{"id":43135,"date":"2022-07-12T14:00:47","date_gmt":"2022-07-12T05:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=43135"},"modified":"2022-07-23T13:42:17","modified_gmt":"2022-07-23T04:42:17","slug":"vomk-report-212","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2022\/07\/12\/vomk-report-212\/","title":{"rendered":"NORTH KOREANS WORKING ABROAD GIVE THANKS FOR \u201cSCARY BOOK\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”43132″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea, an NGO which serves persecuted Christians worldwide, released letters it received this week from North Koreans working abroad who received audio Bibles through the NGO\u2019s distribution efforts.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cThe <\/span>workers <\/span>wrote that they previously <\/span>regarded the Bible as <\/span>\u2018the most terrifying thing\u2019, a \u2018scary book\u2019, <\/span>and even an \u2018evil thing\u2019,\u201d says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley. \u201cBut <\/span>having listened to <\/span>it<\/span> for themselves<\/span>, they\u2019re now expressing heartfelt thanks and crediting it with freeing them from \u2018mental slavery\u2019 and \u2018foolishness\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that <\/span>Voice of the Martyrs Korea supplies audio and printed North Korean dialect Bibles to North Koreans inside North Korea, as well as to North Korean laborers working abroad and North Korean sex trafficked women in China.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cThe North Korean government\u2019s <\/span>COVID <\/span>lockdown has prevented many North Korean workers from returning home,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>But the longer stays have given North Korean workers more time to access materials not available to them at home.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative <\/span>Foley quoted from the letter of one North Korean worker who wrote, \u201c<\/span>If I were in Chosun, I would not see it because the Bible of Christianity is the most terrifying thing. In [Location removed], I am seeing, and hearing things more than I was in NK. So, I am open to this scary book.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, t<\/span>he Bibles are individually distributed directly to recipients, often as part of small care packages containing other items like masks, medicines, and hygiene items. <\/span>She says that t<\/span>he distribution is done by underground Christians from North Korea and the other countries where Voice of the Martyrs Korea reaches North Korean citizens.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says distributing the audio Bibles to workers is dangerous work. \u201cOne worker wrote: \u2018<\/span>When I first received this thing called the Bible through (audio player)<\/span><\/span>, I was very terrified and suffered. I thought I finally was caught with evil things. I even thought to report this person who delivered it to me to the authorities.<\/span>\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]But Representative Foley says that <\/span>North Korean workers almost always respond with thankfulness after listening to the audio Bible. \u201cOne worker wrote to us, \u2018<\/span>If I do not know who God is in my life, I might miserably end up my life as a mental slave.<\/span>\u2019 Another wrote, \u2018<\/span>In <\/span>[a city in North Korea], <\/span>I visited a fortune teller to ask for my future. And I prayed to a ghost if I had wishes. As receiving the Bible for the first time, many people in Chosun are foolish and so am I. Now, I am truly praying. I truly believe that my fate and future are held by God<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that the letters were written in May and June and received by Voice of the Martyrs Korea this week. <\/span>The letters are shown here, with slight alterations in appearance to ensure the safety of the writers.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”43129″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_single_image image=”43120″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

In this factory, we have <\/span><\/span>[number removed]<\/span><\/span> women. Therefore, we have lots of fights and many of us are patients. And we are locked up to work. We sleep and then we work again. It seems like we become slaves. If we did not read and hear the Words of God every day through [<\/span>audio Bibles]<\/span> <\/span><\/span>that we had received from <\/span><\/span>[name removed<\/span><\/span>]<\/span>, we may end up dying of disease or become mentally ill. We are in pain, but we are not really in pain because God is with us. God knows my pain and sufferings and we now have faith that God is with those who are in sorrow. For now, it is not <\/span>pain<\/span> every day but with prayer, through faith, I was reborn. Thank you. \u2013 Anonymously from Chosun<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”43126″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Greetings. When I first received this thing called the Bible through [<\/span><\/span>audio player]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, I was very terrified and suffered. I thought I finally was caught with evil things. I even thought to report this person who delivered it to me to the authorities. But now, I am very ashamed as reflecting the fact that I had foolish thoughts before. If I do not know who God is in my life, I might miserably end up my life as a mental slave. I am not worried about it anymore. If I would die here, am I not going to the place called heaven because of the faith? I only have this mind that I want my beloved families and friends go to heaven, not hell, so that I need to share it with my people around me. I am giving thanks to God for letting me become who I am now. From <\/span><\/span>[City removed]<\/span><\/span>, Chosun.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”43117″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

If I were in Chosun, I would not see it because the Bible of Christianity is the most terrifying thing. In <\/span>[<\/span><\/span>Location removed<\/span><\/span>]<\/span>, I am seeing, and hearing things more than I was in NK. So, I am open to this scary book. Especially, the part of love in the book of 1 Corinthians, it is full of grace. My friend is more serious than I am. My friend rejected this in the first place, but now falling into it deeper than I am. I am so happy that I came to know God. From Chosun.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”43123″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Hello, nice to meet you. I do not know what to write. In <\/span>[<\/span><\/span>Location removed<\/span><\/span>]<\/span>, I visited a fortune teller to ask for my future. And I prayed to a ghost if I had wishes. As receiving the Bible for the first time, many people in Chosun are foolish and so am I. Now, I am truly praying. I truly believe that my fate and future are held by God. 2022.5.20 From [<\/span><\/span>Location removed<\/span><\/span>]\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, the long daily work hours and tight security of North Korean worker groups requires Voice of the Martyrs Korea to rely only on the power of God\u2019s word rather than the possibility of building personal relationships with the recipients. She says it is the strategy missionaries used in the earliest days of the Korean church, beginning with pioneering missionary John Ross.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cMissionary Ross believed that people met Jesus directly through reading or hearing a vernacular language Bible rather than through building a relationship with a missionary,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cThe North Korean workers who are receiving these audio Bibles are being discipled only by the Holy Spirit guiding their Bible reading and listening. I think Missionary Ross would be delighted by that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”43111″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”File photo of an MP3 loaded with Bible content.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_single_image image=”43114″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”File photo of an NK with a Bible MP3 player.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that for the safety of its workers and the Bible recipients, Voice of the Martyrs Korea no longer releases the specific quantity of Bibles distributed each year, or the media or methods by which they are distributed. \u201c<\/span>Generally<\/span> we distribute 40,000 to 50,000 North Korean dialect Bibles a year in print and electronic formats to North Korean citizens outside of South Korea,\u201d she says. She notes that the Bible is also read daily on Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s five shortwave and AM radio broadcasts.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Individuals or churches interested in supporting Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s North Korea ministry can make a donation at <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donation<\/span><\/span><\/a> or <\/span>via electronic transfer to<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n