Information out of China suggest that there is a glimmer of hope for improvement in relations with North Korea. Peace in Korea is about 60 years over-due. Read more at: http://koreareport2.blogspot.com/2012/02/statement-on-us-dprk-bilateral-talks.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+KoreaReport+%28Korea+Report%29
All of us who lived in Korea in the 1950s and 1960s knew someone or knew of someone who's family was divided by the division of Korea. Many people do not know, to this day, if their loved ones are alive or dead. For many individuals it is too late. Many died without closure. Others could still might have a chance to learn about or even meet long-lost family members. Unification is long overdue.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Scholar's Circle - St. Catherine University
I just had a wonderful scholar's circle presentation on my book: An Intricate Tapestry (http://www.kirkhouse.com/Books/An_Intricate_Tapestry). There were lots of good questions. One person was a missionary kid in Madagascar and shared many similar experiences. Another saw a parallel between the MK experiences returning from Korea and the experiences of our immigrant and refugee students and wondered how we could make their acculturation easier. Still another adopted children from Korea and bought a copy of the book to share with them. Other topics that came up in discussion included spirituality, white privilege, and acculturation to new environments within the the United States. It is amazing the many discussions and parallel experiences we found. The book will soon be available in the St. Kate's bookstore - at least on the Minneapolis Campus.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
New shopping experience in North Korea
This video was shared on facebook. Maybe a hopeful sign?
The North Korean people want the same things the rest of us want: a better life for our families. A new shopping experience in North Korea
There are many people trying to make a difference in the lives of families in North Korea. One such organization is Christian Friends of Korea, a group that makes regular trips to support famine relief, tuberculosis care, and children's health. They have helped build and upgrade hospitals, provided ambulances for under-served areas, and worked with other NGOs to provide much needed food. Learn more about Christian Friends of Korea at cfk.org. Part of the proceeds from my book go to support the important work of Christian Friends of Korea.
http://www.kirkhouse.com/Books/An_Intricate_Tapestry
The North Korean people want the same things the rest of us want: a better life for our families. A new shopping experience in North Korea
There are many people trying to make a difference in the lives of families in North Korea. One such organization is Christian Friends of Korea, a group that makes regular trips to support famine relief, tuberculosis care, and children's health. They have helped build and upgrade hospitals, provided ambulances for under-served areas, and worked with other NGOs to provide much needed food. Learn more about Christian Friends of Korea at cfk.org. Part of the proceeds from my book go to support the important work of Christian Friends of Korea.
http://www.kirkhouse.com/Books/An_Intricate_Tapestry
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Chop Chai Recipe
This recipe from my mom was a favorite at Chinese restaurants in Korea:
1/2 cup ground beef
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 green onions
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon prepared sesame seeds
1 cup vermicelli (I like rice noodles myself)
speck red pepper
1/2 cup cooked pork
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup bean sprouts
1/4 cup mushrooms
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 cup celery
Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 chopped onion (including top), the chopped garlic, 1/2 tablespoon sesame seed, pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil to the ground beef and cook until the meat is done.
Wash celery and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths. Shred lengthwise. Add 1 teaspoon salt and let stand 10 minutes. Wash drain, and fry slowly in 1/2 teaspoon oil for 2 minutes, stirring constntly.
Cut cooked pork into 1-inch lengths and shred.
Cook bean sprouts for 3 minutes in boiling water and drain well.
Shred mushrooms and fry in 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil.
Cook vermicelli in rapidly boiling water for 6 minutes. (If using rice noodles, go by package directions). Drain well. Cut into 1-inch lengths.
To combine: Add pork to the beef, then celery, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and remaining seasonings (1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 chopped onion, 1/2 tablespoon sesame seed, and 1 tablespoon sugar.) Mix well.
Add the vermicelli last.
Learn more about adventures with food in Korea: http://www.kirkhouse.com/Books/An_Intricate_Tapestry
1/2 cup ground beef
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 green onions
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon prepared sesame seeds
1 cup vermicelli (I like rice noodles myself)
speck red pepper
1/2 cup cooked pork
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup bean sprouts
1/4 cup mushrooms
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/2 cup celery
Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 chopped onion (including top), the chopped garlic, 1/2 tablespoon sesame seed, pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil to the ground beef and cook until the meat is done.
Wash celery and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths. Shred lengthwise. Add 1 teaspoon salt and let stand 10 minutes. Wash drain, and fry slowly in 1/2 teaspoon oil for 2 minutes, stirring constntly.
Cut cooked pork into 1-inch lengths and shred.
Cook bean sprouts for 3 minutes in boiling water and drain well.
Shred mushrooms and fry in 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil.
Cook vermicelli in rapidly boiling water for 6 minutes. (If using rice noodles, go by package directions). Drain well. Cut into 1-inch lengths.
To combine: Add pork to the beef, then celery, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and remaining seasonings (1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 chopped onion, 1/2 tablespoon sesame seed, and 1 tablespoon sugar.) Mix well.
Add the vermicelli last.
Learn more about adventures with food in Korea: http://www.kirkhouse.com/Books/An_Intricate_Tapestry
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Faith and Vocation
On this Ash Wednesday it seems appropriate to share a story of faith from my book. This one is about my own family - in my father's words:
In the summer of 1958 we were living in Taejon. We began the morning as usual with family prayers, committing our day and our family to the Lord. We were opening a new mission station in Chonan, a county seat town of about 50,000, fifty-two miles north, toward Seoul, where there was a railway junction more central to my three districts. I planned to go to Chonan that morning to check on our new house being built there, stay overnight and go on to Seoul the next morning for some business there.
David (our youngest son) had vomited two or three times that morning so I told Edna Rae that I would postpone my trip. However, she said there was some stomach flu going around and insisted I go on to Chonan.
But after I left, David continued to vomit. Becoming concerned, Edna Rae took him to a small army camp outside of town where there was a young army doctor she had become acquainted with because of her work with orphanages. He quickly determined that David was becoming dehydrated and should get to a hospital immediately. He tried to call in an army helicopter, but it was too cloudy for it to fly. She had no choice but to take the train to Seoul, a six-hour trip at that time.
David had just turned two years old, and Kathy was only three months old and nursing. Loaded with two small children and a small suitcase, she was getting on the train when the doctor warned her, "the motion of the train may send the child into convulsions. If it does, you have to get off the train immediately."
With these words echoing in her mind, she found a seat. In the facing seat was a middle-aged Korean couple, the man dressed in Western clothes. After a few miles, the man leaned over and in English said, "Your little boy looks quite ill." When Edna Rae explained what the army doctor had warned, he replied. "I am a doctor. If you have to get off the train, I will get off with you!" How wonderfully the Lord provides!
But the story doesn't end there. In the meantime, finding everything progressing well with the construction of our house, I decided to go on to Seoul that afternoon. I got on the train, sat down, and opened a book to read. A few minutes later I glanced up and, looking down the aisle, I saw Edna Rae and the children at the far end of the car. Surprised, I rushed to them and learned what had happened.
David did not go into convulsions, and when we reached Seoul, we thanked the kind doctor and his wife profusely and rushed across from the train station to the old Severance Hospital. David was quickly admitted and hooked up to an IV. He was terribly dehydrated and remained in the hospital for a week.
And with grateful hearts, Edna Rae and I thanked the Lord for his mysterious ways.
There are a lot more stories of faith in my book: An Intricate Tapestry (http://www.kirkhouse.com/Books/An_Intricate_Tapestry).
The photo was taken about a year after the story above- in front of our new house in Chonan
Share your own stories of faith and vocation
In the summer of 1958 we were living in Taejon. We began the morning as usual with family prayers, committing our day and our family to the Lord. We were opening a new mission station in Chonan, a county seat town of about 50,000, fifty-two miles north, toward Seoul, where there was a railway junction more central to my three districts. I planned to go to Chonan that morning to check on our new house being built there, stay overnight and go on to Seoul the next morning for some business there.
David (our youngest son) had vomited two or three times that morning so I told Edna Rae that I would postpone my trip. However, she said there was some stomach flu going around and insisted I go on to Chonan.
But after I left, David continued to vomit. Becoming concerned, Edna Rae took him to a small army camp outside of town where there was a young army doctor she had become acquainted with because of her work with orphanages. He quickly determined that David was becoming dehydrated and should get to a hospital immediately. He tried to call in an army helicopter, but it was too cloudy for it to fly. She had no choice but to take the train to Seoul, a six-hour trip at that time.
David had just turned two years old, and Kathy was only three months old and nursing. Loaded with two small children and a small suitcase, she was getting on the train when the doctor warned her, "the motion of the train may send the child into convulsions. If it does, you have to get off the train immediately."
With these words echoing in her mind, she found a seat. In the facing seat was a middle-aged Korean couple, the man dressed in Western clothes. After a few miles, the man leaned over and in English said, "Your little boy looks quite ill." When Edna Rae explained what the army doctor had warned, he replied. "I am a doctor. If you have to get off the train, I will get off with you!" How wonderfully the Lord provides!
But the story doesn't end there. In the meantime, finding everything progressing well with the construction of our house, I decided to go on to Seoul that afternoon. I got on the train, sat down, and opened a book to read. A few minutes later I glanced up and, looking down the aisle, I saw Edna Rae and the children at the far end of the car. Surprised, I rushed to them and learned what had happened.
David did not go into convulsions, and when we reached Seoul, we thanked the kind doctor and his wife profusely and rushed across from the train station to the old Severance Hospital. David was quickly admitted and hooked up to an IV. He was terribly dehydrated and remained in the hospital for a week.
And with grateful hearts, Edna Rae and I thanked the Lord for his mysterious ways.
There are a lot more stories of faith in my book: An Intricate Tapestry (http://www.kirkhouse.com/Books/An_Intricate_Tapestry).
The photo was taken about a year after the story above- in front of our new house in Chonan
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
An Intricate Tapestry - Welcome
Hello,
This is an exciting new adventure! I hope you will join me. I grew up as the child of Methodist Missionaries in Korea from 1955 - 1967 and then returned to Korea in the Peace Corps from 1972 - 1975. About 6 1/2 years ago my husband and I drove my father to a Korea Missionary reunion in North Carolina and I began to realize how much the Korea experience shaped who I am. I also realized that the piece of history represented by the missionaries from the United States and other Western countries us rapidly becoming just that - history. That trip grew into a book: An Intricate Tapestry (http://www.kirkhouse.com/Books/An_Intricate_Tapestry).
In another exciting development I will be returning to Korea for the Centennial celebration of my old school- Seoul Foreign School. I promise to post lots of pictures.
Why a blog? Getting in touch with the Korean part of myself has been wonderful. I have learned a lot about myself and about people I thought I knew. I am hoping that we can share our experiences, information, stories, what we are doing, recipes, etc.
Even if you have never been to Korea you may have experienced the effects of changing cultures - even within your own country. We have a shared experience.
This is an exciting new adventure! I hope you will join me. I grew up as the child of Methodist Missionaries in Korea from 1955 - 1967 and then returned to Korea in the Peace Corps from 1972 - 1975. About 6 1/2 years ago my husband and I drove my father to a Korea Missionary reunion in North Carolina and I began to realize how much the Korea experience shaped who I am. I also realized that the piece of history represented by the missionaries from the United States and other Western countries us rapidly becoming just that - history. That trip grew into a book: An Intricate Tapestry (http://www.kirkhouse.com/Books/An_Intricate_Tapestry).
In another exciting development I will be returning to Korea for the Centennial celebration of my old school- Seoul Foreign School. I promise to post lots of pictures.
Why a blog? Getting in touch with the Korean part of myself has been wonderful. I have learned a lot about myself and about people I thought I knew. I am hoping that we can share our experiences, information, stories, what we are doing, recipes, etc.
Even if you have never been to Korea you may have experienced the effects of changing cultures - even within your own country. We have a shared experience.
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