Korean Dinner: A Night of Culture, Community, and Celebration

On Friday, March 7, JRHS faculty, staff, and families gathered with the Korean students and their chaperones from Yadah Christian School at Taewon Jin’s schoolhouse in Hooksett, NH, for a special Korean dinner. This event was a beautiful expression of our Diakonos mission, emphasizing servant-hearted hospitality and cross-cultural fellowship.

Jeff Philbrick shared the founding story of JRHS’s Diakonos ministry. In Greek, Diakonos’ means servant or ambassador to the King, reflecting our calling to serve others and represent Christ in all we do. Just as international students are ambassadors of their countries, our school embraces opportunities to learn from and serve one another. This Korean dinner was the third event in our ongoing commitment to cultural hospitality, following the Chinese Mooncake Festival and the Hungarian Dinner. Each gathering has provided a meaningful opportunity to serve, learn, and build relationships across cultures.

Taewon Jin enriched the evening by teaching us about Korean traditions, including the unique way Korean children are named. He explained that a child's name is traditionally given by their grandfather, with all siblings sharing a common syllable while still having distinct names—each Korean name always consisting of two syllables.

Adding to the fun, we played Yut No Ri, a traditional Korean game. The competition was both intense and lighthearted as Team USA and Team Korea faced off. The energy and pride in both cultures were evident throughout the night.

Of course, no cultural gathering is complete without food! We enjoyed an incredible spread of authentic Korean dishes, including beef, pork, kimchi, and glass noodles. Meanwhile, the American side contributed classic favorites like chili, pulled pork, chicken, tacos, and soup, creating a delicious fusion of flavors.

As the evening came to a close, we bid a heartfelt farewell to our new friends as they prepared to return to South Korea. Though goodbyes are bittersweet, we look forward to their return and to strengthening the friendships we have built.