I have had a wonderful, though busy week over the last seven days teaching a group of Korean students who came all the way from Soeul, South Korea to take a class from myself and Dr. McNutt. I know, I am amazed sometimes that people would come across the street to hear me speak, much less half way around the world. It was my first time teaching a class through an interpreter and it was quite an experience. Here is a picture of my new friend and interpreter, Kowoon.
Having a good interpreter is a very important part of the class and Kowoon was a great help. He not only interpreted, but helped explain what sometimes I did not make clear. He is finishing up a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago and I believe he is destined to be one of the great scholars of the next generation.
The class was not able to speak English, hence the need for Kowoon, but they were a wonderful group of pastors from both large and small churches. They were very encouraging to me about my lectures and spoke very kindly to me about how much they liked me (I think this is a cultural thing, they must say this to all professors). 
Here is a picture of the class. I am the one in the middle with the glasses.
One of the things that the class enjoyed was the magic that I did for them during the breaks. I taught them a couple of small tricks and they were thrilled with the sharing of knowledge. After a while they even learned that it was OK to laugh at me. I don’t think that there is much laughing at professors in Korea but I was able to loosen them up by the end of the week together.
I have been invited to give a week’s worth of lectures in Korea during June. I think that this will be a wonderful opportunity. I am planning on going and taking both Charity and Josiah (Cindy has decided that she does not want to go, it may be because of what I will tell you next). They have promised me that they will take me to a restaurant that serves “dog.” They assured me that they do not eat pets, but only farm animals raised for that purpose. The thing is that they have let me know that they will not tell me what we are eating until after the meal is over.
So, I am very excited and was greatly blessed by being with my brothers from across the world. Korea is about 60% Presbyterian so it will be a very different kind of culture. If the Lord works out all of the details and I am able to attend, I will be sure to blog “live from Korea.: I’ll even let you know what dog tastes like. It brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “dog lover” doesn’t it? I showed them a picture of Mo and Soxs and they immediatly said “Ah, Beagle! Beagle! We never eating the beagle!” so that helped some.
Different cultures, but one Lord and I assure you that they all loved the Lord greatly. I look forward not only to lecturing there, but to the day when there will be no more language barrier.
Let us all look forward to the day when all God’s children will be gathered together and sing in one language: “Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me . . .”
Until that day,
SamLam