After celebrating new year's eve with Peking Duck dinner and new year's day with a visit to the Temple (altar) of Heaven in Beijing and taking a group photo in front of the Hall for Praying for a good year we flew to Seoul. (See attached for three photos from PRC.) We've been here just under a week that has included a trip to the DMZ, a city tour, and worship at the international Lutheran Congregation. The first was unsettling, if only for the oddity of an active military installation as a tourist attraction. But the ordinary look of the rice and ginseng fields juxtaposed with a walk down an North Korean infiltration tunnel and our brief visit to the Joint Security Administration conference room was also a bit surreal. The city tour introduced us to "dynamic Korea" including its restored stream and a hip-and-groovey arts district. There I saw the fresh, innovative ceramics I'd anticipated in Hong Kong and funky takes on traditional Korean clothing. Then at worship we were surprised to meet an Ole who traveled with the three of us in Greece three years ago. He joined the army, spent 18 months in language study, and is now stationed in Korea. We have also had two days of class at the admirably well organized Yonsei University, founded in the 1880s by an American missionary.

We have been enjoying our lovely little apartment about three blocks from the International House where the students live. It is the second story of a house and appears to have been newly renovated a la Ikea. The security system is sophisticated, but we don't really feel the least bit insecure here. That's good since as I write this Thomas and Wrick are packing for their 8:30 a.m. departure tomorrow. Earlier this evening most of the students were here for cookies, chips, and fruit and to say good bye. Their remarks made clear how much they have enjoyed and appreciated both of these remarkable men. I'll be sorry to see them go even as I relish the thought of a few quiet nights on my own to reflect before I follow them east across the Pacific and back to Minnesota.

Thanks for reading my missives and for your messages. We look forward to sharing the same space with you soon; to hearing more about your lives in the past five months; and to regaling you with our stories.