Have you ever asked yourself this question about someone? What was he/she thinking? I sometimes ask myself this question in regards to God. What is He thinking? When we were in Ochang, I asked some of the church people what they thought about the North Koreans. They looked at me like I was from outer space and it wasn't because they didn't understand the question. Each and every person said they never thought about it. They didn't think about people of their own nationality, that speak their own language, that love the same God that were starving and being tortured for their faith. The young people even went so far as to tell me that they were against unification because it would be difficult financially for South Koreans. I knew more Americans praying for North Korea than South Koreans. I found that really sad.
Fast forward to our new home and new church. Our pastor is a Canadian Korean that has a heart for North Korea. The church has been volunteer teaching English to male North Korean refugees through the government facility for right at two years. They go every Tuesday evening. One month ago, I went with them for the first time. My heart went out to these men. They were so eager to learn. There are many different levels of ability, but they all want to learn more. A week and a half ago, seven people from our church (myself included) went to the women's and children's facility to teach English there. Almost 80% of the refugees coming into South Korea are women. These people face many hardships leaving their country. They also face severe penalties if caught. Yet they do it to have the freedoms that we enjoy here in South Korea, much like there in the States. Two weeks ago, our church had a guest speaker who had been a missionary to Korea for many years through Youth with a Mission (YWAM). He spoke about the North Korean church and plight of the people. He believes there will be a large mission force raised up from North Korea that will go into the most hostile environments to the Gospel because they are already equipped to handle the situation better than any westerners. They already know what it is to have nothing, to have little or no food, to face persecution, and even risk death for the Gospel. I don't know what God is doing, but I know that He has put a burden in my family's heart for the North Korean people. Who knows, maybe this is just a training ground for God to prepare us to go to North Korea someday. After the missionary preached about North Korea and all of the suffering there, Pamela and I were both feeling like God might be moving us there later. As we were walking home that day, Caitlyn said, "Mom, I think God wants me to go to North Korea. I am going to study Korean very hard so I can speak it fluently and take the Gospel into North Korea."
So, what is God thinking? I can't say for sure, but I know He is thinking about North Korea. Psalms repeatedly talks about hearing our cry and rescuing us. I know that the North Koreans need His saving hand. When you have a leader who has made himself into a God and the people have to pray to him, God is watching. One day, judgment will fall on the leader and then what will God do through these people? The spiritual heritage South Koreans have is directly related to North Korean Christians. There was a huge revival in the capital city before the communist came into power and many of the people came south when they did come. I know that God's heart breaks for these people and He wants them to surrender to him. Will you join me in praying for North Korea? Visit www.persecution.com to read about Christians in North Korea and to get some fact sheets. Every Tuesday, my family is eating rice and water to remember the North Koreans who don't have even that. That is the same day that I go teach at the refugee center. Maybe you would be willing to join us in that also. We plan on donating the money we would normally spend on meat and vegetables to see ministry done in North Korea. I don't know what God is thinking, but I know He has burdened my heart.
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