at 4:35 am on Monday, September 28. Bleary eyed, the first of the Los Angeles folks arrived for the Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry Convocation which will begin on Wednesday, September 30. Ken Chow, Barbara Stewart, my husband Steve and me -- followed shortly by Aidan Koh. Also on our flight was Kate Cullinane -- a matriarch of EAM! Soon Brother Ambrose will be joining us, and as the next few days continue to unfold, over 40 of us will gather from the Diocese of Los Angeles alone -- there are just over 200 registered for this event.

We were picked up at the airport by the Rev. Silverio Hyoung-ho Roh and the Rev. Jinse Kim. When we emerged from customs and immigration at a little after 5 this morning, there they were! In their collars at 5 am on a Holiday -- it is the Moon Festival here, and most people are home with their families. I felt horrible that they came to get us -- I was happy to take the bus! 

We arrived at the hotel and by 6:30 am we were checked into our rooms. At 6:45 Barbara, Kate and I headed over to the Cathedral to catch the 7 am Eucharist in the chapel. Of course, as we were heading there Silverio was walking towards us in order to make sure we didn't get lost.

It was wonderful to spend my first few hours in Seoul having Eucharist in the Chapel -- it was a blessed way to begin this trip. Although the service was done entirely in Korean, we all knew where we were in the service. It felt natural and "at home" to be in that space, praying and sharing Eucharist and the peace with each other.

We ate breakfast together with Archbishop Kim and some members of his staff. It was great to see Kyrie Kim -- someone I have long admired. 

Finally we got our showers done and regrouped after a short rest just in time for -- LUNCH! Aidan remembered that I love ginseng chicken soup, so he asked the Archbishop's staff where to go. We went to a small place close to the hotel. We were seated upstairs -- Aidan's sister and her son joined 

us. The soup was delicious! I was served my soup, which contained a whole baby chicken in it as well. Here is a picture of the soup, still bubbling as it always does when it is served. I especially liked my spoon -- depicting a deer and ginseng -- it was the only spoon I saw in the box of utensils on the table that was like that, and somehow it ended up in my bowl. It symbolizes gaining strength. A special tea and a small amount (very small, actually) of ginseng wine rounded out the meal and gave us a small burst of energy. So, we were off again.

Steve forgot his sports coat, so we were on the lookout for one. We went "underground" but found most of the shops closed because of the holiday. We did, however, find the Lotte department store with the enormous food court in the bottom (the underground level). It was packed, and happy shoppers and people who were just hungry were feasting on everythning from bibimbap to sushito different noodle dishes, breads, etc. I don't know what you COULDN'T find there! We made a mental note to save that for a potential dinner stop. 

We never did find a jacket, but Aidan promised to take us shopping in an area in which he thought we might be able to find a good deal. Well, we didn't find a jacket there either, but we DID see a gazillion people out shopping, and street carts with all kinds of different foods to eat -- from fried octopus tentacles to baked cheese to baked eggs on bread to ice cream stuffed in large, curved, churro sized cones to cotton candy colored and shaped like a lotus flower -- and more! Here is a picture of the area were were walking around. Pictures of the food will follow at the end of this blob post today. 

We then walked to a folk village (I remember visiting that when I was here the first time). It was PACKED! The city is filled with Chinese tourists and others who were visiting over the long weekend. The folk village was also packed with people -- but it was good to see the beautiful trees and the village still being visited -- women and men were dressed up in traditional wear -- small children too! It was beautiful. 

We took a cab back to across the street from the hotel to the small palace. We walked thorugh those grounds as well. I remember doing this on my own early in the morning the day I arrived in Seoul for the first time four years ago. It is a beautiful palace -- and when we went into one area we could clearly see over the wall and realized that what we were looking at was actually the Archbishop's office!

We had tea with the Archbishop around 4:15 and went to our rooms to rest a bit. After a quick consultation with the group we headed over to the food court for dinner -- we weren't disappointed! I had pork cutlet with rice and vegetable. We all enjoyed it, and we each had a little bit of dessert (I had pistachio almond ice cream -- I know, it's not on my diet!

Well, I walked over 21,000 steps today and I'm feeling it (and a bit of being overtired at the moment due to lack of sleep and the time difference.) Enjoy the pictures that follow -- and I will try to post tomorrow as well.

The Things People Do . . .

I just returned home from a great Sunday -- two beautiful services at St. Michael's in Studio City -- what a transformation that place has had! From the last time that I was there, it's had a "face lift" -- renovations and creative use of space. Confirmations, Receptions, Baptisms -- a beautiful day! The Very Rev. Dan Justin, ably assisted by the Rev. Stephanie Wilson, is doing a fine job there. Lots of good energy and the Spirit was moving!

Then I went over to the Cathedral Center for to listen to a re-reading of a sermon, given 150 years ago today on the death of Abraham Lincoln. The Episcopal Chorale was there, singing beautifully as always. The Lincoln High School Drum Line was also  there -- a wonderful addition to the day. It was a very moving service -- with a call to action in terms of all of us still needing to work together to make sure every human being has equal opportunities for employment, earnings, healthcare, etc. The work started by Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is not done yet. We need to carry on the work.

Then -- I returned home. To find this. Where my wreathes normally are hung, I found this hung on the nail where the wreathes go. At first I thought someone had stolen my wreath and replaced it with a note! It turns out that Steve had taken the wreath I had on there down and was going to ask me which one I wanted him to hang in its place.

Instead -- I found this. I initially folded it to throw it away, but then I decided to blog about it.

OPEN LETTER TO THE PERSON WHO HUNG THIS ON THE WALL AT MY ENTRYWAY:

1. Do I know you?
2. Are you a neighbor I don't know about?
3. Do you know who I am and how I pray?
4. Do you think this is your attempt to "save" me -- how do you know the state of my soul?
5. Did you see me in my clerical collar and that offended you (it has happened).
6. While I applaud the zeal in which you want to proselytize, it would be helpful, if you are a member of a community of faith, for you to put the name and address, phone number and email address of said community on your flyer (there wasn't anything!). Are you remaining anonymous for a reason? Did you put your contact information on previous flyers and you were called and, well, in the vernacular, reamed a new one?

I find it offensive to have this posted on my wall in my doorway. I find it offensive because it is anonymous. I find it offensive because I have Buddhist, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu and Taoist neighbors. I take offense on their behalf. I would much rather engage in a conversation with someone than have them leave me a glossy, expensively printed piece of paper in my entryway that I can't even respond to.

So -- whoever did this, I am praying for you. I am praying for the community of faith you are part of. I'm praying.l

I'm glad my day had me centered and very prayerful -- that will come in handy when I take this late-afternoon intrusion in my day to my night prayers this evening.

I wonder if I will wander into the person who left this on my entryway wall -- and what kind of conversation he/she will have with me, if any?

Of Schedules, Planes and People

Many of you will no doubt know that I've been away at my sister's home in Florida for my annual post-Easter renewal. What you may not realize (but then again, you may) is that I have been travelling a lot this year, and this trend will continue through the end of the year. This is primarily due to:

1. Being a trustee of the Church Pension Fund (4 times a year I am gone to board meetings).

2. Being assistant Secretary to the House of Bishops -- this will take me to several meetings pre-General Convention outside of the diocese.

3. General Convention and the House of Bishops meetings.

4. The Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry Convocation in Seoul, followed immediately by: The annual retreat with my fellow Bishops Suffragan.

5. Vacation.

In case you are wondering, no, the diocese does NOT pay for all these trips. My work for the House of Bishops planning committee (as assistant secretary) and my work for the Church Pension Fund is paid for by TEC and the Pension Fund respectively. My personal travel I pay for.

The work of a Bishop is a very different work from being a parish priest -- I love what I do, but I do miss my family and all of you when I am away. Yet, I know the work I am doing is making a difference and having a great impact on the diocese and the church at large. The Diocese of Los Angeles has been enriched by this work, especially in area of Asian and Multicultural ministry. My work at the Pension Fund alone has been very rewarding and helpful to clergy and laity alike, and my unique voice and perspective is welcomed and needed at the Fund. And yes, when I return I often lose some days off trying to fit in time I'm missed out of the diocese.

So, I have been spending a lot of time on planes, and this will continue through the end of the year.

I've begun the study of how people behave on planes:

1. There are the people who sit at the bulkhead and insist on putting their big bags UNDER the seat, hence taking up the space I'm trying to put my bag in. When I point this out to them they argue and insist it is their space. Enter the flight attendant who has to explain to them that they need to put their bag up, not me. No apology to me -- they feel put out and glare at me. It just happened to me again on the flight I am currently on!

2. Then there is the lady or gentleman who have put on WAY TOO MUCH cologne or perfume. Or they are heavy smokers and reek of cigarettes. Or they have, well, poor personal hygiene. I've gotten stuck next to one or more of these in the past few months, and I can tell you -- my eyes water and my nose and throat burn. One time I thought I was going to throw up mid-flight.

3. My personal favorites are the people that push the button to either put their seat back or put it in the upright position with all the force they can muster, sending my coffee and water flying all over me. I sincerely believe there is NOT a special place in heaven for them.

4. I've sat next to families who have no control over their children, and their children NEED to be told to stop kicking the back of the seat in front of them (where I'm sitting!) or to not touch the nice lady sitting next to them's things, especially my iPad. My favorite was on a long flight, a child threw a tantrum that lasted, on and off, the entire flight while the parents drank beer and watched a movie.

5. People who put their bags in the overhead bin by you and then walk back 20 rows to their seat, taking up the space that you were trying to get your bag into. One man literally, watching me pick up my bag to put in the bin that was above my seat, stood behind me and slid his bag in the spot I was about to take -- and then walked to the back of the plane. Thankfully the flight attendant saw him, pulled out his bag and brought it back to him. He wasn't happy.

6. People who want to talk with me on long flights, causing my neck to cramp from turning sideways to speak with them.

7. People who find out what I do for a living by asking me "what's your line of work", and then when they find out they have to tell me:

a. why they can't stand organized religion.

b. why I can't minister to men.

c. their life story. 

d. ....and my favorite, the ones who turn and stop speaking to me and are silent the rest of the trip, even when I try to engage them in casual conversation.

8. The person who insists they love the window seat but has to get up every half an hour to go to the restroom.

9. And while we are on the subject of restrooms, there is the person who leaves a ginormous mess and doesn't bother to clean up after himself or herself.

10. Then there are the people who talk so loudly the whole plane knows their business.

11. A big pet peeve of mine are the people who continue talking on their cell phone or keep their phones or tablets connected (not on airplane mode) after the door has been closed on the plane and after the flight attendants ask them politely to turn it off. One man waved the flight attendant away, telling her he'd be done in a minute. She stood there and told him to turn it off, and wouldn't budge. He finally got off the phone and told her she was rude. SHE was rude. Ugh!

12. And, when I'm unlucky enough to be in the center seat, I am almost always sandwiched between two large individuals who insist on "spreading out" into my seat, and always take up the arm rest -- and part of my seat!

So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, I want to let you know that I pray for these people. I pray for them on the flight, I sometimes think of them afterwards and say a prayer for them. I also try to be a polite traveler, always saying please and thank you to the flight attendants. If I am sitting next to a first-time or nervous passenger, I try to assuage their fears (especially taking off from Orange County where the pattern is to rev the engine, take off the brake, go like a bat out of hell down the runway, steep ascent and then -- cut the engine -- I've been next to more than one passenger who about lost breakfast over that maneuver). And yes, I always say a prayer before takeoff and landing.

Please know I take myself lightly on these flights -- literally and figuratively. I carry only my purse and a small carry-on. When Steve and I went to Spain 2 years ago we traveled with a backpack and a carry on each -- for a 10 day trip. It's a reminder to me to take myself and the trip lightly. Not to get angry, but to pray for those around me. Not to be overly annoyed, but to try to be the face of Christ to all I meet. To arrive at my destination with a smile and a light heart, ready to do the work that God has given me to do.

When you see (via Facebook) that I am on one of these journeys out of the diocese, please pray for me.  Pray for the crew of the aircraft, pray for easy connections and on-time arrivals. Pray for the people that God brings into my care and concern as I fly the friendly skies. 

I will blog throughout these various travels -- just as I am writing this blog entry on the flight from Houston to Orange County. I love the "disconnectedness" of flying -- no emails, no cell phone for a few hours -- so I typically read and write.  Please also know that even though I may be away, I am never far (except on the plane) from email and cell phone. Please do, if you need me, call me or email me. As a reminder, if you don't hear back from me within 24 hours it means I didn't receive your message -- please try again. Although I may be away, I'm never far in my heart from you. 

I wonder what new things I will discover as I wander around the church -- what new learnings I will glean, and what God in Christ has in store for me and for the diocese in these months to come.