하동 기독교 연합회 집회를 인도하기 위해 다녀왔습니다.남편의 원래 고향은 남해인데 초등학교 4학년 때 하동으로 이사를 왔으니 하동 역시 고향이나 다름이 없지요. 아마 그래서 집회 인도를 부탁받았을 때 선뜻 하겠다고 한 것 같습니다. 마침 하동 옆의 구례에 계시는 박영애 권사님이 꼭 한 번 다녀가라는 부탁을 하신 터라 구례부터 들르기로 했습니다. 권사님은 꽃차 전문가인데 우리 울산교회에 한 삼 년 남짓 계셨습니다. 작년에 동생이 집을 하나 마련해놓고 와서 살라고 하는 바람에 그 곳으로 이사를 하신 것이지요. 공동체 목사님 가정과 함께 주소를 따라 내비게이션을 찍어 갔는데 웬 리조트 앞에 도착을 하길래 잘못 온 것이 아닌가 했더니 그게 아니라 마련해 놓았다는 집이 바로 이 리조트인 것입니다. 방이 오십여 개나 되는 꽤 큰 리조트입니다.
일층의 반을 리모델링해서 ‘들꽃 피는 자리’라는 이름의 꽃차 학습장으로 쓰고 계셨습니다. 젊은 시절 남편을 일찍 보내고 생계를 유지하느라 취미 삼아 만들던 꽃차였는데 이제는 나라에서도 알아주는 전문가가 되셨지요. 매화꽃이 만발한 섬진강가를 지나 만나는 백운산 자락에서, 자연을 벗 삼아 꽃을 키우고, 차를 만들며 행복하게 살고 계셨습니다. 신선한 해물로 정성스레 준비한 점심 식사 뿐만 아니라 마당 아래쪽의 따끈한 황토방에서 고로쇠 물을 마시며 잠깐 쉬도록 배려해 주셔서 참 고마웠습니다. 권사님께서는 울산교회를 그리워하면서 구역원들로부터 받은 사랑을 잊지 못한다고 하셨습니다.
집회 시간에 늦을세라 서둘러 하동으로 나왔습니다. 목사님들께서 섬진강이 가까이 내려다보이는 언덕 위에 자리잡은 펜션을 숙소로 잡아놓으셨습니다. 오르내리기가 좀 불편하긴 했지만 창 밖의 섬진강을 내려다보는 풍경이 참 아름다웠습니다. 하구 쪽이라 바닷물의 조수간만의 차 때문에 저녁의 썰물 때는 하얀 모래 톳이 드러나고 아침에 자고 일어나면 물이 그득하게 차올라 출렁거렸습니다.
하동 연합회는 이름에 걸맞게, 목사님들이 교파에 상관없이 연합하여 함께 일하시는 모습이 참 아름다웠습니다. 임원들뿐 아니라 저희 교단 목사님들이 매번 식사도 함께 하시며 저희를 잘 보살펴주셨습니다. 오래 전에 만났던 분들도 계시고 해서 그런지 낯설지 않았습니다. 하동교회에서 열리는 집회에는 하동군 내의 교회에서 성도님들이 참석하셨습니다. 낮 집회와 저녁 집회로 모였는데 말씀을 사모하는 성도들이 모임마다 많이 오셨습니다. 아직도 연합 집회에 원근 각처에서 성도들이 모여 함께 말씀을 듣고 예배하는 모습은 추억의 한 장면 같았습니다.
고향 교회에서 한동안 목회하셨던, 북천 쪽에서 오신 은퇴 목사님도 계셨고, 이웃에 계시는 이모님과 금남면의 형님 부부와 금양교회 성도들도 오셨습니다. 어머님이 계셨던 노량교회 교인들도 오셨습니다. 평소에는 자주 만날 수 없었는데 이렇게 말씀 집회 중에 만나게 되었으니 참 반가웠습니다. 이모님과 권사님 한 분은 남편이 좋아한다며 파래 김치도 담아서 갖다 주셨습니다.
숙소 바로 앞의 식당에서 먹는 밥도 고향 마을의 정취를 닮았습니다. 어머님이 좋아하셨던 ‘가리장’도 있었고 푸짐한 생선구이들도 있었습니다. 뒷날 오후에는 하동의 명물인 송림도 돌아보았고, 차를 타고 가면서 여긴 내가 다녔던 초등학교이고 교회 가는 길목이었다며 남편은 어린아이마냥 좋아했습니다. 다음 날은 남해대교를 건너 고향 마을을 잠깐 돌아보게 되어서 좋았습니다. 물론 일일이 걸어보고 싶었지만 그럴 시간은 없었습니다. 옛 고향 마을의 두 교회당을 들러 목사님도 만났습니다. 그리고는 아버님, 어머님의 산소도 돌아보았습니다. 어머님이 열심히 기도하며 섬기셨던 교회와 남해 바다가 바로 내려다보이는 곳입니다. 이박 삼일이 언제 지나갔는지 후딱 지나갔습니다. 고향 마을에서 말씀 집회를 섬길 수 있어서 참 행복한 주간이었습니다.
We traveled to Hadong for my husband, Rev. Keun-Doo Jung, to lead the Hadong Christian Council revival meetings. His original birthplace was Namhae, but since his family moved to Hadong when he was in the fourth grade of elementary school, Hadong is practically his hometown as well. Perhaps that was why he readily accepted the invitation when asked to lead the meetings. It so happened that Senior Deaconess Young-ae Park, who lives in neighboring Gurye, had warmly requested that we visit, so we decided to stop by Gurye first. She is a renowned artisan of flower teas and had attended our Ulsan Church for a little over three years. Last year, her younger sibling prepared a house and urged her to come live there, which prompted her move. We put the address into the navigation system and drove over with another pastoral family, but to our surprise, the route ended at a large resort. Wondering if we had taken a wrong turn, we soon discovered that the “house” prepared for her was indeed this very resort—a spacious property with around fifty rooms.
She had remodeled half of the first floor into a flower tea workshop named “A Place Where Wildflowers Bloom.” In her youth, having lost her husband early, she had started brewing flower teas as a hobby while striving to make a living; now, she had become a nationally recognized master. Passing along the Seomjin River where plum blossoms were in full bloom, she was living happily at the foot of Baekun Mountain, keeping nature as her companion while tending flowers and crafting tea. We were deeply grateful not only for the lunch thoughtfully prepared with fresh seafood, but also for her considerate hospitality—inviting us to sip sap from the painted maple (gorosoe) and take a restful pause in a warm red-clay room beneath the garden. The deaconess shared how much she missed Ulsan Church, saying she could never forget the warm love she received from the members of her small group.
Lest we be late for the meeting, we hurried on toward Hadong. The local pastors had arranged our lodging at a guesthouse perched on a hillside overlooking the Seomjin River. Although coming and going up the slope was a bit strenuous, the panoramic view of the river from the window was truly breathtaking. Being close to the estuary, the tidal variation was pronounced; at evening low tide, white sandbanks would emerge, while in the morning, the water would rise abundantly and gently ripple beneath the sunlight.
True to its name, the Hadong Christian Council was wonderful to witness, as pastors from various denominations came together in unity to serve. Not only the council officers but also the pastors of our own denomination shared every meal with us and took gracious care of our needs. There were familiar faces we had met long ago, making the gathering feel all the more warm and comfortable. Believers from churches throughout Hadong County gathered for the services held at Hadong Church. Meetings were held both in the daytime and in the evening, and in each gathering, many believers who hungered for the Word of God came together. Seeing saints gather from near and far to listen to the Word and worship together in a joint revival felt like a cherished scene from bygone days.
Among the congregation was a retired pastor from Bukcheon who had once served a hometown church, as well as an aunt who lived nearby, my brother-in-law and his wife from Geumnam-myeon, and members from Geumyang Church. Believers from Noryang Church, where my husband's mother had once belonged, also came. It had been difficult to meet often in the course of everyday life, so seeing them during this gathering of the Word brought immense joy. My aunt and one of the deaconesses even brought over freshly prepared sea lettuce (parae) kimchi, remembering how much my husband loved it.
The meals we enjoyed at the restaurant just across from our lodging also carried the heartfelt flavor of our hometown. There was garijang (a traditional local soup), which his mother had dearly loved, alongside generous platters of grilled fish. The following afternoon, we took a stroll through the Songrim pine forest, a famous landmark of Hadong. As we drove along, my husband pointed out the sights with childlike excitement, saying, “This is the elementary school I attended, and this was the lane I walked to church.” The next day, we were delighted to cross the Namhae Bridge and briefly tour his native village. While we would have loved to walk every lane on foot, time did not permit. We stopped by two village churches to greet their pastors, and then paid our respects at the gravesite of his father and mother. It is a peaceful place overlooking the Namhae sea and the very church his mother had faithfully served with fervent prayer. The three days and two nights flew by before we even realized it. It was a profoundly joyful and blessed week to minister the Word of God in his cherished hometown.
Ons het na Hadong gereis sodat my man, ds. Keun-Doo Jung, die herlewingsdienste van die Hadong Christelike Raad kon lei. Sy geboorteplek was oorspronklik Namhae, maar aangesien sy gesin na Hadong verhuis het toe hy in graad vier was, is Hadong vir hom net soos ’n eie tuisdorp. Dit is waarskynlik waarom hy sonder huiwering ingestem het toe hy gevra is om die dienste te lei. Toevallig het diaken-ouderling Young-ae Park, wat in die naburige Gurye woon, ons hartlik uitgenooi om by haar aan te doen, en daarom het ons besluit om eers na Gurye te ry. Sy is ’n gerekende blommeteespesialis en was sowat drie jaar lank lidmaat van ons Ulsan Gemeente. Verlede jaar het haar jonger broer vir haar ’n huis gereël en haar gevra om daar te kom woon, en so het sy daarheen verhuis. Saam met nog ’n leraarsgesin het ons die adres op die navigasiestelsel ingevoer en gery, maar tot ons verbasing het ons voor ’n groot vakansieoord stilgehou. Ons het gewonder of ons dalk verdwaal het, maar toe blyk dit dat die “huis” wat vir haar voorberei is, juis hierdie oord was—’n aansienlike kompleks met sowat vyftig kamers.
Sy het die helfte van die grondvloer omskep in ’n blommetee-ateljee met die naam “Die Plek Waar Veldblomme Blom.” In haar jonger jare, nadat sy haar man vroeg aan die dood afgestaan het, het sy blommetee as ’n stokperdjie begin maak om aan die lewe te bly; vandag is sy ’n kenner wat landswye aansien geniet. Verby die oewers van die Seomjinrivier waar die pruimbloeisels welig geblom het, aan die voet van die Baekun-berg, het sy ’n gelukkige lewe gelei in harmonie met die natuur—blomme kweek en tee maak. Ons was opreg dankbaar, nie net vir die middagete wat met vars seekos berei is nie, maar ook vir haar bedagsaamheid om ons in ’n warm kleikamer onder die tuin te laat rus terwyl ons gorosoe-sap (esdoringwater) geniet het. Sy het vertel hoe baie sy Ulsan Gemeente mis en dat sy nooit die liefde van haar wykslede sal vergeet nie.
Uit vrees dat ons laat sou wees vir die diens, het ons gou na Hadong vertrek. Die plaaslike leraars het vir ons verblyf gereël in ’n gastehuis teen ’n heuwel wat oor die Seomjinrivier uitkyk. Al was die op- en afstap ietwat vermoeiend, was die uitsig oor die rivier vanuit die venster asemrowend mooi. Omdat dit naby die riviermonding geleë is, was die getyverskille baie duidelik; teen laagwater in die aand het wit sandbanke te voorskyn gekom, en wanneer ons soggens wakker geword het, het die water weer vol en rustig geklots.
Getrou aan sy naam was die Hadong-raad ’n pragtige getuienis van hoe predikante oor denominasiegrense heen saamstaan en dien. Nie net die ampsdraers nie, maar ook die leraars van ons eie denominasie het by elke maaltyd aangesit en met groot sorg na ons omsien. Omdat daar vriende was wat ons lank gelede al ontmoet het, het alles gou bekend en tuis gevoel. Gelowiges van regoor Hadong-distrik het die dienste by Hadong Gemeente bygewoon. Daar was sowel oggend- as aandbyeenkomste, en elke diens is druk bygewoon deur gelowiges met ’n honger na die Woord. Om te sien hoe lidmate steeds van heinde en ver saamkom vir ’n gesamentlike herlewing om die Woord te hoor en saam te aanbid, het soos ’n kosbare herinnering uit die verlede gevoel.
Onder die teenwoordiges was daar ’n afgetrede predikant van Bukcheon wat jare lank in die tuisdorp bedien het, asook ’n tannie wat daar naby woon, my man se ouer broer en skoonsuster van Geumnam-myeon, en lidmate van Geumyang Gemeente. Lidmate van Noryang Gemeente, waar my skoonmoeder destyds behoort het, het ook gekom. In die gewone gang van die lewe kon ons mekaar selde sien, so dit was ’n vreugdevolle ontmoeting tydens hierdie Woordbediening. Die tannie en een van die diaken-ouderlinge het selfs seewier-kimchi (parae) gemaak en gebring omdat hulle geweet het hoe lief my man daarvoor is.
Die etes by die restaurant reg voor ons verblyf het ook die warm geure van die tuisdorp weerspieël. Daar was garijang (’n tradisionele plaaslike sop), waarvan sy ma so baie gehou het, asook oorvloedige borde gebraaide vis. Die volgende middag het ons deur Hadong se bekende Songrim-dennewoud gaan wandel. Terwyl ons gery het, het my man met die opgewondenheid van ’n kind gewys: “Hier is die laerskool waar ek skoolgegaan het, en dit was die paadjie kerk toe.” Die volgende dag was dit ’n voorreg om oor die Namhae-brug te ry en sy geboortedorpie vir ’n wyle te besoek. Ons sou graag elke paadjie te voet wou verken, maar die tyd was te min. Ons het by twee dorpskerke aangedoen om die leraars te groet en daarna die grafte van sy pa en ma besoek. Dit is ’n rustige plek wat uitkyk oor die Namhae-see en die gemeente wat sy moeder met soveel gebed en toewyding gedien het. Die drie dae en twee nagte het vinnig verbygevlieg. Dit was werklik ’n geseënde en vreugdevolle week om die Woord in sy eie tuisdorp te kon bedien.