During last summer I did my interpretation
assignment. I began by attending the missionary sharing conference
in early August in Louisville, Kentucky. It was the second time
I have been to a sharing conference, and was pleased to meet many
other PC(USA) missionaries who serve in different countries. We
shared our experiences, which nourished my ministry.
After sharing conference, I began two months of visiting churches
to share news of my ministry with them. The seven churches I visited
received me with a warm welcome. They were interested in the situation
of women ministers in Korea and were also concerned about the
victims of domestic violence.
During the last few decades, Korea has become industrialized
and has needed more factory workers. During the same period, Korean
families have become smaller and more Westernized. Since the current
birth rate in Korea is very low (1.21 children per family), Korea
must bring people from other countries to work in the factories.
Some foreign workers have married Korean women and settled in
Korea. Now that Korea is receiving immigrants it must deal with
new social and family problems. I deal not only with Korean victims
of domestic violence, but also family problems among immigrants.
I found the churches I visited in the United States were concerned
and wanted to help.
Beside church visits, I also met with a Korean Presbyterian Women
gathering on Long Island and shared with the clergywomen’s
club of Palisades Presbytery in New Jersey. I am grateful to God
to have had such meaningful experiences visiting churches and
other groups and appreciate all the support for me and my ministry.
I came back to Korea in early October and attended the General
Assembly of Pyung Yang Presbytery. There I shared my experience
doing mission interpretation in the United States.
I am happy to report that I was attended the centennial ceremony
of Kwang Ju Christian Hospital with General Assembly Council staff
from Louisville and fellow PC(USA) missionaries.
Kang Ju is one of the biggest cities in southwest South Korea.
A century ago there was only one Christian church in the area,
but now we have more than thousand churches from different denominations
there.
On December 4, I again participated in a baptismal service for
newly recruited soldiers of the Korean Army. The Baptism of 2800
soldiers was held at Non San Army Church. It took 30 ministers,
including five women ministers and two army chaplains, to baptize
them all. The Army’s training camp is located at Non San,
and every year about 150,000 newly recruited soldiers are trained
there.
I was told that of the 150,000 soldiers, about 20 percent of
them are faithful Christians, 60 percent have been to church,
and the rest are non-Christian. The mass Baptism is now an annual
event of NKPW, and this year was the third time I’ve participated.
I have been blessed by many things this year. My husband K.J.
retired from his job as a chemist in the United States and has
joined me here in Korea. I’m happy we can be together again
and grateful for his support for my mission work. Our three sons’
families have also changed.
Sam Bae (our first son) and Jade are expecting their fourth child,
a baby boy, around Christmas time. David (second son) and Janine
are busy with their son Gus, who just started nursery school this
fall. Our youngest son Joe and Janice had their second son Daniel
on March 6. Joe was promoted and in October moved to Hong Kong
from New York, N.Y. We pray that he and his family do well in
their new environment.
Thank you again for all your prayers and support.
Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
Sook Hee Bae
Mission Co-worker in Korea
The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
249 |
