mi-suk - talks with me for hours every week. she teaches me how to love my husband, and how to be patient with life. she prays intensely for me and my ministry. she brings water for my soul.
soon-yi - she teaches me to speak korean, and has invited my husband to be an intern at a church in korean (don’t panic mom).
jin-hee - is an inspiration. she loves people and loves the Lord. and she loves to connect people with others - she is a networker and HARD worker!
min-hee - was a missionary in china. her heart is so soft and tender - and she has a brilliant sense of humor.
jin-ah - is wise. so wise… and so full of an abiding peace.
heh-jin - is young and brave. she just moved here from south korea. and she has a smile that lights up the room.
kyung-ah - is quiet and pensive, but loves getting to know people.
i love these women… these women of faith and devotion. these women of loyalty to the Lord and to their husbands…
they left south korea for an american seminary in new england… now we are friends.
these women bring a depth and richness to my life that i never anticipated. they teach me new ways to see the world, to see marriage, and to see faith.
they are wise, they are passionate, and they are strong.
they live thousands of miles from home, and a flight back would cost just as many dollars…
soon-yi and jin-hee teach me to speak a language i’ve never heard before! and i teach them as well…
i teach them how to cook american food:
sook-hee (above) wants to run an orphanage in North Korea. her heart breaks for the children there, who have lost parents due to war, poverty, or drowning. yes, drowning. the poverty in North Korea forces parents to attempt to swim through rough swift waters towards food and money for their family. sook-hee and her husband, who loves pizza as much as she loves orphans!, are our next door neighbors. they bring the other side of the world to our immediate life.
i never thought the kingdom of God could feel so big and so small all at the same time. tomorrow’s leaders of the South Korean faith live a wall away from me. we share food, laughs, and prayers. we share a common faith and common fears.
we are the same.
4 responses so far ↓
shellybeth // September 11, 2007 at 8:12 am
You so encourage me….brave woman. Thank you
debra // September 11, 2007 at 9:41 am
this is so beautiful.
I remember this from our days in bible college…so rich with diversity.
tam // September 11, 2007 at 10:33 am
I love the exposure here. It’s one of the things I’ve been thinking about a lot - is thinking outside our little world and embracing the cultures around. This is good - great reading - great reminder…
aawp // September 11, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Awesome!
Great to hear about my fellow Korean believers. Represent!
Would you tell them about my blog? I would love to have some Korean readers and listeners.