Sending Joy back to North Korea

Leaving the apartment building with a cell phone for a flash light

It was past midnight. I felt the adrenaline rush as we quickly and quietly jumped out of our van. With just the light of a cell phone guiding our way, we hurried up the concrete apartment building stairs and into a dimly lit safe house where two North Koreans---a man and a woman---were staying due to the hospitality of a Christian Chinese couple. 

As I sat down on the small bedroom floor, I sensed the Lord's presence with us. This was going to be a meeting I would never forget. 

The two North Koreans whom we were meeting were outside of their country legally on temporary business visas, but it was still forbidden for them to have any contact with Westerners (North Korea's enemies). As we started to listen to the story of the North Korean man, I noticed the North Korean woman quickly get up from sitting in between the Americans and move next to her Chinese friend. She later told us that we were the first Americans she had ever come in contact with. North Korea teaches all of its citizens that Americans  eat their own babies. Right before she  had come to China, she saw a film where Americans were doing horrible things. To put it plainly, she was afraid of us. She would not reveal her name to us, but she did share her story. I'll refer to her as Joy.

Joy arrived at the safe house full of bitterness. Mostly she was bitter towards her mother-in-law, who was in a vegetable state and who lived with her and her husband. Joy hated taking care of her. In her heart, she secretly hoped her mother-in-law would die while she'd be in China. 

Joy had chosen to stay at the apartment we were visiting because her friends and family in North Korea told her to find a safe house run by Christians, even though it would be an illegal residence for her. They told her that Christians would let her live at their safe house for free, and would give her free supplies to bring back to North Korea.

Once she arrived, Joy resented having to join Bible devotions every day. She even thought about reporting the couple who ran the safe house over to the authorities, but because she was a free renter, she decided to just do as they said. 

Even though the safe house "mother" became very sick, she never stopped  making meals or caring for the North Koreans staying at her home. Joy was amazed with her  servant-like attitude. Everyone in North Korea, she said, only looks out for themselves. 

Joy also started to notice how the owners were always praying for other people and rarely for themselves.  Joy couldn't imagine praying for anyone other than herself! The Lord started to soften her heart and convict her of her selfishness. 

One night, Joy was very grieved over her own selfishness and was also very distraught over the safe house "mother's" health condition. Before she knew what she was doing, she started praying for her. She was shocked that she suddenly had compassion enough to pray for someone other than herself!

The next morning, she told the owner's wife she had prayed for her. From then on, Joy became a different person. Her attitude started to change. She had compassion and a hunger to read the Bible. She prayed often with the others. Finally she repented of her sins and turned to Jesus. 

During this part of the story, Joy's eyes began to water. As she wiped the tears away she said, "Now I want to go home and take care of my mother-in-law. I also want to share the good news of the gospel with my family and friends." 

Joy would be returning to North Korea a few days after our visit. Even though she knew the possible consequences for sharing the gospel (death or imprisonment), she knew the power of Jesus Christ and wanted to share it with those around her. 

I'm so blessed to work for Heaven's Family and direct the North Korean Christians Fund. Stories like Joy's make my many hours in the office completely worth it. We are able to shine light into North Korea, one soul at a time.