Dear Friends in Jesus Christ:

Greetings from the Philippines!

There is continual unrest all over the world since the 9-11 attack in the United States. Bomb terror continues in Palestine; there is military and political conflict between India and Pakistan in Kashmir; a "dirty bomb" threatened people in the United States; two North Korean patrol vessels crossed the frontier in the Yellow Sea and one opened fire on a South Korean patrol boat after ignoring warnings to retreat. This happened on June 29, during the time of the World Cup.

After the frightening news that U.S. Catholic priests were involved in sexual misconduct, similar news was reported in the Philippines: "The scandals have included complaints against homosexual priests and priests who have sired children but refuse to leave the priesthood" (Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 1, 2002). Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin said these were a work of sin, which is a sham. He admitted that the Catholic Church was in pain and declared June 6 as a day of healing and renewal. However, critics said that Cardinal Sin mentioned only God’s forgiveness, mercy, and grace, but did not use his authority to rectify the wrongdoings of priests subordinate to him.

Recently, the Philippines has had a crisis in its senate. The Philippine Senate is made up of 24 senators. Until a few days ago, the senate majority (which is authorized to select the senate president) had one senator more than the minority. The president has defected to the minority, bringing the "minority" equal to the "majority," each with 12 senators. The crisis has yet to be resolved.

While senators argued, we heard the sad news that an American missionary, Martin Burnham, was killed during a confrontation between the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas and the Philippine military. Abu Sayyaf had held him as a hostage for more than a year. It is still unclear why he was killed and who killed him. Abu Sayyaf released most hostages (except one) without harm after ransom was paid. It was only after the U.S. troops came to the Philippines in February that the tension between Abu Sayyaf and the Philippine military increased.

Most Filipinos disagree with the U.S. military exercises on Philippine soil for at least three reasons: first, the U.S. troops are supposed to be only in neutral areas, not in the combat zones. Second, they see the conflict with Abu Sayyaf as an internal issue. According to the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1954, U.S. troops can only intervene if an attack on the Philippines is from an external power. (The U.S. has determined that Abu Sayyaf is connected with Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.) Third, legally, U.S. troops can be in the Philippines only for two months, but these operations have gone on for four months now. Moreover, kidnapping of foreigners for ransom is increasing in not only in the Mindanao Muslim area but also in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. For this reason, tourism is decreasing and foreign residents are anxious about their security.

During the summer (from April to May), I had a personal difficulty: my mother’s health was not good. Whenever she walked her knee bones bumped each other, causing severe knee pain for a long time. Her physician recommended an artificial joint, but she was afraid of the operation. Our family finally decided she should have both knees replaced on June 5. Now she is home and practicing walking steps. Many friends and colleagues prayed for my mother when she had the operation. I thank God and greatly appreciate their concern and prayer.

Our new semester began on June 10. Silliman Divinity School has more new students this year. I work in the History, Theology, and Ethics Department and teach two subjects—church history (junior class) and mission (senior class). I am also a faculty member of the Southeast Asia Graduate School of Theology and will continue to guide my Myanmar student’s thesis. I hope he completes his thesis before October. I am a member of two programs of the Divinity School: Church/Ecumenical/Alumni Relations, Ecumenical Learning and Faculty/Students Exchange Program, and Research and Publication Program. I am a chairperson of the Community Life Committee and co-chair of the Library and Computer System Committee. I am also a chairperson of the Registration Committee for the Church Workers Convocation (August 29 to September 1). I am an advisor for first-year students, for five students of a theological reflection group, and for two students of individual conference. As planned by the community life committee, we had an acquaintance party on June 21, a day-long retreat on June 29, and I led chapel service in the first week of July. I will be busy this semester teaching and doing various school activities.

I planned to be in the U.S. this summer and falling doing mission interpretation because my term of missionary work in the Philippines ended in June. However, my term was extended. Hopefully I will see you next year (2003) when I visit you and your church for my mission interpretation. If you would like me to speak at your church about my work here in the Philippines, please let me know.

Finally, I would like to ask your prayers for the Worldwide Ministries Division of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). WMD has had a serious financial difficulty since the 9-11 attack. It reduced its personnel and restructured mission areas. Without financial support, it is difficult to support its missionaries in the world. With your financial help, it will be better in the near future.

I would like to ask your continual prayer for me and my missionary work in the Philippines.

May peace be with you!

John Cho

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 189