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Chapter 18 - Let’s plant some trees!
One early Sunday Spring Reverend KyungJik Han voiced his concern of how barren the mountains of Korea were compared to other nations he had seen. “I have seen the mountains of Japan and the United States” and voice his concern that Korea’s mountains were indeed naked of trees, and said young men! Will you join the cause to make our mountains green?”
It was possible because we had manpower and during this time the daily evening bible fellowship was in great growth and all the committee members were the head figures, therefore Reverend Han’s concern was easily agreed. There was a meeting and the young adults told the purpose of helping with planting trees, and the elders of the church gladly bought trees to be planted. The April 5th was a day of rest (usually that’s the set day to plant trees in Korea) about 100 young adult sisters and brothers had gathered. One year we planted trees around the border fences of the YoungNak Garden (cemetery). We laughed and gladly planted trees, knowing one day we would be buried under the beautifully planted garden.
Another year we planted some trees in the YoungNak Prayer Mountain. At that time Reverend ChoJun Park (he would be the senior pastor in the future) also went. With a recommendation of people who were botanists, we planted pine trees. We said while we planted “when these trees are full grown our children will play around the trees!” Reverend Han truly loved the soul and the nation, and he also loved the land. When Reverend Han retired and was living in Namhan Mountain Fort, in his closet was a faded old national hymn that was pasted there. When Reverend Han was going to study abroad in the United States and was passing through Hawaii, where he visited a Korean community center, upon opening he saw a Korean flag when he saw that he sat on the spot and cried. We couldn’t see the flag at that time because were occupied by Japan. (This article was from the ShinDong-A Monthly article ‘My friend in 50 years’ after the Reverend had retired)
I read an article few years back that when United Nations had investigated which country was the most successful in planting trees, South Korea was the nation that had the most success. I think it was through God’s grace that I was able to meet with Reverend Han in my youth, also to the young adult committee members and the elders. The reverend as a follower of Christ, suggested that we should in detail how be like Christ, and not be a church going people. We even in our lacking of experience, materials, always followed his ideas. All the adults always praised our works and never ceased to support us. What a beautiful church it was!
Faith and history should never be looked separately. We should be the ‘salt and light’ of the world. The only possible way was through the sweat and the devoted prays. We would never forget the 1st of March (Independence march). 16 out of the 33 people (who represented the nation of Korea) who have signed for the Declaration of Korea were Christians. The representative of all the members was Mr. SeungHoon (Namgang) Lee. Reverend Han during one sermon said “there is no faith without the love of one’s own nation.”So the young adults of the YoungNak Presbyterian Church always considered the country’s struggle with importance, on the 1st of March, Memorial Day, and the Korean War.
On the 1st of March the young adults never thought that it would be a day of staying home relaxing or go watching movies. They had a special 1st of March service. The young adults would read the declaration of independence in loud voice and did freedom shout three times. We even sang the Korean national anthem. (Usually all this was done standing up) At that time the church in New Year’s would sing the national anthem. During this time there were several elderly church members who were involved during the 1st of March Independence March from Japan and even spent time behind bars. So we always invited them to show how a man without country was serious. Not to gather to study the bible, but to love the nation, have a Christ – centered nation, plant trees to have a greener nation. Also to have reunification of Korea in future we had sermons broadcasted to North Korea. It was an act of obedience to God’s plan for world mission.
During the Korean War Memorial (June 25th 1950) or the Memorial Day (June 6th), the young adults would have a day or 1~2 meals fasten and save all the money to be sent to support wounded veterans. I was during that time an overseer in the young adults department but was fortunate enough to run around happy with the young adults.
Also we gathered a group of special interest young adults would visit woman protection shelter, Leukemia rehabilitation center, and people who collected junk as a living to pass of the gospel and have meals with them (kimchi and rice and other assorted food would be taken,) and join in recreation while showing God’s love to them. During that time the entire young adult’s face always shone with gladness and happiness.
(January 2011)
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Moving back to San Jose 
Let’s plant some trees!