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Home > Fellowship Plaza Apt. A202 |
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Youngjin’s mother
About 60 years ago during the Korean War, my mother rebuilt her house from the ashes. She had saved some money to build the house, along with some debt. She received money from people who were interested in renting the house, and made a 3 room house.
At that time her husband had two daughters who were working in the Seodaemun borough office.
Our family had lived in one of the rooms. The other two was for rent. Most of the adults called her “Youngjin’s mother”, as most people would do, using her first daughter’s name. As for us, we simply called her “ma’am”.
During that time, all the older brothers were enlisted in the army, and my oldest sister was in different location. So my mother, another older sister, and older brother and I lived across from the master bedroom facing a hallway. My mother had from a relative’s help, found a job ironing table clothes from “National Hall”, a Korean restaurant near the Seoul Train Station. She had brought the white tablecloths to wash them, clean them, and iron them, everyday. Any of the dirty tablecloths, she brought them back to wash them by hand and iron. My children and grandchildren would wonder, why by hand? No washing or drying machines? At that time period, there was no such thing that existed. To live, my mother and sister had to work that every day. Even in the cold winter, or the hot summer, there was no time to rest.
Most of the time after dinner and cleaning, my mother and sister would iron the tablecloths well into the night, and into early morning in middle of the hallway. How inconvenient it was for the adults sleeping in other rooms?
The irons during this time period, there had to be charcoal placed into them. Because they were cheap and shoddy, when the iron was moved, placed down or even placing more charcoal, it would make a metallic sound. It could’ve cause a lot of disturbance while the neighbors slept. But they have never showed discomfort. They had never showed the sleep disturbance during the previous night, and always greeted us in the morning with a smile. They had rather encouraged my mother when she apologized, and because of that, her two daughters had grown well behaved.
After several years living here, they had moved to another location. Even after moving they still considered us as family, especially to my mother, whom she treated her like a daughter was ‘Youngjin’s mother”. To this day, I would never forget those who had encouraged me, as I write in “Praise and Thanks chapter 4” after a long time, I had been discharged from army and was in worry because I didn’t have enough money for college enrollment fee, and was about to give up few hours before the due date, she had came with borrowed money while sweating, to pay for my enrollment fee and to “do well at school!”. That is Youngjin’s mother.
After moving to United States in March of 1980, I had briefly revisited Korea to lecture for Youth Born Again Mission summer retreat and met her only once, then lost contact. I was heavy with worry for not being able to talk with her. After I had become the superintendant of C&MA, Korean District, I had moved to Fullerton, near Orange County (in Southern California). I had met an elder who is a family member of her. I was able to remember his name because he was an upper classman by 2 years, so my older brother’s friend in high school. After calling his church, I tried to contact his work place to call him several times, but he was often out of the country and wasn’t able to find out Youngjin’s mothers contact number. This was about 12 years ago.
About 2 weeks ago I was on a phone call with the current superintendent. After visiting Southern California, I heard that the superintendent was going to meet the elder that I had wished to contact many times. The reason was because the senior pastor was visiting Korea, so the elder who represented Laymen wanted to meet him. So I told the superintendent that I wished to meet the elder. The superintendent would tell him my name, and he would probably remember me. After he had received his permission, I requested his contact to call him. I had a great conversation with him. He said that “Youngjin’s mother” is still alive and well, and gave her phone number in Korea.
After receiving the number, I started to think several things. She was almost now 90 years old. Would she remember me? Would she be able to pick up the phone and answer? How is her health? After few dial tones, I heard “Hello?” in a bright and strong voice which had taken me by surprise. After I said “This is HeungGu Lee calling from United States, I’m looking for Youngjin’s Mother” and I remember what she said, “Reverend Lee, this is Youngjin’s mother.” When I asked her how she is doing, she said she is doing very well. After her husband had passed away, who had retired from public office, she had to start a business and continues it. She also said that every Saturday, her son visits. I have not seen him face to face yet, but I heard from my mother that Youngjin’s mother had a baby late, and that he is doing well.
It was June 8th 3AM in the morning, so in Korea it would be evening, around 7PM. When I had called her, she said her son was here, and gave the phone to her son. I had told him how thankful of his parents and the appreciation of the times we had. My mother had visited their house often and he had seen my mother many times. Since his mother had respected and loved my mother, it was natural that they would talk about families and heard my name many times. When I asked his age he was 56. A lot of time had passed.
I asked his e-mail address and the house address of his mother. When I get the address, I will be sending her my poem book, a hymnal book, along with a note of thanks. About 60 years ago, I remember how she had cared and loved for me. I can still imagine and sometimes see her kind face. I imagine her face as she answered the phone, and still remember the time when she had came running without breathe to give me enrollment fees during that time.
(June 10th, 2013)
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Youngjin’s mother
2013-06-03 9:30AM