|
Letter from Overseas
HyeRan and David Kim-Cragg write from Korea
Letter #5 January
2006
The weather in Korea has been Canada-like this
winter. According to our family in Aurora, Ontario
we had more snow and colder temperatures for Christmas than they did. For many in Korea
and Japan
this weather has been a hardship and even a disaster. But for some us, the UCC overseas personel in particular, it was a welcome taste of home.
Weather
was not the only thing that evoked a vivid sense of Canada for the Kim-Craggs this month.
On one cold winters day in the New Year the family ventured into Seoul from their home just south of Suwon.
The subway ride was about two hours.
The reason for their trip was a rondez-vous
with other mission co-workers for lunch at the Ambassador Hotel. Besides the Kim-Craggs
and Mary Collins from the UCC, Esther from a partner church in Switzerland and Frank for the United Church of
Christ in the Philippines
were there.
After
lunch, which was hosted by our Korean
Church partner, the Presbyterian
Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK), our family walked to the nearby KyungDong Church where the minister who married David and
HyeRan at the World Council of Churches in Harare seven years earlier is now
serving. The KyungDong Church
building is unique in Korea
and in the world. It is shaped on the
inside and outside to evoke the catacombs in Rome where the first Christians
worshipped. Its congregation has made
a stunning architectural expression of Christianity in a land where most
church buildings are more concerned with practicality. The congregation is also known for its ministry
of music, touring to places as far away as Hungary
and for its medical mission to foreign workers in Korea.
Our
last stop before returning home was to the Women’s Peace House. The Women’s Peace House has had many “houses.” Its identity comes from a succession of
incredible women who continue to work tirelessly and bravely to bring women’s
issues to light in the Korean church and society. It’s present
location is a building that was built by the Canadian Church 100 years ago
and served as a centre for the United
Church overseas mission work in Korea
for many years. Covered in defoliated
vines and surrounded by concrete office towers the place looks like your
typical brick, two story Ontario farm house. The inside still feels that way, too. What a shock to step off the streets of Seoul Korea
into the rooms of a Canadian home! And
what a proud feeling that this old, drafty brick building from Canada
now shelters such a vital and heroic Christian mission!
We
would like to conclude this report by dedicating it to Roy Wilson, whose
partner Lois Wilson is remembered in Korea for among other things her
courageous work at the time of the KwangJu Massacre
in 1980.
HyeRan and
David Kim-Cragg (London Conference) have just began a three year
term as United
Church of Canada overseas personnel serving with our partner The Presbyterian
Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK, along with their children Noah and
Hannah
The work of overseas
personnel and resources such as this letter are made possible through your
gifts to The Mission and Service Fund of The United
Church of Canada.
_files/image002.jpg)
The United Church of Canada, 3250 Bloor St W. Etobicoke, ON. M8X 2Y4
Tel. 416-231-7680 ext. 4072
|