Now, it is cold winter in Korea when warm affection and love are needed more. On January 23, 80 members of the Church of God Gangwon Association delivered the love of God through a voluntary service at the "House of Love," a welfare facility, according to the commandment of God, "Love your neighbor as yourself."

ⓒ 2005 WATV

The members arrived at the "House of Love," located on the top of a high hill with a beautiful scenary around, and delivered a lot of articles of comfort such as rice, kimchi, fruits and supplies for babies, which were prepared with donation. The chief of executive office Chang Su Kim was greatly pleased with the bright faces of the members and thanked them, "It's our first time to be served by so many people like this. Your bright smiling faces make me happy even before the work."

The "House of Love," operated by Seongji Welfare Association, contains three buildings: The "House of Love" where the severely-handicapped children live, the "Filial Piety Village" which is a free medical care institution for the seniors with dementia and senile diseases, and the "House of All Love" which is a sanatorium operated at actual expense for the aged. A total of 220 people are living in these three buildings. The volunteers had a brief education for better services and started their works as divided into three groups. Each group was composed with 20-30 volunteers.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

They washed the disabled children, nursed the aged people who had dementia or senile diseases, and also cleaned the building briefly. 5 or 6 volunteers helped to prepare lunch in the kitchen. Specially, the volunteers, who took charge in washing the severely-handicapped children, performed a hard work. It was not easy to wash those children who couldn't move even a single finger. They had to take them up in their arms and wash and put clothes on them. They washed them wholeheartedly as if they had been washing their own sons and daughters even though they became exhausted. A member, who participated in the voluntary service for the first time, washed the children with a smiling face, saying, "I don't feel tired in the thought that I am putting into practice the love of God."

In the "Filial Piety Village," where about 110 seniors are living, around 30 volunteers cleaned and massaged their shoulders, arms and legs. In this institute, which is called 'The Last Rest Place,' 57 staffs take care of them for 24 hours by turns. The volunteers did their best to take care of the aged, as if they were determined to do their filial duties that they hadn't put into practice yet. After the voluntary service, they had a joyful time together.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

Although it was a short time, the children felt warmheartedness from the volunteers and wouldn't let them go, saying, 'I love you.' Some seniors recommended them, saying, 'You've treated me better than my daughter-in-law,' and some smiled, saying, 'Thank you very much. You are like my own children,' and some wept, holding their hands and said, 'Your hands were like mother's hands.' It was hard to say good bye to them, but the volunteers left them, pledging to visit them again.

The volunteers said, "The children were so cute. We hope we will have more chances to share the love of God with these children," "We hope to continuously give our interest and love to these children." They pledged to do more active voluntary services, saying, "This is not the last service. We will continue sharing God's love with our unfortune and neglected neighbors. We will be the salt and light of the world by delivering the warm love of God to the neighbors through a lot of regular voluntary services."