South Korea 1997 – 2013: My Journey

Thomas Norton

Description

The purpose of this book is to present South Korea in a small way. The Reverend Thomas G. Norton spent much time over more than fifteen years in South Korea and had many involvements. The first part of this book will describe many of his experiences and adventures in the mission field and in churches and communities throughout South Korea. He does this through interesting and informative ways. The culture and customs are often unusual and frequently comical for Westerners in this land of the “Morning Calm” as it is called. Koreans’ thinking and actions are often opposite to those of Westerners. His depictions of these differences, the people, and its evolution are descriptive and vivid. The second part of the book is a collection of his sermons delivered mostly at the Shin Kwang Church () in Seong Nam (), a city adjacent to Seoul (), the capital of South Korea (). He also worked and preached at the Yang Dong Jee Ill Church () in Mokpo (). Also included in this book are about fifty full page color pictures. Norton has spoken and delivered sermons in many other parts of South Korea. His sermons speak directly or indirectly to Koreans and their situations, but also they speak to all people of the world.

Sujets

• Biography
• South Korea
• Autobiography

Informations

• Publié par: Xlibris US
• Date de parution: 31 mai 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669872535
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 11 Mo

Extrait

SOUTH KOREA 1997 – 2013:
MY JOURNEY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THOMAS NORTON
 
Copyright © 2023 by Thomas Norton. 848437
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
 
 
Xlibris
844-714-8691
www.Xlibris.com
 
 
ISBN:
Softcover
978-1-6698-7252-8

Hardcover
978-1-6698-7868-1

EBook
978-1-6698-7253-5
 
Library of Congress Control Number:     2023910017
 
 
 
Rev. date: 05/31/2023
CONTENTS
Preface
My Korean Journey
The Salvation Ship and Its Mission
Anecdotes about Culture, Customs, and my Adventures
Food
Dining Traditions
Footwear, Gifts, and Culture
Drink
Acupuncture (침슬) and Moxibustion
Street Crossing
Signaling a Taxi
Karaoke
Unlucky Numbers
Laundromats
Suicide
Prayer
Haircuts
Gayness
Sex Verification
Hangul (한굴)
PhD Students and Professorship
Tidbits, Zest, and Culture
Arirang (아리랑)
Swimming
No Harbor Water
Hierarchy
Sunday School
Time
Birthdays
Baegil Ceremony (백일)
Ethics and Culture of Trip Planning
Weddings
Cemeteries
Church and Sermons
Conclusion
I Pulled My Arm Away
Jesus as Prophet
The Present to Nicodemus
Understanding the Easter Story
Witnessing
Who the Holy Spirit Is and How He Works
Hearing and Understanding the Holy Spirit (Revised)
Experiencing the Holy Spirit: No Other Choice
What Makes Me a Christian? (Part I)
What Makes Me a Christian? (Part II)
Subject Yourselves to One Another
How Christians Disagree
About Heaven
To Die Is to Live
More Life Is Joy
Life After Life: Biblical Confirmation through the Back Door
Thanksgiving When I Don’t Feel Thankful
Thank God for Suffering
Comparing Swiss and Korean Churches: Don’t Judge Others
A Child’s Question
Love Is Accepting
Forgiveness
 
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Preface
How My Korean Journey Began
My adventures began totally by accident.
I was reading a monthly church magazine and stumbled upon an advertisement. The South East Asia Mission was looking for seven Swiss pastors for an exchange program to go to Japan and South Korea in October 1997. This trip would be during the school autumn vacation, and I had no confirmation classes or worship services. I was completely free from official church activities. I always wanted to go to Japan, so I thought this might be a great opportunity to visit that country. I knew my wife, as president of the Home Help Services in the canton of Berne, was going to Boston for a two-week conference during that time. The exchange program would be three weeks, and our trips would overlap each other. Therefore, I asked her what she thought. She said I should apply for one of the positions. I called the mission that Friday afternoon and was told if I was interested, I should send in my application immediately since they would be making their selection the following Friday. Then the director added that the Japanese exchange pastor had already been designated. At first, I was disappointed, but I thought South Korea might also be interesting. I had never been interested in Korea before, even though I had some connection to it.
As a child living in Anchorage, Alaska, I experienced the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 in a small way. During the three war years, my father was part of the Alaska Civil Defense, and every Saturday at 6:00 p.m., he went into the basement and used his short-wave radio to communicate with other Civil Defense personnel throughout Alaska. They kept in contact with each other in case war broke out or in the event they could help if any emergency occurred. During this time, we often had air raid drills. We were required to turn off all our house lights, close the shutters, and pull down our curtains, making sure everything was dark so bombers could not strafe the city. Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson Army Base were located in the Anchorage vicinity, making Anchorage a vulnerable area for possible attacks.
Anyway, the next Monday, I sent in my profile and waited with anticipation for ten days until I received the results. The outcome was positive; I would be one of the six pastors chosen from Switzerland to go to Seoul that fall. Since I was the only one whose mother tongue was English, I was selected as the spokesperson for the group. Now I had to prepare myself by writing sermons, getting some knowledge of their language, and learning a little about their country.
Soon my adventure began. Here is my story.
My Korean Journey
Thomas Norton, Rev.
토마스 노튼, 목사
안녕하십니까
These lines portray some highlights and experiences while living and working in Korea (한국) (Korea = South Korea). From October 1997 to October 2013, I spent several months almost every year in this land of the “Morning Calm” as it is known. My entire time in Korea was full of unbelievable impressions, encounters, and adventures. This outline also describes the Salvation medical mission and its ship Salvation and our daily work and lives as missionaries on the Salvation and on Palgum Island (팔금 도), where our mission center was located. During my study leave in the summer of 2000, my main responsibilities were ministering to the islanders and preparing a DVD written in English and German. It describes the country and the South East Asia Mission’s endeavors.

Mission Ship “Salvation”
The Salvation Ship and Its Mission
This mission was operated by the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) and was part of the South East Asia Mission. The ship Salvation was our main source of transportation for the volunteer and subsistence-paid doctors, nurses, and pastors. Built in 1995, it weighed 40 tons and measured 4.7 meters by 25 meters. It traveled every year from March to November through the South Sea (Korean Strait) and the Yellow Sea, visiting more than one hundred inhabited islands. Most of the 480 islands were uninhabited. There were roughly three hundred thousand inhabitants living in approximately 93,550 households. Generally, one island was visited daily, but some islands had only a dozen or so residents, so two or three islands were visited on those days. Bigum (비금 도) Island was the largest and had a population of about four thousand. It was generally given medical aid for three days. Unfortunately, not all islands could be visited since they only had a handful of residents. When villagers were unaware of our arrival, loudspeakers from the church or community center were often used to attract attention. During those visits, not only medical services were offered, but also the Gospel was presented to the islanders. In the past years, this mission had experienced financial problems; therefore, it is no longer operated in the same fashion. English also had been taught off and on for several years in the Palgum center.
Christian churches in Korea had worship services every morning, beginning at about 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. This was also part of our program on the Salvation and on Palgum Island, where we permanently resided in the mission house; however, our staff met for worship services later at 7:30 or 8:00 a.m.
Generally, there were about twenty to fifty elderly-looking women and few men who were treated. Most of them, especially the women, worked daily in the cold seawater and unfriendly weather. They prepared the nets by inlaying them with algae sprouts and setting them in the sea for growth. These patients often suffered from colds, pneumonia, and rheumatism or arthritis.
The available medicine had frequently expired or soon would expire since medical institutions often donated it. Sometimes medical equipment might be old or outdated. With financial aid, however, updated medicine and new medical utensils were purchased.
It was not only important that these islanders were spiritually and physically healthy, but these isolated areas needed to be economically healthy. Thus, they needed to produce enough goods for personal use and export. Onions, garlic, peppers, seaweed, and some grains were cultivated. In addition, fish, shrimp, and other sea animals and plants were found in abundance. Salt also was produced by extracting it (NaCl) from the seawater. If the islanders were not able-bodied, they could not produce. Therefore, our job was also to keep these folk strong and fit.
Usually before administering medical treatments, a sermon or meditation was offered. Sometimes a medical lecture on blood pressure, Asian medicine, or something similar would also be presented. These talks were determined by the space we were allotted, the amount of time we had, and the number and type of patients we served. Because we often had only one room, all procedures occurred there. This did not seem to bother the patients, even though many were only half dressed. One time we put up a curtain for privacy, and no one used it. On these small islands, most patients knew each other, and they were often related.
In these areas, there were almost no medical services, and what was available was often insufficient. Skilled doctors and well-equipped hospitals were on the mainland. In large cities such as Seoul, health services, in most cases, could be compare