딸 커피숍에서 딸과 손녀딸과 함께

David defeated Goliath

                                                                                       Soo Yong Kim

   I have, at times, faced obstacles in my life and suffered distress. Even though I have not done anything wrong, I have been blamed and would be at a loss as to reason why. It can be very stressful. We try to solve problems, but sometimes they are insurmountable and beyond our control. As for me, I lay my burden on Jesus’s shoulder and keep praying to God because Jesus Christ is the answer.

   My daughter has been living with her family in Sacramento for a long time. She has coffee business in the city of Davis. My son-in-law and my daughter always do their best to treat and serve their customers very well. They serve only the best coffee to ensure the optimal coffee flavor. They are always busy with customers. UC Davis is close to her coffee shop. A lot of students and professors come to her shop to enjoy a cup of coffee and socialize. When there is a faculty meeting at the university, there is a big catering order. Her coffee shop provides free WIFI Internet service at all times.

   My daughter and son-in-law serve free coffee to the citizens gathered at events organized by the city of Davis. They make donations to local non-profit organizations from time to time. Their reputation has been awesome.

   The mayor of Davis heard about their good deeds, and awarded them a medal of appreciation. Thanks to customers, their business has been growing and successful. To their surprise, the landlord allowed Starbucks to open a store in the same shopping center.

   Despite being confronted with a strong competitor, which could potentially put them out of business, they continued operating their business and served their customers and community heartily. They took a win-win approach to doing business and strove to maintain a Christian mind-set. Some customers told them that business had been slow at Starbucks and that the employees were jealous of my daughter’s coffee shop. They complained about my daughter’s coffee shop to the landlord. The landlord listened to them and forced my daughter to close her coffee shop. Believe it or not, only God knows.

   One day, my daughter called to tell me that they were forced to close their coffee shop by the landlord. She requested constant prayer for her business. They told me that they were looking for another landlord and a space for a coffee shop. I was so shocked to hear that. From that point on, I began praying to God for her business.

   They received a notice of termination of lease one week before the renewal of the lease contract. They had to vacate the coffee shop within one week.  Her coffee shop was suddenly without a home. My daughter and son-in-law were speechless at this sudden demand to leave the premise. They posted a sign outside the business on the front door.

   Their customers were taken aback by the sudden closing of her coffee shop. A change.org-petition was started to save the coffee shop. Local dignitaries such as Joe Krovoza (Mayor of Davis City) and Mariko Yamada (Assemblywoman of State Government) joined in the phone call and letter writing effort. They got 628 signatures on the petition. They informed the City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and relevant state agency of the landlord’s illegal eviction. They informed all local newspapers and radio stations and published information in the internet detailing the landlord’s wrong-doing.

   All mass-coms rose up in arms against the landlord. The reporters from mass-coms asked to interview my son-in-law and my daughter. They told the truth and appealed to the reporters and to the public.

   In the end, the landlord capitulated to prevailing public opinion.

The landlord leased a more spacious space to my daughter’s coffee shop and set up an incentive fund of $55,000 for her. My daughter spent all her money remodeling her new coffee shop. Altogether, the customers and my daughter’s family were pleased to have won a victory against Goliath.

   God answered my prayer. How amazing and awesome He is! A misfortune turned into a blessing.

   My daughter’s family and I sincerely wish the best to the Starbucks’s store and hope that their business will pick up.

   When I visited my daughter’s family to celebrate Thanksgiving, they had prepared a celebration party for Thanksgiving Day for customers. They closed their coffee shop at 6:00 pm to put on a party. Several customers brought cooked turkeys and my daughter served desserts, and drinks, etc. Almost one hundred customers gathered together to give thanks to God for the new coffee shop and for their health and friendship.  I led prayer for thanks for everything and in everything. They told me that my prayer touched their heart deeply.

  At the party, I met Mariko Yamada and I introduced myself to her and expressed my appreciation for her help. She told me that she did her best. Even though she is a Japanese, she fought for justice to the end no matter how difficult the problem was with no regard to the past difficulties and prejudices between the Korean and Japanese people.

   I cherish this wonderful and unforgettable memory of my daughter’s deliverance from financial ruin. Our God is always so good. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!!

*My daughter’s coffee shop reopened on April 8, 2013. The issue of my daughter’s coffee shop was reported in Korea Daily Newspaper in April 17, 2013.