The Impossible War - Tamil versus Singhalese

Canada was startled by the complete stoppage of one of Toronto’s major automobile arteries last week. And entire roadway was shut down for over six hours when a group of people from South East Asia walked up a ramp way on to the Gardiner Expressway and stopped all traffic.

News reports flooded in as the Metro Police and OPP tried to deal with the issue. On the Gardiner Expressway stood men, women and children attempting to get attention to their people’s cause back home. The fact that there were children involved – dragged there by their parents was shocking to say the least. This stymied the normal police removal of angry crowds in Toronto. Water cannons, tear gas, and brute force was out of the picture.

Some how the rest of Canada may have caught a sniff that something significant was taking place here and people were desperate.

The people group that walked on to the highway were Tamil. These are Brown Skinned people from Sri Lanka would be the easiest way that normal Canadians might label them.

But then all people from those parts are Brown Skinned aren’t they? Why are they bringing their “feudal wars” to our country anyway?

Come on Canada – wake up! Their cause is real. It is tragic. It is horrible. It is a nightmare if you are a Tamil. But who cares anyway?

I guess I used to think that way – the way that most Canadians think.

Reports today now state that the terrible war that has raged in Sri Lanka between the “Tamil Tigers” and “the Government” is over. The Tamil Tigers “have silenced their guns” according to reports on Web Sites and in our western newspapers.

But there is more… far more to this innocuous war in a far away country. Some how reporters have missed this little tidbit of information and are not reporting on it at all.

This war is not 26 years old – it is way more than that. It is ancient.

Before I go further I should explain some of my personal interest in this. I was born in Ceylon. That statement usually stops my brown Skinned Sri Lankan friends – as I am White. The Ceylon that I was born in was named after their country’s original name given by colonists. It is Ceylon, Saskatchewan… other wise known in southern Saskatchewan as “The Grass Hopper Capital of Canada”. (Today it is even smaller than when I was born there in 1944)

Over the course of my working career I have come in contact with many Sri Lankan people. Some were Singhalese and others were Tamil.

While working in Hong Kong the real story of the struggle in Sri Lanka became part of my family – in that a close family to us were deeply affected by battle back home in Sri Lanka… family members were brutally killed. Many were hacked to death with hoes and axes in front of their own children… but in many cases the children were also hacked to death. Mercy was never known by these murdering groups.

The people group that were hacked to death in my friend’s family were Tamil. The murderers were Singhalese.

It is a generalization to say the next statement but for the most part the Tamil people were better educated and in a better level of society than were the Singhalese… who were labourers and of a lower society.

But the fact is that the Singhalese far out number the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka “the Government” is Singhalese controlled. No doubt there are Tamil within it – but the main force is not Tamil.

My Tamil friend returned to Hong Kong in 1983 after some terrible times back home in Sri Lanka. He had witnessed his neighbour hacked to death then decapitated – with the head being hung on his own fence post. His friend was Tamil and owned a shop whose children were in University. The people that hacked him to death were local farmers, Singhalese, that hated Tamil people.

Can this issue be that simple? Yes it can and is. This “26 year old war” that has now been quelled or stopped was started when the “Tamil Tigers” were formed to stop the mass murders of the local Tamil people by very cruel and ignorant Singhalese people.

So how is Canada involved? How did these people get here and how did they come to block our highways making us “suffer” with their home problems?

We let them in… as immigrants. The same way that many of our own families arrived – running from “home problems”.

You see… when they – the Tamils – were being treated so horribly back in Sri Lanka – we as Canadians opened our doors to these refugees and said “You are safe here…”

So what now?

I am not sure what to predict for the future. I think that there will be far more news reports released in days to come… as further reports come out of Sri Lanka.

It is reported that 3000 people lie dead in the streets. Government officials do not agree.

What kind of Brown Skinned people are among the 3000 dead in the streets? Knowing what I know now – I would bet that they are Tamil.

This so called war that has ended yesterday – may have been the biggest and latest genocide ever. And the rest of us just looked on and did nothing… except complain when these Brown Skinned people blocked our highways.

Why did they do it? Well the answer may be so simple that we will never get it. Many of the Brown Skinned people laying dead in the street – are their close relatives that couldn’t move to Canada – or didn’t wish to run away.

Today I feel the same as I did in 1983, in my friend’s apartment as he cried and told of the horror that he had witnessed.

Today I am sad with the great loss of life in hidden valleys and strong holds that dared to resist “the Government”. And we all looked on and did nothing.

I pray for peace in Sri Lanka – for my Tamil Friends and my Singhalese Friends too. God help them all in the cry of this White Skinned Canadian.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

The Following is taken from Wikipedia…
Tamil (தமிழ் tamiḻ; [t̪əmɨɻ]) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore. Tamil is also spoken by significant minorities in Malaysia, Mauritius, Vietnam, Réunion as well as emigrant communities around the world.[1] It is the administrative language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and the first Indian language to be declared as a classical language by the government of India in 2004.

Tamil literature has existed for over two thousand years.[8] The earliest epigraphic records found date from around the third century BCE.[9] The earliest period of Tamil literature, Sangam literature, is dated from the 300 BCE – 300 CE.[10][11] Inscriptions in Tamil Language from 1st century BCE and 2nd century CE have been discovered in Egypt and Thailand.[12][13] The first two ancient manuscripts from India,[14][15] to be acknowledged and registered by UNESCO Memory of the World register in 1997 & 2005 were in Tamil.[16] According to a 2001 survey, there were 1,863 newspapers published in Tamil, of which 353 were dailies.[17] More than 55% of the epigraphical inscriptions - about 55,000 - found by the Archaeological Survey of India in India are in the Tamil language.[18]

Sinhalese or Sinhala (සිංහල, ISO 15919: siṁhala, pronounced [ˈsiŋhələ], earlier referred to as Singhalese) is the language of the Sinhalese, the largest ethnic group of Sri Lanka. It belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages.

Sinhala is spoken by about 19 million people in Sri Lanka, about 16 million of whom are native speakers. It is one of the constitutionally-recognised official languages of Sri Lanka, along with Tamil. Sinhala has its own writing system (see Sinhala alphabet) which is an offspring of the Indian Brahmi script.

The oldest Sinhala inscriptions were written in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE; the oldest existing literary works date from the 9th century CE.

The closest relative of Sinhala is the language of the Maldives, Dhivehi.

Source:
Tamil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language
Sinhalese
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhala_language
BBC Report on the Sri Lankan/Tamil/Sinhalese War end
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8054169.stm

From Harold Reid - Subject: Update May 16-2009

On this Blog I publish a wide range of stories and accounts. They range from serious stories to the lighter side of life… pretty much what happens in my world is my topic source.

Today I am asking the people of faith and prayer to read this posting carefully. and even if you don’t consider yourself a person of faith – I am asking that you think of Harold today – and appreciate what you personally have now.

This comes from my friend Harold Reid, who I have written about a number of times. His faith and his conflict have challenged me personally. Harold is a fellow pastor that is facing some very difficult days as he battles cancer.

The following post that he has made is from his Facebook Posting yesterday – picked up this morning.

I am asking that you keep Harold and Yvonne in your thoughts and prayers – wherever you might be in the world today.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
* * * * * * * * * * * *
From Harold Reid
Subject: Update May 16-2009

Good morning praying friends!

One year ago today my day started at about 4:30 AM when I awakened to severe chest pain. The pain did not go away and about an hour later Yvonne called 9-1-1. The paramedics and other emergency response people arrived in a few minutes and then I was transported by ambulance to our local hospital. Before the day was finished the medical people had determined my chest pain was caused by blood clots in my lungs and that the likely cause of the clots was cancer. Over the next few days I had x-rays and CATscans which confirmed the diagnosis of cancer. It was determined that the primary site was a lesioni in my left lung, but that the cancer had metastasized into my bones and had spread extensively through my body and thus was incurable. The oncologist told us my prognosis was better measured in months than in years.

It has been a very different year for Yvonne and I. I have never in all my life taken so many pills, given so much blood, and spent so much time on medical appointments and treatments. I am thankful for the wonderful care I have received from the medical professionals. They have been compassionate and kind. Yvonne and our children and grandchildren have been so loving and supportive. Our congregation has been there for us. And the family of God around the world has lifted us uip to our Heavenly Father through prayer.

On Thursday I received my last chemotherapy treatment in a cycle of six treatments. On July 17 I will have a CTscan done and that will give some indication of what next steps will be taken if any.

Through these 12 months both Yvonne and I have felt to simply place my life and our future into God's capable hands and continue to trust Him to work out whatever He wants to do with us.

We are determined to give Him glory and honour whether it be by life or by death. We are convinced with the Apostle Paul that NOTHING can ever separate us from His love. His love for us will prevail, not just for time, but for ETERNITY! In fact, we are convinced that our experience of His love here is but a small token of what awaits us when we lay aside these dying bodies and are clothed with our immortal, incorruptible bodies He has prepared for us.

Because I value my family relationships and my relationships with God's wonderful people, I would like to stay in the dying body for a few more years. But on the other hand, if God's plan is to take me home soon that will be fine too.

Thank you for praying for us. I know that your prayers have supported us and helped us be strong for the journey. None of us have any guarantees for tomorrow, except that the ONE who has begun the good work in us will complete it until the Day of Christ!Colin Gittens was given a strong vote of affirmation (89%) by the membership of PPC. As long as my health permits, I will remain on the Pastoral Leadership Team in a support role. Yvonne has been asked to continue in her ministry role of Counseling an directing Pastoral Care. We love our church family and are glad that we can continue as part of what God will do through the days ahead.

May each of you be blessed and encouraged to simply trust God with your whole life. There is absolutely nothing to fear when you know your life is in His capable hands!

Blessings.Harold & Yvonne
* * * * * * * * * * * *

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

Small Time Chicken Rancher

I stood proudly up to the counter as my turn came to order my product. There were a number of people waiting their turn as well. But then I suddenly felt really stupid as I tried to form my words. What do I want? What do I say? What if someone in the line up hears my ridiculous questions? “I don’t really want to be here now.” was my gut reaction – “but I have to do this! My chicken needs food.”

I do not know what made me say it the way that I did – maybe it was because my nerves were on edge… maybe it was the fact that others were listening… I do not know. But the minute that the words popped out I knew I was being laughed at – not laughed with…

“Can I help you?” asked the young muscular, farm hand kind of store clerk. He was a seasoned farmer from the look of it and was now working at the “Rural Roots” Feed Store. For non “Peterborough-ites” – it is our local Co-op Store for farmers… where you can buy all things for farming and ranching and chicken ranching and chicken farming.

I blurted, “I am a small time chicken rancher with one chicken that my granddaughter loves and I cannot think of killing it and I need to know what kind of next level of feed that I should buy for this 7 week old Sexlink chick?”

It was then that I knew that I shouldn’t have blurted so much. My young muscular, farm hand kind of store clerk smirked and tried to keep a straight face. He explained that the next level of food was $13.95 a bag. The bag was 55 pounds of chopped goodies. I explained that I was riding my bicycle and that the 55 pounds might be hard to fit on the back. “Is there anything smaller that I could buy and take home on the bicycle?” I asked. Nope was the answer.

I should explain that by now the others waiting in line for their turn were grinning from ear to ear… some almost busting out laughing at the fact that the “small time chicken rancher” didn’t need 55 pounds of chicken food… that he was on a bicycle and that he was looking for bargains… dirt cheep food for his ONE chicken.

The young muscular, farm hand kind of store clerk asked me, “Do you know anyone that raises chickens in the area that might be able to help you by selling you a small amount of chicken food?”

The light came on – “Yes I do!” was my reply.

He suggested that I give them a call. He was a “kind”, young muscular, farm hand kind of store clerk… that suppressed his laughter until I was gone.

As I explained further my attachment to this chicken called “Thunder” I stated that he(or she) followed me everywhere in the yard – as if I was its mommy…. Ooops – another dumb thing to blurt out as I backed away from the counter wanting to speed away on my bicycle.

That is when the gentle giant came to my rescue.

He was very tall. He had on his work clothing that made it easy to see that he was from the farm. His distinctive, well worn, cap told me volumes about his hard work – sweat stained and pulled on tightly. His red beard made his rosy cheeks stand out. The gentle laugh lines at the edge of his eyes spoke of a happy man. He could have been Santa’s younger brother…

He grinned at me and said, “My wife has 15 little chickens that follow her all over the yard as well. They love her. I understand.”

Then he turned and told the young muscular, farm hand kind of store clerk that he would have 15 sacks of yadda yadda, 10 sacks of yadda yadda – all of it chicken food. He was a BIG chicken rancher!

I backed away from the counter slowly, slipping toward the door and my bicycle. I didn’t want to hear them laughing.

Oh – so now you are laughing at me too! Sheesh!

I called my expert chicken person that I thought of in the store. She was a great help. After I told her about “Thunder” she shared that we could expect our first eggs about the end of August or maybe into September. But if I wanted good eggs I needed to feed Thunder the right stuff… a 50% mixture of chopped wheat, barley, and oats mixed with a special food that comes in 55 pound bags. Then I would need to buy something that I think she called, “Shell Rock” or was that “Rock Shell” …. that would make better eggs… and I could buy it all at “Rural Roots”.

The words “Rural Roots” stung when I heard it. I would have to go back into that place and face the possibility of speaking to the young muscular, farm hand kind of store clerk… maybe I could hide among the work clothing and wait until he went on his break… and the older kind lady would wait on me…

Hokey Mokey – chicken ranching in stressful! I didn’t expect any of this when I paid way too much for this dumb chicken on the Easter Weekend.

I am embarrassed to tell the rest. But here goes.

We have used Pine Shavings for “Thunder’s” bedding. You can buy it at the Pet store. They use it for rabbits and small critters.

So I parked my bicycle in front of the Pet Store. I walked in as a curious pet owner – no more small time chicken rancher today… As I looked at the various plastic bags with the pine shavings in them the prices varied. What we originally bought for $4.99 was now $6.99. The next size up was $9.99.

The Pet Store Clerk asked me if she could help me. She explained that the same product was on sale today for $9.99 but in a MUCH BIGGER BAG of it. I looked over at the pile. IT WAS BIG! So I told her that I would take it.

I picked up the huge bag of pine bedding and walked to the door. Yikes – I forgot – I was on my bicycle…. And this was bigger than the 55 pound of chicken food over at the Rural Roots.

I was not deterred… I took the rope from my bicycle carrier. With a little effort I rode home with a gigantic bag to my rear.

Oh no! There was the BIG TIME CHICKEN RANCHER driving beside me…

I looked straight ahead with great purpose on my face… and pedaled on.

All I know now is that my granddaughter Emma will have to look after me in my old age – after what I have gone through for this silly chicken.

Hokey Mokey!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

Real Possible Charge of “STUPIDITY”

The following article written and posted by Andrea Houston tells the story of an 18 year old girl and two men – one 21 and the other 51 – in a very dangerous situation in the fast moving river in Lakefield – just north of Peterborough.

As you read it you will see that no charges were laid. However one real possible charge is that of “STUPIDITY”. DUH!

Boating trio 'lucky to be alive': police
DANGER ON THE WATER: Trio dives overboard as fast current takes small motor boat over Lakefield dam
Posted By ANDREA HOUSTON , EXAMINER STAFF WRITER

Three people are "lucky to be alive" after their boat drifted dangerously toward a dam in Lakefield yesterday afternoon, only to be saved by witnesses who jumped into the frigid water, said officials.

Two men, aged 51 and 21, and one woman, 18, left the Lakefield Marina in a small motor boat for an afternoon boat ride at about noon, said city police Sgt. Dan MacLean.
Shortly after leaving the marina, the boaters started having motor troubles and their boat began drifting toward the Lakefield dam, he said.

They couldn't get the boat started, then discovered the current was moving much too fast, said Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield fire chief Gord Jopling, "There was major, major water flow, very fast," he said. "It's very dangerous."

Seeing the approaching dam, the boaters made a split-second decision and jumped overboard, MacLean said.

"They made a decision and decided to swim for shore," he said. "The boat went over the dam once they jumped out."

Two citizens on the west side of the river, who saw the distressed boaters jump, dove into the water and helped the woman to shore, he said.

"They were just in the area and saw the potentially dangerous situation taking place," he said.
The other two boaters swam to the pier and were helped out by eight to 10 other citizens who were watching, he said.

"(The boaters) are lucky to be alive," Jopling said. "They weren't the most aware boaters."

MacLean would not tell the public the names of any of the quick-thinking bystanders or the boaters.

All the people involved are going to be recommended for commendation for our Knights of Columbus Police Appreciation Night next year," MacLean said.

None of the boaters had serious injuries, he said. They were treated by an ambulance on scene.

MacLean said he didn't know if the boaters were wearing life jackets.

No charges have been laid against any of the boaters, he said.

Jopling said the incident should be a warning to anyone venturing out on the water this weekend.

"Right now the water is very dangerous," he stressed. "Don't go anywhere near the fast-flowing water. Keep kids and boats away."

My reflection…
This story is a lot closer to home than many. The 18 year old gal lives next door to us. She and the 21 year old have a cute little boy(about 2 years old) that is now walking and jabbering to all the world around him.

The 2 year old just about lost his mom and dad in a stupid boating accident.

The motor either wouldn’t start or died in mid stream. The 51 year old owned it and for some reason it wasn’t in very good shape… but took it out very near one of the most dangerous spots going along the river.

The dam that they launched near was barely holding the rush of the mighty river run off.

Today the boat is below the dam and the water is crashing over it – pounding it to bits.
Last night my neighbour, the two year old’s great Grandpa, shook his head as he told me what had happened. He is the one that offered the charge of “STUPIDITY”.

This again points to the need for all of us to be careful.

I love canoeing… but I also love not being stupid about it. I need to know where I am going, how I will get home, and if there is trouble – how will I get help. That is simply common sense.

I am happy for my neighbors that nothing worse happened. I am thankful – very thankful!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1567791

Correction
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1568929

The Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa. Amazing!

It is hard to describe the beauty that unfolded in front of us as we walked. Where did all these tulips come from? It staggers your imagination to see only a tiny bit of the color of the display spread before us. We were at the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa. Amazing!

In an expert from a book entitled “A Bloom of Friendship: The Story of the Canadian Tulip” Festival the words read…
The Canadian Tulip Festival, the largest in the world, is celebrated every year in Ottawa. Visitors come from around the globe to see more than three million tulips paint a kaleidoscope of colour on the Capital’s grounds. The beauty of the floral gift that began in 1945 is a reminder of the safe haven we provided so long ago and a tribute to the thousands of Canadians who fought and died during the dreadful months of conflict that gave way to the liberation of Holland.

This magnificent display originated with a horrible time to confusion and terror – when many people lost their lives so that the country of Holland could be free.

Further to the story I offer the following words…
It all had its origin 60 years ago. Throughout World War II, Canada sheltered the displaced Dutch royal family in Ottawa. (One of the royal princesses was even born in a hospital room that was officially made part of Holland for the occasion). The ties between the two countries were strengthened when the Canadian Army liberated Holland. In appreciation the Dutch royal family presented Ottawa with 100,000 tulips, and have added thousands more annually ever since.

I come from Saskatchewan originally. My earliest recollection of anything that might look like a Tulip was a Prairie Crocus… that was always the first flower to appear after the snow left us(sometimes even before)… and then didn’t bloom again until the next spring. Tulips might have arrived in my home area during my boyhood days – but I cannot remember.

So the display that we walked through is simply awesome taking my breath away.

Today I offer you a small glimpse of what we witnessed yesterday. I hope you enjoy the visuals. This is a small taste of Creation at its best!!!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol12/no10/abloomoffriendship.html

http://books.google.ca/books?id=mlnfrk__w5sC&dq=the+story+behind+the+Canadian+Tulip+Festival&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=y2GXzZNll7&sig=2nMxy6B0KZ9wRy_7nGl5l--MRLI&hl=en#PPT7,M1

Pension Sharing in Canada - too Funny!

My wife doubled over laughing after she opened the mail. I didn’t know what to think. What in the world…?

She was holding two Government of Canada envelopes we had opened. One had my name on it and the other had hers. This dull brown envelop either means we have received further requests from the Tax People for more contributions or something of great importance was about to happen.

Away back in February 2009 we had gone to the Government of Canada Federal Offices in our city to arrange for our pensions. (If you have been reading this Blog for some time now – you will know that retirement has come for me… and my wife… it has been fun to say the least!)

Together we had decided to sign up for the “pension sharing” program to help with Income Tax later.

Well the two brown envelops had the good news… we now share.

Not long ago the Government had notified Alida that because of her faithful work of looking after her two daughters, being a stay at home mom, and supporting her husband so well – her CPP pension was to be $18.22 per month for the rest of her life. Whoopiee! That is about 9 Coffees and Muffins at McDonalds each month.

Well the first brown envelop with her name on it informed her that she would no longer be getting $18.22 a month – but rather $9.46 – and I get the rest at $8.46.

The second brown envelop told me that I would not be getting the full CPP at $773.41 – but rather $401.55. I lost on this one… Alida now gets $371.86 on MY MONEY.

Now I get her $8.46 and she gets MY $371.86. Bad deal!

But the funny thing is that they are “Direct Depositing” all the money into the SAME ACCOUNT.
The two amounts together will pay for one week’s expenses. Wahoo! Yippee! I am doing cart wheels – after paying into this huge Canadian Pension Fund for ALL MY LIFE – I will be able to live for One Week a month. Whoopie doo…!

Alida was rolling in peals of laughter. Just too darn funny to do anything else.

My two son-in-laws had no idea how much fun this would be… when they stated in front of witnesses – “I do and I will”… we both are coming to live with them soon. One Old Person in one home… and The Other Old Person in the other.

However the dilemma is that Grandma is preferable over Grandpa in that she is a better house keeper. But then Grandpa is a ball to be with – a little unruly and causes kids to get a wee bit worked up… so he could be a problem at times… and his stories shouldn’t be told in public and to children.

Now the plan is… if Alida and I meet at McDonalds each week – somewhere between where our kids live we can share coffee and the muffin – once a month.

Am I worried? Nope. One son-in-law is a Funeral Director – so that end is covered. The other is an electrician and he loves baseball and hockey – so that end is covered too.

I think I will be carving some more things in my garage… for quite a few days in the month if Alida and I are to stay living together for the remainder of three weeks each month.

And this is a prediction… my two son-in-laws will become the greatest sales people in the world – finding me customers for my wood carvings. And if they don’t… well grandpa is moving in soon.

Just too darn funny… no wonder Alida was rolling in peals of laughter.

Wahoooooo!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/isp/pub/factsheets/sharing.shtml

Seung Hun Jung – Just Call Me “Bob”

It takes years to complete a Master’s Degree. Most everyone knows that. So why do they do it? Why would anyone put themselves through the years of hard work? I think the answer involves an inner drive to be better and also to be better prepared for what they will soon face.

There are a few that do it in a short two years of working at a break neck speed and almost overwhelmed with a work load that staggers your mind. The second group are made of others that because of their circumstances must take longer.

Mr. Seung Hun Jung is the second of kind of person. He has pursued his degree over a number of years. He just completed all the work that was necessary to achieve his Master of Divinity Degree in Counseling.

I should mention at this point that Seung is like a “son” to me now. He became my shadow about six years ago – and never left me. He has been and will be faithful to the end.

When we first met Seung was in his 8th or 9th year of study. He began his studies in Korea, then continued at the Eastern Pentecostal Bible College (now known as Master’s College and Seminary). Graduating from EPBC he then enrolled in Tyndale University College and Seminary – graduating just last Saturday, May 9, 2009.
On Saturday his walk across the graduation platform left a lump in my throat. He has finally completed all that hard work. Fantastic!

For years now…. Each Thursday from early in the morning until late at night he traveled into Toronto from Peterborough – about a two hour drive each way… attending classes all day and into the evening – then returning late in the evening to drop into bed exhausted.

Instead of taking a full load of every day classes he had to wait until Thursday when his class would be available – stacked up together. Then term after term the next class that he needed was offered… but sometimes having to wait for the next term to get the class that he needed next. Complicated sounding isn’t it. This method is sometimes called the “forever degree” – or the “Master of Eternity” (not Divinity).

Now we need to back up…
An EPBC(MCS) Bible College student needs to complete their studies by doing their internship with a community based ministry. In our case it was the Northview Pentecostal Church that Seung Hun Jung began his internship with. His friend Joseph Lee had introduced Seung to me and suggested that I might be a help to Seung. Joseph had completed his internship with me the year before.

Seung and his wife Eunice came to us with their small boy Juneau. This was a solid Korean family. Their ways were very Korean. The leap that they took leaving the Korean church to do their internship with us, an English speaking/English Culture group, was gigantic to say the least. Let me explain.

In the Korean church the pastor is a “supreme power” to say the least… of a much greater influence in leadership style than the English speaking/culture knows. (I must be careful as I write this – so as to not offend my Korean Pastor “friends”.)

Seung was well trained within the Korean Culture and Church… a model, up coming leader. Perhaps some day he will go very far in the Korean world of religious leadership.

Let me illustrate the day that our two different worlds met – and collided… causing Seung some deep distress I am sure… and making me wonder how this would work out.

When Seung entered my world he transferred his cultural patterns of his “home church” into my home church culture. He intended to become my shadow in all that he did. Our first day together was uncomfortable to say the least. He nearly drove me crazy in that he was just TOO helpful. There wasn’t one detail of my actions that he missed. Absolute and complete servant hood might be a good way to describe it best.

For example when I rose from my chair to leave my office I picked up my computer briefcase to head to my car. Seung quickly tried to take my briefcase and carry it for me. He was there to open the door for me… carry for me… and move into perfect rhythm of my life. He was my perfect servant. CRASH, Bang, Boom… I was not used to having my shadow do anything but be there… the shadow never once in all my years opened the door for me… never once tried to carry my heavy load. But Seung as an Intern was tripping over himself to anticipate my very next move to serve me to the best of his ability.

The day that I sat Seung down to tell him, “Seung, you are not allowed to touch my briefcase, you are not allowed to open doors for me, you are not allowed to serve me in anyway. That is the Canadian way. You are my fellow worker. I trust you will do the right thing…” – was the day that Seung almost had a melt down… I am sure. He looked at me stunned and said, “Why, this is what I do... In our Korean church I helped my Pastor in every way. How can I do this…?”

Eunice, his wife, was even more “accommodating”. She was the most selfless person that I have ever met. When she met my wife who was active in our church doing whatever was necessary to do – she was bothered by the bustle that Alida created wherever she went. She could not fathom that the “Pastor’s Wife would do manual labor things in the church. She couldn’t fathom that the Senior Pastor’s Wife would shovel snow outside the church door.

When the Internship was complete, the Jungs stayed in our church to fit alongside all that we did… to learn more of the Canadian way to ministry. They loved it and fit in very well.

The Canadian conversion of the Korean man took place while he and Eunice took part in a Canadian outdoor adventure – White Water Rafting. It may be the wildest thing that anyone will ever do – let alone a nice Korean couple.

A White Water Rafting experience requires that everyone follow directions. The guide that is in each boat calls out names to let the person know they should be doing this or that to keep the boat afloat and going where it should go.

When it came to Seung the guide was having a hard time getting his tongue around “Seung”. Seung then helped, “Just call me ‘Bob’…” From that minute on “Bob” became “all Canadian”.

Well that may not be entirely true. He is a “Hockey Nut” cheering for strange teams that never win. So fascinated with this sport is he… that I am sure that he chose his son’s English name “Juneau” – who was named after a hockey player that he admired 13 years ago.

One day during his Internship with me he was to come along with me on a arranged visit we were to make together. He didn’t show up for the meeting. Instead he called from the airport to tell me he was leaving for Korea at that moment. His father was failing very fast and he needed to go home. His father passed away and the next months were hard I am sure.

Slowly but surely I took on a new role in this family…moving from “Pastor” – the supreme power… to “Grandpa” and Daddy. Eunice has become a sister to my daughter Dana. “Bob” is my “son”.

When my “son” walked across the graduation stage my heart overflowed with emotion. I had a lump in my throat. That is my “Bob” – my Seung up there… see he is graduating and I AM PROUD of HIM!!!!

When my “son” walked across the stage I turned and looked at my beautiful daughter “Eunice”. She has not earned her Master’s Degree but rather faithfully looked after my two grandkids Juneau and Lina. I am so proud of her… she is a faithful wife that made this graduation possible. (In this photo Eunice as a supporting spouse is being applauded by the graduating class…)
Eunice we want you to know that you have earned your “PHt” versus the “PHd”. That is “Putting Hubby Through”… and I am proud of you. Other Canadian women in your situation might have committed murder at many points along the way that you have traveled… but that is not the Korean way.

BTW – this coming Sunday. May 17, 2009 – My “son” Seung Hun Jung will be ordained as a Minister at Northview Pentecostal Church. YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME.

Oh and another BTW – My “son” has just received his Work Permit for Canada last week as well. YAHOO! Sorry that is a little un-Korean of me to do cart wheels…

It has taken me 1532 words to say how proud I am… sorry. This could turn into a Thesis of its own. Congratulations Jungs!

You can see “Bob” – Seung Hun Jung walk across the Graduation platform at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLvJfiAf27k

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/