Greetings!

I was in shock when I watched the TV news that reported America was under attacks on September 11. Terrorists hijacked airplanes and hit the World Trade Center in Manhattan and the Pentagon in Washington DC. The twin towers collapsed, and the Pentagon was damaged. Many thousands of innocent people were killed. It was a terrible tragedy in our time, a deplorable and painful occurrence. I have felt grief deeply. It is time to pray for the victims, their families, and peace.

I have been very busy. During July and August I had almost daily meetings to prepare for the centennial celebration of Silliman University from August 22 to 28 and the Church Workers Convocation from August 29 to 31. The centennial celebration of Silliman University officially began August 22. Alumni/ae from many countries visited Silliman University, so it was difficult to get plane tickets and lodging. And more than seven hundred people registered for the Church Workers Convocation. As chairperson of the registration committee, I worked under the hot sun on August 27 to register the participants.

The weather is unusual in Dumaguete. It is extremely hot. I try to stand this suffocating and steaming heat. Do you know how hot this place is? I sweat profusely and have heat allergy on the backs of my hands, arms, shoulders, chest and back. At first, it appeared on the backs of my hands and soon disappeared. I paid it no attention. But when I stayed outside the whole day during the centennial celebration of Silliman University and the Church Workers Convocation, the rash spread over my whole body.

I went to a skin clinic, but the doctor did not know what it was. She charged me a lot because I am a foreigner, and she even sold me a lotion and some soap. She told me to come back after a week, but I thought she was more interested in the fee than the treatment. Not only did she fail to cure the rash, but it got worse. It was stinging and itching and painful.

A colleague introduced me to another skin clinic, and I went there. This doctor explained to me that this rash was a tropical allergy that usually affected foreigners not used to living in the tropical weather. Living in an air conditioned area or a cool area helps, but it is difficult to stay in a cool area all day in this place. The doctor prescribed a medication and a lotion to rub on the rash. Since medicines are imported, they are very expensive here. This medicine helps me a lot, but whenever I sweat a lot, the rash recurs on my body.

During the activities of August Dr. and Mrs. Van Es, now missionaries Taiwan, visited Silliman and stayed with us for nine days. They had served Silliman Divinity School for 23 years. In fact, they had lived in the house I now live in for 23 years. Dr. Van Es told me the house was built in a different angle than its neighbors. The architect built a well-ventilated house, however, the tall trees on Silliman farm, located just in front of this house, blocked the wind. For this reason, this house is hotter and more humid than other houses.

I also met Dr. and Mrs. George Beran. I met George during the 1999 General Assembly of the PC(USA). When he was in Dumaguete, Dr. Beran made rabies vaccine available and here and in Negros island. Jan (Mrs. Beran) was a physical education teacher at Silliman.

The Rev. Insik Kim, area coordinator of east Asia and the Pacific in the Worldwide Ministries Division of the PC(USA), came for the centennial celebration of Silliman University and the Church Workers Convocation. Rev. Kim shared his time with me, encouraged me, and gave me advice. The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the PC(USA), received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Silliman University on August 31, during the Church Workers Convocation.

Among my ongoing activities are a quiz bowl and Bible quiz on September 11, speech and oratorical contests on September 13, and singing, dancing, and balak (speaking a short story with rhythm) contests on September 14. The community life team of the Divinity School is in

charge of all these activities, so I have been preparing for them. I spoke at the devotion time of a girls’ dormitory at Silliman University on September 13.

At a faculty meeting last year, I learned that the Divinity School needed a scanner. I donated mine and asked them to fix some parts—voltage from 110V to 220V. However, I do not know what has happened to it now—it has disappeared. A few months ago, I heard the Divinity School needed more computers, so I donated a 486 computer, which I believe is being used by students to write reports.

I ask your continual prayer for me and my ministry. Peace be with you!

Sincerely,

John Cho

The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 188