Saying Good-bye....

In a couple of previous posts, I wrote about a Korean couple that attended my church and sat in the same pew as I each week.  When I first met them I wondered why such an older couple (past retirement age) would be attending a Christian church vs. a Korean church.  I just figured as an older couple they would be set in their ways and in their culture and prefer a Korean church.  

Over the past few years, we've said hello to one another and more recently the wife would talk to me before the service started.  So, I got to know them briefly, but after I had my book signing at the church and she bought a book we started to chat more often at church.  I felt more comfortable asking her questions about the Korean culture...like what my Korean name meant (that's one of my previous posts).  Her husband didn't really ever say much to me, but would always nod his head to say "hi" when they arrived each week.  Over time, he didn't come as often and at the end of last year she told me that he wanted to start going to a Korean church and they wouldn't be coming to this church anymore.  I did find myself missing them a bit as the beginning of this year went on.  

I missed church for awhile in the spring and just started attending again regularly in July.  She was there with her daughter and told me that her husband had died in May.  I was surprised and saddened by the news and felt bad that I hadn't known sooner.  That Sunday one of the hymns we sang was "How Great Thou Art" which was one of her husband's favorite hymns she told me afterwards as she wiped tears from her eyes.  So, the past several Sundays she's been there, as have I so that we can catch up.  

She's moving back to New Jersey where her kids live next week.  It'll be sad to see her go, but it'll be good for her to be near her kids and grandchildren now since she doesn't have any family here.  Her son was at church with her today, so I got to meet him and I know she'll be well taken care of when she moves.  

Last Sunday after church we went to lunch.  We went to a Korean restaurant, of course, and the waitress spoke to her in Korean.  When she asked what I wanted to drink I had to tell her I only spoke English.  I asked her a lot of questions about different foods, customs and her kids, and we had a good lunch.  However, my chopstick skills were seriously lacking!  Seriously!  I did well enough to actually get some food in my mouth, but at one point the waitress stood next to me with a concerned look on her face as she viewed my chopstick skills.  No pressure.  No embarrassment here.  Sheesh.

Yes, I'll miss seeing her on Sundays again, but I know she'll be much happier living closer to her family.  I wish her well and think we'll keep in touch via email.  Blessings to her and her family as she makes the move up north.

And, blessings to you as summer continues to heat up in the final days before school starts again!