Stranded in Tokyo

We're updating mid journey back to Korea. Our flight path was to be Toronto-Minneapolis-Tokyo-Seoul. We made it to Minneapolis and then our plane was in need of maintenance. We were delayed a few hours in that airport (which is a lovely airport I might add) which meant we missed our connecting flight from Tokyo to Seoul. Northwest was great enough to provide us with a hotel for the night in Japan and also gave us dinner and breakfast vouchers. I think the hotel had a lot of mildew and mold in it because my allergies starting acting up as soon as we stepped into the hotel. However, for all the things that could have gone wrong we were really happy to have a comfortable bed to lay down in for awhile. We met up with a girl who was on her first trip to Korea and were so thankful that everything has gone so smoothly for us up until this point. I don't know that we would have handled all the complications so well the first time.
Anyways...the next morning we got to the airport and were put in first class seats. Woohoo!! We are ruined for life!! You could actually lie down in these seats and we had tv's and it was so wonderful!
We arrived at Seoul airport and to make a very long and frustrating story short, our visa's are no longer good. We went to immigration before we left and thought everything was worked out, but an apparent fluke error left us without our alien cards. We had to enter the country on a tourist visa. We thought this could be worked out with our schools, but the problem became so much bigger and will involve a lot of paperwork and time. Immigration sucks! Our apartment is tied to our schools and since we won't be working for those schools anymore we had to get out of our apartment really quick. Sooo....here we are....jobless...homeless...and half-way across the world. We moved into Jenn and Jord's apartment and are so thankful for those guys for so many reasons. God has given them such generous hearts and we have been so blessed by them.
We're not sure what God is doing through this. We thought things were going a certain way and things have changed so many times. Perhaps we're meant to just simply learn to trust even when it seems like everything is falling around us.
God is good. This moment I'm listening to a song and the line that keeps repeating is that 'we hold the hand of the One who holds the world.' It's funny how heightened your spiritual sense become when things are crashing around you.
We're not sure why God brought us back to Seoul and are currently trying to discern where God is leading. We covet your prayer as we are trying to discern.

Canada Vacation

These past 3 weeks have been such a refreshing time for us. Camp has a way of zapping every ounce of energy out of you and we were super ready to take a break. It was great to reconnect with loved ones. One of the highlights while being home was going to the Sound of Music in Toronto. After we booked our tickets Blake confided that he had never seen the SOM movie (almost a crime!). My aim before we went to the musical was to make Blake watch the movie....easier said than done! Blake grudgingly sat through most of the movie, but didn't quite seem to appreciate it the way the Covert household requires. I guess I can't ask for much when you grow up with a bunch of boys. Anyways...we had a splendid time and I do believe that deep down Blake really did appreciate it...I only caught a couple rolls of the eyes! :)
For those friends that we weren't able to connect with we are sorry! Time is too short!

We also just found out that when we get back to school we are in quarantine because of the H1N1 virus. (No, we haven't contracted the virus) The Korean government has mandated that everyone who has gone abroad has to wait 7 days before they can enter the public schools. Sooo...Blake, Jenn, Jord and I have a bit of a vacation before we start school again.

Monsoon Season

Dated July 15, 2009
We are currently in the thick of the monsoon season here in Korea. Basically, it means it rains and rains and rains. Blake and I are usually quite content not having the burden of a car, but weeks like these when the skies open up it makes me wish we had our little toyota for protection.

As a bit of an update...we are currently finishing our last week of school and are embarking on a 3-week long camp starting next week. After camp is finished, we will be visiting Canada for some intense family/friend bonding time. Morale has been low these last few weeks as we finish this intense and long semester. There have been a lot of demands and combined with the excitement of home, it makes it difficult to keep your head in the game and finish well. We're so close and so super excited!

We have another piece of news that has been a slight change for us. These past 2 months Blake and I have joined a new church plant here in Seoul. It's a small plant at the moment headed by a Korean couple who felt called to start a church that was Christ focused, gospel centered with Biblical teaching. This past weekend we all gathered for a retreat in the mountains. We have been super blessed being apart of this church and Blake in particular is thriving with some leadership opportunities.

Goodbye Grandma

My grandmother has been sick and slowly going downhill for the last number of months. Wednesday, June 3rd marked the day that she finally was released from pain and sickness and went to the arms of Jesus. I have been taking lots of time these days mulling over many memories I have of Grandma and I just can't help but smile. I have so many funny memories of her and I just wanted to take the opportunity to share a few.

One of the biggest things I remember about Grandma is laughter. She loved socializing and laughing with people, but she also laughed at herself. Grandma seemed to be loved by everyone she met. She was just such a happy and chipper person to be around and seemed to be able to chat to almost anyone. I remember going on dates with Grandma to Tim Hortons and the staff always seemed to know her name and order. In fact, the staff from Red Lobster, Swiss Chalet and the Carousal also seemed to know her name and story. I remember one date in particular we went to the Carousal and her favourite part of the restaurant wasn't open yet. She told me not to fret because she knew the owner. This determined little lady marched right through the restaurant and found the owner who promptly opened it up for "Phyllis." She then happily chatted on with the owner about her grandkids, introducing us all to him and telling him what we were all up to these days.

During these dinner dates that us Covert kids had with Grandma, we would always laugh about her eating habits. She would get a little wee piece of meat, pass over the salad and choose a few pieces of vegetables just so she could say she took them. She would happily chat for most of the dinner, pushing those vegetables around and around on her plate. However, as soon as it was dessert time, she marched right up for the biggest piece of lemon meringue pie she could find and would hardly leave a crumb. She always did love a 'nip' of dessert.

While Grandma was loved by most she met, one of the things she was not known for was excellent driving skills. I will always remember her stories about all the crazy drivers in Peterborough and how everyone was always honking the horn at her. Amy and I remember the time being driven by grandma and we sat at a four-way flashing red stop light waiting for it to turn green. When we told her that it the light never turned green she just giggled at herself and carried on. I remember being in the passenger seat with her driving and her proving her theory about crazy drivers in Peterborough as we switched lanes and cut off another car. She happily hummed away as I sat white knuckled mouthing the words 'I'm sorry' to the angry guy beside us. The family was quite relieved when Grandma decided to give up her license and not deal with the Peterborough crazies anymore.

Grandma was young at heart and though she was aging in years, she still thought of herself as a young woman. I remember at one of Joel's hockey games, she met an old friend that she hadn't seen in decades. After chatting, she came back to my mom shocked at how old this friend looked. It never seemed to cross her mind that she herself had aged as well. Lying in the hospital bed in palliative care, grandma declared that she didn't think she would get married again.

Grandma loved watching a variety of sports from baseball, hockey to soccer. She was the uncontested, unashamed, biggest fan at my brother Joel's hockey and soccer games. The other parents loved Grandma and her chatter despite her obvious lack of interest in the other players and her constant questions of whether Joel was on the ice. Sometimes this got her in a bit of trouble. From time to time while sitting amongst the other player's parents she'd yell out that Joel was the only one playing well and why wasn't anyone helping him?! Dad was always the one commissioned to tell her to tone it down a bit. Sometimes Grandma would get a little mixed up while watching the hockey games. One game in particular everyone couldn't figure out why she kept clapping and cheering at all the wrong times. It wasn't till later that they realized she was cheering for Joel's number on the opposite team! Mixed up-sometimes, but enthusiastic-always! Us grandkids knew that Grandma was always one of our biggest fans!

I think one of the funniest memories I have with grandma was taking her to one of her doctor's appointments to have tests done on her heart. She was so sweet and kind and tried to chat with the doctor who clearly was too busy for small talk. His questions about her mom and dad were for the purpose of medical history information, but Grandma didn't seem follow where he was going with his questions. She started chatting about her mom and dad and their jobs, illnesses and deaths until I had to gently cut in and state the fact that she was adopted. I let her go on for a bit though, she was always so happy talking about her childhood and parents and it was pretty funny how furiously the doctor scribbled notes until he realized there would be no connection to her health. The doctor clearly wasn't too impressed. We left the office...me mad at how gruff he was and Grandma happy that it was over and chatting about how he was a nice man. Grandma always saw the best in everyone.

Optimism was another one of Grandma's strong qualities. Before her death, she was scheduled to have some dental work done on her teeth. She hated the dentist and kept wanting to postpone appointments to the summer, then to the fall, then to winter. When grandma got news of her cancer, she rejoiced that God had saved her from the dentist. I guess that's one way to look at it! :)

Grandma grew up in an era where strict observance of acceptable social behaviour was stressed. Dancing was clearly forbidden. Although grandma always seemed to follow what was expected of her on the outside, she also had this quiet rebellious side to her as well. She would always tell me that she would secretly dance with her cat at home when no one was looking.
During her last few weeks in the hospital, she said that she'd beat this and be up dancing soon. I guess that was a pretty prophetic word. So many people in their comforting words to my family have used the expression that she's up dancing with Jesus now. We are so happy that she is no longer in pain and can dance with her King!

We will miss her dearly and the laughter she brought to our lives, but we wouldn't wish her back!

Isaiah 25:8-9 He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. 9 In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."

Language Learning

As of late, Blake and I have been learning Korean a little more seriously by taking Korean lessons. It has been a great experience so far and our teacher is so kind a patient and is a great model for our own teaching. I think it is important for a teacher to often place themselves in the position of learner so they can identify with their students’ struggles and frustrations at times. One of the things we are continually encouraged to do as language learners is to practice it out even if it means looking a little silly at times. I do look silly a lot, but I also love the challenge! I have also gained a great deal of respect recently for older Korean people who place themselves in the ‘silly’ position and try out a few English words they know. Respect is so important in Korean society so it takes an extra dose of humility for these older people to be vulnerable.

Blake shared a cute little story with me last night about an older Korean gentleman at his school and I liked it so much I thought I’d make it blog material.

At Blake’s school there is a janitor who always goes about his work ignoring the ‘English’ boys at the school. They’d give each other the odd nod and the occasional “안녕하세요” (hello), but not much beyond that. Anyways, Blake has been at this school for 9 months now and I guess this janitor has decided to learn a bit of English and try it out on Blake. He grabbed Blake’s arm a few days ago and said ‘strong!’ I guess Blake praised him enough that he studied up on a few more random words. Yesterday as Blake was leaving school for the day, the janitor stood at the door waving and said, ‘Good Morning!’ Blake saved the giggle for later, waved and said, ‘Goodnight!”

So not quite the right word, but he got the point across!

Timmy's Married

My "big brother" Timmy got married this past Saturday. These are the times when we are saddened to be so far away. Tim and Sarah, we love you and are so very happy for you! May God bless you as you grow in this new relationship!

Happy 3rd Anniversary Erin and Blake!

On the eve of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley's 3rd anniversary, we, Jordan and Jenn, thought it would be a timely occasion to acknowledge how dearly we treasure their friendship. Having spent the last 9 months with them, we've come to love them as family. Oh sure, you may think they're just so lovable, how could anyone not love them? Well, you'd be right.
B and E, we love you guys and wish you the most blessed and joyful anniversary yet!





I'd like to take a few minutes to reflect on the moments we have shared as friends here in Korea. From Costco dates to coffee dates, playing euchre to go-carting, we have a blast what ever it is. We've shared buses, trains, planes, subways, taxis, tuk-tuks, and hotel rooms. Jordan and Blake have proven their worthiness as husbands time and time again, saving the world from the arcade zombies in Gangnam station. Erin and I have learned far to well to rely on their leadership. This is well proven each time we travel without them and end up lost.
We have convicted and encouraged each other, and helped each other through times of homesickness and culture shock. In fact, I can only think of one important thing that we have yet to do in this foreign land - the infamous Noraebang! Lucky for Jordan and Blake, there's still time for the joyous occasion of Korean kareoke!


We'd like to now leave you with a few pictures we have of Erin and Blake. As we count down the last few months of our time here in Korea we just want to say how unique and memorable it has been to share this year in Korea with you.
B and E - Our friends, travel buddies, "non-life partners", and fellow expats; we pray that on this anniversary you will grow deeper in love with each other as well as your Saviour, Jesus Christ.