A letter from Don and Sook Nim Choi serving in Indonesia
November 2014 - Introducing Ourselves
Hi, my name is Sook Nim Choi [SNC].
And I am Don Choi [DC].
[SNC] Previously I used to be a soccer mom, a local artist in the San Francisco Bay area. Now I teach art and English at Duta Wachana Christian University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
[DC] And I used to be a Silicon Valley engineer and now advise policy for international cooperation, train Christian leaders, and assist East-West dialogue in the same university. Indonesia’s population is the fourth largest in the world. Our global partner, the Communion of Churches of Indonesia (PGI), is the largest organization of Christian churches in Indonesia. National issues are addressed through our partnership and we participate in interfaith dialogue and promote the development of leaders for the churches of Indonesia.
[SNC] We are excited with this opportunity to serve Christ with the people of Yogyakarta. We hope our ministry expresses God’s love to build healthy relationships, understanding and learning from each other’s art, science and religion. We continue to share our blessings to facilitate growth of young Indonesians and to cease their cycle of poverty.
[DC] Indonesia is our fourth country of residence. We both were born in Korea and raised in Brazil and spent most of our adult lives in the U.S. Let us share where God is in the picture of our lives.
[SNC] My brothers and I were the first ones to meet Jesus in my family. At age 13 I heard a small voice asking, ‘Would you become a missionary if I ask?’ My answer was, ‘God! I just came to Brazil, leaving all my dear friends in Korea. Do I really have to go?’ But I felt that God insisted. Out of love for Jesus, I then vowed to God that I would become a missionary one day.
[DC] And I am a fourth generation Christian—my great-grandfather was among the first converts in North Korea in the early 1900s. I inherited from my people a zest for life. “Live intensely!”—that’s my mantra. I studied hard, worked even harder, and have enjoyed it all. But my conversion from crib-Christian to this call was not a straight line. I didn’t start out with a vision for mission. I first chose to be an engineer. I love solving problems using my skills in science and math. Over 20 years I invented printers, lasers and a number of other gadgets that geeks would describe as ‘neat,’ ‘cool’ or ‘sleek.’ Looking back, it’s been a privileged life—blessed by God. I’m deeply grateful.
But God’s blessing didn’t stop there. God also turned my heart to working with people. You know, nowadays engineering is competitive and requires teamwork. I like teamwork—how people with different skills and expertise come together to create something that just could not be had otherwise. I love it when ideas jump around and creative sparks fly when we brainstorm. Hardly anything is more satisfying than celebrating a joint production with your team. Or, in church language: the sense of belonging and unity of purpose that comes from community worship life. It’s the closest I get to the “God saw that it was good” feeling.
The key thing is: over time, my focus shifted from science to people. People became the primary focus. I think people reflect God more directly. The feedback you get from people is more immediate, more intense. Remember my mantra: “Live intensely”? This call for me is about working with people. It’s about teamwork. It’s about living intensely, or, in New Testament vocabulary, living abundantly—together. That’s why I jumped from engineering to mission.
[SNC] Don has been dreaming of mission service for a decade. But the more he got closer to his dream; the idea annoyed me. Why me? Why now? Why has God not spoken anything about this to me?
But one day in 2013 I had a vivid, HD 3D film-like ‘flashback’ moment. I was the 13-year-old girl again, a just born-again Christian with endearing love for God but with little knowledge about Christianity. That evening my youth group went to a mountain to pray overnight. I was praying and all of sudden I heard a small voice asking if I would go to a mission work when I grow up. I said, “God, I just came to Brazil, leaving all my dear friends in Korea. Can I not go?” But his voice came to me even clearer and louder for a second and a third time. I felt that he was really insisting that I knew that it was a very important matter to him. So finally I said, “I will go.” But at that time I didn’t know clearly what “mission” meant and I wished God would forget about the incident, and I actually forgot—but He didn't.
Since that flashback I have started to examine myself—if I am able to execute the precious role of teaching young Indonesians. Little by little, I grew to like the idea. Also the idea of exercising the talents that God has given to me made me feel like I am closer to my true self and to Him.
I still am not sure if I am 100 percent ready. But I am excited to meet, to learn, and to grow with people in Indonesia.
We appreciate so much your interest in what is happening in Indonesia. We invite you to walk alongside us to accomplish God’s mission in Yogyakarta. Please pray for a credible and peaceful completion of the democratic election process in Indonesia and for the eradication of the trafficking of women and children in the region.
[DC] Our ministry is made possible through your prayer, correspondence, financial gifts and advocacy. Stay engaged with us through our Mission Connection letters. You are encouraged to write or email to us.
In Bahasa Indonesia, we say, ‘Terima kasih!’ (Thank you!)
Don and Sook Nim Choi
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, Indonesia, pp. 227, 228
The 2015 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 239
Read more about Don and Sook Nim Choi's ministry
Write to Don Choi
Write to Sook Nim Choi
Individuals: Give online to E200523 for Don and Sook Nim Choi's sending and support
Congregations: Give to D507583 for Sook Nim Choi's sending and support
Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery).
Double Your Impact!
A group of committed donors has pledged to match all gifts sent by individuals for mission personnel support now through December 31, 2014, up to $137,480. This means your gift today will be matched by a gift to support mission personnel around the world, wherever the need is greatest. We invite you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to double the impact of your gift. Thank you!
