Elder K02 reflected on her life through her drawing, withthe trees on the left representing different stages over the years. Life started with optimism and love, symbolized by her tree’s vibrant leaves: “I thought I was the best and went lala-lala-ing along.” As an adult, she felt “trapped” by her responsibilities but still recalled it as a time when “the most vibrant flowers bloomed.”

With the passing of years, and now in the U.S., Elder K02 began to feel a lack of personal fulfillment and love to give: “There are no fruits to eat, no fruits to give to others. So here I’m on my knees, praying and reading the Bible… but love has yet to be complete within me.”

Elder K02 attributes much of her hardship to immigration.In Korea, she would have had the support of many family members and friends. “I wouldn’t have had the pain, loneliness, and sorrow of immigration.”

“But these days, I’m thinking about how to live the rest of my life here in a way that makes me a model for my children,so I can say, ‘Be like me.’ That’s my dream.”