704. Asked Me to Fetch Water and Cook Duck Soup, Someone She Had Just Met?

💌 704. Asked Me to Fetch Water and Cook Duck Soup, Someone She Had Just Met?

When I arrived at Mr. Rufino’s house, it was already close to evening. He introduced me to his wife, sister Rufina, and we exchanged our first greetings. Shortly after, Mr. Rufino left with the President of the Charismatic Renewal Ministry from the Gwangju Archdiocese, leaving just sister Rufina and me. Then, quite suddenly, sister Rufina asked, “Have you ever cooked duck soup?”

I said, “Pardon? Duck soup? Why?” Then she replied, “I bought a duck, so try making some soup.” Sister Rufina took me to the kitchen and told me to cook the duck soup while stoking the fire in the furnace, adding, “Just fetch some water from the spring and boil it.” Cooking the duck soup itself was not a problem, but it was a bit surprising to be asked to prepare it right after arriving in the evening, having left home early in the morning as a retreat volunteer. Nevertheless, I offered it up, with Semchigo as if I were being loved.

Although I was tired, I accepted it with an “Amen,” reflecting on the love of the Blessed Mother who had gone to a mountain village to help Elizabeth. But how could I, who had just arrived, possibly know where the spring was? When I asked, “Excuse me, sister, where is the spring?” she handed me a bucket and explained the location to me.

Following the directions, I found the village communal spring and fetched water, offering a Prayer of Life: “Beloved Jesus! Thank You for loving me so much and allowing me to put that love into practice for my neighbors. May this small sacrifice I offer flow as grace to the faithful of the secondary station.” While praying, I cleaned the duck, cooked the duck soup, and prepared the rice.

She said, “Julia, let us carry the table out together.” So, we carried the table outside and the four of us ate the meal. The side dishes were duck soup, kimchi, and a few vegetables. Somehow, as the guest, I ended up preparing almost all the food. I offered it up with Semchigo as if I had been served the arranged meal, thinking, “As long as the President from Gwangju and Mr. Rufino, who is diligently serving at the secondary station, and his wife eat well and stay healthy, that is enough.”

I listened to their conversation while only pretending to eat. I offered up all my fatigue and sacrifices for the retreatants with Semchigo as if I had eaten the meal, praying that the nourishment from it would flow to the faithful at the secondary station and help make the retreat successful. After dinner and cleaning up, it was soon time to go to bed.

But then, Mr. Rufino said, “Since there is no separate room to stay at the secondary station, the president can sleep in the church, and Julia can sleep in our room.” I was shocked and asked, “Excuse me? The president is going to sleep in the church?” He replied nonchalantly, “There is no other choice since there is no room.” The president clearly looked flustered.

He asked, “Did you invite us without even a place to sleep?” Only then did Mr. Rufino apologize. Even though it was summer, the thought of the elderly president sleeping on the floor of the church was too much for me to bear. I felt deeply sorry and did not know what to do but kept watching the president’s expression. As for me, I could have prayed and offered up the night’s rest with Semchigo as if I had had a comfortable room.

But it was truly distressing to think that the elderly diocesan president had to be treated that way. Still, Mr. Rufino did not seem to mind much and took President Paul to the secondary station. Then he said to me, “Julia, you can sleep with us.” I said, “Yes, I am fine,” so as not to make him feel uncomfortable, while offering up with Semchigo as if I rested comfortably.

Since it was summer, a mosquito net was hung in the room, making it even more cramped. Moreover, the net was only large enough for two people to sleep comfortably. I lay down where the couple had asked me to, but with four people—including their children—trying to sleep in the tight space, the net clung to my body, and the mosquitoes bit me even more.

Though my skin quickly swelled and became itchy and uncomfortable, I offered up the blood the mosquitoes had sucked, praying that none of it would be wasted, with Semchigo as if I had been loved. I asked that it be transformed into the Precious Blood of Jesus and flow as grace to the retreatants. I also offered the Prayers of Life for the well-being of President Paul, who was sleeping on the church floor. As the mosquitoes kept bothering me, I tried to stay as still as possible, not wanting to make a sound and risk waking them.

I was also worried that Mr. Rufino might notice and feel apologetic, so after confirming they were fast asleep, I quietly got up. I thought to myself, “The Lord must be calling me to pray.” So, I offered the night in sacrifice, with Semchigo as if I had rested well, and stayed up all night praying for the success of the retreat. In an effort to get bitten less by the mosquitoes, I settled in a corner of the room and continued praying, which made things a little more manageable. Even so, in the pitch-black room with the lights turned off, I could not fall asleep at all.

They did not give me a blanket or even a pillow, but I practiced Semchigo as if I were resting in a spacious and comfortable room, gladly offering up all my suffering for the success of the retreat. While being bitten by mosquitoes, I stayed up all night praying fervently, united with Jesus’ suffering, so that even though President Paul was sleeping on the hard floor of the church, he would offer up his discomfort graciously, practicing Semchigo as if he were loved, without any resentment.

My personal reflection note with Mama Julia🌹💗 

Link 👇🏻

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