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Chapter 12 - Seriously?
There were some young adults who had passion for evangelizing in church. So we had two evangelical trips to a rural area in year, it was a good opportunity to me to know each other in Christ.
Among them there were several teachers from children’s Sunday school, and I knew them very well because we met teacher’s meetings, athletic competition, education department and the layman‘s department meeting. I came to the church office in the afternoon to help print Sunday bible study group materials because I had only morning shifts on Saturdays. At that time the layman department staff was KyoungRan Choi, she used to type and mimeograph print the Sunday bible study group materials. In early 70’s there was no copy machine so she runs off plenty of black ink on the roller to make printouts. She rolled up her sleeves while working otherwise it would smudging black while rolling therefore she used to wear arm protectors. I would sometimes have chances to do the job because the job seems unfit for woman. I met them often at the church office because many of her friends were children and youth bible study teachers.
Anyhow, I met some of the children ministry teachers; someone asked me “Mr. Lee, will you come to church office again next Saturday?” So I said “Yes.”They said “We would like to serve some teas a thank you gift for work, please come to the Jung Café next to the church’s main gate.”So I went on time. I knew most of them on chair but there was one young lady who was dressed in a yellow one-piece overall who was a stranger to me. While we were talking around someone said “We have children’s evangelical association meeting. We will pay for the tea” and they left. But the young lady in yellow one-piece overall was still there! We sat awkwardly for a moment I asked her “I have to leave, how about you?” She answered “me too”. I asked her direction, and she was going to Segeomjeong so walked together to Euljiro 2-Ga. It was about 300m, I had to go there anyway also because my bus station also had a bus that took me to Mapo and that’s where I used to live.
The next Sunday, every Sunday school teacher I met at church asked me “Well I hear things are going well, when is the wedding ceremony?” I have no idea what this was about. On my way going up the church main sanctuary stairs I had met the “yellow one-piece overall” lady. I said “Hello” and was about to pass-by her, she looked like she wanted to talk with me. So I had stopped. She said “Have you heard anything?”I said “Church Sunday school teachers have been asking me when I was going to get married? I answered no idea.” She said “The Sunday school teachers telling me you and Mr. Lee have been having a good relationship. When are you going to marry?” She said “Seriously?” and I replied “Serious things happened during Korean War.”And said “Let’s discuss later to solve this rumor.”
I found out that the rumor was started by the children ministry Sunday school teachers. Not only that the youth group Sunday school teachers were involved too! Until that time I have never dated anyone. It was because I was insecure. I gave up my hope in dating because of my shape (in the past, or the present I look like a dried anchovy) and background such as degree, financial status, and family history. Another reason was I read many classic novels of love that ended in tragedy. I was not ready to the pay the price that would come. It was my guess that even though I had passed marriage age in that time, I spent my weekend time on the church office. It seems miserable for them. They tried to introduce at her friend as a bridegroom.
Later when I had re-met her, I introduced myself to the yellow one-piece overall lady and said my life goal and the value of life even though it was immature to her. She listened carefully then said it was nice to hear from you. I was embarrassed because I was past my marriage age, had nothing and didn’t consider it deeply. So I asked her if she liked my value of life and goal and she said yes. Then to me what we should do and I suggested getting permission to marry from parents before our date. I ask my mother her opinion, she said “You are old enough to marry and met her in church so I will follow your decision.” After I met with her, I listened to her family’s opinion, “My mother had a dream of a slim and skinny young man came to my home smiling, and I think that’s him.”So gave permission to marriage gladly.
After these steps I had met my life’s companion YoungSun Lee. Of course, we seldom dated. At that time I spent my whole time to prepare my art work for the Industrial Design Exhibition. So usually we met after Sunday worship and had dinner together and that was it. Both parents had agreed to get engaged at the “Young Adult Room” which I used for Wednesday youth group Bible Study. With family members present in August after dating for three months. We had our engagement ceremony date that was convenient time for Pastor ChoJun Park, which coincided with 100th and final day my fiancée had prayed about our marriage which she started a little before our date, and after she was finished she had come out to have our engagement ceremony.
Our wedding was held on December 18th on during the University Bible Fellowship Christmas service which was led by Sarah Bae. Mr. ChangWu Lee who was officiating our wedding called us to advise several things. I still remember some of the advice, “I see both you marked 50 points in wedding, so care for each other, persevere and help each other, than your life will mark 100 points.” and also “some couple have 100 points themselves but subtract each other than become to a 0 point.” The reason I wrote this lengthy story is to thank the children’s Sunday school teachers who helped me get married.
God had given me the best wife. Without her support and prayers, I wonder how I was going to have the path of Seminary and become a pastor. I always thank her for my wife. Even though she is old she still communicates to those who helped our marriage become possible. Now they serve as elders in YoungNak Presbyterian Church.
I have Samuel and Hanna as son and daughter and 3 grandson and 4 granddaughters. When they were attending high school they used to ask “How did mom and dad meet?” I answered them as it is written above, and they answered “Do you think we can get married like that?” and look amazed. This upcoming December is our 40th anniversary.
(January 2011)
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YoungNak Presbyterian Church World Gospel Mission 
Seriously?