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Very Dear Family,

I'm back in Korea, and it's so good to be home! Who would have thought that I'd ever be able to call it 'home' with real sincerity?

My time in China was amazing. Because of the canceled NK tour, I was the only person who decided to go ahead and go up to China instead. Being last minute, everything was a little bit disorganized, which my friends there felt badly about. From my perspective, however, it was great. I think I was able to get a much better picture of how things work there, and of the different projects and relationships that the foreigners in that area have going, than I would have if my days and hours had been more planned, and filled in with exciting things to do and see. As it was, I was able to meet a lot of people, and just tag along and watch them relate and work.
It was a good time to focus, too, and to remember why I'm here. A lot of westerners moved into that area after having studied Korean for only a few months, and every one of them voiced their regret at not having learned Korean more fluently before moving up to China. I was encouraged to plough through school, and to not let myself get distracted by other opportunities before I'm well prepared. That was a good reminder, and I'm eager to start studying Korean again.

While I was there, I was taken up to Tumen, a little border city. We walked around, and had a great view of the city and some people on the other side of the river. Then we went out onto the river on a long, narrow log raft. A little Chinese man stood at the back with a long river pole, and pushed us up stream, just four feet off the bank of NK. It was a great experience, with water lapping at our feet, through the gaps in the unsteady raft, and tall reeds on the shore just out of reach.

I flew to Beijing three nights ago, and the next morning took off for Seoul.
Coming out of the airport, I caught a bus to an area close to my destination. I was dropped of in front of an elaborate, black-glass hotel, with limos, porters, the whole nine yards…far out of my league.
"Can I take your bags in?" asked a pill-capped boy.
"No, no!" I hastily replied. "Get me a taxi, please."
I asked the driver to take me to Naksapyeong Station, and from there walked uphill with two 60lb suitcases, a backpack, and my carry-on, until I found a pay phone.
Brenda came down to pick me up, and brought me back to her apartment where I'll stay until I have a place to move into.

Yesterday morning I registered with Sogang, and then spent the rest of the day wandering on foot around Sinchon with Titus and Ruth looking for an apartment. Toward evening I found a place that I like, within walking distance from the university, very reasonably priced. Of course, it was priced according to its condition. It'll need a lot of elbow grease and the basic appliances before I can move in. But hopefully I'll get some of that done this weekend. I'd like to be moved in before school starts on Monday. That is, provided the place is still available when I go back this afternoon to pay for it. Apartments are snatched up like hot cakes in this area.

Like I said, it's really good to be back. Contrasted with my ten days in China, where everything was foreign and crazy, Seoul is warmly familiar and welcoming. And all I can think over and over again is, "God is so good to me!"

Thank you so much for holding me up in prayer over these last two weeks. God's hand has been with me in a remarkable way.

Elisabeth