Here are the beginning part of Dad's memoirs, in his own voice. He patiently taped these using a cassette recorder over a period of a week or so. A dear friend digitized these for me and I have the entire set on my computer. Here are several portions from the beginning. Click and enjoy. If you want to hear the rest, contact me and I will send it to you.
Dad's Memoirs
The link will open Dad's memoirs, kindly typed in Korean by Kwonsa KWON Young Ae of Young Nak Church. She is the kind lady who wrote the article in the YN newspaper about Dad not too long ago. She has been a very special friend to our family, during these past several years.Below is a link to his memoirs. The first page of English translation is provided beneath.
Dad's Memoirs (in Korean)
My Life – Reflections from a Life Well-Lived
Thirty six years have passed since I left my beloved Korea to begin life anew in the States. I have logged over ninty eventful years in this world. Although I can’t recall every detail from every moment, I want to write down all that comes to mind, giving thanks to God who has made it all possible. Just three years ago, my partner in life, my dear wife of 70 years was stricken with alzheimer’s disease, eventually moving to a nursing home for round the clock care. I too have many ailments and life poses many physical challenges. Lord, give me strength and insight so that I can remember and write well.
Thinking about my years, a phrase from a song or a hymn comes to mind, “Life’s road, where have I trod, where am I headed?” Like the writer of those lyrics, I too had little to add to this world on my own, having little control of my own destiny. But God has been merciful to me, the whole of my life, never abandoning me but abiding with me and all that I hold dear. He is the One who arranged for our move to the States, continued to guide our lives and even now is helping me in this phase of life, to live at Kirkwood with my dear wife (recently moved to the nursing home).
To my father, HONG Yoon Soo and my mother, KIM Yoon Hang, I was born, their third son. Their first son died at an early age and I did not know his name. Names of my siblings: above me was my older brother Soon Ho and below me were, in order of decreasing age, Soon Suk (brother), Soon Jun (sister), Soon Il (brother), Soon Sun (sister), Soon Bok (sister). So, I was the third son in a family of 4 sons and 3 daughters.
I was born (see the map) in a small village in Hwang Hae Do, Eun Yool Goon, Suh Boo Myun Suhg Gyo Rhee. I lived there until age 5 but I have no memories of that place. (The approximate location is shown in the map below, along with the locations of Jin-Nampo and Seoul and the general direction of Jilin (Manchuria), some of the places that I called home at various times.) My father’s parents died when he was young and his older brother Hong, Myung Soo helped to raise him. He also had an older sister. After marrying, he lived with his in-laws who were relatively wealthy. That is where we were born into this world. They were able to save up enough to move out of the village, motivated by the thought that they did not want to see their children become farmers in a small village. I remember vividly the day when we packed our belongings and rode the oxen cart to Jang Nyung Eup, another village about 20Km away. The trip took the whole day. Our new home was next to a very noisy glass factory that was somewhat dangerous due to their use of fire. The new village had a lot more houses and people and there were more children to play with. Just up the hill from our house was a presbyterian church. Whenever the bell rang for Sunday services, I would run up the hill to meet and play with my friends. My brother had grown to school age, and he enrolled in the Jang Nyung public normal school. On a given day. both my parents would be working in the field and my brother would be away at school, so my younger siblings and I would spend our time at home with Grandmother. .... more to come from this translation project
Dad's Bio
1916. 10. 18 황해도 은률군 장년면 동부리 810번지에서 부친 홍윤수씨와 모친 김윤행씨의 7남매 중 차남으로 출생
1930 장년공림보통학교 졸업
1939. 7. 15 평남 진남포 억량기동장로교회에서 정보덕씨와 결혼하여 슬하에 2남 2녀를 두심
1947. 4. 10 월남하여 공덕장로교회 출석
1948. 2 영락교회로 이적
1951 서리집사 피택, 주일학교 교사로 12년 근속
1960 안수집사 피택
1970 장로 장립
1970. 10. 6 도미
1973 나성영락교회 창립멤버로 봉사
1974 장로 취임
1980 남전도회 회장, 장년 성경반 부장등으로 다년간 봉사
1988 교회 공직에서 은퇴
2010. 12. 10 하나님의 부르심을 받음
Dad was born on October 18, 1916, in a small village in the North and he remembers the address to be (starting with the province) Hwang-Hae-Doh, Eun-Yool-Goon, Jang-Nyun-Myun, Dong-Boo-Rhee, 810. He was the third son in a family of 4 boys and 3 girls. He graduated from elementary school in 1930. He and mom married on July 15, 1939, at Pyung Nam Jin-Nam-Po Uhg-Ryang-Gi-Dong Presbyterian Church. The two would have 2 daughters followed by 2 sons. The war times were difficult and like others, they were displaced a number of times. In 1947, the family began attending Gong-Duk Presbyterian Church in the South and shortly thereafter were involved in the founding of Young Nak Presbyterian Church in Seoul. There, he taught sunday school for 12 years and became an ordained deacon in 1960, and elder in 1970. In October of that year, the family immigrated to the U.S. In 1973, he was a founding member of the Young Nak Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, becoming elder in 1974. He served the church until he retired from service in 1988. He was a faithful and loving husband, a much beloved father, and respected servant at church. On May 24, 2010, he said good bye to his beloved wife of more than 70 years. On December 10, 2010, he was called home by his Heavenly Father.
1930 장년공림보통학교 졸업
1939. 7. 15 평남 진남포 억량기동장로교회에서 정보덕씨와 결혼하여 슬하에 2남 2녀를 두심
1947. 4. 10 월남하여 공덕장로교회 출석
1948. 2 영락교회로 이적
1951 서리집사 피택, 주일학교 교사로 12년 근속
1960 안수집사 피택
1970 장로 장립
1970. 10. 6 도미
1973 나성영락교회 창립멤버로 봉사
1974 장로 취임
1980 남전도회 회장, 장년 성경반 부장등으로 다년간 봉사
1988 교회 공직에서 은퇴
2010. 12. 10 하나님의 부르심을 받음
Dad was born on October 18, 1916, in a small village in the North and he remembers the address to be (starting with the province) Hwang-Hae-Doh, Eun-Yool-Goon, Jang-Nyun-Myun, Dong-Boo-Rhee, 810. He was the third son in a family of 4 boys and 3 girls. He graduated from elementary school in 1930. He and mom married on July 15, 1939, at Pyung Nam Jin-Nam-Po Uhg-Ryang-Gi-Dong Presbyterian Church. The two would have 2 daughters followed by 2 sons. The war times were difficult and like others, they were displaced a number of times. In 1947, the family began attending Gong-Duk Presbyterian Church in the South and shortly thereafter were involved in the founding of Young Nak Presbyterian Church in Seoul. There, he taught sunday school for 12 years and became an ordained deacon in 1960, and elder in 1970. In October of that year, the family immigrated to the U.S. In 1973, he was a founding member of the Young Nak Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, becoming elder in 1974. He served the church until he retired from service in 1988. He was a faithful and loving husband, a much beloved father, and respected servant at church. On May 24, 2010, he said good bye to his beloved wife of more than 70 years. On December 10, 2010, he was called home by his Heavenly Father.
Peter's Eulogy for Mom
지난 5월 15일 처와 함께 어머님을 찾아뵈었읍니다. 오랬동안 치매로 인해 양로원에 계시는 동안 저희가 찾아뵈면 그래도 기억이 나시는듯한 느낌을 주셨읍니다. 웃는 모습으로 바라보시면서 무슨 말씀을 하실려는지 알아듣지 못하겠지만 무엇이라 말씀하시면서 반가와 하시는 모습이셨읍니다. 얼굴도 좋아 보이셨고 비교적 외부로는 건강한 모습이셔서 앞으로 저희들과의 시간을 이 세상에서 더 오랬동안 즐기실수 있을것 같으셨읍니다. 그런데 이렇게 어머니께서 주님의 부르심을 받게되니 슬프고 허전함이 아들인 저의 마음을 사로잡게 됨을 느낍니다.
저의 어머니, 고 홍 보덕 권사님은 조용한 성품에 인자하신분이셨읍니다. 말씀보다 행동으로 보여주셨고 무엇보다도 하나님 말씀따라 사시기에 노력하시고 순종하신 분이셨읍니다. 저의 어머니의 삶을 돌아볼때에 많은것이 기억에 남지만 저에게 인상이 깊게 남고 영향을 끼친 몇가지를 나누고자 합니다.
어머니를 생각하면 제일 먼저 머리에 떠오르는것은 매일 새벽에 똑같은 시간과 장소에서 성경읽고 기도하시는 모습입니다. 한번은 얼마나 열심히 집중하셨는지 그시간에 도둑이 들어와 부엌의 물건들을 훔쳐가는것 조차 모르셧다고 할정도였읍니다. 저는 어머니의 기도에 힘과 능력의 해택을 듬뿍 받았다고 믿습니다. 그런 기도의 모습을 통해 저희 형제들은 어머니의 깊은 신앙을 통해 배움과 감동이 있음을 알고 있읍니다.
어머니께서는 하나님 말씀대로 사시려고 노력하셨읍니다. 당신의 성격이 조용하시고 앞으로 나서는것을 대단히 꺼려하셨읍니다. 그렇지만 교회봉사에서는 순종하는 마음으로 필요한때에따라서 여러모양으로 일하시는것을 보여주셨읍니다. 한번은 제가 상상하지도 못했던 연극에 아버지와 함께 출연한 것을 보았읍니다. 그리고 여러번 공중기도도 하셨는데 저는 집에서 늘 보아왔던 어머니가 어떻게 용기를 얻으셨는지 참 여러모로 신기했읍니다. 말씀따라서 순종하시는 가운데 하나님께서 주시는 능력이라고 생각이 됩니다. 어머니께서는 교육부와 청년부에서 권사님으로 10년을 봉사하셨는데 그 당시의 학생들과 청년들이 아직도 어머니께서 배푸신 사랑에대해서 이야기를 가끔 듣게됩니다. 열심으로 봉사하셨고 학생들과 청년들을 친자식같이 대해주셨다고 합니다.
어머니께서는 어려서부터 자식들에게 믿음 깊이 심어주는데 신경을 많이 쓰셨읍니다. 제 기억으로는 어머니 손 잡고 부흥회 쫓아다니던 기억도 있고, 여러 주일학교 활동에 부지런히 데리고 다니셨던 일들이 생각이 납니다. 그러나 무었보다도 기회가 될때마다 어머니께서는 성경이야기를 해주셨읍니다. 그중에 아직도 생생 하게 머리에 남는말씀은 먼저 그 나라와 그 의를 구하라는 말씀을 늘 저희들에게 하셨읍니다. 어려서 들었을때에는 의미없이 들었지만 어른이 되어서는그 말씀이 어머니의 삶에 얼만큼 중요한 기본의 말씀인지를 이해할수 있게된것같읍니다. 어머니의 신앙의 나침판과같으 그 말씀을 생각할때마다 도전을 받고 바른길로 가야함을 다시금 깨닫게 됩니다.
어머니의 삶을 전체적으로 생각해보면 참 믿음, 소망, 사랑의 삶이였읍니다. 물론 좋은 아내, 어머니, 그리고 할머니셨지만 그 무었보다도 하나님의 진실되 딸이였음을 저는 보았고 믿습니다. 지금은 하나님곁에서 평안을 누리실 어머니께 감사드리고. 그러한 어머니를 주셨던 하나님 아버지께 감사할 뿐입니다.
John's Eulogy for Mom - My Mother’s Quiet Touch
She looked as though she were sleeping. I wished that I had been there earlier in the day, to have been blessed by her characteristic smile and knowing nod, to have squeezed her swollen and well worn hands and arms for one more time. As I touched her face for the last time, I wanted to say a lot of things to her but no words came. Just tears and the word that I was sure she would respond to, Uhm-ma!
She had been a loyal, faithful, supportive, loving wife to my father for more than 70 years. And to scores of people at Young Nak church, she was Kwonsa doing the two things she loved to do, serve and pray. To her 4 children, she was simply the best mom that one could ever hope to have. At times during my very immature years when she did not spare the rod (that means spanking for naughtiness), I had second thoughts about this. But now, I would pay dearly to have the chance to relive even those moments.
I wish that I had told her in words what was obvious but seldom expressed. Why are these words so expensive, so difficult? I love you. I appreciate you. You are clearly the best mom in the world to me. You are my treasure.
My mother lived a very blessed life. These blessings are not measured in dollars and cents. Rather, the blessings came in the form of relationships that money can’t buy. She would often tell me in one of our late night chats at the kitchen table that her greatest joy and pleasure in life was from knowing that all of her children and grandchildren had become believers in Christ like herself and dad. Nothing else even came close in importance. On one occasion, she was so overcome with emotion that tears flowed as she held my hands and thanked God. And with the clarity that faith provides, we look beyond the grave and agree with mom that yes, this life is good, but it is no comparison with the next.
Next to her family, her next great love was what was then the young people of our church. There are some of you who remember her presence in the young adults group at young nak. She would be at every meeting, usually seated at the back, keeping up with the teaching, but also praying. She ministered with a quiet touch. What you didn’t know was that she brought her ministry home with her and she would pray for the many young people that she came to know through those years. Her routine was to wake up at 4am and spend her time reading the scriptures, going through her long prayer lists. I can still picture her, under the flourescent light with her little foldable table. She continued this ministry with little fanfare for many years. I respect her for her steadfast devotion.
Her last 4 years of life were made all the more difficult with the onset of dementia. This cruel disease took away her memory function to the point that she scarcely recognized people. Memory, dignity, the ability to speak or hear, the basic functions of life were slowly stripped away. At the core of her being, however, was a radiant joy that just could not be repressed. She communicated with us and others with her warm smile and uncontainable laughter, with her patented knowing nod.
With her last breath, the chains that bound her to many limitations were unshackled and she is now in the presence of her Great Love, Jesus Christ. We will all make this same trip some day. And though I still have a hard time accepting that she is gone, in the light of eternity, it is but another blink until that time comes for me and we will soon see one another again, in glory.
Mom, thank you for your lasting imprint on our lives. Your quiet touch has made an imprint on the lives of many. Borrowing a line from Jack Nicholson, “You made us want to be better people.” Today is a day to grieve but also to celebrate this quiet life that was lived so well. Thank you for taking the time to join us to remember our dear mom. I would like to close with these words of hope, from the pen of the Apostle Paul.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
(JH, May 25, 2010)
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