I had the opportunity to be a small part of this outreach at Kkottongnae. Kkottongnae, Flower Village in English is a Catholic community run by a religious congregation -brothers and sisters of Kkottongnae Sisters. They provide for the homeless and the abandoned with care and love in hope that they will realize the love of God and find peace and the children of God. The different homes in Kkottongnae cater to needy in Korea - disabled, intellectually disabled, abandoned old , homeless, the abandoned children and babies, a hospice , a school for the disabled and mentally challenged children and also a home for those with aids. Besides providing for the homeless and abandoned, there is also a university and Training Institute of love. The university provides education in social welfare and the Training Institute’s organizes programmes for youth to experience the spirit of love in Kkottongnae. (see http://www.flower-vill.com/)
During our time in Kkottongnae, we volunteered at the homes ,organized a two day retreat for the university students and a day of recollection for fulltime staff volunteers and also co-organised a three-day Holy Spirit Conference for youth from different parts of the world.
Working at the Hospice in Kkottongnae
I worked in the Hospice for the terminally ill in Kkottongnae as a volunteer for three days. During the time in the Hospice, I helped the sisters, clean the place, feed the patients, wash and change nappies, bathe and clean the patients and also to pray for them. These patients all had illnesses which are terminal and majority could not do anything by themselves and were on a life-support system to help them breathe. It was a new experience for me and God gave me graces to overcome the fears I’ve had before working at the Hospice.
Though my stint at the Hospice was very short, through this experience, I felt that God was inviting me to appreciate life and the dignity of a human. He was reminding me that every single life on this earth has dignity and He gave us this dignity. As I look at the patients who were dependent on others to feed and clean them , and whose life depended on a life-support system, I am astounded by the mystery of our life and the challenged also to appreciate my life and the dignity of others. God also showed me what compassion is and showed me how I still needed to grow in Compassion.
What impacted me the most was the dedication and love of the sisters working in the homes. I was also touched by God's love through the volunteers and the sisters, who showed me what it means to love and appreciate a human person’s life, even though they are incapable to respond with the same love.
Retreat for University Students and Volunteers.
As part of our outreach programme, we organized a two day retreat to university students and a day of recollection for fulltime staff volunteers. Our programme was aimed at refreshing and empowering the individual , providing a time for recollection and encounter with the Lord. One of the main obstacles we had during the retreat was language barrier. All our teachings, testimonies and sharings had to be translated. But despite this language barrier, God used us. It was a humbling experience for me I remember during our time of ministering, I felt very inadequate as I could not speak the language, I felt a lot of unworthiness and helplessness. So I just surrendered to God to use me and for the Holy Spirit to work through me. And God used me, through my testimony and prayer, to minister to two girls, who had later affirmed me through a translator. This was very humbling for me because although I prayed that God use me in whatever way he wants, somewhere inside me I did not really expect God to do the miracle. So it was a moment of grace for me. I realized then that I still lacked an expectant faith, that many times I pray and although I believe, I do not pray with an expectant faith.
Giving my testimony at the retreat for university students
Holy Spirit Conference for World Youth
Together the the Kkottongnae community, ICPE co-organised a Holy Spirit Conference for World Youth. The preparation for this conference began as early as Apirl this year, when our community was invited by Brother James, Superior of the Kkottongnae community to go to Korea for the outreach and conference. The main speakers for the conference were Mario Cappello, founder of ICPE, Fr Oh founder of the Kkottongnae community and leader in the Korean Charismatic Renewal Movement and Patti Mansfield who was a participant in the Feb 1967 ‘Dusquesne Weekend’ which marked the beginning of the Charismatic Renewal. She had served as a Pastor and leader in the early day of the Renewal and an author of four books. The highlights of the conference included sharings, meeting youth from Korea and other parts of the world, time of testimonies and encounter with the Holy Spirit.
Sharing a Mine entitled "Testify to Love" at the Holy Spirit Conference
It was the first time seeing so many youth from different countries. We had youth from all five continents including – America, Africa, Australia and of cause Asia. What touched me most was that despite our different cultures, background and lifestyle and language .we could come together to worship God , in the Eucharist, in the time of adoration, as one in Christ. I remember there was a moment, I felt that we were all united as one body, worshiping God, and our God was a God beyond language, culture and age. I thank God for this opportunity. It was a blessed time. Celebrating our different nationalities and cultures
Looking back and reflecting about my experiences in Korea, I cannot help but thank God. I am grateful for the opportunity to visit the Kkottongnae community and for the Kkottongnae community for their hospitality and for providing ICPE’s trip expenses. I'm very inspired by the faith and zeal of the Koreans. I believe that God is doing something great in Korea and empowering Koreans. I’m excited to see that in this part of Asia, vocations to the priesthood and religious life is booming and seminaries overflowing. As this is the third year ICPE has organized an outreach programme to Korea, I am blessed to see the fruits bore by the young adult communities which our community has reached out to. I came back from this experience refreshed by God’s mercy and compassion for his people.
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