“Dear Beloved And Honorable Countrymen”: How North Korean Defectors Speak Life Into Other North Korean Defectors When No One Else Can

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Pastor Foley

WLO_visitrememberOne of our central purposes at Seoul USA is to attempt to give you unmediated access to the words and thoughts of North Korean Christians when they are simply being, rather than being interviewed–say, for Western Christian publications. Testimonials in Western publications are not unimportant or inherently unhelpful, but neither are they representative. It is simply the case that we all talk differently when we speak to outsiders.

That is why I’m delighted to share with you the following nine letters, each written by one of our North Korean defector Underground University (UU) students to North Korean refugees entering Thailand (and thus freedom) on their defection journey across China on the way to South Korea.

Such freedom is relative, of course: North Korean refugees entering Thailand are entering detainment facilities–prisons–where they await transport to South Korea. The waiting period can last months. The prisons can be hot and crowded. There is little if anything to do but wonder about things like: What will my life be like in South Korea? What about those I have left behind in North Korea? Have I made the right choice? Why did I survive when others did not?

It is to these questions that the UU students address themselves, sharing from their own experience and theological orientation. There is rich, profound imagery and insight packed into each word. Enjoy now what North Koreans say to other North Koreans when they are not smiling for the camera but rather simply trying to help each other hang on just a little bit longer.

Dear fellow countrymen who have crossed the death line seeking God’s protection in the Republic of Korea,

I am so thankful that you have left North Korea and that you are now on your way to South Korea with God’s purpose and with His love.

Though you might have many difficulties now, remember that God is protecting you and guiding your way, just as he guided the Israelites with the pillar of fire and cloud. Please pray earnestly to God and come to him when he answers your prayer.

Life in South Korea is not easy either, but I would like to tell you to live joyfully and to be blessed by God as you seek him and wait for the eternal world, the kingdom of God.

From your friend who has come to South Korea ahead of you.

Dear countrymen for whom I long,

I would like to greatly congratulate you, who successfully escaped from the North. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing you soon even though I have lived far away from my home and family.

I believe that God guided me to safely arrive in South Korea. When I began to believe in faith that God was with me, my life became happy. I hope you also accept God as your father and arrive in South Korea as soon as possible.

My dear brothers and sisters, do not think that God does not exist because we cannot see Him. Remember that he is always with us and live courageously! Blessed are the believers.

Dear brothers and sisters,

I sincerely congratulate you, who crossed the river to save your lives, although you had to leave behind your family and friends in the North.

My name is XXX, and I left North Korea three years ago. Like you, I also passed through the unpaved way and finally arrived in the land of freedom and into God’s arms.

God my heavenly father not only delivered me from the Kim family’s evil dictatorship but also let Jesus, his only Son, sacrifice for me and die for my sin.

I do not think I need to explain these things any further to you, as I am sure that you felt the same things yourself and realized this truth when you arrived in this new land. But I would like to emphasize to you that only God is our father and he loves you. I am sure that you will live your life well when you arrive in the South.

Dear fellow countrymen,

I sincerely congratulate your bold decision to leave the North and I deeply appreciate you for it. I think the result of your right decision is that you will live in the generous heart of the Republic of Korea without worries. That is because you will arrive in the country where you can enjoy happiness and freedom. South Korea is a Christian country whose people believe in and follow God. God gives South Koreans freedom and only leads them in a happy way. I hope you arrive in South Korea soon so that we may enjoy God’s love together! I am looking forward to seeing you soon.

From your companion, who believes and follows God.

Dear fellow countrymen who are in a prison,

My lovely countrymen, please cheer up! I totally understand that you had no choice but to leave the North, which is a horrible place to live. Though we North Koreans have been brainwashed into believing that Kim Il Sung is our only father and chieftain, we have to try to overcome that brainwashing and find happiness in South Korea.

In North Korea, we were required to say that Kim Jong Un was our father, but here in South Korea, God is my only father, and no one can tell me not to believe in him. If we ever said a word of complaint about the president in North Korea, our lives would end in a concentration camp. But in South Korea, you can be blessed to overflowing when you believe in God with all your heart, and I hope that you will enjoy that blessing, as I am now. After you arrive in South Korea, set your mind at ease to accept South Korea as your country.

From an honest child of God

Dear brothers and sisters who are dwelling in Thailand for a while,

I am one who has arrived in South Korea ahead of you and now live happily in God’s arms. I thought my life was driven by my own thoughts and desires. However, I came to meet and believe in God in South Korea and realized that God is the manager of my life, not me.

God loves us and gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to the world and let Jesus sacrifice himself for our sins. We cannot see or hear God, but God is around us as a spirit. God who loves you also listens to your prayers, so pray to God in faith.

Dear ones who are suffering,

I do not have enough tears to shed for all our sufferings. I am writing to you who are from the poorest country with no freedom, who left your hometown to gain freedom.

Even though the way ahead of you is unpaved and narrow, please do not give up but look to the sky and remember God who is helping you. Please be courageous and firmly stand to get the victory until you successfully arrive in South Korea, a paradise. Take care.

Dear beloved and honorable countrymen,

My name is XXX, and I am learning the knowledge of God at UU. I graduated from HANAWON [Refugee Resettlement Center in South Korea] in 2006, and it has already been over 8 years since I settled down in Seoul. I also lived for 3 months in Bangkok, Thailand with the support of a Korean church. While I stayed in Bangkok, I attended a worship service every Sunday and realized that God loves my family and guided us to South Korea. He let us stay in Bangkok for a while on our way to South Korea, though our families have sinned a lot. He finally brought our family members to South Korea and let us become citizens of South Korea. Now our families are living well as Christians and we are praying and learning the word of God.

I write to you as a person who went on a mission trip to Thailand. I think you and I have had the same experience of crossing the river to save our lives. I prayed as we crossed the Yalu River, and I want to tell you that God listened to our prayers and took care of us when we prayed to God in faith.

I came to visit you with the American missionaries. They made a long journey to meet you and I would not have been able to meet you without them. Please, show them your thanks.

In conclusion, I want to tell you that God is leading your way and life. And please, be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.

Posted in North Korea, Visiting and Remembering, Works of Mercy | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Video – Failure to Forgive Is A Common Problem, But What’s The Solution?

Posted on August 23, 2014 by tdillmuth

Pastor Foley says that the absolute worst way to try to forgive someone is to “look deep within yourself!”  In other words, human nature makes it impossible for us to forgive others in our own strength, willpower or emotions.  The solution to our “failure to forgive” problem is a change in our focus.  We must allow the offending situation and person to become blurry and to focus in on the cross of Christ.


To listen to the full sermon and other Seoul USA Podcasts, visit the VOM Korea YouTube Channel!

Posted in Forgiving and Reconciling, Videos, Works of Mercy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

My Life’s Mission Is To Preach The Gospel To North Korea

Posted on August 20, 2014 by tdillmuth

SUSA-KoreanGod has been doing a work in our recent Underground University graduate, Mr. P.  When he joined UU last year, his main goal was to “lay low,” listen and learn, which isn’t all that bad, except for the fact that we require our UU students to be involved, go on missions and do the word!

We decided that instead of “forcing the issue” with Mr. P, we would allow the Holy Spirit to work on his heart. And over the course of the last 12 months, we were pleasantly surprised with what the Lord did and with how Mr. P responded!

We saw Mr. P grow by “leaps and bounds” in his understanding of God and His Word. When Mr. P first came to UU he confessed that even after going to church for some time he still didn’t understand Christianity too well. Over the course of the last year, it was apparent that he was putting a great deal of effort into understanding the Scriptures and following God.

We saw the Lord use Mr. P in evangelism and discipleship. Mr. P began to witness to his daughter and began to “do the word” in small ways toward her. And the result is that now his daughter and son-in-law are very passionate Christians!

We also saw Mr. P’s prayer life grow. He began to pray according to the Scriptures that he was learning in UU class. For example, Mr. P began to pray Psalm 33:12 in relation to North Korea. It says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!” He has also recently been praying Romans 5:2-4 for the NK underground believers.

Mr. P recently went on a UU mission trip with us (his first one). This was quite a “step of faith” for him as he had to take several days off of work (with no pay). He admitted that when he first joined UU, he actually thought it was impossible to spread the gospel to North Korea, but as he launched each balloon towards NK, he realized that God was using him to do what he originally thought was impossible! In addition to the mission of launching the balloons, he took it upon himself to serve the other mission team members. One of the ways that he did this was by leading the other members in prayer, worship and communion.

After returning from this mission trip, Mr. P gave this simple, yet powerful testimony. He said,

I am convinced that I can preach the gospel to North Korea even today, through this mission trip. Also, I can have a clear life goal; that is, to preach the gospel to the North. I am proud of what I have done on this mission trip and realize that there is nothing we cannot do when we cooperate. I want to grow to resemble Jesus, as well as tell other people what Jesus did.

Posted in Balloon Launching, Bible, North Korea, Proclaiming The Gospel | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment