성탄선물 감사편지
<목사님, 사모님, 메리 크리스마스! 그곳은 한창이시죠, 거룩한 주님 탄생일 무드인가요? 오신 그분으로 충만하시기를 빕니다. 이곳에서는 너무 일상적입니다. 보내주신 귀한 정성, 선물박스를 진작 받고도 빨리 답도 못 드렸어요. 습관처럼 받으면 안 될텐데요.
이곳에 지독한 감기가 유행하여 모두들과 저도 한 차례씩 심하게 앓고, -신종플루인지 뭔지 알아볼 겨를도 없이 넘어갔죠- 기관지가 약하여 져서, 털목도리 하나 있었으면 좋겠다, 생각했는데요, 다음 날 목사님(네) 보내신 선물박스 안에서 누구의 정성인지 손으로 뜬 털 목도리가 나왔습니다!!! 매일 목을 감싸고 다닙니다. 그 정성을 아버지께서만 아시고 계신다는 것이 얼마나 신나는지, 그 어떤 분을 많이 칭찬해 주시면 참 좋겠어요. 이렇게 조금은 분주하게, 조금 썰렁하게, 그리고 우리끼리라도 따뜻하게 보내렵니다. 항상, 건강하시고 평강하시기를 빌면서, 감사의 마음을 담아서, 2009년 12월 23일 (키르기즈스탄) 김순자 드림.> <주님의 귀하신 이름으로 문안드립니다. 추운 고국의 상황 가운데 강건하시길 기도합니다. 저는 스리랑카에서 사역하고 있는 민홍기입니다. 고국에서 목사님을 여러 차례 뵈면서 생각되는 것은 언제라도 편안하게 대해주신다는 점입니다. 주님의 사랑으로 언제라도 기꺼이 환대해 주셔서 진심으로 감사드립니다. 어제는 울산교회 선교위원회에서 보내주신 선물인 소포를 받았습니다. 선교위원회에 감사의 말씀을 전하면서, 아울러 보내신 분의 성함이 목사님이기에 목사님께 감사의 인사를 전합니다.
언제나 느끼는 것이지만 다소 외로운 곳에 살다보니 이같이 정성어린 소포에 감동하지 않을 수 없습니다. 귀한 사랑을 담아 보내주신 것 하나 하나에 진심으로 감사합니다. 이제 저희는 12년째의 스리랑카 사역을 계속하고 있습니다. 때론 지치고 무능과 무기력함을 느낍니다. 그럼에도 울산교회의 지속적인 사랑과 기도 그리고 정성 등등이 저희에게는 큰 위로와 힘이 됩니다. 작년 7월 안식년을 마치고 돌아온 이후 이제까지는 새로운 적응기간을 지냈습니다.
이제 저희에게 주어진 일들을 잘 감당할 수 있도록 기도해 주세요. 교회와 선교위원회 그리고 자상한 미소와 잔잔한 감동 있는 글로 많은 사람에게 용기와 희망을 주시는 사모님께도 안부전해 주세요. 새해에도 더욱 강건하시고 주께서 주신 비전들을 이루시기를 바라오며 이만 줄입니다. 2010. 1. 29 스리랑카에서 민홍기 드림>
Letters of Thanksgiving for Christmas Gifts
<Pastor and Pastor's Wife, Merry Christmas! It must be in full swing over there; are you all enveloped in the celebratory mood of our Holy Lord's birth? May you be filled with the presence of Him who came. Here, everything feels far too ordinary. I received the precious gift box sent with such heartfelt care some time ago, yet I failed to reply promptly. I ought not to take such blessings for granted like a mere routine.
A terrible flu has been going around here, and everyone—myself included—suffered through a severe bout of it. We weathered it without even having the chance to check if it was swine flu or something else. With my bronchial tubes feeling so weak, I caught myself thinking, "If only I had a warm woolen scarf..." The very next day, right inside the gift box you sent, Pastor, there it was—a hand-knitted wool scarf made with someone’s loving care!!! I wear it wrapped around my neck every single day. How delightful it is that only our Heavenly Father knows whose hands crafted it; please give that wonderful person abundant praise on my behalf. Though it may be a bit busy, slightly lonely, and quiet here, we intend to spend this season warmly among ourselves. Praying that you may always remain healthy and at peace, with a grateful heart, December 23, 2009. (From Kyrgyzstan) Warm regards, Soon-Ja Kim.>
<Greetings in the precious name of our Lord. I pray that you stay strong and healthy amidst the cold winter of our homeland. I am Hong-Ki Min, ministering in Sri Lanka. Whenever I met you in our homeland, Pastor, what always came to my heart was how warmly and comfortably you treated me each time. I offer my heartfelt thanks for your gracious hospitality in the Lord’s love. Yesterday, I received a parcel—a gift sent by the Mission Committee of Ulsan Church. While conveying my gratitude to the Mission Committee, I also extend my thanks directly to you, Pastor, as your name was written as the sender.
Living in a somewhat lonely and remote place, I am always deeply moved by such heartfelt parcels. I am genuinely grateful for each and every item sent with such precious love. We are now continuing into our twelfth year of ministry in Sri Lanka. At times, we feel weary, inadequate, and helpless. Even so, the steadfast love, prayers, and dedicated support of Ulsan Church bring us immense comfort and strength. Since returning last July after our sabbatical year, we have spent this time going through a season of re-adjustment.
Please pray for us so that we may faithfully carry out the tasks entrusted to us. Please also convey our warm regards to the church, the Mission Committee, and to your wife, who gives courage and hope to so many with her caring smile and gentle, touching writings. Praying that you will grow even stronger in the new year and fulfill the visions granted by the Lord, I close my letter. January 29, 2010. Warm regards from Sri Lanka, Hong-Ki Min.>
Dankbriewe vir Kersgeskenke
<Liewe Dominee en Mevrou, Geseënde Kersfees! Dit is sekerlik in volle swang daar by julle; heers daar daardie feestelike stemming van ons Heilige Here se geboortedag? Mag julle vervul wees met Hom wat gekom het. Hier by ons voel alles maar alte gewoon. Ek het die kosbare geskenkboks wat met soveel toewyding gestuur is, al 'n ruk gelede ontvang, maar kon nie dadelik antwoord nie. 'n Mens moenie sulke seëninge as vanselfsprekend aanvaar nie.
'n Vreeslike griep het hier rondgegaan, en almal, insluitend myself, het 'n strawwe siekbed deurgemaak—ons het daardeur gekom sonder om eers te weet of dit varkgriep of iets anders was. My brongi voel so swak dat ek gedink het: "Ag, as ek maar net 'n wolserp gehad het..." Die volgende dag, binne-in die geskenkboks wat u gestuur het, Dominee, kom daar toe sowaar 'n handgebreide wolserp te voorskyn, gemaak met iemand se liefdevolle toewyding!!! Ek dra dit elke liewe dag om my nek gedraai. Hoe wonderlik is dit dat slegs ons Hemelse Vader weet wie se handewerk dit is; prys asseblief daardie besondere persoon namens my baie. Al is dit hier 'n bietjie besig, 'n bietjie koud en stil, sal ons die dae tog warm deurbring tussen mekaar. Met gebede vir u volgehoue gesondheid en vrede, en met 'n dankbare hart, 23 Desember 2009. (Uit Kirgisië) Vriendelike groete, Soon-Ja Kim.>
<Groete in die kosbare Naam van ons Here. Ek bid dat u staande en gesond sal bly te midde van die koue winter in ons vaderland. Ek is Hong-Ki Min, werksaam in die bediening in Sri Lanka. Wanneer ek u by verskeie geleenthede in ons vaderland ontmoet het, Dominee, het dit my altyd getref hoe u my telkens so op my gemak laat voel het. Baie dankie uit die diepte van my hart vir u altyd hartlike gasvryheid in die Here se liefde. Gister het ek 'n pakkie ontvang—'n geskenk gestuur deur die Sendingkomitee van Ulsan Gemeente. Terwyl ek my dank aan die Sendingkomitee oordra, rig ek ook my opregte dank aan u, aangesien u naam as die afsender verskyn.
Soos 'n mens altyd beleef wanneer jy op 'n taamlik eensame plek woon, kan 'n mens nie anders as om diep geraak te word deur so 'n liefdevolle pakkie nie. Ek is innig dankbaar vir elkeen van die dinge wat met sulke kosbare liefde gestuur is. Ons gaan nou ons twaalfde bedieningsjaar in Sri Lanka tegemoet. Soms voel ons moeg, onbevoeg en kragteloos. Nietemin is Ulsan Gemeente se voortdurende liefde, gebede en getroue ondersteuning vir ons 'n groot troos en kragbron. Sedert ons verlede jaar in Julie ná ons sabbatsjaar teruggekeer het, het ons 'n tydperk van heraanpassing beleef.
Bid asseblief vir ons dat ons die take wat aan ons toevertrou is, getrou sal kan verrig. Dra asseblief ook ons groete oor aan die gemeente, die Sendingkomitee, en aan Mevrou, wat met haar sorgsame glimlag en kalm, roerende skrywes soveel mense moed en hoop gee. Met die wens dat u in die nuwe jaar nog sterker sal wees en die visies wat die Here u gegee het, sal verwesenlik, sluit ek hiermee af. 29 Januarie 2010. Hartlike groete uit Sri Lanka, Hong-Ki Min.>