평화의 어머니 2 - 8. 삼팔선, 이승과 저승의 고빗길을 넘나들며

[대태양/김현수]

평화의 어머니
2장 나는 독생녀로서 이 땅에 왔습니다

8. 삼팔선, 이승과 저승의 고빗길을 넘나들며

1 "엄마 만나러 왔니?"
   "네."
   "잠깐만 기다려라, 엄마를 불러 주마. 여기 사탕있는데 하나 먹으련?"

2 1948년 북한 공산당의 종교 탄압이 극에 달했을 때 어머니와 외할머니도 북중교 신도라는 이유로 열흘 넘게 옥에 갇혔습니다. 여섯 살이었던 나는 어머니를 만나러 유치장에 가곤 했는데, 예의 바르고 조신스러워 누구나 나를 좋아했습니다. 그 포악한 공산당원들조차 나를 보면 과일이나 사탕을 주었습니다.

3 다행히 두 분은 옥에서 풀려났지만 공산당은 점점 더 기승을 부렸습니다. 외할머니는 더 이상 이곳에서는 신앙 생활은 물론 평범한 삶조차 이어 가기 어렵다고 판단해 남한으로 내려가는 것이 어떨까, 많은 고심을 했습니다. 그때만 해도 허호빈이 아직 옥중에 있었기 때문에 어머니는 쉽게 결정하지 못하고 망설였습니다. 외할머니는 그런 딸을 설득했습니다.

4 "여기 있다가는 재림주님을 만나기 전에 우리가 먼저 죽는다. 우선 남한으로 내려가서 순정이를 만나면 좋은 길이 나타날 것이다."
"기거할 집도 없는데 무작정 가면 어떻게 해요?"
"그래도 가야 한다. 하나님이 우리를 보호해 주실 테니까."

5 외할아버지는 평양이 '에덴궁'이라는 계시를 받고 이를 지키기 위해 남기로 했습니다. 하지만 아내와 딸에게는 남한으로 떠나라고 권했습니다.어떻게 해서든 재림주님을 만나는 것이 삶의 목적이었기에 어머니는 몇 날 며칠 기도를 한 끝에 남한으로 잠시나마 내려가 있기로 했습니다.

6 천만다행으로 홍순정 외삼촌이 일본에서 학업을 마치고 돌아와 군에 있다는 소식이 전해졌습니다. 외삼촌은 지식인이면서 멋쟁이였습니다. 또한 심지가 매우 굳었습니다. 외할머니는 외아들인 외삼촌을 보고 싶은 마음이 굴뚝같았습니다. 또 하나, 어떻게 해서든 외손녀인 나를 보호하고자 했습니다. 외손녀가 잔악한 공산당의 손에 해를 당하거나 혹여 일어날지 모르는 불상사를 미리 막고자 했습니다. 항상 나에게 "너는 하나님의 참된 딸"이라는 말을 했기 때문에 세상의 불행한 일로부터 나를 지켜 주고자 했습니다.

7 한편으로는 북한 땅의 공산당이 오래가지 못할 것이라고 생각했기 때문에, 잠깐 남한에 내려가 있다가 공산당이 망하면 고향으로 다시 돌아올 수 있으리라 믿었습니다. 그러나 아들을 잠깐 만나러 가겠다고 삼팔선을 넘었던 외할머니를 비롯해 우리 세 사람은 계속 남한에 머물게 되었습니다. 돌이켜 생각해 보면, 하늘은 외삼촌을 향한 외할머니의 간곡한 마음을 통해 우리가 떠날 수 있도록 역사하셨습니다. 자식을 향한 어머니의 애절한  마음은 결국 우리 인간을 찾아오시는 하나님의 간절한 심정이기도 한 것입니다.
"어두워졌으니 이제 길을 나서자!"

8 1948년 가을 어느날, 한밤중에 어머니는 나를 업고 외할머니는 보따리 두어 개를 들고 집을 나섰습니다. 안주에서 삼팔선까지 직선거리로 200킬로미터나 되는 먼 길이었습니다. 몇 날 며칠을 걸어서 내려와야만 했습니다. 그 첫걸음부터가 조마조마하기 짝이 없었습니다.

9 길을 나선 지 대여섯 시간이 지나자 동쪽하늘이 희미하게 밝아 왔습니다. 해가 하늘에 떠 있을 때 조금이라도 더 가기 위해 쉬지 않고 걸었습니다. 밤에는 빈집에서 잠을 자고 새벽이슬을 맞으며 또 길을 나섰습니다. 신발은 하잘것없고 길은 울퉁불퉁해서 조금만 걸어도 발이 아팠습니다. 참기 어려운 것은 배고픔이었습니다. 촌집에 들어가 보따리 속에서 무언가를 꺼내 주고는 보리밥이나 겨우 얻어먹었습니다.그렇게 온갖 고초를 겪으며 하염없이 걷고 또 걸어 남으로 향했습니다.

10 북한 공산당은 주민들이 쉽게 남하하지 못하도록 논밭을 갈아엎고 길을 울퉁불퉁하게 만들었습니다. 갈아엎은 논밭을 지나느라 발이 푹푹 빠지고, 추위에 오들오들 떨면서 오직 별빛을 바라보며 남쪽으로 내려갔습니다.

11 가까스로 삼팔선 인근에 다다랐지만 나와 어머니, 외할머니는 삼업하게 경비를 서고 있던 북한 인민군에게 덜컥 붙잡혔습니다. 그들은 우리를 빈집 헛간에 가뒀습니다. 그곳에는 이미 잡혀 온 여러 사람이 겁에 질려 있었습니다.

12 인민군은 남자들을 험하게 대했지만 여자와 어린아이에게는 그러지 않았습니다. 하루는 한 어른이 보초를 서던 인민군들에게 먹을 것을 가져다주라고 나에게 심부름을 시켰습니다. 나는 떨리는 마음을 억누르고 미소를 지으며 먹을거리를 인민군에게 건넸습니다. 그렇게 몇차례 하니 저들의 마음이 누그러졌습니다. 어느날 밤 인민군들이 고향으로 돌아가라면서 우리 세모녀를 풀어 주었습니다. 하늘의 보살핌이 생사의 기로에서 삶의 길로 인도한 것입니다. 그날 야밤을 틈타 안내자를 앞세워 삼팔선을 막 넘어섰습니다.
나는 너무 기뻐 어머니에게 말했습니다.
"이젠 김일성 찬양 노래를 부르지 않아도 되지요? 남한 노래를 부를거예요."

13 그런데 남한에도 경비가 삼엄했습니다. 그 사실을 까마득히 모르는 나는 즐거운 마음에 몇 소절 불렀습니다. 그때 우리 앞에 나무덤불에서 부스럭 소리가 났습니다. 우리는 깜짝 놀라 그자리에 얼어붙었습니다. 인민군에게 또 붙잡히는 것은 아닌지, 두려움이 몰려왔습니다.

14 그런데 덤불을 헤치고 나타난 것은 남한 군인이었습니다. 그를 보는 순간 우리는 동시에 안도의 한숨을 내쉬었습니다. 총을 든 군인들은 인기척을 느끼고 방아쇠를 당겨 총을 쏘려다가 어린아이의 맑은 노랫소리를 듣고 총부리를 거뒀습니다. 그들은 우리를 따뜻하게 맞으며 오히려 위로해 주었습니다.
"이렇게 예쁜 따님을 데리고 오느라 고생 많았습니다. 이거 얼마 안되지만 보태 쓰십시오."

15 뜻밖에 서울행 여비까지 주는 고마운 군인이었습니다. 그때 내가 만약 노래를 부르지 않았다면 북한 인민군으로 오해받아 그 자리에서 총탄에 맞아 목숨을 잃었을 것입니다. 하늘은 이렇듯 애틋하게 우리를 보호해 주셨습니다. 천신만고 끝에 무사히 남한 땅을 밟았지만 결국 외할아버지와는 재회할 수 없는 결별의 길이 되고 말았습니다.

16 남한은 우리 모두에게 무척 생소한 곳이었습니다. 한 번도 와보지 않은 서울인 데다 가는 곳마다 혼란스러워 어떻게 살아갈지 막막했습니다. 신앙은 어떻게 지켜 나갈 것인지, 재림주님은 어디에 가야 만날 수 있는지, 참으로 캄캄했습니다. 의지할 곳은 한 군데도 없었고, 지닌 돈도 없었으며, 특별한 기술도 없어 돈벌이 하기도 여의치 않았습니다. 허름한 빈집에 머물며 아슬아슬하게 하루하루를 보냈습니다. 그러던 차에 성주교의 장남 정석천이 남한에 정착했다는 이야기를 건너건너 전해 듣고 외할머니는 차후에 그를 찾아 가리라 마음먹었습니다.

17 먼저 서울에서 외삼촌을 찾는 일이 급선무였습니다. 그때 뜻밖에 하늘의 가호가 있었습니다. 우리가 남한의 내려와 의지할 사람은 단지 외삼촌뿐이었습니다. 외삼촌은 서울 약학전문학교에서 공부를 마치고 육군사관학교 약재관 교육을 받은 후 중위로 복무 중이었습니다. 하지만 우리는 외삼촌을 만나기 전에는 그런 사실을 몰랐습니다. 어머니는 혈육을 찾아 의탁할 곳을 마련하려고 매일 간절히 기도했습니다.
"남동생 홍순정을 찾으려면 어떻게 해야 합니까? "

18 그 기도 덕분에 우연히 길에서 외삼촌의 친구를 만나 소식을 알게 되었습니다. 그야말로 천우신조, 하늘이 도왔습니다. 용산 육군본부에서 근무하던 외삼촌은 고향에서 어머니와 누나, 조카가 기별도 없이 내려온 모습을 보고 기쁘면서도 놀라지 않을 수 없었습니다.

19 우리는 부랴부랴 효창동에 작은 방 하나를 얻어 기거하게 되었습니다. 그제야 안심이 되었습니다. 나중에 알고 보니, 그곳은 후에 설립된 청파동 통일교회에서 아주 가까운 곳이었습니다. 마주 볼 정도로 지척이었습니다.

20 나는 곧 효창초등학교에 입학해 자유 대한 땅에서 처음으로 학교에 다니게 되었습니다. 책보따리를 들고 학교에 가는 나날이 너무나 좋았습니다. 동네 어른들의 귀여움을 한 몸에 받았으며, 아이들도 나를 무척 좋아했습니다.

21 남한에서의 삶은 차츰 안정되어 갔습니다. 외삼촌이 장교로 군복무를 하고 있었던 사실이나, 아직 만나지는 못했지만 성주교 정석천 가족이 먼저 남하해 있었던 것은 하늘이 섭리를 맡길 독생녀를 보호하기 위해 준비한 노정이 아닐 수 없었습니다.

平和の母
第二章 私は独り娘としてこの地上に来ました
8. 三十八度線、あの世とこの世の境を行き来して

「お母さんに会いに来たのかい?」

「はい！」

「ちょっと待ってなよ、呼んできてあげるから。飴があるけど、食べる?」

ー九四八年、北の共産党による宗教弾圧が極限に達した頃、祖母と母も、腹中教の信徒だという理由で十一日間、投獄されました。数えで六歳だった私は、母に会いに留置場に通いましたが、幼い私を不欄に思ったのか、誰もが良くしてくれました。横柄な共産党員ですら、私を見ると果物や飴をくれたのです。

幸いにも二人は牢獄から解放されましたが、共産党はますます横暴を極めるようになりました。祖母は、北ではこれ以上、信仰生活はもちろん、平凡な暮らしをすることさえ難しいと判断し、南に行くのはどうかと、苦しみながらも考え始めました。しかし、当時はまだ許浩彬が、獄中にいたため、母は簡単には結論を出せず、ためらっていたのです。

祖母は、そんな母を説得しようとしました。

「ここにいては再臨主に出会う前に私たちが死ぬ。南に下りましょう。順貞にさえ会えれば、道が開かれるはずだよ。神様が私たちを保護してくださる」

順貞とは、母の弟、つまり私の叔父に当たります。祖父の洪唯一は、平壌が「エデンの宮」であるという啓示を受け、これに従うために残ることにしましたが、妻と娘、すなわち私の祖母と母には、南に行くよう勧めました。再臨主に出会うことが人生の目的である母は、何日も祈りを捧げた末に、しばらくの間、南に行ってとどまることに決めました。

何とも幸運だったのが、叔父の洪順貞が日本での学業を終え、南の軍にいるという知らせが届いたことです。叔父は容姿端麗で、知識人であり、非常に意志の固い人でした。祖母は、ただ一人の息子である叔父に会いたくてたまらなかったのだと思います。

一方で、やはり祖母は唯一の孫娘である私を、何としてでも守ろうとしていました。孫娘が残虐な共産党の手にかかるようなことが決して起こらないようにしようとしたのです。いつも私に、「お前は神様の真の娘だ」と話していた祖母は、世の一切の不幸から、私を守ろうとしてくれました。

また、祖母は北にいる共産党が長続きすることはないだろうと考えていたので、少しの間、南にいれば共産党が滅び、また故郷に帰ってこられるだろうと信じていました。しかし、そのようにして叔父に会うつもりで三十八度線を越えたのを最後に、私たち三人は南にとどまり続けることになりました。

振り返ってみれば、天は叔父に対する祖母の切実な思いを通して、私たちが出発できるように役事されたのです。子供に対する母親の哀切な思いは、突き詰めて言えば、私たち人間を訪ねてこられる神様の切実な心情でもあったのです。

「そろそろ夜も更けたから、出発しよう」

一九四八年、秋のある夜更けに、祖母と母、そして私の三人は、包みを二つばかり抱え、家を出ました。安州から三十八度線までは、直線距離でも二百キロはあります。私たちはその遠路を、何日も何日もかけて下っていかなければなりませんでした。最初の一歩を踏み出す時から、胸がドキドキして仕方がありませんでした。

出発してから五、六時間もすると、東の空がかすかに明るくなってきました。私たちは少しでも先に進むため、休まずに歩きました。夜は空き家で眠りに就き、朝露を踏みながら、また出発しました。

ぼろぼろの靴ででこぼこした道を行かなければならないので、少し歩くだけで足が痛みました。何より耐え難かったのが、空腹です。民家に入り、包みの中の物を渡して、代わりに麦飯を恵んでもらいながら食いつなぎました。苦労に苦労を重ねながら、ひたすら南に向かって歩き続けたのです。

北の共産党は、人々が簡単には南下できないよう、田畑を掘り返してでこぼこにしていました。田畑を通るたびに足を取られ、夜は寒さにぶるぶる震えながら、ただ星の光だけを頼りに歩きました。

ようやく三十八度線の近くまで来たと喜んだのも束の間、私たちはそこで厳重な警備を敷いていた北の人民軍に捕まってしまいました。空き家の納屋に放り込まれると、既にそこには捕まった人が何人もいて、恐怖に震えていました。ただ、人民軍は男性に対しては乱暴に振る舞いましたが、女性と子供に対してはひどい扱いをしませんでした。

ある日、捕まっていた大人の一人が、歩哨に立っていた人民軍に食べ物を持っていくようにと、私を使いに出しました。私は震える心を抑えて笑顔をつくり、食べ物を人民軍に渡しました。そのようなことを何度かしているうちに、彼らの心も和らいでいったようです。

ある晩、故郷に帰れと言って、人民軍が私たち三人を解放してくれました。天の加護により、生死を分かつ岐路で生の道へと導かれたのです。その夜、夜陰に乗じ、私たちは案内者について、三十八度線を一気に越えました。

私は喜びのあまり、母に言いました。

「もう、金日成を称賛する歌を歌わなくてもいいのでしょう？南の歌を歌うわ」

ところが、南側でも厳重な警備が敷かれていたのです。そのことを何も知らなかった私は、うきうきして何節か歌を歌いました。すると、前の茂みでガサガサと音がするのです。びっくりした私たちは、その場で石のように固まりました。また人民軍に捕まるのではないか、という恐怖が押し寄せてきました。

ところが、茂みをかき分けて現れたのは、南の兵士たちでした。人の気配を感じ、銃を構えて警戒していた彼らでしたが、無邪気な子供の歌声を聞き、撃つのをやめて出てきたのです。彼らは安堵のため息をつく私たちを温かく迎え、ねぎらってくれました。

「こんなかわいい娘さんを連れて、さぞかし大変だったでしょう。いくらもありませんが、お役立てください」

南の兵士たちはありがたいことに、ソウルまでの旅費をくれました。あの時、もし私が歌を歌っていなければ、北の人民軍と誤解され、その場で銃弾を浴びて命を落としていたでしょう。天はこのように、辛くも私たちを保護してくださったのです。

こうして、千辛万苦の末に、無事、南の地を踏むことができました。しかしそれは一方で、祖父とは二度と会うことのできない、決別の道ともなってしまいました。

南での生活は、私たちにとって戸惑うことばかりでした。ソウルには一度も来たことがありませんでしたし、どこに行っても人、人、人でごった返していたので、どうすればいいのか見当もつきませんでした。信仰をどのように守っていくのか、どこに行けば再臨主に会えるのか、何も分からず、目の前が真っ暗になりました。頼れるところもなく、お金もありません。

特別な技術を持っているわけでもないので、稼ぐこともままなりませんでした。古びた空き家で雨露をしのぎ、一日一日を何とか生きながらえながら、過ごしました。

そのような中、聖主教の金聖道の長男である鄭錫天が南に住んでいるという話が耳に入り、祖母はいずれ彼を訪ねていこうと、心に決めました。しかしまず、ソウルで叔父を捜すことが最優先でした。私たちが南に来て頼れるのは、叔父だけだったのです。そういう中、意外なところから天の濃導きがありました。

ソウル薬学専門学校で勉強を終えた叔父は、陸軍士官学校の薬剤官教育を受けた後、中尉として服務していました。しかし、私たちは実際に叔父に会うまで、そのようなことを全く知りませんでした。母はわらにもすがる思いで彼を捜し出すために、毎日切実な祈りを捧げました。

「弟の洪順貞を見つけるには、どうすればよいでしょうか？」

その祈持によって導かれ、偶然にも叔父の友人に道端で出会い、消息が分かったのです。まさに天佑神助でした。

龍山陸軍本部に動務していた叔父は、母親と姉、そして、姪が故郷から突然南に下りてきたのを見て、驚きながらも喜んでくれました。彼は早達、孝昌洞に小さな部屋を一つ借りてくれ、私たちはそこに身を寄せることになりました。

こうして、ようやく安心して生活できるようになったのです。あとで分かったことですが、そこには後で設立される統一教会の本部が置かれた青坡坡洞のすぐ近くでした。まさに目と鼻の先とも言えるほと、近所だったのです。

ほどなくして私は孝昌小学校に入学し、自由大韓の地で初めて学校に通うことになりました。本を風呂敷に包んで学校に行く毎日は、とても楽しいものでした。近所の大人たちからとてもかわいがられ、子供たちとも仲良くなりました。

徐々に、南でも落ち着いた生活ができるようになりました。叔父が将校として軍に服務していたことや、まだ会えずにはいましたが、聖主教の鄭錫天とその家族が先に南下していたことは、天が摂理を担わせる独り娘を保護するために準備していたと言わざるを得ないことでした。

MOTHER of PEACE
CHAPTER 2. I CAME INTO THIS WORLD AS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN DAUGHTER
8. Worlds divide at the 38th parallel

'You came here to see your mother?” The guard asked this question as a formality; he knew why I was there, because I came every day.

“Yes, sir,” I would respond in my soft voice.

“Wait here,” he would say, in a fatherly tone. “I'll call her for you. Would you like a candy?”

In 1948, when the oppression of religions by North Korea's Communist Party was at its height, my mother and grandmother were imprisoned for nearly two weeks for being members of the Inside-theWomb Church.

I was five years old at the time, and I would go to the prison to see my mother. The guards were nice to me because I was polite and well-behaved. Even those ruthless communists gave me fruit or candy when they saw me.

I cannot explain why the authorities released both of them, as the Party was increasing its suppression of religious activities. Perhaps it was out of their concern for me. The good result was that the imprisonment convinced my grandmother that to live a peaceful life, let alone a life of faith, they had to go to South Korea. Since Heo Ho-bin was still in prison, my mother was of two minds about it, but Grandmother persuaded her to go.

'If we stay here,” she reasoned, “we will die before we meet the Lord. Once we are in South Korea and have met up with Soon-jeong, the right way will appear.”

The mention of her younger brother, my uncle Hong Soon-jeong, who was preparing to be a medical practitioner in the South, swayed my mother. She mounted a last protest as she gave in: “How can we go there with no destination? We don't even have a place to stay.'

Grandmother took a deep breath and said firmly, “We still must go. God will protect us.

My grandfather did not join us. Like many, he had received the revelation that Pyongyang was the “Palace of Eden,' and he was determined to remain there to guard it. Nonetheless, he encouraged his wife and daughter to leave for the South.

Because her purpose in life was to meet the Lord at the Second Advent in Pyongyang, my mother had to pray for several days and nights before finally agreeing to go to South Korea, and she went on the condition that it would be temporary.

As good luck would have it, we received the news that uncle Soonjeong had completed his studies in Japan and in Seoul, and had then joined the South Korean Army.

My uncle was an intellectual and a dapper young man. Moreover, he was very strong-minded. My grandmother missed her only son and wished very much to see him. In addition, she wanted to protect me, her granddaughter, at all costs.

She wanted to prevent my being taken by the cruel communists and made to suffer at their hands. She was sincere when she told me repeatedly over the years, 'You are God's true Daughter.” Her mission in life was to protect me from the misfortunes of the world.

Along with most people in the North, my family believed that North Korea's Communist Party would not last long. We expected that after a short stay in South Korea, we would see the downfall of the communists and be able to return home. As history shows, this dream was not to be realized.

After we crossed the 38th parallel, we never considered returning to the North. Looking back, I believe that God worked through my grandmother's affectionate heart for her son and granddaughter. After all, a mother's parental heart reflects God's motherly heart.

'It is dark now,' my mother whispered. “Let's go.”

It was the autumn of 1948, and we left our home in the middle of the night, my mother carrying me on her back and my grandmother carrying a couple of bundles. It is quite a distance from Anju to the 38th parallel, 200 kilometers (125 miles) as the crow flies.

We had to walk for days and days to cover that distance. And we took every step on that journey with anxiety, fearing for our lives. At night we slept in empty houses, and when the morning dew fell we would start again.

Our shoes were flimsy and the roads were rough, and so our feet ached from the very start. What was hardest to endure was the hunger. We would knock on the doors of shabby cottages and give them something from our bundles in exchange for food, which was usually a cup of boiled barley and rice. Undergoing such hardships, we walked and walked endlessly southward.

The communists had plowed the fields and broken up the shoulders of roads to make the journey even more difficult. Our feet sank into mud as we walked through the fields, and we shivered all over with cold. Still, we continued on, looking only at the starlight.

North Korean People's Army soldiers were blocking the 38th parallel, and they easily captured my mother, grandmother, and me. They locked us up in a shed, together with other frightened people who had the same intention as us. The soldiers were rough with the men, but they did not treat women and children harshly.

One day, one of the adults asked me to take food to the soldiers standing watch. Though my heart trembled inside, I forced a smile and handed the food to the soldiers. After I had done so several times, the soldiers' hearts softened, and one night they set my family free.

They instructed us to return to our hometown, and we walked out of their sight in that direction. And then, as we stood at the crossroads between life and death, night fell, and we waited, and Heaven sent a young man to guide us on the path of life. Under the cover of darkness, we followed him across the 38th parallel.

As we crossed, I was so happy that I said to Mother, “We don't have to sing songs praising Kim Il Sung anymore, do we? I will sing a song from the southern part of Korea!” This too was God's intervention, for on the South Korean side soldiers also were keeping a strict watch.

I sang a few lines of the song with a joyous heart. At that moment, we heard a rustling in the bushes in front of us. We were surprised and stood frozen in place, fearful that we would be captured by North Korean soldiers once again.

Soldiers emerged from the bushes—South Koreans. At the sight of them, we almost wilted in relief. Those South Korean soldiers told us that they had heard us as we approached and had been about to fire upon us. When they heard the voice of a child singing, they had lowered their weapons. They welcomed us and comforted us.

One soldier said, “It must have been difficult for you to make it all the way here with this beautiful young child. This isn't much, but please take it.” We were so grateful to this soldier, whom God moved to give us money, enough to get us to Seoul.

Looking back, if I had not sung at that moment, those young soldiers probably would have mistaken us for North Korean soldiers and shot us dead. In this way, once again, God protected us. We arrived safely in South Korea after undergoing hardships such as these. Yet, in making that journey, we parted from my grandfather, whom we never saw again.

South Korea was a strange place to us. Having never been to Seoul, we had no idea how we could survive, and we were getting lost constantly. We also had lost the moorings of our faith; the hope to meet the returning Lord was indeed floating in the clouds.

We had no money and no skills by which to make a living. We camped in a shabby, empty house and barely made it through each day. All we could do was talk to people.

Our most urgent task was to find my maternal uncle Soon-jeong. He was the only person we could depend on in South Korea, and we were hoping he was somewhere in Seoul.

My mother pleaded in prayer, “What should I do to find my younger brother?” She prayed most earnestly every day to find her brother on whom she could rely. We devoted ourselves to this search by visiting clinics and pharmacies.

Then we received an unexpected blessing from God. We met a man on the street who turned out to be a friend of my uncle's. This was indeed God's providential help. His friend told us that Uncle Soon-jeong was serving at the Army Headquarters in Seoul's Yongsan district.

After returning from Japan, he had graduated from the College of Pharmacy in Seoul and then received training as a pharmaceutical officer in the Korea Military Academy. He was currently serving as a first lieutenant.

This kind man took us to Yongsan, and what a reunion it was! Soonjeong was delighted to see his mother, sister and niece. He had no idea of the conditions in the North and was so distressed to hear of what we had gone through to get to Seoul.

He immediately rented a small room for us in Hyochang-dong.

Our life in the South soon stabilized. I entered Hyochang Primary School and, in the free land of South Korea, began going to school for the first time. I loved going to school with my bag of books every day. The older residents of the neighborhood would pat me on the head, and the neighborhood children also liked me very much.

Looking back, I find it interesting that our rented room was close to Cheongpa-dong, the neighborhood in which, seven years later, we would end our search for the Lord at the Second Advent. Until that day arrived, however, we endured many twists and turns on our odyssey.

While at Hyochang-dong, we heard the news that Jeong Seok-cheon, the eldest son of the founder of the Holy Lord Church, had settled in South Korea. We took it as a miracle and prayed that God would guide us to meet him. All in all, we praised God that my uncle was serving as an army officer, and that Jeong Seok-cheon's family from the Holy Lord Church had come to the South.

Without doubt, our Heavenly Parent prepared a path to protect the one called to serve humankind as the only begotten Daughter, the one to whom He would entrust the providence. Now that our physical pilgrimage had reached an oasis, it was time to renew our spiritual pilgrimage.

[최상덕]

감사합니다 아주