Cirque de Soleil in Seoul...

This past Sunday our family boarded the bullet train to Seoul and took in a performance by Quebec's own Cirque de Soleil. We had heard about how awesome their performances were, and it was truly amazing. What a testimony to the miracle of the human body and what it can do! The acrobatics were astounding, and we enjoyed spending time with our friends the Wilders (Ron and Melinda and their 3 cute little boys). We missed our train back to Taejon, but even that couldn't put a damper on our great day (thankfully we were able to get seats on another train which left just 15 minutes after our scheduled departure!).

Bird's Eye View of Taejon...

On Sunday afternoon (May 20th), Brian and I hiked up a mountain called Bomunsan on the south end of Taejon. We were rewarded with an incredible view of the city on one side and of thickly-wooded mountains on the other. At the top of the mountain was a small fortress wall dating back to about 600 AD. Along the way to the top there were little mountain cafes and rest stops, some with polka-like Korean folk music playing (perhaps to put a spring in your step as you hike?). It was a beautiful afternoon; the girls unfortunately missed the adventure because they had too much homework to complete (very sad for them!). We also couldn't resist throwing in one more photo of a sunset over Taejon from just a few days ago.

Magnificent Maisan...

This past Sunday we spent Mother's Day hiking up a mountain at Maisan National Park (about 1 1/2 hours from Taejon) with a few colleagues and Korean friends. It was a beautiful sunny day (it felt like late June or early July weather in Ontario), and hundreds of stone pinnacle sculptures surrounded a small temple next to a sheer rock face. The scene resembled something from Lord of the Rings... very ancient-looking and myterious. It seemed as if dwarves might surface at any moment. It was a great day (alas, without any dwarf sightings).

More pics from Maisan

View from our new perch...

About a month ago we moved from our bungalow at the school's back gate to a bright and clean 4-bedroom apartment just a block or so away. We're up on the 11th floor and can't believe how comfortable we are in this much space. It seems like the perfect, cozy home for the five of us right now. Here are some views from our kitchen and from Rebecca's room.

Lakeside Lounging...

A few weeks ago Cora, Hannah and I spent a few hours exploring a lake just outside of Taejon. It's beautiful sandy shores provided a great venue for long jump contests with the group of high school kids we were with! Unfortunately a thunder storm shortened our time at the lake, but it is a beautiful spot and we hope to go there again soon.

Crunchy critters...

As proof that these once-vigilant vegetarians have truly lost their minds and descended into carnivorous chaos, here are some photos of deep-fried grasshoppers we ate on the weekend. Yep, we thought they looked tasty and, as it turns out, they were! Who would have thought??

Stairway to heaven...

Okay, Brian didn't mention that I nearly had a heart attack climbing this ladder that scaled a sheer rock face on the mountain. It may not look like it has a lot of steps, but it seemed like it took hours to get to the last rung. The views were worth it once we reached the top, but it was crazy!

Up the mountain...

This past weekend the Lavenders enjoyed a vertical adventure with some good friends from TCIS. Joined by the Dewey family from Colorado and the Larratt-Smiths from Toronto, we ascended to the top of Daedunsan, a mountain about an hour from Daejeon. Actually, a cable car took us part of the way, and we had to scrabble over rocks, boulders, a suspension bridge and vertical (VERY vertical) staircases for the remainder of the journey. What fun!

Rebecca serves in Thailand

While Brian was in India last week, Rebecca was in Chang Mai, Thailand, working at an orphanage and ministering to some wonderful children. She also spent a few days in a remote mountain village outside of Chang Mai. Rebecca has more photos and information posted on her blog at rebeccainkorea.blogspot.com.

Serving in India

As part of a committment to serving in the name of Jesus, TCIS offers opportunities for students to spend time in various places throughout the Asian region. Brian has just returned with some wonderful stories to tell and a camera full of pictures from an orphanage near Bangalore, India. The students visited Beulah Home, a residence with over 120 children - mostly girls. Through a combination of a week-long Bible school, English lessons, crafts, singing, games, reading time and free play (mostly "lagurie" - a game played with any ball and a pile of rocks), the children of the home firmly lodged themselves in the hearts of their guests. The faces in the pictures tell it all.

The Many Faces of India

Following our time at the Beulah Home for children, near Bangalore, India, our small group of students and sponsors had the pleasure of riding auto-rickshaws into the downtown area. Amid the constantly honking horns, street vendors' calls and lively bustle, the many faces of India were were seen. From slum to palace, Bangalore showcases the range of culture in this complex society.

Cora wears her hanbok!

This past Thursday, during elementary spirit week, Cora donned a traditional Korean dress (called a hanbok - pronounced han-bo) for the day. Many elementary girls were decked out in these colourful dresses, which are ornately embroidered and feature bright and beautiful fabrics.

More from Village of Peace...

Last weekend we spent the afternoon back at Village of Peace Orphanage. In these photos Hannah and her friend Becca (from Idaho) are pictured with one of our favourite little girls, Ka-Un. What an incredible smile she has! She brightens up our day whenever we are blessed to be able to go to Village of Peace, and last weekend was no exception.

Humorous tidbits...

We have to laugh sometimes at the English versions of signs in our neighbourhood. Here are two examples, one from the sign at an eyeglass store just down the street, and another from a bag of bread puchased from a neighbourhood store. The third photo is of a marketing ploy by a local pork restaurant. We find the giant pig to be quite humorous!