주말인 토요일 아침, 비에 젖은 낙엽을 밟으면서 학교 뒤에 있는 대자산을 다녀왔습니다. 올 겨울의 입구는 유난히 포근했습니다. 그나마 어제 내린 비가 들뜬 날씨를 차분하게 가라앉히고, 다음 주 화요일에 다시 비를 뿌리면 본격적인 겨울날씨로, 기온이 영하로 떨어진다는 소식입니다. 그래야 ‘소설’이 지난 겨울 날씨다울 것입니다. 비에 젖은 낙엽을 밟으며 바로 전날 함께 걸었던 분들을 떠올렸습니다. 어느날 류 선교사님이 메시지를 보내왔습니다. “ 9월 말로 6년간 멤버 케어 사역을 마치는 이건 형제를 한번 위로하고 싶습니다. 에스라에서 내달 28일 저녁 식사와 1박이 가능하도록 해주시면 제가 그 비용을 부담하고싶습니다.” “네 환영합니다. 제가 모시면 됩니다^^” “정형, 이건 형제가 감사를 드립니다. 10월 28일 에스라에서 뵙겠습니다. 게스트하우스에서 머물 수 있겠죠.” “네 준비하겠습니다^^”
그렇게 시작된 일이, 10월 27일 목요일 저녁에 오셔서 28일 서울 성곽 걷기를 하려고 했지만, 약속을 하루 앞두고 아내가 코로나 신속항원검사 결과 양성 판정을 받았습니다. 결국 약속을 뒤로 미루고 이미 잡혀있던 해외사역을 마치고 돌아와서, 11월 24 -25일로 일정을 다시 잡아 만나게 된 것입니다. 하필 만나기로 한 24일 오후는 정말 풀부킹이 된 날이었습니다. 점심 때는 어느 기독교 방송의 전직 사장님 부부와 식사를 하고, 3시에는 차를 마시러 오는 손님들과 바로 멤버체인지를 하고, 30분 후에는 선교사님들이 도착했습니다. 아내가 앞의 손님을 환대하는 동안에, 저는 내려가서 선교사 팀을 만나, 학교 본관 건물과 교정 투어를 마치고 집으로 들어가니, 차를 마시던 손님이 막 일어나는 중이었습니다. 그래도 성도가 서로 교제하는 것을 믿는 신앙인들이기에 서로 인사라도 하자고, 다시 앉혀서 서로 소개를 하다보니 4시 반이 되었습니다.
On a Saturday morning over the weekend, stepping on rain-soaked fallen leaves, I walked up Daejasan behind the school. The entrance to this winter has been exceptionally mild. Fortunately, the rain that fell yesterday calmed the unsettled weather, and with another rain shower forecast for next Tuesday, true winter weather is set to begin, bringing temperatures down below freezing. Only then will it feel like true winter, now that Soseol (the onset of light snow) has passed. As I walked upon the wet leaves, I was reminded of the people with whom I had walked just the day before. One day, Missionary Ryu sent me a message: "I would like to offer some comfort and encouragement to Brother Geon Lee, who is completing six years of member care ministry at the end of September. If it would be possible for him to have dinner and stay overnight at Ezra on the 28th of next month, I would gladly cover the expenses." "Yes, he is most welcome. Please allow me to host him. ^^" "Brother Jung, Brother Geon Lee expresses his sincere gratitude. We will see you at Ezra on October 28th. He will be able to stay in the guesthouse, right?" "Yes, I will prepare it. ^^"
That was how it all began. The initial plan had been for them to arrive on the evening of Thursday, October 27th, and then walk along the Seoul City Wall on the 28th; however, just a day before the scheduled gathering, my wife tested positive on a rapid COVID-19 antigen test. In the end, the visit had to be postponed. After completing my previously scheduled ministry abroad and returning, we rescheduled the visit for November 24th and 25th. As it turned out, the afternoon of the 24th was completely booked up. At lunchtime, we shared a meal with a former president of a Christian broadcasting network and his wife; at 3:00 PM, we had a quick turnover for guests who came over for tea; and thirty minutes later, the missionaries arrived. While my wife was welcoming the earlier guests, I went down to meet the missionary team, gave them a tour of the school's main building and campus, and returned home just as the guests who had been having tea were about to leave. Yet, believing as fellow believers in the communion of saints, we encouraged them to at least exchange greetings. So we had them sit down again and introduced them to one another, and before we knew it, it was already 4:30 PM.
Op 'n Saterdagoggend oor die naweek het ek, terwyl ek op reënnat herfsblare getrap het, Daejasan agter die skool gaan stap. Die aanbreek van hierdie winter was buitengewoon matig. Gister se reën het darem die wisselvallige weer tot rus gebring, en met nog reën wat vir aanstaande Dinsdag voorspel word, sal die winter behoorlik aanbreek en die kwik onder vriespunt daal. Eers dan sal dit werklik soos winter voel noudat Soseol (die aanbreek van die eerste sneeu) verby is. Terwyl ek op die nat gevalle blare getrap het, het ek gedink aan diegene saam met wie ek presies die vorige dag geloop het. Eendag het sendeling Ryu vir my 'n boodskap gestuur: "Ek wil graag vir broer Geon Lee, wat einde September sy ses jaar lange lidmaatsorgbediening voltooi, 'n bietjie bemoedig. As dit moontlik sou wees dat hy op die 28ste van volgende maand by Ezra aandete geniet en oornag, sal ek met graagte die koste daarvan dra." "Ja, hy is baie welkom. Ek sal hom met liefde onthaal ^^" "Broer Jung, broer Geon Lee spreek sy opregte dank uit. Ons sien mekaar op 28 Oktober by Ezra. Hy sal seker in die gastehuis kan oornag, nie waar nie?" "Ja, ek sal dit gereed kry ^^"
Dit was hoe dit alles begin het. Die plan was aanvanklik dat hulle op die aand van Donderdag 27 Oktober sou kom en ons dan op die 28ste langs die stadsmuur van Seoel sou stap, maar net 'n dag voor die afspraak het my vrou positief getoets op 'n vinnige COVID-19-antigeentoets. Gevolglik moes die afspraak uitgestel word. Nadat ek teruggekeer het van 'n reeds geskeduleerde buitelandse bediening, het ons die kuier herreël vir 24 en 25 November. Toevallig was die middag van die 24ste, die dag waarop ons sou ontmoet, heeltemal volgeboek. Teen etenstyd het ons saam met 'n voormalige hoof van 'n Christelike uitsaaidiens en sy vrou geëet; om drieuur was daar 'n vinnige wisseling vir gaste wat tee kom drink het, en dertig minute later het die sendelinge opgedaag. Terwyl my vrou die vorige gaste gasvry ontvang het, het ek afgegaan om die sendelingspan te ontmoet, hulle op 'n toer deur die skool se hoofgebou en kampus geneem, en toe ons by die huis instap, was die teegaste net besig om te groet. Maar aangesien ons as gelowiges vas glo aan die gemeenskap van die heiliges, het ons voorgestel dat almal mekaar darem net groet. Ons het hulle weer laat sit en aan mekaar voorgestel, en voor ons ons oë kon uitvee, was dit reeds halfvyf.