LIVE-EXPERIENCE-LEARN
YEAR 19
Murray Kibblewhite
Copyright 2013 by Murray Kibblewhite
“I come from a less-developed coal-mining town in Korea.” Min looked up, a wistful smile appearing on her face as she let her mind go back.
“You have come a long way in nineteen years,” Michael her Business teacher commented as they finished clearing papers after the presentation.
“I lived in an old house and it had an outdated coal-fire boiler and a toilet that sometimes crawled with maggots!” She continued in a dream world from her past. Then her smile spread across her face, “but now, such a poor conditions have generally known to have disappeared in most of Korea – a long time ago.”
“Your country has developed rapidly in the last twenty to thirty years.” He concurred, neither correcting her English nor wishing to stop her flow of thinking.
“Yes,” Min continued, “but these are only some of examples that I experienced personally” She paused, thinking and then carefully explaining, she said, “however, my home helped me to understand and have empathy for the poor.”
“Congratulations”, Michael smiled and touched her shoulder saying, “You‘re a lucky person. You know the reason for being here in New Zealand!”
Min starred at her Teacher taking in his words, “so you are saying it was the difficult condition I had to live with that positively motivated and inspired me to realize an interest in needy people?”
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Working and researching overseas would be exciting and wonderful, Min thought to herself. She could go to places she had always dreamed of like Jordan, Israel and Japan.
Min mused and then shuddered with excitement, the thought ofthe experience of building new relationships and coming across new cultures. It would be fantastic. It would allow her to definitely feel the atmosphere and how people behave differently from the way they did in Korea.
Letting her thoughts expand, serving overseas will be a great opportunity for exchanging cultures and broadening my horizon as well as promoting international understanding.
And as she let her imagination run freely a broad smile came to her face, Every time, I will adaptmyself to each new culture and I will learn to accept human diversity by meeting so many different people!
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“What other experiences have you had?” Michael inquired as they worked together disassembling the screen used in her presentation.
“Well,” Min replied, “Handong Global University has played a key role in helping me to acquire the energy and the knowledge to serve people in need. I consolidated my visionand skills through double majoring in social welfare and counseling psychology!”
“So you built on your interest by selecting psychological classes – good idea!” Michael commented.
“Yes, through the psychological classes I learned to discover my own psychological traits and became more sensitively aware of the psyche of people I meet”. Min paused recollecting her experiences, “and I also did volunteer work as part of my university life and that’s how my adventures began. I served the neighboring community by teaching English to small groups of children in churches and community children centers that were nearby.”
“Very good. And what else?”He asked.
“I also helped the elderly and disabled people by participating in programs and exercise activities in settlement houses and welfare centers”. Min stopped her work as she recalled the past events. “It was from these experiences I learned how to use my talents and skills in dealing with people. to serve other people, especially those who are isolated from society. I wanted to help build a sense of belonging, and address how to deal with poverty!
“And how did you know what to do?”Michael probed, “was it always from your skills?”
“Don’t laugh because I know you are not a religious person.” Min paused, then quietly but firmly stated, “I always pray and ask for guidance before I make any major personal decision! “
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Research and volunteer trips to foreign countries would be the best way to have adventures and build adaptability skills, Min thought to herself.
In the Handong Center for International Area Studies in Pohan., she could become a student researcher. Min had checked out that the purpose of CIAS was to do research in developing countries and to promote the idea of mutual cooperationand peaceful development to the Korean Christian community through various academic and cultural exchanges.
Allowing her imagination to roam Min realized that first she could participate in the Middle East Area Study even as a junior at the University. She felt her excitement grow as she contemplated the possibility of researching in Syria and Lebanon for example. And in order to do such research, she would have to go to Syria and Lebanon two times for three weeks, for the research.
On a high inside her head Min smiled to herself contemplating where she could gather the necessary information and data about the specific tribes, like Druze and Alawite, and then analyze and evaluate the data so as to write a report once she was back in Korea.
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“So you’ve been overseas already?” Michael looked surprised. “Tell me about it?”
“I went to Uganda!” Min announced proudly.
“Uganda? Good Lord, where’s that country?”
“In Africa – squashed in behind Kenya and on the North side of Lake Victoria – the largest fresh water Lake in Africa.” Min smiled realizing she knew more than her Teacher!
“Ah, I remember, and it’s the source of the Nile!” he added. “So, what happened?”
“I was a volley – a volunteer.” Min replied. “In Uganda it was, above all, the most significant experience for me in terms of obtaining practical knowledge about people in need, and broadening my horizon.”
“I arrived at Entebbe Airport in Uganda in fear but at the same time full of curiosity.” Min continued opening up to explain this special experience. “I began my volunteer assignment with the staff of FYO - Foundation for Young Orphans – it’s a non-government organization that helps orphans, and the poor people of Uganda.”
Michael nodded but did not speak, so she continued. “They took me to a community in Kigugo village. I worked as an assistant teacher at 'Kigugo Hope Primary School' for eight weeks and collected data for my university –you know - education, economics, sanitation, and medical service circumstances and stuff like that.”
She paused collecting her thoughts. ”There were 120 children and only three teachers so I taught simple English with games and other activities. The children were great. It was a lot of fun. And as I lived and experienced their way of life, I began to appreciate the actual situation of their poor conditions.”
“Interesting!” he murmured, “so what happened?”
“As I got attached to them, closer with each day”, Min continued, “I could feel the deep sorrow of their lives fraught with continual hardship. I saw many children with distended stomachs due to lack of food. They had little clothing, health care, scholastic materials or basic supplies.” She paused again her eyes glistening as she re-experienced the events. “It pained me to see these children deprived of basic needs. I wish I could fill their hearts with hope, but as a small volunteer I could do so little. I felt powerless against the mighty wall of the harsh realityof these people.I prayed every day for help for them.”
“You did all you could.” Michael offered then continued on, “so after that?”
“After I finished at the school I was taken back to Kampala.” Min paused as she recalled another phase
of her adventure, “and on my way back I was left on my own and I got lost. I should have been scared but …” Min looked up him with her shy smile as she spoke, “So I prayed for help to find directions – and guess what?” her smile broadened, “a car stopped driven by a man from Belgium and he took me to where I had to go!”
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“So what do you want to do now?” Michael asked closing the door to the storage room.
“I want to know more about poverty in developing countries.” Min replied confidently.”I have tried to understand more about poverty as well as societal efforts to address these problems throughout the various social work classes and study groups I have attended back in the University in Korea.”
“However, despite my experience and undergraduate studies,” she explained, “I still lack some important knowledge in international social welfare. So I have decided to pursue a Masters degree in development studies as I want to prepare myself for the international area and hopefully offer the needy a way to get the best of the world that they deserve”
“That is a very worthy goal you have set. Are you sure this is the right course for you?” Michael asked seeking her re confirmation of this important decision.
“Yes. I’m very sure.” Min replied standing directly in front of him.
“How can you be ‘very sure’?” he challenged.
“Because my God said so!” she responded defiantly.
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Every decision that you make either moves you toward your personality or towards your soul. How do you wish to learn? Will you choose the way of doubt and fear; or will you choose the Tree of Wisdom
The decisions that you make are yours to make. A non –physical Teacher cannot and would not, live your life for you. It will assist you through the learning experiences of you life. The answers that it can provide you depends upon the questions that you ask – by questioning your own motivations, by praying or meditating and remaining open to for the answer, or by asking directly , as in the case of the multisensory human that has developed this ability. When you ask one set of questions, one set of doorways opens before you, and when you ask other questions, other doorways open.
“The Seat of the Soul,” p. 101 – 103 – Gary Zukav
I am sure that we are placed on this life at a particular time so we can develop in certain ways. For the same reason, I am sure that we are placed in the midst of certain circumstances.
Accordingly as the events fall out, we are placed in a suitable body in a suitable time and place to experience certain events so that we can develop in a certain way.
“LIFE: A new dimension of death.” p 26 – John Muntz
Disclaimer
The story is based on real life events that have been told to the author. The names of the characters have been changed to protect their privacy. Any opinions are the author’s unless where quoted and the reference is given.
Acknowledgements
Grateful thanks for their help and assistance: -
Cover – Roseanne Kibblewhite; Graphics – Edder Leyva; Editing – Joan Adamak and Lyndsey Craig; E-Publishing & Blog – Jan Butterworth; Social Media – Blair Kibblewhite; You Tube – Florence Korokoro; Administration – Ying Yu Wang; Consultant – Linda Coles
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