ⓒ 2004 WATV

The 15th typhoon 'Megi,' which had battered the Korean Peninsula on August 18, caused heavy damage in the southern parts of Korea. By the heavy rain from 100 to 300mm per hour, rivers overflowed the banks, farmlands and houses were flooded, and many of the flood victims occurred. The members of the Church of God went to the serious damage area and did the restoring work on August 22, according to God's word, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'


Association for the Southern Parts of Gwangju

Upon receipt of the serious news from South Jeolla Province, the Church members from the Association for the Southern Parts of Gwangju rushed to the damage area on August 22.

ⓒ 2004 WATV

In the early morning, about 20 women members supplied food for almost 70 sufferers who lost their livelihoods and were sheltered near elementary school. They seemed to regain their strength for the unexpected help.

At 9 a.m., over 200 members began to recover the damaged plastic greenhouses for flowers. Because of the heavy rains, the Geukrak river flooded nearby floricultural complex. The damage was great. The flower farmland turned into mud patches. All were wet, broken and torn apart.

The men members who could handle machines helped the recovery work at the landscape architecture factory. Bu Dong Park, a factory director, said, "Even mentally, we are greatly distressed. But, today we are much encouraged and comforted by you. Thank you very much."


Association for the Northern Parts of Gwangju

The Church members from the Association for the Northern Parts of Gwangju also

devoted themselves to build up a bank in Wunjeon-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju city, and to recover the plastic greenhouses in Dogok-myeon, Hwasun-gun, South Jeolla Province.

ⓒ 2004 WATV

The plastic greenhouses were flooded as high as a men's stature; not only vegetables but also high-tech equipments were all damaged. Particularly paprica (a kind of red pepper) greenhouses, covering 2,700 pyong, were seriously damaged for they were delicately automated. The papricas had been supposed to be exported to Japan. But all turned in vain and the farmers lost heart.

It was very difficult to recover the greenhouses because all became heavy, being wetted and mudded; and the clothes and shoes of the volunteers got stained soon. But they kept smiling in the thought that they could be a help to their neighbors and thanked God for giving an opportunity to practice His will.

ⓒ 2004 WATV

At the volunteers' heartfelt work, the farmers' faces were brightened. They expressed their appreciation, and the provincial officials came to the spot and also thanked them.


Association for the South Jeolla Providence

On the same day, the 150 volunteers from the Association for the South Jeolla Providence did the recovery work at the vegetable greenhouses in Naju. This area provides various kinds of vegetables to almost all habitants in South Jeolla Providence. The damage was severe and the farmers were in deep grief.

In the greenhouses, wet boxes which had not ever contained the vegetables were piled up; all the vegetables-green peppers, leeks, tomatoes-and several kinds of herb lost their shapes; and the rubbish emitted offensive odors.

ⓒ 2004 WATV

Not only the plastic greenhouses, but also the residential houses got damaged. By the flood, all the floors were covered with mud; the papers on the walls were torn out; all the electric home appliances didn't work. The volunteers arranged the greenhouses and the farmhouses, too; they washed dishes, clothes and blankets. They smiled though the work was hard, saying, "We thank God for we can feel His love more deeply through this kind of voluntary work."

ⓒ 2004 WATV

The farmers expressed their appreciation to the volunteers over and over, who were working harder than themselves. After the volunteers had lunch which themselves prepared, they continued the work. In the afternoon, the farmers joined them with one mind (in the morning they only looked at the volunteers working.)

Not only this year, but also last year and the year before last, the members of the Church of God practically helped the typhoon victims and shared their pains from heart. They will love their neighbors until all the people of the world become happy.