I had felt like being in the wonder land as Fr. Joseph and I traveled in Uyuni well known for its salt desert. During the travel, both of us severly suffered from headaches because of the altitude. La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, is located on the top of the Andes Mountain which is over 3,600 meter.

We took a bus for 12 hours to get to Uyuni and then drove a SUV for a couple of hours to get to the salt desert. It was spellbinding. I uploaded some pictures in my Flickr that you can find in the right column of the homepage. Just click the Flick sign to be in the wonder land!

It has been a week since I came back to Bolivia to visit my priest classmate. How good to be with a friend in the foreign soil! He seems to really enjoy ministering to Bolivians which is an inspiration to me.

After the last mass in 2009, the four Korean priests including me visited a house. The room was so small and poor that two parents and four children share four beds and temporary kitchen outside. Nevertheless their hospitality is no less than a five-star hotel’s. Probably they served to us very poignant food for the family. As the time was closer to the midnight, I could hear more fireworks. My friend explained that Bolivians love to do fireworks for the special holidays such as Christmas and New Year. Although they are poor, he continued to tell, they know how to celebrate and express their joy. Listening to the cheap fireworks’ sounds, I knew that it was a special and blessed moment to celebrate the new year among the poor. In the southern hemisphere, wearing a short sleeve T-shirt, I was looking at the sky decorated with splendid colors and sounds. I wish every Bolivian find happiness in touch life and the missionaries live well among them as good brothers. What a beautiful night!

On the last day in 2009, I look back on the year of grace and mercy, believing that the unexamined life is not worth living. So I would like to choose the top 10 news of 2009 in my life.

1. Concluding the two-year assignment at St. Anthony of Padua in June

2. Finishing the Boston Marathon with the record of 3:07:35 in April

3. Beginning studying, living and ministering at John Carroll University in August

4. Visting home and spending time with family and friends in July

5. Having Fr. Clem as a spiritual director and attending his funeral in December

6. Visiting the friends in San Francisco and Los Angeles during Thanksgiving Break in November

7. Spending the Christmas Break in Bolivia in December

8. Making the annual retreat with a Jesuit director in Guelph, Canada in January

9. Running the New York Marathon with the record of 3:07:52 in November

10. Attending the annual priest conference in Calgary Canada in June

Having Reflected the top 10 news in 2009, I look forward to living the year of 2010 as a good student, a faithful and humble priest and a friend of all by studying and praying hard, serving to all with compassion and challenging myself to grow through the marathons and the vision of Christ.

Recently, I have joined one of a million Catholic voices working to confront global poverty. I believe that the fact we all know about global poverty is not real until we take a concrete step to make a difference. By learning about the issues affecting our brothers and sisters worldwide and taking action in support of changes, we will fulfill our responsibility as one of human family and will improve their lives.

One million Catholic voices can make a real difference. So I commit myself to recruit ten people from my network to join Catholics Confront Global Poverty. Please consider to do this sign-up invitation and invite others to promote human life and dignity by working to confront and end global poverty.

God bless you all!