주말에는 몇 가지 행사들이 있었습니다. 특히 금요일 오전에는 꿈샘 유치원 제 3회 졸업식이 있었고 오후 4시에는 징검다리 개소식이 있었습니다. 본래 2005년 7월, 울주군 구영리에서 성폭력 피해 아동 일시보호 시설 “징검다리”가 시작되었습니다. 그러다가 작년 2006년 2월 남구로 이전한 이후 5월경으로 기억되는데 “좋은교회 울산교회”가 설립한 밝은 미래 복지재단 산하로 들어오게 되어서 우리교회와 관계를 갖기 시작했습니다.
작년 한 해 동안 성폭력 피해아동 보호시설 설치기준에 맞는 장소를 구하기 위해서 정말 열심히들 수고하였지만 마땅한 장소를 찾지 못하고 미신고시설로 존재하면서 참 어렵고 힘든시간을 보냈다고 듣고 있습니다. 어쩌다가 집을 구하면 그 지역이 재개발 계획에 포함되어 있어서 신고를 할 수 없어서 포기하고 또 다른 집을 구해서 계약을 하려고 하면 성폭력 피해아동 일시보호시설이라는 이유로 주인이 거부하고 백 십만이 사는 광역시 울산에는 우리들이 거할 만한 장소를 찾기가 어려웠습니다. “여우는 굴이 있고 공중에 나는 새도 보금자리가 있는데 인자는 머리 둘곳이 없다”고 하신 그 세상은 이 천년이 지나도 조금도 달라진 것 같지 않는 힘든 기간이었습니다.
그러던 중 독지가 한분을 만나 당신 소유의 4층 건물을 무상임대해 주겠다는 제의를 받았습니다. 다만 집수리나 보수에 관해서는 주인으로서 도울 길은 없으니까 우리가 알아서 처리하라는 조건이었습니다. 그런데 상당기간 비워둔 집이라 수리하는 것이 만만치가 않았습니다. 옥상 방수에서부터 바닥 보일러 시설할 것 없이 사람이 살만큼 3, 4층만 수리하는 것도 상당한 비용이 예상되는 일이었습니다. 다행히 우리교회 사랑의 집짓기 팀이 앞장서고 울산교회 성도 여러분들이 지난 성탄절에 귀한 헌금을 해 주어서 수리를 시작했습니다. 그래서 지난 금요일 오후에 시장을 대신해서 광역시 복지 여성국장님의 격려사와 중구청장님의 축사 등 내외 손님들을 모시고 개소식을 했습니다.
추운 겨울 그 성찬 전야처럼 “빈방 없어요”라고 매정하게 내몰지 않고 여러분이 빈집을 수리할 수있도록 헌금을 해 주신 것을 인해 다시 한 번 감사드립니다. 약 이천 사백만원이 수리비용과 이사비용으로 들어갔습니다. 금요일에는 개소식, 어제 토요일에는 이사를 했습니다. 그리고 성탄헌금 가운데 사천만원은 학성동에 중구 아름다운 가게를 위한 장소 임대비용으로 사용했음을 보고 드리며 또한 감사드립니다. 세상에 오신 주님을 닮아 울산교회 성도 여러분은 피해당한 아이들을 위해, 또 가난 한 이웃들을 위해 아름다운 일들을 하셨습니다. 정말 감사합니다.
There were several events over the weekend. In particular, on Friday morning, the 3rd graduation ceremony of Kkumsaem Kindergarten took place, followed at 4 PM by the opening ceremony of "Stepping Stone" (Jing-geom-da-ri). Originally, in July 2005, "Stepping Stone" began in Guyeong-ri, Ulju-gun, as a temporary shelter for children who were victims of sexual violence. After relocating to Nam-gu in February 2006, it came under the Bright Future Welfare Foundation established by "Good Church, Ulsan Church" around May, if I remember correctly, which marked the beginning of its relationship with our congregation.
I have heard that throughout the past year, everyone laboured earnestly to secure a venue meeting the statutory standards for a temporary shelter for sexually abused children. However, unable to find a suitable location, they remained an unregistered facility and went through deeply challenging and trying times. Once, when they finally managed to find a house, it turned out to be in a redevelopment zone and could not be registered, forcing them to abandon it. Another time, when they tried to sign a lease, the landlord turned them away simply because it was to be a temporary shelter for child victims of sexual violence. In this metropolitan city of Ulsan with a population of 1.1 million, finding a place for these precious children to stay was exceedingly difficult. "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head"—it felt like a heartbreaking period in which the world, even after two thousand years, had hardly changed at all.
Then, through God's grace, we met a generous benefactor who offered to lease their four-story building rent-free. The only condition was that since the owner could not assist with repairs or renovations, we would have to manage them entirely on our own. Yet, because the building had stood vacant for quite a long time, renovating it was no small undertaking. From waterproofing the rooftop to installing underfloor heating boilers, repairing just the third and fourth floors so that children could comfortably live there was expected to incur substantial costs. Thankfully, the Habitat for Humanity Ministry Team of our church stepped forward, and the members of Ulsan Church generously gave special offerings last Christmas, allowing the renovation work to begin. Thus, on Friday afternoon, we were able to hold the opening ceremony with honoured guests from within and beyond our church, including words of encouragement from the Director General of the Metropolitan Welfare and Women's Affairs Bureau on behalf of the Mayor, and congratulatory remarks from the Chief of Jung-gu District Office.
Just as on that cold winter holy night, you did not turn them away heartlessly saying, "There is no room in the inn," but instead gave precious offerings so that this empty house could be restored—for that, I thank you once again from the bottom of my heart. Approximately 24 million won was spent on repair and relocation costs. The opening ceremony took place on Friday, and yesterday, Saturday, the move was completed. Furthermore, I would like to report with deep gratitude that 40 million won of the Christmas offering was used to cover the lease deposit for the Jung-gu Beautiful Store in Hakseong-dong. In the likeness of our Lord who came into this world, the members of Ulsan Church have performed truly beautiful deeds for vulnerable, hurting children and our impoverished neighbours. I am truly and deeply grateful.
Daar was die afgelope naweek verskeie geleenthede. Veral Vrydagoggend was daar die 3de gradeplegtigheid van Kkumsaem Kleuterskool, en om 16:00 die middag het die openingseremonie van "Trapsteen" (Jinggeomdari) plaasgevind. Oorspronklik het "Trapsteen" in Julie 2005 in Guyeong-ri, Ulju-gun, begin as 'n tydelike toevlugsoord vir kinders wat slagoffers van seksuele geweld was. Nadat dit in Februarie 2006 na Nam-gu verhuis het, het dit omstreeks Mei, sover ek onthou, onder die vlerk van die Helder Toekoms Welsynstigting gekom—gestig deur "Goeie Gemeente, Ulsan Gemeente"—en so het die band met ons gemeente begin.
Ek het verneem dat almal die afgelope jaar werklik hard geswoeg het om 'n geskikte plek te vind wat voldoen aan die wetlike vereistes vir 'n toevlugsoord vir mishandelde kinders. Hulle kon egter lank nie 'n gepaste lokaal kry nie en het as 'n ongeregistreerde fasiliteit baie moeilike en beproewende tye deurgemaak. As hulle uiteindelik 'n huis gevind het, was die gebied ingesluit by 'n herontwikkelingsplan sodat dit nie geregistreer kon word nie, en moes hulle die soektog laat vaar; wanneer hulle weer 'n ander huis gevind en 'n huurkontrak wou teken, het die eienaar geweier bloot omdat dit 'n tydelike skuiling vir kinderslagoffers van seksuele geweld sou wees. In hierdie metropolitaanse stad Ulsan met sy 1,1 miljoen inwoners, was dit bykans onmoontlik om 'n heenkome vir hulle te vind. "Jakkalse het gate en voëls van die hemel het neste, maar die Seun van die mens het geen plek waar Hy sy kop kan neerlê nie"—dit was 'n swaar tyd waarin die wêreld selfs na tweeduisend jaar glad nie gelyk het of dit verander het nie.
Te midde van dit alles het ons 'n weldoener ontmoet wat aangebied het om 'n gebou van vier verdiepings kosteloos aan ons beskikbaar te stel. Die enigste voorwaarde was dat die eienaar nie met herstelwerk of instandhouding kon help nie en dat ons dit self moes behartig. Aangesien die huis egter geruime tyd leeg gestaan het, was die herstelwerk geen geringe taak nie. Van dakwaterdigting tot vloerverwarmingstelsels, sou die opknapping van slegs die derde en vierde verdieping om dit bewoonbaar te maak, aansienlike koste meebring. Gelukkig het ons gemeente se "Huis van Liefde"-bouspan die leiding geneem, en danksy die ruimhartige offers van die lidmate van Ulsan Gemeente verlede Kersfees, kon die herstelwerk begin. Gevolglik kon ons verlede Vrydagmiddag die openingseremonie hou in die teenwoordigheid van eregaste, insluitend 'n bemoedigende toespraak deur die Direkteur-generaal van Welsyn en Vrouesake namens die Burgemeester, asook 'n gelukwensing van die Hoof van die Jung-gu Distrikskantoor.
Net soos op daardie koue heilige nag het u hulle nie harteloos weggewys met 'n "Daar is geen herberg nie," maar het u mildelik bygedra sodat 'n leë huis opgeknap kon word—daarvoor dank ek u nogmaals van harte. Ongeveer 24 miljoen gewone gewen is aan herstel- en trekuitgawes bestee. Vrydag was die openingseremonie, en gister, Saterdag, het die intrek plaasgevind. Verder wil ek met dankbaarheid berig dat 40 miljoen gewen uit die Kersfondsinsameling aangewend is as huurdeposito vir die Jung-gu "Pragtige Winkel" in Hakseong-dong. In navolging van ons Here wat na hierdie wêreld gekom het, het die lidmate van Ulsan Gemeente werklik pragtige dade verrig vir die kinders wat gely het, en vir ons hulpbehoewende naastes. Baie dankie uit die diepte van my hart.