10월 마지막 금요일에는 519부대의 북한산 의상능선과 부왕사지계곡 단풍군락지를 도는 93번째 산행을 함께 다녀왔습니다. 백화사 → 내시묘역길→가사당암문 → 용출봉 → 용혈봉 → 증취봉 → 부암동암문 → 부왕사지 단풍군락지 계곡 → 중성문 → 대서문 → 산성입구를 오르내리는 총 6시간에 걸친 약 9km의 만만찮은 여정이었습니다. 이 산행은 , 코로나로 인해 국내에 체재하고 있는 선교사들의 영육의 건강과 교제를 위해 두 분 장로님이 시작하신 모임입니다. 감사하게도 산행 이후 많은 선교사들이 하나님이 지으신 자연을 바라보면서, 창조주 하나님의 손길, 아직도 역사하는 전능자의 사역을 목도하며 침체로부터 회복되는 은혜를 누릴 수 있었다고 하니 감사할 뿐입니다.
거의 매주 금요일마다 산행한 것이 이제 7번만 더하면 100회가 됩니다. 그런데 이 등산 모임이 <519부대>인 것은 처음부터 주로 산행에 참여했던 분들이 51년생에서 59년생들이었기 때문입니다. 부대장은, 정확하게 말하면, 초대 대장은 장재중 장로이지만, 이후 매번 기획과 안내를 맡아오신 강석하 장로가 2대 대장인 셈입니다. 하지만 이후 60년대생들도 들어오고, 그리고 이번에 49년생이 참여하긴 했어도, 별 일이 없는 한 늘 참석하는 한정국 선교사, 조용중 선교사를 포함해, 주축은 여전히 519가 맞습니다. 이제는 코로나로 인한 상황도 정리되고 있어서, 100회를 달성한 이후에 어떻게 할지는 기도 중에 있답니다.
지난 금요일 93회 산행에 가까스로 참석했습니다. 그런데 너무 아름다운 단풍을 보면서 올해를 마감하며 받는 하나님의 선물이라고 느낍니다. 사실 에스라성경대학원대학교로서는 금요일에 시간 내기가 힘듭니다. 그런데도 지난 제90차 한양도성 순성길 3회차 마지막 트레킹 소식을 들을 때부터 마음이 들떴습니다. 특히 코스(동대문역→ 낙산→ 혜화문→ 와룡공원→ 말바위안내소→ 숙정문→ 백악곡성→ 삼청공원→ 북촌→ 안국역)를 전달받았을 때 함께하고픈 마음은 굴뚝 같았습니다. 그렇지만 앞서 말한대로 12시 40분에서 2시 반까지 두 가지 모임이 정기적으로 있어서 금요일은 꼼짝할 수 없었습니다. 하지만 매월 마지막 금요일은 오후 4시부터 모임이 시작되는지라 그동안 벼르다가 지난 금요일에 처음으로 참석할 수 있었습니다.
먼저 감동한 것은 자연경관입니다. 인구 천만이 넘는 대도시 근교에 이처럼 멋있는 산이 있다는 것은 특권입니다. 게다가 북한산은 곳곳에 암벽이 있는 멋진 바위산이라 이번에 걸었던 북한산 의상능선과 부왕사지계곡 단풍군락지만 해도 정말 멋있었습니다. 봄꽃보다 더 붉은 아름다움이 단풍이라고 수천 년 전부터 시인들은 시를 읊어왔습니다. 살기에 바쁜 내국인들은 단풍은 고사하고 하늘 바라볼 틈도 없지만, 이번 산행길에는 상당히 많은 외국인들을 스칠 수 있었습니다. 무엇보다 정말 감동한 것은 이 모임을 시작한 장로님들의 마음씀씀이입니다. 코로나로 인해 국내에 체재하고 있는 선교사님들을 보고 무언가 돕겠다고 산행을 시작한 그 마음으로, 사랑하기에 사역자들의 필요를 보고 함께 걷는 아름다운 발걸음을 꾸준히 옮겨주셔서 이제 곧 100회를 바라보게 되었지요. 아름다움이 있는 곳에는 사람들이 모이고, 사랑이 있는 곳에는 계속되는 기적이 있습니다. 대한민국의 가을, 북한산 단풍은 참 아름다웠고 그보다 더 아름다운 마음을 가진 분들과 함께 하는 산행은 더욱 행복했습니다.
On the last Friday of October, I joined the 93rd hike of the 519 Unit, traversing Bukhansan's Uisang Ridge and the vibrant autumn foliage colonies of Buwangsaji Valley. It was a challenging journey spanning approximately 9 kilometers over six hours, ascending and descending along the route: Baekhwasan Temple → Naesimyoyeok-gil → Gasadangammun Gate → Yongchulbong Peak → Yonghyeolbong Peak → Jeungchwibong Peak → Buamdongammun Gate → Buwangsaji Autumn Foliage Valley → Jungseongmun Gate → Daeseomun Gate → Mountain Fortress Entrance. This hiking gathering was initiated by two elders to nurture the spiritual and physical well-being and fellowship of missionaries stranded in Korea due to COVID-19. Thankfully, after the hikes, many missionaries shared that gazing upon God’s creation, witnessing the hand of the Creator God, and observing the ongoing work of the Almighty allowed them to receive the grace of renewal from their slumps, which fills my heart with deep gratitude.
Hiking almost every Friday, only seven more outings remain until the 100th hike. The group is called the "519 Unit" because those who originally participated were mostly born between 1951 and 1959. To be precise, Elder Jae-Joong Chang was the inaugural leader, but Elder Seok-Ha Kang, who has subsequently handled all planning and guiding, serves as the second leader. Although members born in the 1960s later joined and even someone born in 1949 participated this time, the core group remains the "519" generation, including Missionary Jeong-Kook Han and Missionary Yong-Joong Cho, who faithfully attend unless something unforeseen arises. Now that the COVID-19 situation is settling down, we are in prayer concerning how to proceed once we reach the 100th milestone.
Last Friday, I managed to join the 93rd hike just in time. Beholding the breathtaking autumn foliage, I felt as though it were God's gift to close out this year. Truth be told, it is difficult for me to spare time on Fridays at Ezra Bible Graduate University. Nevertheless, my heart had been stirred ever since hearing about the third and final trekking section of the 90th Hanyang City Wall Circuit. In particular, when I saw the itinerary (Dongdaemun Station → Naksan → Hyehwamun Gate → Waryong Park → Malbawi Information Center → Sukjeongmun Gate → Baegakgokseong Castle → Samcheong Park → Bukchon → Anguk Station), I longed intensely to participate. Yet, as mentioned, having two regular meetings scheduled from 12:40 PM to 2:30 PM kept me firmly tied down on Fridays. However, since meetings on the last Friday of each month begin at 4:00 PM, I had eagerly waited for the opportunity and was finally able to participate last Friday.
What moved me first was the sheer natural landscape. Having such a majestic mountain close to a metropolis of over ten million people is a tremendous privilege. Moreover, Bukhansan is a magnificent rocky mountain with crags and cliffs scattered throughout, making our trek along Bukhansan's Uisang Ridge and the autumn foliage colonies of Buwangsaji Valley truly awe-inspiring. For thousands of years, poets have penned verses describing autumn foliage as a beauty redder and richer than spring blossoms. While locals, burdened by the busyness of life, rarely find a moment to look up at the sky, let alone savor the autumn leaves, we crossed paths with quite a number of foreign visitors along the trail. Above all, what touched me most profoundly was the heart and devotion of the elders who started this gathering. Caring for missionaries detained in Korea due to COVID-19 and stepping forward with a desire to help, they lovingly recognized the ministers' needs and steadily walked alongside them, bringing us now close to the 100th journey. Where there is beauty, people gather; where there is love, miracles continue. Autumn in South Korea, with Bukhansan's autumn leaves, was exceedingly beautiful, and hiking alongside those with hearts even more beautiful made it a truly joyful day.
Op die laaste Vrydag van Oktober het ek aangesluit by die 93ste staptoer van die 519-eenheid, wat Bukhansan se Uisang-rant en die kleurryke herfsblarekolonies van Buwangsaji-vallei aangedoen het. Dit was ’n veeleisende roete van sowat 9 kilometer wat oor ses uur gestrek het, met op- en afdraandes langs die volgende punte: Baekhwasan-tempel → Naesimyoyeok-pad → Gasadangammun-poort → Yongchulbong-piek → Yonghyeolbong-piek → Jeungchwibong-piek → Buamdongammun-poort → Buwangsaji-herfskolonie in die vallei → Jungseongmun-poort → Daeseomun-poort → Bergvesting-ingang. Hierdie stapgroep is deur twee ouderlinge begin om die liggaamlike en geestelike welsyn en gemeenskap van sendelinge wat weens COVID-19 in Korea vasgekeer was, te koester. Dankbaar kan ons getuig dat talle sendelinge ná die staptogte, terwyl hulle God se skepping aanskou het, die hand van die Skeppergod en die voortgaande werking van die Almagtige kon beleef, en daardeur die genade van herstel uit hul moedeloosheid ontvang het.
Deur byna elke Vrydag te stap, lê daar nou nog net sewe staptogte voor om die 100ste mylpaal te bereik. Die groep heet die "519-eenheid" omdat diegene wat aanvanklik deelgeneem het, hoofsaaklik tussen 1951 en 1959 gebore is. Om presies te wees, was ouderling Jae-Joong Chang die eerste leier, maar ouderling Seok-Ha Kang, wat sedertdien telkens die beplanning en leiding behartig het, dien as die tweede leier. Hoewel persone wat in die sestigerjare gebore is later bygekom het en selfs iemand wat in 1949 gebore is hierdie keer deelgeneem het, bly die kern steeds die "519"-geslag, insluitend sendeling Jeong-Kook Han en sendeling Yong-Joong Cho, wat altyd getrou opdaag tensy iets onvoorsiens voorval. Noudat die omstandighede rondom COVID-19 besig is om te normaliseer, is ons biddend besig om te oorweeg wat ons ná die 100ste staptog sal doen.
Verlede Vrydag kon ek op die nippertjie by die 93ste staptoer aansluit. Toe ek die asemrowende herfsblare aanskou, het ek gevoel asof dit ’n hemelse geskenk van God is om die jaar mee af te sluit. Om die waarheid te sê, is dit vir my as deel van Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit moeilik om op Vrydae tyd in te ruim. Nietemin was my gemoed al opgewonde vandat ek van die laaste skof van die 90ste Hanyang-stadsmure-staproete gehoor het. Veral toe ek die roete ontvang (Dongdaemun-stasie → Naksan → Hyehwamun-poort → Waryong-park → Malbawi-inligtingskantoor → Sukjeongmun-poort → Baegakgokseong-vesting → Samcheong-park → Bukchon → Anguk-stasie), was my verlange groot om saam te stap. Maar soos reeds genoem, het twee gereelde vergaderings tussen 12:40 en 14:30 my hande op Vrydae styf gebind. Aangesien die byeenkomste op die laaste Vrydag van die maand egter eers om 16:00 begin, kon ek na lank se beplanning uiteindelik verlede Vrydag vir die eerste keer aansluit.
Wat my allereers diep geraak het, was die natuurskoon. Om so ’n manjifieke berg naby ’n metropool met meer as tienmiljoen inwoners te hê, is ’n wonderlike voorreg. Boonop is Bukhansan ’n pragtige klipberg met rotswande op verskeie plekke, wat ons staptog langs Bukhansan se Uisang-rant en die herfskleure van Buwangsaji-vallei werklik onvergeetlik gemaak het. Vir duisende jare al besing digters herfsblare as ’n skoonheid wat rooier en ryker as lenteblomme is. Terwyl plaaslike inwoners in hul gejaagde lewens skaars tyd het om na die hemel op te kyk, wat nog te sê herfsblare te bewonder, het ons op hierdie staptog heelwat buitelandse besoekers teëgekom. Bo alles was ek egter diep geraak deur die hart en toewyding van die ouderlinge wat hierdie byeenkoms begin het. Bewoë oor die lot van sendelinge wat weens COVID-19 in Korea moes vertoef, het hulle uit liefde die behoeftes van hierdie bedienaars raakgesien en getrou saam met hulle gestap, sodat ons nou byna die 100ste staptog bereik. Waar daar skoonheid is, kom mense byeen; waar daar liefde is, gaan die wonders voort. Die herfs in Suid-Korea, met Bukhansan se herfsblare, was besonder mooi, en om te stap saam met mense wie se harte nog mooier is, het die dag selfs vreugdevoller gemaak.