Getting Back Up Again with Hope

On August 16, 2020, about 100 ASEZ WAO members from World Mission Society Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group carried out flood relief efforts in Gurye-Gun, Jeonnam, using a holiday.

The rainy season lasted over 50 days in Korea during the summer of 2020, which marked the longest period of rain since Korea Meteorological Administration [KMA] began taking observations. Heavy downpours were followed by typhoons, which resulted in huge damage all over Korea; houses were flooded and much livestock was lost. Particularly, Gurye-gun in Jeonnam was deadly hit and designated as a special disaster area.

Having heard of the news of the damage, about 100 ASEZ WAO members in Gwangju Metropolitan City headed towards Dokja village in Gurye-eup, Gurye-gun. In the village located nearby the Seomjingang River, a record breaking heavy rain tore down the embankment of the river, and the water surged onto the farmland, destroying the crops. The members first collected trash that had come in with the flood, and got rid of the hanging particles from trees. They sawed the rotten or bent branches of trees that collapsed, and moved them to outside the farmland. They also got rid of the debris from greenhouses for the safety of the local residents who were passing by. It was sizzling hot, and heat wave warnings were issued. Yet the members shed beads of sweat, hoping that the flood victims would be relieved of worry even a little bit. The local residents expressed gratitude, cheering them up.

If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you go far, go together. Shared joy is double joy and shared sorrow is half-sorrow. ASEZ WAO will continue to give a helping hand to our neighbors who are suffering from floods as well as COVID-19 pandemic until they regain peace in their daily life.