Recently, I watched the news that farmers were facing a serious labor shortage due to COVID-19. Since there are many farming areas in Sangju, shortage of labor is inescapable here, too. Hearing that an elderly couple who grow grapes nearby too lacked in labor, our church made a plan to help them right away. Being determined to help and comfort them by lending our helping hands and keeping with the quarantine rules, about twenty members from our church headed for the vine yard.
We had to prune the shoots that were between the main branch and the leaves throughout the morning for two days. We were told that without pruning the shoots that grow randomly, the nutrient for the fruit gets dispersed, making it impossible to harvest big and high quality grapes. In other words, we cannot get the finest fruit that the farmer wants, unless we remove the shoots by hand.
Since it was my first time, I was clumsy. Fortunately, as time passed by, I became used to it and could speed up gradually. We encouraged one another, pulling ourselves up when we were getting tired. Thanks to the good weather—the clouds covering the sunlight and the cool wind from time to time—we were relieved from the heat wave which continued for a couple of days. While working hard, I saw smiles on the faces of the elderly. It was so rewarding, and I could feel the true happiness in sharing love.
I had gone abroad for seven years, so it had been a long time since I last participated in a volunteer service in Korea. It was tough, but I felt like my mind became enriched just as the spring rain wets the dry land. Moreover, if there are unnecessary shoots in my mind, I will remove them and fill my mind with nutrients called love. Then later, I will be able to bear a handful of good fruit of the gospel.