Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Worship in Korea: A Church With 7 Services
CICW student staff member Katie Ritsema visited her native Korea last week, for the first time since her adoption brought her to the United States. She writes of her worship this past Sunday:
Church today was unbelievable. Worship Institute….I wish every single one of you were there this morning. I went to an Assemblies of God church which is the biggest church in Korea. On an average Sunday they have about 200,000 people attending. 7 services starting at 9 a.m and going through until the night. Each service averages anywhere from 20-25,000 people. I didn’t believe it until we got there and there literally was a sea of people. Traffic patrol was attempting to direct people into church. The sanctuary was huge and completely packed. I sat in the “foreigners” section so I could listen to the service in English. I sat back for parts of it and just enjoyed hearing the liturgy in another language. It really strikes me how diverse God really is. He isn’t just the God of the United States and he doesn’t just speak and understand English. He heard their praises the same way he hears ours. Wow…what a good reminder.
The choir was huge and there was a full orchestra as well. Norma….you would have loved the organ. It was amazing. The choir sang the Hallelujah chorus in Korean and I almost cried. I get goosebumps whenever I hear it but to hear it in Korean was incredible. They opened up the service with the doxology in Korean as well as the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. So unique to hear it all in Korean and really absorb the part of the creed that
states we believe in one holy catholic church.
The purpose of Katie’s trip was to learn about her birth parents. Her e-mail report of what she found out is reprinted here with her permission:
It was surreal to walk up to a building that said Holt Children’s Services. There were tons of pictures on the wall of all Korean children who were adopted into families both domestic and international. We went to an office upstairs and were greeted by a few very nice, English-speaking women who worked there. They asked why we were there and immediately were very friendly. They asked for a name and such and I gave them the papers I had. The woman who took the papers looked at me and smiled and looked at the papers and said according to the number I was assigned, she was responsible for my case 21 years ago. That was quite the shock.
They took HaeSung and me to a room and when I looked at the door it said “Counseling room” which is never a good sign. There were pictures up and information about Holt and boxes of kleenex and such. I’m guessing people don’t always get the best news. We waited for what seemed like an eternity before the woman walked in with a file and on the front it said “Jong Tae Hee.” At this point in time I was actually kind of nervous. She opened the file and the first thing I saw was my baby picture and a picture of my real family on the front page. Mom and Dad, I don’t know when you sent that picture but rest assured that it got there safely. Dave must have been 2…maybe younger. She told me that Bethany did a very thorough job in giving us paper work because everything that they had in my file I already had with me. There were no names and no health records. There was a physical description of both which was interesting. My birthfather was about 5’11 and my birthmother was exactly my height. My bithmother’s family name is Lee and my bithfather’s of course is Jong. The case worker said that it’s likely that my birthfather to this day does not know about me. I didn’t actually get to see all the file and when she had to step out for a second she took it with her so who knows if there was more in there that I just was not allowed to see.
At this point, I’m not curious anymore. After being here I realize that I am so far removed from this culture and this isn’t home in any sense. This might be my roots and my background but it isn’t “home” and I don’t have any ties or connections here. Seeing my family on the front of my adoption file was almost a reassuring and affirmative statement from God that I am where I am for a reason. He wanted me with Fred, Kathy, Emily, and David and they are my family. I have no trace of any other and I guess now I have no doubts at all. If anything I guess today has made me all the more grateful for my family.
I was out last night with a student who went to Calvin a few years ago. He said that when he was 18, he fathered a child and the mother chose to have an abortion. I guess abortion is so common in Korea…even more so than in the United States. Both of my friends said they knew girls who also had abortions. He broke down while telling me this story and just kept saying over and over that I am so blessed. I am blessed that she chose to give me life. I am blessed that I was given to a Christian organization. I am blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful Christian family. When I look at it…I am truly blessed. If it took going to all the way to Korea to see that then I
guess it was well worth it. ... I feel like I am sitting in the center of God’s will right now and I know he is watching me and orchestrating this whole trip in a beautiful way. ...
I find myself ready to come home but also so grateful for the experiences here. I miss walking down streets and not being completely surrounded by people. There is no concept of personal space here. You are CONSTANTLY surrounded by people. Being the claustrophobic person I am…I’m ready for space. Praise God I never got sick and have felt wonderful this whole trip. I really did feel and sense the prayers and love from home both Denver and Michigan. You are all so amazing. Your emails of encouragement were such a blessing. This was a trip that I will remember my entire life. I don’t have many pictures actually but everything I need to and want to remember will always be in my mind. I have a rich heritage behind me and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have experienced it. Thanks again so much for your prayers!
Love in Him,
Katie
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