Trip to Los Angeles (April 2014)

Kristin and I first settled in Los Angeles. We lived in LA and its vicinity for 14 years. So it is the home town for us in the U.S.

We have friends who served Jesus together at churches. They are now all veterans in their fields. They are stable and look forward to their retirement.

Also, I have many colleagues who still live in greater LA.

Los Angeles is nicknamed "The city on the wheel." Its area is vast and you cannot move around without a car. We normally rent a car. April is a good month to enjoy the sunny and bright weather without too much heat. Clear days with blue sky are typical of Los Angeles during the winter and early spring. It is one of the reasons why people are coming to Los Angeles, thus driving up the home prices. That is despite the earthquake threats. Ha... a side effect.

Small rent car is just fine with me...

Because the sky was blue...

Scenery was just gorgeous...

Our home away from home: The Song's in the beautiful Rancho Palos Verdes... The Sung Hoon and Mindy Song were my fellow teachers at OMC High School Department. Mindy is a Chemist and Sung Hoon is an engineer. Both are people of God with passionate heart to serve the Lord. They are kind enough to invite us to stay at their home every time we visit Los Angeles. They are lovely and godly people to whom I feel indebted deeply.

With Mr. and Mrs. Song

Beautiful and delicious dinner...

Ocean view from their home... ahhh

Cliff nearby their home

Beautiful sunset...

Hiking trail...

Wonderful dinner with the Lims and the Songs at Yong Gung... Along with the Songs, Kristin has been close friend to Mrs. Lim. She is a nurse also and the wife of Rev. Sung Jin Lim who is Vice President of World Mission University and Seminary. He has been serving there for the past 30 years or so. Their children are of age similar to our children so there is deeper connection. They treated us at Yong Gung, a famous Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles. I attempted to pay for the dinner, but he has somehow persuaded the waiting staff not to accept my credit card. I failed. But the foods and our fellowship were fabulous. We are grateful!

Rev. Lim, Mr. Song, Mrs. Song, Kristin and Mrs. Lim

Men only... we also served at the same choir at OMC...

Now me included...

Ladies only...

Visiting Hana Financial and seeing former CCB colleagues at Yong Su San...  I started Hana Financial as Senior Vice President with Charles Kim, now deceased, and Sunnie, now CEO. Both were my bosses at CCB. Hana was the first Korean American finance company that targeted to serve the garment manufacturer and textile companies through factoring and other related financial services. It was great joy to see Hana now thriving as the largest finance company in the West Coast with significant diversification in business lines. A former CCB colleague Young Shim is now EVP. So the joy was even greater. We went to have dinner together at Yong Su San. Surprise! There were several former CCB colleagues who all are now active senior officers at other banks or finance company. Bonnie, Linda, Hannah, Dongho, Jack were there. What a time we had together long time ago at CCB although it ended with a painful separation due to the conflict between Charles Kim and the board. 16 people were let go, including myself. Now all history and memory. Unfortunately, I do not have any photo of the colleagues.

With Sunnie, seated, and Young...

Charles, Sunnie, John and Carl... all deceased except Sunnie

I cannot position it right, but 23 years before...

Lunch with John Lim, another former OMC Senior High Department teacher... John is a lawyer by profession. But he is a son of Rev. Dong Sun Lim who is the founder of OMC. He is 90 years old and he is still strong and keeps going. John was also a colleague at OMC Senior High School Department, teaching the youth together. His heart is into microfinance and it is another connecting point between us. His law practice has been thriving also. Probably it is the largest law firm that is owned and managed by a Korean American although there are other non-Korean partners. He is preparing to serve the Lord more directly after his tenure with the law practice is subsiding. We shared common views on many issues. Great lunch at Morton's, an expensive steakhouse. but the lunch price was still reasonable.

Seeing Pastor Minsong Ahn and his wife Shin Ahn... preaching at His Church... Pastor Ahn was Senior Pastor at Korean Central Presbyterian Church in Denver. I was ordained as Elder at this church. We ministered together for three years. Also, he was Senior Pastor at New York Presbyterian Church in New York where I was working. I attended this church briefly. So our relationship dates back quite a bit.

His Church is housed at Come Mission, a mission sending agency. Come Mission was established on the basis of Matthew 24:14, the same verse used for establishing Project BGAN. The founder of Come Mission, Rev. Jae Hwan Lee was also involved in Project BGAN.

It is always good to see this couple whose hearts are pure and passionate for the Lord and His Kingdom.

With Pastor Minsong Ahn...

With Pastor and Mrs. Ahn after the service...

Souvenirs displayed at Come Mission

More...

In Kim and Uncle Ben (Jean Suk Kim) at Morangak... In and Uncle Ben are former OMC brothers. They now live and work in Orange County. In is an aerospace engineer and has retired from this industry. Recently, he has joined a company as an investor and management, which is a start-up to introduce a way to use AC and DC together to save energy. A quick visit to the company and conversation with the founder was helpful for me to understand better. Uncle Ben is still working as an engineer. Naengmyun at Morangak was superb! It was a North Korean style.

Waiting for Naengmyun at Morangak... Ben and In

In is President of this company

Formerly CCB Garden Grove Branch now a church... Transformation... Since I happened to be in Garden Grove, I decided to visit the former Garden Grove Branch of CCB which I established, opened and managed for two years. Later, the branch was relocated and it has been converted to a church. What a transformation!

Bank Branch turned into a church

Seeing Pastor Sam Pang and Chris Pang at BCD Soontofu... Pastor Sam came to Denver's KCPC as Education Pastor. He also led the EM, called Logos Central Chapel, which I helped gain financial independence from the KM. I even coined the name. Later, it span off to be completely independent, which I was not hoping to happen. Now, this church thrives. Pastor Sam and Chris moved back to Los Angeles and after some struggle he has now regained God's calling into shepherding. He is now Senior Pastor of Cerritos OMC, which I am familiar with. What a small world! They looked great with much maturity. I greatly enjoyed our reunion. I took the photo, but it was taken as a video and I do not know how to load the video. So...

My eyeglass remade at Italee Optical... I happen to change my eye glasses once every two years or so. Usually, I go to Italee Optical, the most well known place in Los Angeles. My eye sights are worsening, but what can I say...  I am aging. It is not going to get any better.

I was passing by USC or University of Southern California, my MBA alma mater... red and yellow... Fight On! Trojans!

It was a quick five-day trip to Los Angeles, but each time we visit, we feel grateful that we lived there. Do we want to go back there? No really. The home prices and earthquake threats are two major reasons for not considering this area for living any more. But a great place to visit! - Jeffrey