좀 멀리 남아공화국에서 스커터 목사님 부부가 오셨습니다.마침 월요일 서울에서 모임을 가진 남편이 인천공항까지 마중을 나갔지요. 나는 나대로 우리 방을 손님방으로 쓰기 위해 청소도 하고 옷장도 비워놓느라 바빴습니다. 그러잖아도 무더운 여름과 장마도 지났으니 한 차례 대청소를 했어야 했는데 미루고 있다가 꼭 손님이 오셔야 청소를 하네요.
저희가 8년 동안 남아공화국에서 살 때, 많은 사랑을 베푸신 분들입니다. 우리를 후원하는 ‘한국인의 친구들’이라는 모임의 회원이기도 했고 처음 몇 해 동안 그 집 뒤쪽의 셋집에 살 동안 한 식구처럼 지냈던 분들입니다. 부인의 마음씨가 넉넉해서 이웃집 아이들까지 데려와 돌봐주는 바람에 어떨 때는 마당에 열서너 명의 아이들이 함께 모여서 놀기도 하고 우리가 바쁠 때는 아예 며칠씩 그 집에 아이들을 맡기기도 했습니다. 한 해 겨울에는 우리가 독감을 세 차례나 앓느라고 많이 힘이 들었는데 세 번째는 정말 지독하게 앓고 있는 것을 보더니 아예 우리 식구들을 다 데리고 가서 며칠 동안 우리를 안방에 뉘여 놓고 아이들을 챙기며 간호를 해 준 참 고마운 분들입니다.
중간 중간에 신학교에서 강의를 하고 말씀을 전하기 위해 부산을 다녀오고 또 제주도를 잠깐 다녀오기도 했지만 주로 저희 집에서 지냈습니다. 그동안 정이 들어 그분들이 부산을 다녀올 동안에 우리 어머니는 언제 오냐고 하시며 보고 싶어 하셨지요. 아침에 일어나면 말이 통하지 않아도 한국식으로 꾸벅 인사를 하며 문안드리는 스커터 목사님과, 찍은 사진들을 보여드리며 열심히 설명하는 사모님을, 어머님은 좋아하셨습니다.
주일 저녁에는 남아공화국에서 공부할 때 함께 지냈던 고신대 총장님과 교수님 부부들, 그리고 울산에서 원어민 교사로 일하고 있는 남아공화국 출신 청년들까지 불러서 식사를 함께 했습니다. 미리 준비한다고는 했지만 오후 예배를 마치고 부랴부랴 집으로 돌아와서 식탁을 차리느라 꽤 바빴지요. 식사 후에는 벌써 삼십 년이나 지나버린 슬라이드를 꺼내보며 옛날이야기에 꽃을 피웠습니다. 그 옛날 가난했던 유학생 시절이었지만 아름다운 추억들을 다시 떠올리며 말입니다. 함께 남아공화국의 노래며 찬양들과 축복송을 부르며 즐거운 시간을 보냈습니다. 이 청년들이 고향에 온 것 같았는지 집에 돌아갈 생각을 않는 바람에 밤이 늦어서야 헤어지게 되었지요.
이 손님들이 주로 저희 집에서 지내다 보니 추석에는 집에서 가까운 경주에 가서 불국사며 대릉원도 돌아보았습니다. 명절이라고 엄청 많은 사람들이 몰려와서 좀 부산하긴 했지만 말입니다. 억새가 아름다운 신불산도 함께 다녀오고 울산 근교를 돌아보게 되었습니다. 현대중공업과 현대자동차도 돌아보고 십리대밭도 함께 걸어보았습니다.
주초에는 태화강변을 자전거를 타고 가면서 아름다운 가을 코스모스와 노란 꽃 코스모스가 흐드러지게 피어난 꽃밭과 명촌교를 지나서 넓게 펼쳐진 멋있는 억새 밭까지 가 보는 호사를 누리기도 했습니다. 정말 색색의 꽃밭이 얼마나 예뻤는지 연이어 사진을 찍어대며 좋아들 하셨습니다. 마지막에는 강변의 전망대 커피숍에 앉아서 저녁 노을이 아름다운 울산의 정경을 감상할 수도 있었습니다. 한 번 가보고 싶었는데 친구들 덕분에 나도 덩달아 호사를 하게 되었지요.
친구는 ‘만약 한국에 와서 살게 되면 울산에서 살고 싶다’면서 울산이 참 아름답다며 칭찬을 아끼지 않았습니다. 곳곳에 아름답게 정리된 꽃밭이며 깨끗한 태화강을 보며 이 땅을 복주신 하나님께 감사했습니다. 정말 한국이 잘 살게 되었습니다. 삼십여 년 전에는 그들의 전적인 도움으로 겨우 공부할 수 있었는데 이제는 우리도 남을 도울 수 있는 형편이 되었으니 얼마나 감사합니까? 현재 우리 고신대학교에는 외국인 유학생이 150명 정도가 와 있습니다.
중국, 몽골, 미얀마, 필리핀, 방글라데시 등 동남아 여러 나라를 비롯해서 케냐, 우간다, 시에라리온 등 아프리카, 그리고 피지 같은 남태평양 등에서 온 학생들에게 장학금뿐만 아니라 생활비까지 후원하면서 공부할 수 있도록 도와주고 있습니다. 물론 그렇게 하는데는 삼십년 전에 남아공 포체프스트룸대학교에서 그들의 도움으로 유학을 했던 사람들, 특히 김성수 총장님의 “빚을 갚겠다!”는결단이 주효했습니다. 때로는 학교경영이 어려운 상황에서도 학생들을 돕겠다는 교회와 성도들이 이 일에 동참하면서 아름다운 일을 지속하고 있습니다. 우리에게 복주실 뿐만 아니라 하나님 나라를 위한 일에 동참하게 하시는 하나님을 찬양합니다.
Pastor Schutte and his wife came all the way from South Africa. My husband, who happened to have a meeting in Seoul on Monday, went to Incheon Airport to welcome them. Meanwhile, I was busy tidying up our bedroom and emptying out the wardrobe to use it as a guest room. With the sultry summer and monsoon rains finally behind us, a thorough deep cleaning had been long overdue, but I had kept putting it off—it always takes guests coming over to finally get me to clean.
During the eight years we lived in South Africa, these dear friends showed us an abundance of love. They were members of a fellowship called "Friends of Koreans" that supported us, and during our first few years, when we rented the small cottage behind their house, we lived together just like one family. Mrs. Schutte was so generous at heart that she often brought in neighborhood children to look after them; at times, there would be a dozen or more children gathered together playing in the yard, and whenever we were busy, we could leave our children in her care for days at a time. One winter, we were hit hard with the flu three times. Seeing us suffer terribly during the third bout, she took our entire family into her home, laid us down to rest in her main bedroom, looked after our children, and nursed us back to health. They were truly such gracious and thankful souls.
During their stay, they occasionally traveled to Busan to lecture and minister at the seminary, and even took a brief trip to Jeju Island, but they spent most of their time at our home. Over the days, genuine affection blossomed, so much so that whenever they were away in Busan, my mother-in-law would miss them dearly and ask when they would return. She grew very fond of Pastor Schutte, who—even without speaking the language—would politely bow in the Korean way each morning to pay his respects, and Mrs. Schutte, who would enthusiastically show her photos of their outings and explain each one with care.
On Sunday evening, we invited the president of Kosin University and professors with their wives—with whom we had shared life while studying in South Africa—along with young South Africans working in Ulsan as native English teachers, and we enjoyed a meal together. Although we thought we had prepared beforehand, rushing home right after the afternoon service to set the dinner table kept us quite busy. After dinner, we brought out photo slides from thirty years ago and lost ourselves in fond reminiscences, rekindling beautiful memories of those days when we were poor international students. We sang South African songs, hymns, and blessings together, having a delightful time. Feeling right at home as if back in their own hometown, the young teachers seemed in no hurry to leave, and we only parted ways late into the night.
Because our guests stayed mostly at our house, we took them to nearby Gyeongju during the Chuseok holiday to tour Bulguksa Temple and Daereungwon Royal Tombs. It was somewhat crowded with large holiday gatherings, but enjoyable nonetheless. We also visited Sinbulsan Mountain, renowned for its shimmering silver grass, and explored the surrounding areas of Ulsan. We toured Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Motor Company, and strolled together through the Ten-Ri Bamboo Grove.
Earlier in the week, we enjoyed the luxury of riding bicycles along the Taehwa River, cycling through flower fields overflowing with autumn cosmos and yellow blossoms, and heading past Myeongchon Bridge to the vast, splendid fields of silver grass. The vibrant, multi-colored flower beds were so breathtaking that our guests could not stop taking photo after photo with delight. Toward the end, we sat at an observatory café by the river, admiring the evening twilight casting its warm glow over Ulsan. It was a place I had always wanted to visit, and thanks to our dear friends, I got to indulge in that special treat alongside them.
My friend remarked, "If I ever come to live in Korea, I would want to live in Ulsan," offering unstinting praise for how truly lovely the city is. Looking at the neatly landscaped flower gardens dotting the area and the pristine waters of the Taehwa River, my heart welled with gratitude to God for blessing this land. Korea has indeed become prosperous. Thirty years ago, we could barely pursue our studies thanks entirely to their generous help, but how grateful we are that we are now in a position to help others in return! Currently, Kosin University hosts about 150 international students.
We provide scholarships and living expenses to students coming not only from Southeast Asian countries such as China, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Bangladesh, but also from African nations like Kenya, Uganda, and Sierra Leone, as well as South Pacific islands like Fiji, enabling them to pursue their studies. Of course, this has been made possible through those who studied abroad at Potchefstroom University in South Africa thirty years ago through their generosity—especially President Sung-Soo Kim's firm resolve: "I will repay this debt!" Even in times when university management has been challenging, churches and believers devoted to helping students have joined hands to sustain this beautiful work. I praise the Lord, who not only showers us with blessings, but also invites us to take part in the work of His Kingdom.
Ds. Schutte en sy vrou het van ver af, uit Suid-Afrika, kom kuier. My man, wat toevallig Maandag 'n byeenkoms in Seoel gehad het, het self na Incheon-lughawe gery om hulle te gaan verwelkom. Ek was op my beurt besig om ons slaapkamer reg te kry en die klerekas leeg te maak sodat dit as 'n gastekamer kon dien. Noudat die snikhete somer en die reënseisoen verby was, was 'n deeglike groot skoonmaak lankal nodig, maar ek het dit bly uitstel—dit vat blykbaar altyd gaste wat kom kuier voor 'n mens werklik skoonmaak.
Gedurende die agt jaar wat ons in Suid-Afrika gewoon het, het hierdie liewe mense ons met soveel liefde oorlaai. Hulle was lede van 'n ondersteuningsgroep genaamd "Vriende van die Koreane", en gedurende die eerste paar jaar toe ons in die huurhuisie agter hul huis gewoon het, het ons soos een gesin saamgeleef. Mev. Schutte het so 'n ruim hart gehad dat sy gereeld die buurkinders ingebring en versorg het; partykeer het 'n dosyn of meer kinders saam in die agterplaas gespeel, en wanneer ons besig was, kon ons ons kinders dae lank met 'n geruste hart in haar sorg laat. Een winter het ons drie keer kwaai griep gekry. Toe sy sien hoe vreeslik siek ons met die derde vlaag was, het sy ons hele gesin na haar huis geneem, ons in haar hoofslaapkamer laat rus, die kinders versorg en ons weer gesond gedokter. Hulle was werklik sulke dierbare, barmhartige mense.
Tussendeur het hulle na Busan gereis om by die teologiese skool klas te gee en die Woord te bedien, en ook 'n kort draai in Jeju-eiland gemaak, maar hulle het meestal by ons tuisgegaan. Intussen het daar 'n hegte band ontstaan; wanneer hulle na Busan was, het my skoonmaarder telkens verlangend gevra wanneer hulle dan sou terugkom. Sy was baie lief vir ds. Schutte, wat—al kon hulle mekaar nie verstaan nie—haar elke oggend op die Koreaanse manier met 'n beleefde buiging kom groet het, en vir sy vrou, wat haar foto's gewys en alles met soveel ywer aan haar verduidelik het.
Sondagaand het ons die rektor van Kosin-universiteit en dosentegesinne genooi wat saam met ons in Suid-Afrika studeer het, asook jongmense uit Suid-Afrika wat as moedertaalonderwysers in Ulsan werk, en ons het 'n heerlike maaltyd saam geniet. Al het ons vooraf probeer voorberei, was dit ná die middagdiens nog 'n groot gewoel om die tafel betyds te dek. Ná ete het ons skyfies van dertig jaar gelede te voorskyn gebring en heerlik ou herinneringe opgeroep—kosbare herinneringe uit daardie dae toe ons brandarm buitelandse studente was. Saam het ons Suid-Afrikaanse liedjies, lofgesange en seënwense gesing en 'n wonderlike tyd gehad. Hierdie jongmense het gevoel asof hulle weer tuis was en wou glad nie huistoe gaan nie, sodat ons eers laatnag van mekaar afskeid geneem het.
Aangesien die gaste hoofsaaklik by ons gebly het, het ons hulle tydens die Chuseok-fees na die nabygeleë Gyeongju geneem om die Bulguksa-tempel en die Daereungwon-grafheuwels te besoek. Dit was weens die vakansiedag baie bedrywig met al die mense, maar tog baie besonders. Ons het ook die Sinbulsan-berg met sy pragtige silwergras gaan besoek en die omgewing van Ulsan verken. Ons het Hyundai Skeepswerf en Hyundai Motors besigtig en saam deur die reuse Bamboesbos van Tien Li gestap.
Vroeg in die week het ons die voorreg geniet om met fietse al langs die Taehwa-rivier te ry, verby blomlande vol kosmosse en geel blomme in volle bloei, en verder verby die Myeongchon-brug tot by die uitgestrekte, asemrowende silwergrasvelde. Die kleurryke blombeddings was so pragtig dat hulle aanhoudend foto's geneem en hul verwondering uitgespreek het. Aan die einde van die rit kon ons in 'n uitsig-koffiewinkel langs die rivier sit en die pragtige aandgloed oor Ulsan bewonder. Dit was 'n plek waarheen ek nog altyd wou gaan, en danksy ons vriende kon ek self ook in daardie bederf deel.
My vriendin het gesê: "As ek ooit in Korea sou kom woon, sou ek graag in Ulsan wou bly," en sy was vol lof vir hoe mooi Ulsan werklik is. Terwyl ek gekyk het na die netjiese blomtuine oral en die skoon water van die Taehwa-rivier, het my hart oorgeloop van dankbaarheid teenoor God wat hierdie land so geseën het. Korea het waarlik voorspoedig geword. Dertig jaar gelede kon ons net danksy hulle ruimhartige bystand studeer, en hoe dankbaar is ons dat ons nou self in 'n posisie is om ander te help! Tans is daar ongeveer 150 buitelandse studente aan ons Kosin-universiteit.
Ons help studente uit verskeie Suidoos-Asiatiese lande soos China, Mongolië, Mianmar, die Filippyne en Bangladesj, sowel as Afrika-lande soos Kenia, Uganda en Sierra Leone, en selfs Suidsee-eilande soos Fidji, deur nie net beurse nie, maar ook hul daaglikse lewenskoste te borg sodat hulle kan studeer. Dit is natuurlik moontlik gemaak deur diegene wat dertig jaar gelede aan die Potchefstroomse Universiteit in Suid-Afrika met hul hulp gestudeer het—veral rektor Sung-Soo Kim se vaste voorneme: "Ek sal hierdie skuld terugbetaal!" Selfs wanneer die universiteit se bestuur soms moeilike tye beleef, hou gemeentes en gelowiges wat studente wil help, vol om hierdie pragtige werk voort te sit. Ek loof die Here, wat ons nie net seën nie, maar ons ook laat deelhê aan die werk van Sy Koninkryk.