A PC(USA) missionary letter from Korea

2007-03-28

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission co-workers

Orphans in Sariwon, North Korea, examine a peace quilt made by school children in California and sent through Lighthouse, which supplied their clothing. Photo courtesy of Sue Kinsler. SEOUL, South Korea * We want to tell you why this year is a special year in Korea. Christians here are remembering the 1907 Pyongyang Spiritual Revival that touched most parts of the peninsula and left its mark of dedication and serious discipleship on the Korean Church.

The Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK), our main partner denomination, is having special spiritual rallies for the different regions of South Korea, and all the staff at PCK headquarters, where Art works, went to experience the first one four hours away in Pohang.

Many Christian organizations and congregations will have their own special meetings because there is a longing to experience again the repentance of sins and unity for mission that came with the fire of the Spirit's work one hundred years ago. Some have mentioned that without God's special work at this time a last chance for spiritually reuniting North and South may be lost, as the older generation who remember relatives over the border is dying out.

Sue Kinsler is recruiting new support for North Korea with the slogan, "Celebrate the Pyongyang Revival by doing a five loaves and two fishes miracle of feeding one million North Korean children." She calculates that five dollars a month will provide a child with soymilk and bread and make a world of difference for these children. Also, Lighthouse has an open door and a clear path through the many obstacles to assist the disabled in North Korea.

Sue made her 41st and 42nd visits to North Korea in December and February, spending many hours working out the details in preparation for the early May 2007 opening of the Botong River Sheltered Workshop. She met with six physically challenged Pyongyang residents who will work in the shops at this center for the disabled.


Sue Kinsler with other gifted persons who will be on staff in the new sheltered workshop in Pyongyang set to open in May 2007. Photo courtesy of Sue Kinsler. Two ladies, Shin, Ok La, 27, and Lee, Yeon Kum, 32, are polio victims overjoyed at receiving their new lightweight wheelchairs sent from the Shalom Ministry to the Disabled in Los Angeles through the Lighthouse Foundation. They look forward to working in the shop tailoring women's clothing.

Kang, Nam Cheol, 41, has a wheelchair that the Lighthouse Foundation purchased in China, which is like a three-wheel bicycle. He says that although he can't use his legs, when he pumps this kind of wheelchair by hand he travels all around Pyongyang City. In the new sheltered workshop he will use his expertise of carving the name seals which Koreans use instead of signatures and hopes to teach this skill to others. The three men are hearing and speaking impaired:
Kim, Choon Hyo, Pak, Keun Mo, and Shin, Yang Jin. They will serve as barbers at the new center.

Since Art was born in Pyongyang and visited there last year, he will team up with Sue to speak for special meetings in June for the East Gate Christians Association, as we did at Sarang Community Church in Anaheim, CA, last October. We covet your prayers and concern.

Information about and letters from PC(USA) mission workers throughout the world are available at the Mission Connnections Web site (http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections).