Ahnsahnghong]-Planting a Hope in Flooded Areas

Planting a Hope in Flooded Areas

DATE 2006/07/20

Seoul Gangnam Southwestern Association Had a Voluntary Service in Yangpyeong-dong, a flood-damaged area.The floodgates of the heavens are opened; the central parts are paralyzed. Water bombing throughout Korea; the government has issued a warning.The press reported the tremendous chaos, caused by a heavy rain which was poured from the 15th to the 17th of July. Particularly on July 16th, at about 11 a.m., the flood broke down a bank along Anyang creek in Yangpyeong-dong in Seoul, which caused around 1,200 residents to flee to a nearby school. Water rose up as high as a mans waist and it became a submarine city.

On the 20th of July, over 150 members in Seoul Gangnam Southwestern Association of the Church of God committed volunteer restoration work in the flooded Yangpyeong-dong. They were grouped into nine teams and worked to restore the damaged factories and houses.As the volunteers entered the flooded area, they could see all the wet clothes, shoes, bags, blankets and so on, hanging on the ropes tied from one telegraph pole to the other. On the streets were wet home appliances, taken to pieces, which showed how terrible the situation was; and the wet photo albums spoke for the bitterness of the residents.Im speechless. Im so angry. There is nothing I can do. Within five minutes after we were told to run away, the water rose up as high as my ankle. Water bombing may be the proper phrase, said a resident. A president of a mold producing company thanked the volunteers for oiling the molds, worth 2,000 to 3,000 dollars each, so that they wouldnt rot. Liesel Salvador (23) who came to Korea from the Philippines last month also thanked the members, saying that she had never met such kind people who helped her voluntarily.
volunteers removed the wet wallpapers in basements full of fishy smell of water and dark because of power failure. They also cleaned dirty dishes and dried the wet photos one by one. They shared pain with their neighbors and comforted them.The voluntary work which began at 10a.m. ended at about 4p.m. Pastor Dae-Seong Han said, I want them to get encouraged as soon as possible, remembering that they have neighbors who try to give them hope. I also want to share with them the hope for heaven, where is no more pain or disasters like this.