December 2002

Dear Friends around the world,

And he shall be called Prince of Peace. And of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.
Isaiah 9:6b-7

(It's Sue's turn to write.) Each day's news gives us increasing discouragement and fear of war and terror and so many lives are victims of these evil actions we read about. We need peace! It seems that our voices as individuals are so small and weak, but at a time like this we need to stand on God's promise and do what we have to do. I just returned from a trip to North Korea where we visited two noodle factories and an orphanage in Sariwon. With funds given by concerned friends and churches we had sent tons of grain, milk, medicine and clothes, including winter underwear for children. The pictures we took showed that the aid arrived.

I took many of the aprons and sleepwear made at our Koinonia sheltered workshop in Seoul and gave them as gifts at the noodle factories and orphanage. This was sharing our love in Christ and was a practical step we added to our prayers for reunification.

Even though this year's harvest was a little better than in the past several years, still North Korea needs to receive 25 percent of its minimum food needs from outside giving and for a number of reasons this has been severely cut back.

On Sunday, November 17, I attended worship at Pyongyang's Bongsoo Church where they were celebrating Thanksgiving. The singing, prayers and Biblical message added up to a heartwarming worship service, even without Thanksgiving decorations.

Our Koinonia sheltered workshop in Bondong, Seoul, now is divided into two sections. In the small workshop factory for making clothes 25 persons who are physically challenged or low income housewives work together making women's wear. In the other section 22 mentally challenged persons make many kinds of greeting cards that now provide some income. The meals for seniors program serves over 80 elderly people three times a week and has added home visits and hair cut service as well.

My idea is that a similar kind of community service will be needed and possible when North Korea opens someday in the future when we pray and listen to Jesus' words. I appreciate so much the friends and churches who gave gifts to help with my work in Seoul and to the North.

In regard to family news, our daughter Elaine in Upland, California, has a Vagus Nerve Stimulator implanted to help control her seizures. We plan to visit her in the group home at the end of December. Praise God for all the things that he has done for us.

Note from Art: Since I manage the finances and administration for Sue and the Korea Mission I would like to report that since January, gifts for Sue's work through ECO # 864160 and other channels totaled $26,825 while disbursement for work in North Korea and China amounted to
$28,847 and $2,210 was used toward Koinonia sheltered workshop expenses.

Yours in Christ at Christmas,

Art and Sue Kinsler

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 174