#1 Nam Ji-eun from Gangneung, Korea
Mukho-dong is a very sloped mountain village. There are many narrow alleys where handcarts can hardly enter the village. It is almost impossible to deliver coal briquettes to the village. However, the Church of God members from Yeongdong, Gangwon Province, deliver coal briquettes to the village every year. This year, more than 200 members joined the briquette relay to help the elderly in Mukho-dong spend a warm winter.
I could not deliver briquettes this time due to my chronic back pain. This was a volunteer activity which I had really wanted to participate in. So I volunteered to drive the members to the place and waited in the parking lot. Thanks to this, I was able to see the whole picture that I could not see last year while delivering briquettes.
In the weather below -10℃ [14℉], the brothers and sisters carried 2,000 briquettes in narrow stairways less than one meter wide [3.2 ft], but they worked with a warm smile, not showing the slightest sign of tiredness. The briquettes were carried zigzag from the bottom, and were delivered to each house as if water streams separated. It was like art. The surrounding landscape was really nice because the East Sea was visible at a glance. However, the briquettes to keep the winter warm and the faces of those who delivered them would look more beautiful than the blue sea in the eyes of the elderly. Passersby stopped and raised their thumbs up, without sparing the words of praise and encouragement for the volunteers.
The volunteer activity was finished as they delivered all the briquettes and swept the soiled floors. Later, they laughed aloud together, seeing each other’s face covered with the powder of briquettes like a mustache.
We had performed volunteer services for a long time, but this time it was more special than ever. It’s because I met an alumna who was my best friend in elementary school. My friend had attended our church for about a hundred days, following her sister. Surprised, she said, “How did you recognize me when half of my face was covered?” In fact, I thought about her many times as I wanted to invite her to Zion. It was nice to meet her there. After finishing the volunteer activity joyfully, she sent me a text message in the evening.
“I was glad to meet my old friend and learn the joy of giving. I hope you receive much blessing and love from God. Be careful not to catch a cold.”
The happy face of my friend came to my mind. It was a jewel-like day filled with the joy of giving and the joy of meeting my old friend.
My friend, let’s make funny faces with the powder of briquettes together next year.
#2 Yu Hyeon-seon from Gangneung, Korea
On Sunday morning, I woke up from a sweet sleep and got ready to go for the briquette delivery volunteer activity with my daughters. I heard it was the coldest day in December, and a thick frost on the window proved it.
Since it was cold and the area where we were to deliver briquettes was sloped like Mt. Seoraksan, I was determined to face difficulties. However, as we were united in the same mind, it was not that hard.
We stood in line and continued to deliver briquettes. A deacon gave names to the briquettes, saying, “This is carnelian! This is emerald! This is sardonyx!” and she carefully delivered them. The briquettes seemed like precious black pearls to me because they were responsible for keeping the elderly in Mukho-dong warm during the cold winter. The amount of briquettes, which seemed to have no end, began to decrease.
“Now the rest of the briquettes will be delivered by the members over there. We are good to go now.”
Coming down the stairs with the members who were in the same line, I saw the landscape of Mukho, which I could not see when I climbed the stairs.
“Wow, we volunteered in a this wonderful place!”
The houses were arranged like a picture on a steep hill, and the wide sea was unfolding before my eyes. I felt like I was a character in a picture.
Shortly after, all the 2,000 briquettes were delivered safely. The warm sun shone on the brothers and sisters who were wearing satisfied smiles and on the elderly who looked happy while seeing their warehouses full of briquettes.