A letter from Simon Park in Korea
July 2011
You thought we vanished from the face of the earth, didn’t you? We started to write several times, failing to complete the letter each time for several reasons.
We can’t wait any longer to share some of the personal news as well as happenings on our mission front.
At dawn of May 9 healthy Henry Augustus Johan Bohler-Park came into this world, our very first grandson, in Boston. Haejung was able to make a short visit in June and held him in her arms. Johan looks just like John and Simon; we challenge you to pick out Henry from the following three photos of three generations.
Picture of Henry at two months.
While Johan’s arrival is the big happening for Haejung and me, other parts of our life in mission continued. I have been working hard on important but mundane task of preparing our mission offices in Japan and Korea for the new era of mission. In essence, our mission is not to run our ministries for others in foreign countries, but to assist our partners in mission. Our resource and personnel deployment must also fit this pattern. My role is to get the resources and system ready for others to enter into the new phase.
Our Young Adult Volunteers are finishing their year of service at the end of July and returning home. It will be a while before they can fully process the impact they had on others as well as the impact of the past 11 months in their own lives. I cannot begin to share their stories, but invite you to hear from Jenny, Becky and Katie directly.
They all had very challenging times, but their commitment, faith in God and love for the children and the help of their work supervisors enabled each of them to build true relationship with others. We have learned a lot through unexpected joys, sorrows and mistakes. Through the year we learned again the wisdom from Africa, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” May we always go together with God and God’s children! They pass their torches to the 2011 class of YAVs, who will be arriving at the end of August. Soon you will be hearing from them as well.
I have been traveling a lot this year as well, and it will probably continue until we retire next year. But not all travels are the same. I traveled to Pyongyang in early July for a site and program assessment visit to the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST). This was the first visit to the country where both of my parents were born before the country was divided in 1945.
YAVs starting their services in August 2011.
PUST is the first private school funded with gifts from overseas supporters, educating the very best of the country in science, technology and management. I was impressed with the vision, dedication and the quality of the students, faculty and the administration. There is no question that the university operates within the tight domain allowed by the government authorities, but genuine care and education happens. Currently there are 500 graduate and undergraduate students learning English and technical subjects throughout the calendar year. Qualified teachers in electrical engineering, computer science, management and English are urgently needed. All instructors and staff serve as volunteers without financial compensation. I pray that these interactions with the future leaders of the country continue to grow. I hope to be able to share more stories in the future letters. The photos below are of the group arriving at the Pyongyang airport, and the special lecture I delivered under special permission.
So went our few months; a lot happened but not a lot to write about. For that we are grateful.
Simon & Dae-Jung
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 145
Blog: A new journey in the field
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