기쁜 성탄, 복된 새해
열대의 나라 이 곳 베트남에도 겨울은 찾아옵니다. 겨울은 얼음이 꽁꽁 얼 정도여야 겨울이지 라는생각은 이 곳에서 산 열여덟 해의 세월 속에서 희미해졌습니다. 때로는 코끝이 싸아~ 할 정도의 찬 기운이 그립기도 합니다만 에어컨을 켜지 않고, 창문을 열지 않고, 새벽이면 이불을 끌어당겨 덮으면서 저는 ‘아~ 겨울이 왔구나’라고 생각합니다. 그래서인지 겨울을 좋아하게 되었습니다.
우체국으로부터 울산회사에서 보낸 성탄선물 상자를 받았습니다. 보내 주신 편지 가운데 감사할 제목을 읽으면서 한편 저는 어떤 진보가 있었는가 헤아려 보았습니다. 그 하나가 ‘일을 미루지 않기’입니다. 반가운 소식이나 함께 짊어질 가슴 아픈 소식이나 누구의 편지나 글을 읽었을 때 느끼는 그 순간의 마음을 바로 보내는 것도 ‘일을 미루지 않기’에 해당됩니다. 그 순간이 지나고 나서 나중에 답하려면 너무 형식적이 되곤 해서 아예 보내지 않게 되는 경우도 많았고 훗날 ‘맞아, 그 때 보냈어야 했어’ 후회하는 일이 종종 있기도 했습니다. 울산 회사로부터 매년 성탄선물을 받고 그 선물 속에 담백하게 주님을 따라가는 삶을 써 내려간 ㅁㅅ 님의 편지를 받고서도 제대로 감사 인사를 드리지 못한 게으름을 올해는 하지 않게 되어서 감사하고 진보가 있었음에 감사합니다.
성탄 선물 하나 하나를 풀며 물건을 고르신 분들의 마음을 느껴 보고 있습니다. 따끈따끈한 새우깡 한 봉지를 먹으니 어찌나 맛난지, 비타민과 홍삼정 속에서 저희들의 건강을 기도하는, 이방 음식으로는 왠지 허기지는 고국에 대한 그리움을 미역, 다시마 당면으로 채우라는 마음을 읽습니다. 저희 남편 우ㅅㄱ사(어이쿠 제 소개를 빠뜨렸네요 저는 베트남에서 사역하며 살고 있는 우석정ㅅㄱ사의 안사람 이희정 ㅅㄱ사입니다) 는 짜파게티를 진짜 좋아하는데 컵짜파게티를 들고 신나합니다. 한 가지 아쉽다면 고무장갑 싸이즈입니다.^^ 남편이 다낭으로 사역지를 옮긴 3년 전부터 자주 설거지를 돕는데 남자용 XL싸이즈가 없다면서 아쉬워합니다. 아마 남편도 스스로의 장벽을 깨는 실천 한 가지 중에 설거지가 있지 않나 싶습니다. 진심으로 즐거운 마음으로 선물을 받습니다. 울산 회사의 모든 분들께 감사드립니다.
선물 속에 내년에 실천할 한 가지 진보도 있었습니다. 한부선 서간집 5권입니다. 끝까지 책 한 권을 읽는 일이 힘들어진 요즈음의 제 자신에게 내년에는 보내 주신 5권을 완독하고 싶습니다. 감상문은 완독이 끝난 그 어느 날에 보내드릴 것을 약속합니다. 따스한 햇볕이 자리 잡은 울산 회사의 식당 한 곳에서 차 한 잔과 함께 마음을 나누는 그 날을 기대하면서 잠시 손모음 드립니다. 늘 강건 하십시오 십이월 칠일 베트남 다낭에서 이희정 드립니다.
(성탄선물을 준비한 구역들에 감사하며, 포장하고 발송한 선교부원들께도 감사를 드립니다. 여러 분들의 편지를 받았지만 한 분의 것을 성도님들과 나눕니다. / 정근두 목사)
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year
Winter arrives even here in Vietnam, a tropical country. Over the eighteen years I have lived here, the conviction that winter is only truly winter when ice freezes solid has gradually faded. Sometimes I do miss that nippy cold that bites the tip of your nose, but when I don't turn on the air conditioner, don't open the windows, and pull up the blanket at dawn to cover myself, I think, 'Ah, winter has arrived.' Perhaps that is why I have grown quite fond of winter.
I received a Christmas gift box sent from Ulsan Church through the post office. Reading the prayer topics of gratitude in the letter sent along with it, I also took a moment to reflect on what kind of progress I have made. One of those steps is 'not putting things off.' Whether it is joyful news, heartbreaking news that we must bear together, or reading someone's letter or writing—sending off the sentiments felt in that very moment without delay falls under 'not putting things off.' Once that moment passes, replying later often feels far too formal, which repeatedly resulted in not sending a reply at all, only to regret it later thinking, 'Yes, I really should have written back then.' Having received Christmas gifts every year from Ulsan Church and the Pastor's letter warmly recounting a humble life following the Lord, I am truly grateful that this year I did not succumb to the laziness of failing to express proper gratitude, and I am thankful for this progress.
As I unwrap the Christmas gifts one by one, I can feel the heartfelt care of those who chose each item. Opening a bag of fresh shrimp crackers tasted so delicious; seeing the vitamins and red ginseng extract made me feel your prayers for our health; and through the sea mustard, kelp, and glass noodles, I could read your caring desire to comfort our longing for home when foreign food somehow leaves us empty. My husband, Missionary Woo (oh my, I forgot to introduce myself; I am Missionary Heejung Lee, wife of Missionary Seokjung Woo, serving and living in Vietnam), truly loves Chapagetti and was thrilled holding the cup noodles. If there is just one small disappointment, it is the size of the rubber gloves.^^ Ever since my husband moved our mission field to Da Nang three years ago, he has often helped with the dishes, but he felt a bit wistful that there were no men's XL gloves. Perhaps doing the dishes is one of the practical ways my husband is breaking through his own barriers. We receive these gifts with truly joyful hearts. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone at Ulsan Church.
Among the gifts, there was also an opportunity for one step of progress to put into practice next year: the five volumes of the collected letters of Bruce F. Hunt (Han Bu-sun). For me, who has recently found it challenging to finish reading a single book to the end, my hope for the coming year is to finish reading all five volumes sent to me. I promise to send my reflections on the day I complete them. Looking forward to the day when we can share our hearts over a cup of tea in a sunlit spot in the cafeteria of Ulsan Church, I briefly fold my hands in prayer. May you always remain in good health. December 7, from Da Nang, Vietnam, sent by Heejung Lee.
(My deepest gratitude to the small group parishes that prepared the Christmas gifts, and to the mission department members who packed and mailed them. Though we received letters from many people, I share one of them with the congregation. / Rev. Keun-Doo Jung)
Geseënde Kersfees en 'n Voorspoedige Nuwejaar
Die winter kom selfs hier in Viëtnam, 'n tropiese land, aan. Oor die agtien jaar wat ek hier woon, het die idee dat 'n winter slegs 'n winter is as ys kliphard vries, stelselmatig vervaag. Soms verlang ek wel na daardie koue wat die punt van jou neus laat tintel, maar wanneer ek nie die lugversorger aanskakel nie, nie die vensters oopmaak nie, en teen dagbreek die kombers stywer om my trek, dink ek: 'A, die winter het aangebreek.' Miskien is dit waarom ek van die winter begin hou het.
Ek het 'n Kersgeskenkboks vanaf die poskantoor ontvang wat deur Ulsan Gemeente gestuur is. Terwyl ek die dankseggingspunte in die meegaande brief gelees het, het ek ook oordink watter vordering ek self gemaak het. Een so 'n saak is 'om dinge nie uit te stel nie.' Of dit nou goeie nuus is, hartverskeurende nuus wat 'n mens saam moet dra, of die lees van iemand se brief of skrywe—om die gemoedsrus van daardie oomblik dadelik te beantwoord, val onder 'om dinge nie uit te stel nie.' As daardie oomblik eers verbygaan en 'n mens later wil antwoord, word dit dikwels té formeel, sodat 'n mens uiteindelik glad nie meer skryf nie en later met spyt dink: 'Ja, ek moes toe al geskryf het.' Noudat ons elke jaar Kersgeskenke van Ulsan Gemeente ontvang saam met die leraar se brief waarin hy nederig vertel van 'n lewe in navolging van die Here, is ek dankbaar dat ek vanjaar nie geswig het voor die laksheid om behoorlik dankie te sê nie, en ek is dankbaar vir hierdie vordering.
Terwyl ek die Kersgeskenke een vir een oopmaak, ervaar ek die liefdevolle harte van dié wat elkeen uitgekies het. Toe ek 'n pakkie vars garnale-versnaperinge oopmaak en eet, was dit so heerlik; in die vitamiene en rooi ginseng-ekstrak sien ek julle gebede vir ons gesondheid, en met die seewier, kelp en noedels lees ek julle hartsbegeerte om die verlange na die vaderland te stil wanneer vreemde kosse 'n mens maar leeg laat voel. My man, sendeling Woo (o wee, ek het vergeet om myself voor te stel; ek is sendeling Heejung Lee, die eggenote van sendeling Seokjung Woo wat hier in Viëtnam dien en woon), is baie lief vir Chapagetti en was in sy noppies met die bakkie-noedels. As daar een klein teleurstelling is, is dit die grootte van die rubberhandskoene.^^ Vandat my man drie jaar gelede ons bedieningsveld na Da Nang verskuif het, help hy gereeld met die skottelgoed, maar hy was 'n bietjie spyt dat daar nie manshandskoene in grootte XL was nie. Miskien is die skottelgoedwas een van die maniere waarop hy sy eie grense verskuif. Ons ontvang hierdie geskenke met opregte vreugde. Ons opregte dank aan almal in Ulsan Gemeente.
Onder die geskenke was daar ook 'n stap van vordering om volgende jaar uit te leef: die vyf volumes van Bruce F. Hunt (Han Bu-sun) se briewebundel. Vir my, wat dit deesdae moeilik vind om 'n enkele boek tot die einde deur te lees, is my wens om volgende jaar al vyf boeke wat gestuur is, klaar te lees. Ek beloof om my gedagtes daaroor te stuur op die dag wanneer ek dit voltooi het. Terwyl ek uitsien na die dag waarop ons saam 'n koppie tee kan geniet en ons harte kan deel in 'n sonnige hoekie van Ulsan Gemeente se eetsaal, vou ek my hande vlugtig in gebed. Mag julle altyd geseën wees met goeie gesondheid. Sewende Desember, vanuit Da Nang, Viëtnam, van Heejung Lee.
(My innige dank aan die wyke wat die Kersgeskenke voorberei het, en aan die lede van die sendingkommissie wat dit verpak en versend het. Alhoewel ons briewe van verskeie mense ontvang het, deel ek een daarvan met die lidmate. / Ds. Keun-Doo Jung)