울산 청소년을 위한 사단법인 십대들의 둥지는 오랫동안 청소년들을 5대양 6대주라는 프로그램으로 어떤 때는 미주로, 대개는 유럽 여러 나라를 돌아볼 기회를 제공해 왔습니다. 2년 전 어느 이사회에서 누군가 가 “왜 항상 청소년만 데리고 나가느냐? 우리도 한 번 데리고 가 달라” 고 말했습니다. 즉석 동의를 얻어서 이번 일이 계획되었고 마침내 올해는 그 계획을 실행했습니다. 당시 사무국장이었던 조휘용 목사님이 주선해서 일곱 부부, 14명이 승용차 세대를 빌려서, 때로는 에어비앤비 (airbnb)에서, 때로는 텐트에서, 마지막 이틀은 호텔에서 숙박을 하며, 열흘 동안 아이슬란드를 한 바퀴 도는 여정이었습니다.
‘얼음 나라’ 아이슬란드는, 지표면에는 세계에서 제일 넓은 빙하와, 땅 속에는 이글거리는 용암, 불의 나라이면서, 변화무쌍한 날씨와 다양 한 지형, 게다가 여러 가지 야생화가 지천으로 널려있고, 길 좌우편에 는 루피너스라는 꽃이, 우리나라 시골길에 핀 코스모스처럼 바람에 흔들리고, 들판 곳곳에는 한가로이 풀을 뜯는 양들과 말들의 여유로운 모습이 오랫동안 기억될 것입니다. 울산의 고래 탐사선은 바빠서 한 번도 타지 못한 사람조차도 단체의 일원이기에, 큰돈을 들여 세 시간 투어를 하는 사고(?)를 치기도 하고, 다행히 여름에는 백야라 대낮같이 밝았으니 퍼핀이란 새들을 찾아 밤늦은 시간까지 즐기는 호사를 누리기도 했습니다.
남의 나라, 남의 동네지만, 스마트폰의 도움으로 ‘에나 저그 동네, 저 그 집을 찾아다니듯이’ 운전하는데 불편이 없었고, 구글 맵의 도움으로 맛집 기행을 하는 즐거움도 누렸습니다. 숙소만 다양했던 것이 아니라 다양한 음식도 여행의 즐거움을 더해 주었습니다. 에어비앤비나 야영을 할 때는 준비해서 가져간 김치를 비롯한 밑반찬으로 밥과 라면을 먹기도 하고, 오븐이 있는 숙소에서는 그릴에 양고기를 구워먹기도 하고, 야영하면서도 한 차례 바비큐를 할 수 있었고, 아무 때나 슬금슬금 내리는 비가 멈추고 따뜻한 저녁햇살을 쬐면서 야외에서 식사를 하다보면 무딘 사람조차도 하나님의 세밀한 도우심을 고백하지 않을 수 없었습니다. 호텔카페에서부터 전문 말 농장 카페까지 다양한 곳에서 마신 커피도 쉽게 잊히지 아니할 것입니다.
시간 사용에 있어서도, 자로 잰 듯이 알뜰살뜰한 여정은, 하나님께서 우리를 사랑하시며 간섭하신다는 것을 우리로 하여금 자주 고백하게 만들었고 세 대의 차로 이동하는 내내 십둥의 비장의 비품인 워키토키는 또 다른 기쁨을 선물했습니다. “1호차, 헤드라이트 켜세요. 오버~”로부터 시작해서, 돌아가며 부르는 노래는 여행의 기분을 보다 유쾌하게 만드는 1등 공신이었습니다. 김모 이사님은 드립 커피의 즐거움, 캠핑의 즐거움, 4륜 구동 차의 운전의 즐거움을 모두 맛본 그랜드슬램을 달성했습니다. 서로를 이해하고 사랑하며 섬기는 기쁨을 만끽한 열흘간의 아이슬란드 투어는 울산의 청소년들을 섬기는 이사들에게 새로운 활력소가 되길 소망합니다. 이사님들이 모두 함께 하지 못한 아쉬움 외에 는 열흘이 너무 빨리 지나간 완벽한 엠티였습니다. 한 주간 미리 답사를 하고 열흘 내내 섬겨준 조 목사님 부부께 우리의 감사를 보냅니다.
For a long time, Teens' Nest—an incorporated association serving the youth of Ulsan—has provided opportunities for young people through its 'Five Oceans and Six Continents' program, taking them sometimes to the Americas, but mostly across various European nations. Two years ago, at one of our board meetings, someone said, “Why do you only take the youth? Please take us along just once!” With spontaneous and unanimous agreement, the trip was planned, and this year we finally brought that plan to fruition. Pastor Hwi-Yong Cho, who was serving as the executive director at the time, organized everything: seven married couples, fourteen people in total, rented three cars. Sometimes staying at Airbnbs, sometimes camping in tents, and spending the final two nights in a hotel, we embarked on a ten-day journey circling Iceland.
Iceland, the “land of ice,” boasts some of the world's most expansive glaciers upon its surface, while molten lava burns deep underground—truly a land of both ice and fire. With ever-changing weather and diverse landscapes, wild blooms carpeted the ground everywhere. On both sides of the roads, purple lupines swayed gently in the breeze, much like the cosmos flowers blooming along the country paths of Korea. Dotting the open fields, peaceful sheep and horses grazed leisurely—scenes that will linger in our memories for a very long time. Even those among us who had been too busy back home to ever board the whale-watching boat in Ulsan joined in the group spirit, happily splurging on a three-hour sea tour. Thankfully, under the midnight sun of summer, it remained as bright as midday, allowing us the rare indulgence of searching for charming puffins late into the night.
Though it was a foreign land and unfamiliar territory, thanks to smartphones, we navigated and drove around as comfortably as if we were visiting neighboring homes in our hometown. With Google Maps, we also savored the joy of discovering delicious local eateries. Not only were the accommodations diverse, but the variety of meals also enriched our journey. While staying in Airbnbs or camping outdoors, we shared rice and instant noodles accompanied by kimchi and side dishes brought from home; in lodgings equipped with ovens, we grilled succulent lamb; and even while camping, we managed a delightful barbecue. Whenever the gentle, passing showers ceased and we sat outdoors for a meal bathed in warm evening sunlight, even the most insensitive heart among us could not help but confess God’s meticulous and tender care. The coffee we enjoyed in settings ranging from hotel cafés to charming horse farm cafés will not easily be forgotten either.
In terms of managing our time, the itinerary was mapped out with thoughtful precision, constantly prompting us to confess how deeply God loves and guides our steps. Throughout our travel across three cars, the walkie-talkie—Teens' Nest's prized piece of equipment—brought us immense joy. Starting from calls like, “Car No. 1, turn on your headlights, over!” to taking turns singing hymns and songs over the air, it was truly the greatest contributor to our high spirits. One board member even achieved a personal “grand slam” by relishing the delight of pour-over drip coffee, the charm of camping, and the excitement of driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle across rugged terrain. I earnestly pray that this ten-day tour of Iceland—where we fully delighted in the joy of understanding, loving, and serving one another—will serve as a fresh source of vitality for the board members serving the youth of Ulsan. Aside from our regret that not all board members could join, it was a truly perfect retreat, and the ten days slipped by far too quickly. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Pastor Cho and his wife, who scouted the route a week in advance and devotedly served us throughout all ten days.
Tienernes, 'n vereniging sonder winsoogmerk wat hom beywer vir die jeug van Ulsan, bied al baie jare lank aan jongmense die geleentheid om die vyf oseane en ses kontinente te verken—soms na die Amerikas, maar meestal na verskeie Europese lande. Twee jaar gelede, tydens 'n sekere direksievergadering, het iemand gesê: “Waarom neem julle altyd net die jeug saam? Neem ons ook 'n slag saam!” Met spontane instemming is hierdie reis beplan, en vanjaar het ons daardie plan uiteindelik uitgevoer. Ds. Hwi-Yong Cho, wat destyds as sekretaris gedien het, het die reëlings getref: sewe egpare, altesaam veertien mense, het drie motors gehuur. Soms het ons in 'n Airbnb gebly, soms in tente gekamp, en die laaste twee nagte in 'n hotel oornag, terwyl ons tien dae lank reg rondom Ysland getoer het.
Ysland, die 'land van ys', beskik oor die wêreld se uitgestrekste gletsers op sy oppervlak, terwyl gloeiende lawa diep onder die grond brand—waarlik 'n land van ys en vuur. Met sy wisselvallige weer en uiteenlopende landskappe was die veld oortrek met 'n magdom veldblomme. Aan weerskante van die paaie het pers lupiene in die wind gewieg, net soos die kosmosblomme langs die grondpaaie van ons tuisland. Oor die oop velde heen het skape en perde rustig gewei—'n vredige toneel wat lank in ons herinneringe sal bly voortleef. Selfs diegene onder ons wat tuis te besig was om ooit op Ulsan se walviskykboot te klim, het as deel van die groep die avontuur aangepak en die nodige fondse spandeer op 'n drie uur lange bootvaart. Danksy die somer se middernagsonskyn was dit helder soos helder oordag, sodat ons tot laat in die nag die weelde kon geniet om na die pragtige种子papegaaiduikers (puffins) te soek.
Alhoewel dit 'n vreemde land en onbekende omgewing was, kon ons danksy slimfone net so gemaklik rondry asof ons in ons eie buurt na bekende huise soek, en met behulp van Google Maps het ons dit geniet om heerlike plaaslike restaurante te ontdek. Nie net die verblyf was afwisselend nie, maar ook die verskeidenheid van etes het groot vreugde tot die reis toegevoeg. Tydens ons verblyf in Airbnbs of wanneer ons gekamp het, het ons rys en kitsnoedels geniet saam met kimchi en bykosse wat ons van die huis af saamgebring het. Waar daar oonde was, het ons skaaptjops gebraai, en selfs terwyl ons gekamp het, kon ons 'n heerlike braai hou. Wanneer die sagte, aanhoudende reën opgeklaar het en ons buite kon eet in die koestering van die warm laatmiddagson, kon selfs die mees ongevoelige hart nie anders as om God se fyn en getroue versorging te bely nie. Die koffie wat ons op uiteenlopende plekke gedrink het—van hotelkafees tot spesiale perdeteelplaaskafees—sal ons ook nie sommer vergeet nie.
Wat ons tydsbestuur betref, was die reisplan met uiterste sorg en akkuraatheid uitgewerk, wat ons telkens opnuut laat bely het hoe die Here ons liefhet en ons weë lei. Terwyl ons in drie motors gereis het, was Tienernes se geheime wapen—die tweerigtingradio's (walkie-talkies)—'n bron van geweldige pret. Van oproepe soos: “Motor nommer 1, skakel asseblief julle hoofligte aan, oor!” tot die beurtelingse saamsing van liedjies oor die lug, was dit die heel beste middel om almal se gemoed vrolik te hou. Een van ons direksielede het selfs 'n 'grand slam' behaal deur die vreugde van filtreerkoffie, die genot van kampeer, en die opwinding van vierwielaandrywing ten volle te smaak. Dit is my innige bede dat hierdie tiendaagse Ysland-toer—waarin ons die vreugde gesmaak het om mekaar te verstaan, lief te hê en te dien—nuwe lewenskrag sal gee aan die direksielede wat die jeug van Ulsan bedien. Buiten ons verlange na die lede wat nie kon saamgaan nie, was dit 'n volmaakte wegbreek waarvan die tien dae heeltemal te vinnig verbygevlieg het. Ons innige dank gaan uit na ds. Cho en sy eggenote, wat die roete 'n week vooraf verken het en ons gedurende die hele tien dae met soveel toewyding bedien het.