Not long after I’d arrived here in 2006, I started teaching a Bible study at the Korean chapel on base. I did that Bible study for over 12 years, and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I met some wonderful people, and on occasion I had cause for surprise.
One of the most pleasant I’d experienced was something I found out on the last day of a young man who had been coming for nearly two years. His name was David, and was set to leave the Air Force the next week.. On the last day for a lot of those who came (many just doing their mandatory military service), I would sometimes throw a little party — buy some pizzas, or even twice a year bring my little grill and do some burgers and hot dogs.
There’s a thing about Korean military service. Most young men have to do it, no matter what they may have done before. So on David’s last day, in the course of the conversation I found out he could play guitar. When I asked him if he was any good, he kind of smiled shyly, and didn’t say anything. But the rest of those there gave me a bit of a bit of wide-eyed “you wouldn’t believe how good he is” look.
OK, so I decided to look him up. He’s got CDs. He’s done concerts. Oh.
I dropped him a line in a comment on one of his videos once since he left the service some years back, and he was glad to hear from me. I really would like to hear him live someday. In the two years I taught him, I never once saw him with a guitar. It’s a shame I only found out on the last day.