I was pretty excited when we got “released to the field” and immediately began preparing for the transition.  I created my mental checklist of all the things that had to be done set right in on those that I was able to work on right away.  One of the first items to bubble to the top of the list was the shipping of the few items that we wanted to take with us to Korea.  We had already decided that we would be taking a minimal amount of stuff and no furniture made the list.  Some of the kitchen items, holiday decorations, photos, some electronics and and such.  Really is was not going to be a lot.  I was thinking we could easily pack all the stuff we really wanted to take with us in a 6 foot square container.  I had seen them around so I went online and checked out the price for shipping one of those bad boys to Korea.

Shock of all shocks, the prices I was getting back online were staggeringly expensive.  I was thinking around $1,000 to ship one of those containers over there.  I was getting quotes back form shippers in excess of $4,000 dollars and that did not include the cost of getting it from Seoul to Osan or customs.  I was shell shocked to say the least.  I checked on UPS, FedEx, DHL, full containers and partial containers and everything else I could think of.  I finally came to conclusion that our plans needed to change.

Now we are looking at paying the airlines extortion money to each take an extra bag with us and I found a carrier that will ship 150cf of stuff (that about (10) 24x24x24 inch boxes) for around 2,000 dollars.  We have decided to finish a small section of my brothers shop making it dry, clean and critter proof and store what we don’t sell or give away in there for now.  As for what goes to Korea?  that will be a small amount of stuff indeed.  Just what is needed.  We will have to examine if it’s cheaper to ship it and pay customs or buy it new in Korea.  Sentimental is going to have to give way to practical, etc.

On the upside I think Nicole and Cassie are pretty excited about the prospect of getting some stuff to keep or use for awhile at bargain basement (basically free ) prices.

I’m still looking for cost effective ways to get some stuff to Korea so if you have a secret you are willing to share I’m certainly willing to listen.  In the meantime we will press on without waiver towards the calling of our Lord in His great adventure called life and ministry.

BTW.  Just in case the implication was not clear in the blog message this is an area you can be praying for us in. 

Fueled by Christ

Michael