A Trip to South Korea!!

In May of this year, I had an amazing opportunity to go to South Korea to a place called Kkottongnae.  This is an order of priests, nuns, brothers and lay volunteers that work in South Korea, near Seoul, caring for the abandoned, forgotten, and homeless people.  I was there with most of the Oikos Sisters attending an immersion retreat, learning about the Kkottongnae philosophy of loving others.  So, in a nutshell... (we'll make it a coconut shell because its a big one and we can fit a lot in there!):

Kkottongnae was started by a priest named Fr. John Oh in the 70's.  He had just become a new priest.  He already had a love of abandoned people at the time of his encounter with Grandfather Che, but here's the story...

One night Fr. John was on the streets in Seoul when he spotted a beggar.  Fr. John could tell that the man was sick as he knocked on doors and asked for rice.  The man was dressed in ripped rags and was stooped over, as if in pain.  Fr. John decided to follow him to see where he lived.  When the man arrived at his destination, a drafty place under a bridge, what Fr. John saw astounded him.  This poor man who was sick and in pain wasn't begging for himself, but for the 18 other beggars under the bridge with him who were more sick than he.  Fr. John knew immediately that this was no chance encounter.  The Holy Spirit had led him there to see this man, and at that moment one of the foundational philosophies of Kkottongnae was born:  Even if you only have the strength to beg for food, it is a blessing from the Lord.

From there, Father John built a home for the poor and abandoned.  He only had one American dollar, but he used it wisely and with that and through inspired donations, the first home for the poor was built.  It was a simple home, but it was well built and it's foundation was love and charity.  Over the years, Kkottongnae has grown, volunteers came to work with Father John, some so inspired by his life that they wanted to join him as priests, sisters and brothers.  Father John began working with the South Korean government, helping them to write social welfare laws for the true good of the people, and the government began helping him and his order.  Today, close to 50 years later, Kkottongnae is growing and thriving in South Korea, and in other countries throughout the world.

In this immersion/retreat, we learned and saw so many things.  I'll give you the highlights, the things that really touched me.

At Kkottongnae, there are many state of the art buildings.  They have a university, an elderly home, an orphanage, a retreat center where we stayed and a home for the disabled.  We met this woman pictured on the left.  I wish I could remember her name.  She was probably a little older than me.  She had no use of her hands and arms.  But that did not stop her one bit.  She writes, eats, even does cross-stitch with her feet!!  I kid you not.  She wrote a beautiful prayer for us that one of the brothers interpreted.  It was 2 pages long!!  She even goes up to the second floor where the more sick people live and she helps to feed them!!  I just remembered being floored by her story.  How many times in my life have I complained about my inability to do something, whatever it was, and never finished the project, and here this angel is, thanking God for her life and for the ability He gave her to love others and help them.  Talk about a wake-up call!!

Here is Sister Michelle with a young man whose greatest desire in life was to go to school.  He did in fact go to the school that Kkottongnae runs for people with disabilities.  The school was begun for him, as a matter of fact.  One day his doctor asked him what he wanted, and he said I want to go to school.  The school isn't far from the Kkottongnae campus and many of the city's disabled children go there, thrive there.  At this time he lives in the hospital because he has gotten sick.  By the way, the hospital is located on the campus as well.  One of the great things about Kkottongnae is that they are able to work with the government for the sake of the people they care for.  The government subsidizes the mission for it's help of all the poor people they serve.  So his medical needs and daily living expenses are paid for by the government.  And what do you think this guy does with the extra money that he has after his bills are paid?  He buys eggs for poor children who live in Africa.  Once again, I kid you not. 

Kkottongnae is a prolife mission.  Here is a fetus garden for aborted babies.  They try to help mothers to make the decision to give life to their babies and also offer post abortive care for mothers.  They have a center on their campus where they teach families how to love their children and elderly parents, how abandoning them is wrong and where they can go for help.  They care so tenderly for everyone seeking their assistance.  And that's not all, they care for people at their time of natural death and even after.  They are building a cathedral in their cemetery.  The bricks that make up the cathedral are for the ashes of the people that die there for most have no families who want to care for them, even after they die.  And they pray so beautifully for the souls of their loved ones who have died.  At Kkottongnae, they truly live out a prolife mission, caring and loving all they serve from conception until natural death, and even beyond that. 

 These are pictures of the bricks that will be placed in the cathedral holding the ashes of the deceased, and on the right is the cathedral in the midst of being built. I think this meant so much to me because its one thing to care for the person in front of you...I find it very easy to do that.  But at Kkottongnae, they truly, truly care for these people, while in their care and even after they have passed on.  They remember with love and sincere prayers all of the people God has sent to them, living and deceased.  They are the real-deal.  They are quite amazing.

I guess along with all of this, another thing occurs to me.  (well, a lot does) At Kkottongnae, abandoned people, homeless people are not only cared for, they are celebrated.  With no questions or qualifications...you are living, you are breathing therefore I will love you.  They don't get down on people because they are on the streets.  They don't lose patience with people because of where they are in life.  They don't judge the people they help.  If a person wants to get to a better place, at Kkottongnae, they help them to do that, at his or her pace, with patience and understanding.  And if not?  They are given the same love and care.  Theirs is not to judge.  OURS is not to judge.  Oh...you are a child of God?  I will love you.  Period.  I find it refreshing and hope I can bring the spirit of Kkottongnae into my life, my dealings with others...and pass it on!!

"Saranghamnida" means We love you.  And when you say it, your make a heart over your head with your arms, like Sister Clarissa is doing here:

 

And when you're standing with someone, you each put up one arm to make the heart like Sister Minerva and me:

 

Kamsahamnida (thank you) for reading about my experiences in South Korea!!  And many, many thanks to the Oikos Sisters, the Diocese of Borongan and my sponsors for allowing me to experience the amazingness of Kkottongnae!!

 

Most of all, kamsahamnida to the Lord for His goodness to me.  Salamat sa Dios!!

(gee, I'm becoming quite the linguist!)

 

God is good...oh so good!!! 

 

Want to find out more about Kkottongnae?  Go to http://www.eng.kkot.or.kr

 

xoxo