Day Seven

     

          This morning at breakfast I filled my coffee cup too full.  I sipped a little bit, and then slowly walked back to my table, trying not to spill the coffee.  This was brewed coffee and that was special, because most coffee here is instant – it fits with the fast pace of Seoul.  The Lord spoke to me that He had filled my cup very full with precious things and I needed to walk thru this life more slowly so as not to waste any of the precious gifts He has given me.  Slow down – a good message for me, and the people of fast-paced South Korea.  If we would just slow down and pay attention, God might just show us His glory more often and we might learn what it is He would have us to do.  But don’t walk too slowly thru life either.  I was nearly left by the bus because of delays getting down the elevator from my room! 

          After breakfast, we attended a North Korean defectors’ church.  It is one of two in Seoul where the pastor has had formal seminary training.  There are 5-6 other such churches in the suburbs.  There are about 50 members at the church we attended.  The contrast between this small church and the mega-church for the South Koreans was stark.  There was no big board showing all the many countries they were reaching.  But this small subsistence living level, storefront church was supporting 8 house churches in North Korea.  That is 8 more than my church, but that is about to change. 

          The pastor met with us prior to the service and answered questions and asked a few himself.  He indicated that their greatest need was NK translations of the Bible.  He said it was not unusal for a Christian in NK to pray for a whole Bible for 20-40 years before they received one (or died while waiting).  He related that if a NK crossed the border into China and was caught, they would serve 3-4 years in prison.  If they are a Christian we are told they are executed. 

          They sang more contemporary music “off the wall” and music was supplied by a guitar and electric piano.  Drums were in the corner, but not played in this service.  They had some of the music with English sub-titles, so we joined in the worship.  As I thought about some of the UU people we had said good-bye to the night before, I began to weep as the realization that it was likely that I would not see most of them this side of heaven and most of them would probably be martyred.  I have never met such bold believers before and they make me ashamed of how I will shy away from sharing the gospel for fear of mere rejection.

           After the service, the pastor shared with us a video about the underground church in NK.  The NKs are brainwashing at an early age to believe that South Koreans and Americans are evil.  They are told if they ever encounter us we will kill them and eat them.  The NKs worship their leader, Kim Jong Il as a god.  Christianity is the greatest threat to them because it teaches them not to worship at man, but the One True God.  The video moved me to tears several times, and I asked if I could obtain a copy to share back home.  The pastor respectfully declined, saying that they feared that somehow the NK authorities would get it and digitally remove the obscuring circles they had placed on the Chinese workers’ faces, resulting in them being killed.  There is a holocaust going on in Asia and we are oblivious to it.  This cannot be ignored – God will not allow it.  The seeds I’ve been given I must sow so the rest of the world would know.