Korean Young Adult Exchange Visit: Faith, Friends, Food and More

Inspired by my colleague’s (Joe Veyera's) recent article my fascination with people’s journeys of faith and my interest in international friendships, I chose to chronicle the happenings of six South Korean young women from Seoul since their arrival to the Greater Seattle area last Wednesday, July 20. 

I-Re Kim, Bo-Ra Han, Min-Jung Cho, A-Yeon Hwang, So-Young Yoo and Seong-Ji Lee are six young women aged 18-23 years.  They are a part of a young adult exchange visit that is associated with Global Ministries of U.C.C. (United Church of Christ) and D.O.C. (Disciples of Christ) churches in the U.S. and South Korea (P.R.O.K. Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea.)  The cultural and friendship exchange has existed for 18 years.

Upon arrival the six young women were welcomed by fellowship and a delightful food spread at Normandy Park Congregational UCC.  They visited Mount Rainier on the second day and spent this weekend at a retreat center (camp) Pilgrim Firs in Port Orchard.  On Monday, tour guides and interpreters brought them to the International District where they enjoyed Vietnamese food and visited Helping Link, a non-profit organization that assists refugees from SE Asia assimilate to American culture. 

Rev. Ed Evans, chair of Global Ministries for the Pacific NW Conference of the United Church of Christ said, “The Global Ministries Committee is a shared ministry of the PAC NW Conference of UCC and the Northwest Region of the Christian Church also known as Disciples of Christ.” 

In the 1980s the committee of Global Ministries partnered with the Evangelical Church of the Union (West and East Germany) and the PROK.  The purpose of this partnership was to bring people together to share unique aspects of spirituality, social justice, church life, matters of world peace and human values.

Evans said, “One of the objectives of the partnership of churches is to provide people of faith a chance to meet others in different settings.  The hope is befriend and understand people of faith, living and struggling in another cultural, political, economic or social context.”

The South Korean delegates also participated in service projects such as packing lunch for homeless people in Tacoma.  They did visit the campus of Seattle University to observe campus life and most recently, went on a tour of Horizon House and Benaroya Hall.

One of the delegates, I-Re Kim, who has the best command of the English language amongst her group of six, shared her thoughts with me.  Kim said, “What I like best so far is that the six of us are together.  We are experiencing good things and we are getting to know other community members.”

I wanted to hear the perspective of people in this ministry program who were visitors to South Korea.  I contacted Rev. David Helseth of Englewood Christian Church (DOC) in Yakima.  Helseth spoke about his trip to Seoul in May 2010.

Helseth said, “My wife (Kathy) and I had an eye-opening, life enriching, cultural experience.  It was great to get to know other people and understand how their history, church and culture fit together.  The trip was one of the highlights of our life.”

I also wanted to know the thoughts of one person who was on the planning committee that orchestrated every single detail of the South Korean visit.  I spoke to Susan Andresen, one of four planning committee members. 

A member of Normandy Park Congregational UCC, Andresen said, “It has been a wonderful experience hosting friends from the other side of the world.  Special thanks to the work of countless people to include church members, host families, camp guides, tour guides, interpreters and so many other volunteers.”

According to the six South Korean gals, after the time spent at Pilgrim Firs, the big highlight of their trip has been visiting Shoreline to see the many signs in Korean and eat Korean food. 

The delegates went to Aurora Asian Market in Shoreline and feasted on Korean culinary delights at Old Korean Village.

They also made friends with Sophie Rock, (12) who lives in Des Moines and attends seventh grade at Pacific Middle School.  Rock’s family found Normandy Park Congregational UCC on the Internet.  The family happened to visit Normandy Park UCC for the first time on Sunday, July 17.  They learned of the South Korean visitors on this visit.

Rock wrote in her blog, “This weekend, I was lucky enough to be able to go to summer camp with my friends from [South] Korea.”

On Sunday, July 24, Rock said farewell to the South Korean delegates after attending a potluck dinner at University Congregational UCC.  Rock wrote, “They all gave me gifts and cards.  I was sad to leave them, but I’ll see them again.  I miss them so much but am super glad that I met them! I hope we’ll meet again.”

Ed Evans closed out his thoughts about this exchange between two nations. 

Evans said, “Not only will our young adult guests from South Korea be going home with a deeper understanding of the church in North America, with new friendships made, and with appreciation and exposure to a different culture, those who have been serving as hosts and guides have also been profoundly enriched and blessed by their presence among us.  Such is the power of partnership relationships.”

Proof that faith, friends, good food and tourism are pretty good things.