New Beginning in Georgia (April 2025)

We bought a new townhome built in 2015. We had one tenant for exactly 10 years, who moved out at the end of February 2025. The tenant used the home so cleanly that even the realtor was impressed. One bathtub was damaged, but we returned the security deposit without any deduction in appreciation for their good use. We hired a painting contractor to do the interior painting and a carpet contractor to replace the carpets upstairs. Later, we ended up replacing the damaged bathtub and painting the exterior walls with repair work. 

Our home is very conveniently located with very easy access to I-85, close to the Mall of Georgia and all kinds of shops, also close to grocery stores, including COSTCO and Kroger. The Korean grocery stores are not too far either. We felt it was very convenient.

We also found a few walking trails nearby. One of them was Ivy Creek Greenway, close to the Mall of Georgia. It was a wonderful hideaway amid the city. The highway noise was heard, but the surroundings were completely deep in the forest. 

Another amenity located within 10 minutes' driving distance is the Mall of Georgia. It is perfect for my afternoon walk in an air-conditioned building. We rarely dine out lately, but there were restaurants all over the surroundings in addition to the Food Court inside the mall. I love it!

Not too far from our new home is the home of Koo Chung, my former banking colleague and my fellow minister with SfK. We had dinner and enjoyed time over a massive Pat-Bingsu. 

We have decided to worship and fellowship at The Servant Korean Evangelical Church of Atlanta. On the Sunday when we registered, there was a baptism ceremony, and it was a big celebration. People who were baptized all shared their brief testimonials, and all of them were blessings. 

We had a small celebration for our 42nd wedding anniversary at a restaurant in the Mall of Georgia, and we thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and the food.

 The month of April went by fast while we were settling down at a new place. Overall, we were very happy and deeply grateful for the new place, the new church, and the new area. Praise the Lord! - Jeffrey

Last Moments in South Carolina (March 2025)

After we returned from our trip to Japan and Korea, we were busy in March packing to get ready for the move to Buford, Georgia, scheduled for the end of March. 

In March, Kristin became 79 years old. Since we were in transit, we had a humble celebration for her big birthday. We agreed to celebrate properly with our children in Mazatlan, Mexico, in November. 

We attended the worship at Morningside Baptist Church for the last time. We were able to say goodbye to Richie and Jeannie who are from Hong Kong. 

We took a short trip to downtown Greenville before we left. We walked in the Falls Park and had dinner at a taco place, called Papi's Tacos by the river. 

 Since we moved to Greer, South Carolina, in February 2021, we lived until March 31, 2025, when we moved to Buford, Georgia. We came to Greer not knowing anyone, but our four-year life was a blessing. The air and water quality were excellent; the cost of living was reasonable; and the infrastructure was adequate. Particularly, we benefited immensely from the impressive healthcare services in Greenville County while both of us went through several pains. We were deeply grateful. We listed the house for sale and we left for a new life in the State of Georgia. - Jeffrey

Camino de Santiago Portuguese Day 2 (September 2024)

This blog post was supposed to be uploaded in October 2024, but was not done by mistake. But it is better late than never.

Our daily routine was to bring out the luggage to the front by 8:00AM and eat breakfast. We normally ate the first meal around 7:30 AM.

The second day was a little easier with only 16 km to walk to Esposende. But, we ended up staying at a hotel at Ofir Beach, a bit before Esposende. Again, this is a straight line without stopping, but in reality, the Camino route goes through different routes and the terrain could be adding more challenges. 

Egg tart is a signature food of Portugal. It is indeed delicious.

After the first day of somewhat rigorous walk, we felt relieved of a shorter walk than the first day. 

The coastal pathway was damaged probably by a storm and we had to detour through an inland pathway. It took us approximately 40 more minutes than the straight way.

Since the Camino is a pilgrimage, the route directs you to pass through churches located along the way. 

When we checked into the hotel, I found a nice swimming pool and I could not resist dipping my tired body into the water. It was refreshing.

 My daily routine included washing my socks, tossy, shirt, and underwear daily. That was how I was able to manage to use a minimal number of clothes for the entire journey. - Jeffrey