Like My Family’s Business

The rainy season was particularly long two years ago. After the rainy season was over, I thought the flood victims would ease themselves by looking at the clear sky above, but they didn’t seem to at all. In the cities near Suncheon, Korea, where I live, the embankment of the Seomjingang River collapsed and flooded not only the low-lying agricultural areas but also the apartments; the damage was so huge.

Hoping that the flood victims would be relieved of worry even a little bit, our Zion members headed to Gokseong, along with the members from nearby Zions. The situation that I saw while driving was worse than what was on the news. The collapsed embankment, uprooted trees, and roads with potholes that were being repaired . . . It was tragic.

When we drove for about an hour and arrived at an eel fish farm, the place reeked of dead eels. Immediately, we went into the fish farm where the water was drained off, and took out buried things one by one. We put light stuffs in bags at once and carried them in lines, and for heavy materials, several people carried them together. Even heavy iron pipes were lifted as all members worked together. In the hot weather, we were all drenched in sweat and our rubber gloves, clothes, and faces were covered with mud, but no one said it was difficult. Rather, they all enthusiastically volunteered.

In no time, it was lunch time. An official who had been watching our activity guided us into his office, telling us not to eat lunch in the heat. Thanks to him, we had lunch in a pleasant space and were able to finish the rest of the work. We were delighted and grateful to hear that the fish farm officials and even their families were moved and thanked us for our work.

In the past, even if a disaster happened, I regarded it as something irrelevant to me. But when I personally went to the flood-stricken area, my heart ached as if it had happened to my family. If there is a neighbor who is suffering from a sudden disaster, I will be willing to share in his suffering even a little bit without any hesitation.