Today's Events

I did my spirit walk today. I do it every two weeks when the sun and the moon align just right to where the stars shine brighter than ever. Also, we need water. So every two weeks I walk to the grocery store to get six 2 liters of water. I also get a few other little items so I don't just carry the water home. I then walk back home which is about 1 mile, I think. The water is very heavy after about 20 feet. The first time I did it I underestimated the weather and I felt like I was in the desert because I was wearing long sleeves and pants. Today I wore pants and short sleeves so I'd be more prepared. Good thing too. It was fairly warm today which made the trek even harder. I then continue to trade arms as I walk home, half of me hoping someone would pick me up and the other half hoping no one would notice me. I call it a spirit walk because by the time I see our home, my arms are exhausted and I pray to God to help me make it the rest of the way. It's probably very similar to the spirit walks they have in Africa and Australia. I call this the Korean Spirit Walk. So when you come visit me I can guide you on this adventurous Spirit Walk. It'll cost you of course. Maybe a 6-pack of water will cover the cost.
Also, to start the morning off, Chloe was in her bedroom playing and decided it was a private party and locked the door. The problem with this is that it wasn't a private party and she didn't know how to make it public again, meaning she couldn't unlock the door. This lock is like a deadbolt, so it's impossible to just card it or pick the lock, because it uses a normal key. So, for half an hour we tried to get the door open ourselves because the pastors were in a meeting and we didn't know who to contact. Chloe couldn't quite figure out how to unlock it, no matter how many different ways we explained it. Then 30 minutes later a worker man came and unlocked the door with a key he had. I don't think Chloe will have a private party again anytime soon. She definitely didn't enjoy this experience, but I think we're all glad we made it.
To end the day, Chloe and I went to the playground. One of our favorite things to do on my day off. Sometimes if we wait on the playground and don't make any noises, the natives will come out to play. We stay quiet under the slides so they can't see us. The natives come out and play and we observe them from a distance so we don't scare them. Well, I think they could smell our American scent and they surrounded us. We didn't have much of a choice except to join in their games. It actually was pretty fun even though we couldn't understand each other because of the language barrier. After playing their games, they disappeared back into the concrete jungle. Chloe and I will continue to visit the playground and we hope to these natives again. I think Chloe had a fun time and I just enjoyed watching.

I don't want to miss a thing

Videos: Chloe's Crib, Chloe Take 4

Well, I'm sorry for everyone in America. I can't video everything and I can't type everything that happens because my memory is only so good. And I can only type so much before my fingers become stuck in a typing motion and my eyes won't shut because I've been staring at the computer screen so long. All in all we're still doing great. Chloe went down the big slide all by herself today. I really wanted to video it but I couldn't find the camera. It turns out Brandy put it in a spot so she could find it later. She forgot. Seems she's been doing that quite a bit recently. She calls it "Baby Brain Drain", whatever. Anyways, Chloe has her Barbie's on the playground like we always do and I get on the big slide to show her how to do it by herself. I then ask her if she wants to do it with me. She tells me no, and then tells me to get off the slide. What? She wants the Barbie's to go first, so I oblige. She pushes the Barbie's down the slide and proceeds to get on the slide as well. As expected her to ask me to join her but she just takes off and slides down the slide. I was shocked, literally, because everything is made of fiberglass and metal so you conduct electricity on the fiberglass and then shock yourself on the metal. Everytime I went down the slide I got shocked somehow or another. Oh, also they put rubber tiles down instead of just concrete and I think it's recycled tires because my feet kept getting shocked everytime I slid down and stood up. I think it's because the tires have small metal shards in them, and it was a weird feeling everytime it happened. Then after sliding a few times normally, she began to explore and slide down on her stomach. She liked that so much that she only slid on her stomach from then on out. Any slide she slid down she would slide on her stomach. It was quite interesting to watch. One time she slid face-first on accident. She slid the Barbie's down first everytime, and one time Nel Barbie got stuck on a crack in the slide. Chloe went to reach for her and reached too far. She slid head first down the slide with a look of shock, which quickly turned into a grin once her feet touched the ground. It was a beautiful day today. Chloe wondered where the clouds were. I told her they were sleeping. Maybe I should tell her the truth next time about how the clouds aren't always there because of molecules in the air and water, but then I remember she's only 2. Sometimes it's hard to believe it with the sentences she uses and words she says. She's also learning some Korean without us teaching her. She's catching on to what the kids at church are saying. So found out how to say "no" and "thank you". She also knows some other stuff but I don't know it so I can't translate it for you. Enjoy Chloe's Crib, it's one of my collaborative masterpieces. And Chloe Take 4 is just another reminder of how Chloe sees the world.

nomroM

The Video: Playground Slides
So, I was playing on the playground with Chloe this past Monday and a couple Americans stopped by to use our outdoor restroom area around the playground. It's a nice facility and I would use it too if I was a passer-by since there aren't that many restrooms with such easy access in Cheonan. Well, I started talking with them once they had done their duties. They were wearing suits, name tags, and carrying bags over their shoulders. It wasn't hard to figure out that they were either Jehovah Witness or Mormon. Turns out they were Mormon. I have a friend in America that's Mormon and he tried to explain his "religion" to me, because I wanted to know what he believed, but it was too complicated. So we were having a nice conversation about America and Korea and the differences in churches and life. Then they began to share their message, of course after I told them I attended the church behind them, and said it was a lot like other religions. They believe in Christ and consider themselves Christians. I inquired about the book of Mormon because I was curious what it was about, and they showed one to me and told me it was written by other disciples. They also said they believe in the Bible, just like me. They wanted to call me and talk to me again, and I was more than glad to do that. I think they'll be disappointed though because I'm not interested in being converted. I just want a friend who speaks English. I guess I'll have to look elsewhere, because I looked up their "religion" on the internet and the differences between Christianity and Mormonism. Well, if you didn't know, Mormonism is really weird. It actually reminded me of Scientology. There were "spirit children", multiple gods, and the word of man was more powerful than the word of God. Yes they used the Bible, but only after believing the other stuff first. The Bible just fills in the gaps of their "religion" they want it to fill in. It's crazy, really, and complicated. How would someone believe something so complicated when Christianity is so easy? Believe in Jesus and let him into your life. That's really the basics of it.
The other day I was watching Fireproof and thinking of the bad things we do and how it affects our soul. We are forgiven and we get to have eternal life in heaven with God and Jesus because we are Christians. Do you know how hard it is to grasp that concept? Eternal life? No one lives forever on Earth and it's hard to imagine your soul living forever. Actually, it's hard to imagine your soul. Some invisible form of yourself, a mirrored reflection of the life you lived on Earth with or without Christ. So instead of "advertising" Christianity with Eternal Life, I was thinking more along the lines of The best friend you'll ever have. How many friends will stay with you for eternity? Many people suffer from loneliness, but with Christ you'll never be alone. I think people can better accept this more than eternal life, because it's something everyone can relate to. Then later you can throw in the surprise of eternal life. I just feel we as Christians are stuck on the idea of eternal life and being in Heaven, instead of thinking of the rewards we receive while still on Earth. Believing in Jesus gives us the reward of Jesus, the best friend you could ever have.