2018년 소식 - DIAKONIA World Federation



2019 News Letter13379451634236The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” (Luke 1:28-31)“Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”The Lord is with you! But do I know that the Lord with me? Have I been with the Lord in every step of my life? I ask myself these questions while recalling 2019, and some images flicker past - moments when I felt lost and alone, wandering aimlessly in the darkness like lost sheep, tired and afraid like a helpless child in streets. Have I felt the presence of our Lord, his warm gaze to me and the world? Have I felt his welcoming love tirelessly waiting for me like the father waiting for his prodigal son?Jesus came to us as a baby, needing help but bringing joy and life. He calls us to walk hand-in-hand with him through laughter and tears so that we are no longer left alone in this world. I pray that we will continue to walk with our Lord, who is the Good News, Joy and Life, and be where he is among the lonely and the distressed. And here is a reflection of our works in 2019. Our Sisters started the year, gathered together at our Mother Centre in Mokpo in worship so that we can refocus ourselves to the vision of our Lord, to be fully attached to him throughout the year. 4444365369379500In February, we visited the Diakonia Family Community in Cheon-An area. Changes happen all the time, children grow up, parents change jobs and places of living, but through all the changes, they continue to live in the common principle and spirituality of Diakonia. Meeting them and sharing was a joyful, encouraging event for us too. 701675632968000701040806069000In March, we spent three weeks in restructuring the prayer room. We thank our helpers – Berliner Missionswerk, Evagelische Koreanische Gemeinde in Berlin, Stiftung Lazarus-Diakonie Berlin, and Europe Shinsun Hapkido(Martial Arts) – in making this possible. Now we can use this room for retreat events, restoring order in ourselves through the spirit of Jesus. On the Good Friday, we held the Road to the Cross worship together with the members of the Diakonia Family Community. We first held a dramatized worship in our church and then walk the Road to the Cross in the mountains behind our church meditating on the suffering and the love of the Christ.-549275299339000 In April, Rev. Song of the Diakonia Family Community visited us together with 20 some people with disabilities. Although they cannot talk, hear, or see, we had a very good fellowship with them sharing food and stories with the help of volunteers.In April, Danbi Church Family Community in Cheon-An opened an elderly home for 9 elderly people. They have been operating daycare centre for 4 years and now they can meet growing needs for care through living facilities. 379793578473306750057812405On 1st May, we held the 39th Anniversary Service. It coincided with the Pledge Worship by 14 new or renewing members of the Diakonia Family Community. We now have 18 pledged members of the Diakonia Family Community living in the spirit of Diakonia, serving the world and giving glory to God. 4999990350710500840105169481500In June, we held intensive training for Diakonia at Danbi Church in Cheon-An. Prof. Rev. Hong and Prof. Kim visited led seminars on the Biblical basis of Diakonia. We also participated in the International Refugee Day event held at Hyang-rin Church as part of this training. This was an inspirational event enlightening us about the situation of refugees in Korea. In a related story, Rev. Prof. Hong helped a refugee couple with four children from Angola to successfully settle in Korea in December after being held at the airport for 9 months.4826635623824000From the 19th to 21st August, Srs. Lee and Roh participated in the Korea Community Movement Association event held in Po-cheon, Kyeong-ki Province. They exchanged experiences that resonated deeply among leaders of Korea’s community movement. Seeing the works done by communities of various sizes and natures in a common goal of expanding the Kingdom of our Lord in Korea gave us much encouragement as well as challenges. We also took part in Women’s Community meetings in April and November. We also had many delightful visits from our sponsors and partners this year. In April, our sponsors from Evangelische Mission in Solidaritaet Mz. Gabriele Mayer, Christina mayer and Rev. Oh Hyun-sun visited our community. This visit was followed by four delegates from Europe Shinsun Hapkido including Mr. Myung Goh, chief instructor, his wife, and Helga. Then in July, we welcomed Sr. Myung-sook Kim, who helped us as interpreter and guide during the Kaiserswerther Generalkonferenz. Sr. Rieko Mochizuki, from Fellowship Deacony, Motherhouse Bethel in Kobe, Japan, visited us in September. 49225203408680In October, the Salem Korea dropped by during their tour of southern provinces of 450850340360028359103415030Korea.In October, we held our 5th General Meeting for Diakonia Family Community at our Mother Centre. All those pledged members got together and our centre became a full house. Prof. Sang-gi Kim shared his reflections on the life of Diakonia through an in-depth understanding of the Bible and we reconfirmed our solidarity through rich sharing. We also shared our mutual difficulties in our agricultural works due to bad weather in August. 748030758317037611057580630We also had many volunteers helping us maintain our centre. Early this year, Mr. and Mrs. Kim, a couple living Chungbuk province volunteered to help us prune all the trees in our garden and hill – brightening our environment tremendously. They also placed more than 10 nests for birds, adding bird-watching as another recommendable activity. We also thank Mr. Hae-yung Jung, who helped us prepare our field using an excavator. Mr. Jung-taek Ji also visits us from time to time to help us weed our field and do other chores gladly. Mr. and Mrs. Oh from Non-san came a long way to help us decorate our renovated prayer room and other buildings around it. Students from Mokpo University visited us in Fall, collecting fallen leaves and converting them into compost. God bless the hands of all those who freely offer their service to us. 4559300496824000295021048641005842004838700In-home welfareMr. A is a single dad of four children. He suffers from congenital diabetes but cannot get proper treatment due to financial difficulties. We took the four children to the city centre and bought them clothes which made him break into a rare smile. We also got sponsorship from a dental clinic to provide him the dental treatment that will last six months. Like other years, our sponsors helped us prepare gift baskets to 75 families including food for the New Year holiday season. This proves to us the love that acts in our society today.Scholarship program-2933709779000We provided scholarships to 35 high school students. We also offered special courses on making Youtube videos three times. The students acquired some basic knowledge from lectures and practiced recording video. Sharing the edited videos were not just educational but fun for all. Nine of these students will graduate high school soon. We met with them in December to congratulate and talked about future plans. We pray and send our encouragement for their future. The volunteering club at Jung-myung Girl’s High School had its last volunteering session. We shared blessings and love as we said good-bye to each other. We also thank them for their service and thank God for sending them to us in the time of needs. Students from Nam-ak High School took their place to carry on working as volunteers. Chronic Patients’ Home 3780155182816500The elderly people staying under our care are continuing their daily exercises and chores, doing small works around the house. They also from time to time go out for a drive, eating out, and visit beautiful scenery in Korea’s southern cost, islands and forests.Elderly Homme. 828675482155500Any time you enter into the compounds, chances are that you will hear music. Children’s, classical, vocal, instrumental, choral,. . . music continues in our home. When the sun is out, we bring our elderly people into the garden for sunbathing. One of the new ‘designer’ program that we have introduced is visiting local marts. This brings out curiosity and joy while watching the changing products and people in the context of daily shopping. Monthly birthday parties are still the highlights when they can see young children coming to make performance. Interacting these young children, some of whom are their own grand or great-grandchildren, is the most memorable moment for them. Mz. Yuh, who is now 102 years old, came from her nursing home to visit our elderly home. Although she cannot freely move, we can see that she has regained mental 816610124986000capacity and now she is able to recognize Sr. Roh, who also came from the nursing home to visit us and meet old friends. We could see bright smiles breaking out of both of them, touching all of us with warmth. Our elderly home provides care to 60 people. We are thankful for the 40 full-time workers who provide around-the-clock services making sure they can continue a happy and comfortable life. We thank God for giving us so many helping hands in continuing to fulfill our work within our neighbour. We pray joyful New Year to all. Dec. 2019Diakonia Sisterhood in Korea, Oberin Sr. Young-sook Ree. ................
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