이번 여름 들어서는 저희 집에 손님이 꽤 많습니다.사흘이 멀다 하고 식사 손님뿐만 아니라 1박 2일 손님도 계셨지요. 몇 주 전에는 연달아 큰 그룹의 손님들이 오시는 바람에 뒷정리며 빨래거리도 만만치 않았습니다. 일단 손님이 오신다 하면 집 청소부터 일이 시작되지요. 물론 매일 매일 청소를 잘 해 놓고 살면 무슨 걱정이겠습니까만 그렇지 않으니 문제지요. 이런 장마철에는 하루 이틀만 돌아보지 않으면 생기는 거미줄이며 바닥의 습기로 인해 마른걸레질을 잘 해야 합니다.
주초에는 서울을 다녀왔고 아직 집 정리가 채 되지도 않았는데 손님들이 오셨습니다. 목요일 아침에는 다른 시간을 내기가 힘든 조찬 손님까지 계셨습니다. 그래서 이른 아침부터 일어나 비온 뒤의 마당을 돌아보고 정리를 했습니다. 그 사이 언제 자랐는지 잡초들이 여기 저기 올라오고 있었지요. 다 뽑으려면 아무래도 식사준비가 너무 늦어질 것 같아 대충 손질을 했습니다. 마침 오시는 분이 길이 막혀 조금 늦어진다고 전화가 와서 그나마 오시기 전에 준비를 다 마칠 수 있었습니다.
지나가는 태풍의 영향 때문인지 간밤에는 소낙비가 퍼부었고 아침에도 비가 약간 내려 데크에 마련한 식탁이 은근히 염려되었는데 식사 시간이 되어서는 비가 멈추었을 뿐만 아니라 햇볕까지 비추기 시작해서 참 감사했지요. 복음을 위해 열심히 일하시는 귀한 분들을 모실 수 있어서 참 좋았습니다. 손님이 가신 후에 다시 뒷정리며 못다 한 청소를 하느라 시간이 후딱 가버렸습니다. 하지만 내심 감사한 마음으로 일할 수 있었습니다. 평소에 바쁘다는 핑계로 청소를 잘못하는 내가 손님이 오시니까 그나마 청소를 하는 것입니다. 화장실도 닦고 창문틀에 낀 먼지도 털어내고 테이블보도 다려놓고 말입니다.
그리고 저녁에는 베트남 선교사님 가정이 아이들과 함께 오셔서 하룻밤을 묵고 가셨습니다. 청년 시절부터 잘 아는 분들인데 이제는 같이 늙어간다 해도 될 만큼 세월이 많이 흘러서 큰딸이 대학을 갈 나이가 되었습니다. 의료선교사가 되겠다고 진작부터 비전을 가지고 꿈을 키워오던 중에 영국에 있는 좋은 대학교에 합격을 했습니다. 몇 분들이 후원을 약속했지만 아직 부족한 부분을 하나님께서 채워주시도록 기도하고 있답니다.
선교사님의 두 아들은 맛있다며 아주 즐겁게 식사를 해서 나까지 기분이 좋았습니다. 어두워질 때까지 선교지 이야기도 듣고 신앙 간증도 하면서 좋은 시간을 가졌습니다. 얼마 전 마련한 정원등이 이럴 때는 한 몫을 하네요. 모기가 좀 달려들었지만 모기약을 뿌려가며 안으로 들어갈 생각을 않고 이야기를 나누다가 밤 9시쯤, 오전에 서울 갔던 남편이 돌아와서야 겨우 자리를 정리하고 집 안으로 들어왔지요.
안으로 들어와 거실소파에 앉아서 오랜만에 만나 얘기를 나누느라 밤 11시가 훌쩍 넘어서야 잠자리에 들 수 있었지만 식사를 함께 나눌 수 있는 공간이 있고 오신 손님들이 주무실 수 있는 방이 있는 것이 또 얼마나 감사한 일인지요. 아침 일찍 일어나신 선교사님이 마당을 돌아다니며 사진을 찍고 저에게 꽃 이름을 물어보며 즐거워하시는 모습이 보기 좋았습니다. 하루를 정말 잘 쉬고 간다며 좋아하셨지요.
간밤에 잠을 좀 적게 잤더니 비록 몸은 피곤했지만 귀한 분들과 무언가를 함께 나눌 수 있다는 것이 얼마나 좋은 일인지, 좋으신 주님께서 부족하고 아무것도 아닌 제게 이렇게 좋은 것들을 허락하시고, 건강도 허락하셔서 집을 깨끗하게 청소할 수 있고, 양식도 부족하지 않아 밥을 지어 대접할 수 있는 것이 또 얼마나 감사한 일인지, 좋으신 주님께 감사를 드렸습니다. 정말 나는 행복한 밥쟁이입니다.
This summer, our home has welcomed quite a number of guests. Every few days, visitors have joined us not only for shared meals but also for overnight stays. A few weeks ago, several large groups visited one after another, leaving behind an overwhelming mountain of laundry and tidying up. Whenever we hear that guests are arriving, the labor always begins with a thorough housecleaning. Of course, if I kept the house spotless day in and day out, there would be nothing to worry about; the reality, however, is quite another story. Especially during this humid rainy season, cobwebs appear if you turn away for even a day or two, and the damp floors require careful wiping with dry cloths.
Earlier this week, I took a trip to Seoul, and before the house could even be properly restored to order, guests arrived. On Thursday morning, we even hosted breakfast guests who could not find time at any other hour. I had to wake up early at dawn to inspect and tidy the rain-soaked garden. Without my noticing, weeds had sprouted up all over the place. Realizing that pulling every weed would delay breakfast far too much, I trimmed things back roughly. Fortunately, our guests called to say they were caught in traffic and running a bit late, which gave me just enough time to finish preparing before their arrival.
Perhaps due to a passing typhoon, torrential rain had poured down through the night, and a light drizzle lingered into the morning, causing me some worry about the breakfast table set outside on the deck. Yet, right when breakfast was served, the rain ceased and bright sunshine began breaking through—a moment of pure grace and gratitude. It was such a blessing to host these precious individuals who labor so wholeheartedly for the Gospel. After they left, the day vanished in a flash as I tidied up and finished the cleaning I had postponed. Even so, my heart was brimming with deep thankfulness. Usually, I put off housework under the excuse of being too busy, but expecting guests at least moves me to clean: scrubbing the bathrooms, dusting the window frames, and ironing the tablecloth.
Then in the evening, a missionary family serving in Vietnam arrived with their children to stay overnight. We have known them dearly since our youth, and so many years have drifted by—we might truly say we are growing old together—that their eldest daughter is already college age. With a longstanding vision and heart to become a medical missionary, she recently gained admission to a prestigious university in the United Kingdom. Although several supporters have promised financial aid, they are earnestly praying that the Lord will provide for the remaining needs.
Watching the missionary's two sons devour their dinner with sheer delight, praising the cooking, brought such warmth and happiness to my heart. We sat together until night fell, listening to stories from the mission field and sharing testimonies of faith. The garden lights we recently installed proved to be a wonderful blessing for such an evening. Even when mosquitoes swarmed around, we simply sprayed repellent and stayed outside, lost in conversation without any thought of moving indoors. Around nine in the evening, my husband returned home from his morning trip to Seoul, and only then did we finally pack up and step inside.
We gathered on the living room sofa, savoring the rare reunion and talking late into the night; the clock was well past eleven before anyone headed to bed. How deeply grateful I felt simply to have a space to share food and a room where weary travelers could sleep peacefully. Seeing the missionary rise early the next morning, strolling around the garden, snapping photographs, and asking with childlike wonder for the names of the flowers was a sight of pure joy. They told us happily how deeply refreshed they felt after resting so well.
Because I had slept very little the night before, my body felt weary, but oh, what a profound privilege it is to share life with such precious souls! The good Lord has bestowed such gracious gifts upon someone as unworthy and ordinary as myself—granting me the health to clean our home, and an abundance of food to cook and share with others. My heart overflowed with praise and thanksgiving to our gracious Lord. Truly, I am a joyful cook.
Hierdie somer het ons huis heelwat gaste verwelkom. Elke paar dae het besoekers nie net vir 'n maaltyd aangesit nie, maar ook oornag gebly. 'n Paar weke gelede het verskeie groot groepe mekaar kort op die hakke gevolg, wat 'n stewige hoop wasgoed en opruimwerk agtergelaat het. Sodra 'n mens hoor dat gaste op pad is, begin die werk immers by die skoonmaak van die huis. As ek my huis natuurlik dag in en dag uit silwerskoon sou hou, sou daar geen bekommernis wees nie; die werklikheid is egter dikwels 'n ander saak. Veral in hierdie vogtige reënseisoen verskyn daar spinnerakke as jy vir net 'n dag of twee wegdraai, en die klam vloere verg deeglike afvee met droë lappe.
Vroeër die week was ek in Seoel, en voor die huis behoorlik aan die kant gemaak kon word, het daar al gaste opgedaag. Donderdagoggend was daar selfs ontbytgaste wat op geen ander tydstip kon inpas nie. Ek moes douvoordag opstaan om die reënnat tuin te inspekteer en op te ruim. Sonder dat ek dit agtergekom het, het onkruid oral kop uitgesteek. Omdat dit veels te lank sou neem om alles uit te trek en die ontbyt sou vertraag, het ek dit maar vinnig en oppervlakkig gesnoei. Gelukkig het ons gaste gebel om te sê hulle sit vas in die verkeer en gaan 'n bietjie laat wees, wat my net genoeg tyd gegee het om alles gereed te kry voor hulle koms.
Miskien vanweë 'n verbygaande tifoon het stortreën deur die nag geval, en 'n ligte motreën het soggens voortgeduur, sodat ek my effens bekommer het oor die etenstafel wat buite op die stoep gedek was. Tog, net toe dit tyd word vir ontbyt, het die reën nie net gaan lê nie, maar die son het ook begin deurbreek—'n oomblik van loutere genade. Dit was so 'n voorreg om hierdie kosbare mense, wat hulle heelhartig vir die Evangelie beywer, te kon ontvang. Nadat hulle vertrek het, het die ure vinnig verbygevlieg terwyl ek opgeruim en die agterstallige skoonmaakwerk afgehandel het. Nietemin kon ek die werk met 'n dankbare hart doen. Gewoonlik versuim ek om behoorlik skoon te maak onder die verskoning dat ek te besig is, maar die wete dat daar gaste kom, spoor my darem aan: om die badkamers te skrop, die stof van die vensterkosyne af te vee en die tafeldoek netjies te stryk.
Die aand het 'n sendelinggesin wat in Viëtnam dien, saam met hulle kinders by ons kom oornag. Ons ken mekaar al intiem van ons jeugdae af, en soveel jare het verloop—'n mens kan werklik sê ons word saam oud—dat hulle oudste dogter nou al universiteitsouderdom bereik het. Met 'n jarelange roeping en visie om 'n mediese sendeling te word, is sy pas aanvaar by 'n uitstekende universiteit in die Verenigde Koninkryk. Hoewel 'n hele paar mense reeds finansiële ondersteuning beloof het, bid hulle steeds dat die Here in die oorblywende tekort sal voorsien.
Om te sien hoe die sendeling se twee seuns hulle ete met groot smaak en vreugde geniet het, het my eie hart warm gemaak. Ons het tot laataand gesit en luister na verhale uit die sendingveld en getuienisse van geloof gedeel. Die tuinligte wat ons onlangs aangeskaf het, het op so 'n aand werklik hulle waarde bewys. Al het die muskiete ons gepla, het ons muskietafweermiddel gespuit en buite bly gesels sonder om eers daaraan te dink om binnetoe te gaan. Eers teen nege-uur die aand, toe my man terugkeer van sy oggendreis na Seoel, het ons die buitekuier afgesluit en die huis binnegegaan.
Ons het op die sitkamerbank gaan sit en heerlik verder gesels oor die jare heen; die horlosie was reeds verby elf voor enigiemand kon gaan slaap. Tog, hoe diep dankbaar was ek nie net om 'n plek te hê waar ons saam kon eet nie, maar ook kamers waar vermoeide reisigers sag kon rus. Dit was 'n vreugde om te sien hoe die sendeling vroeg die volgende oggend deur die tuin stap, foto's neem en my vol verwondering na die name van die blomme vra. Hulle het met blydskap gesê hoe wonderlik hulle kon ontspan en uitrus.
Omdat ek die vorige nag min geslaap het, was my liggaam wel moeg, maar wat 'n onbeskryflike voorreg is dit nie om iets met sulke kosbare mense te kan deel nie! Die goeie Here het soveel seëninge geskenk aan iemand so gering en onvolmaak soos ek—Hy het my die gesondheid gegee om die huis skoon te maak, en genoeg voedsel voorsien om 'n smaaklike maaltyd voor te berei en voor te sit. My hart loop oor van dankbaarheid teenoor ons getroue Here. Waarlik, ek is 'n gelukkige kospersoon.