The Chosen Generation. The Royal Priest Hood. A Holy Nation. God’s own picked people.
They show forth the praises of Him. For He has called them out of darkness into His marvelous Light.1 Peter 2:9
This verse is written for all believers. The way it is written describes Korea. It is as if it was written for Korea. Korea was made to paint a picture of what this scripture means. As if it were an allegory of this scripture verse.
Korea means Chosen. The Christian revival that took place in the early 1900’s right up to the end of WWII and beyond, is miraculous. The results of this revival are, that now, South Korea sends out more missionaries than any other nation on earth other than the USA. In contrast, North Korea is the most oppressive country on earth towards Christians. At present 30,000 believers are imprisoned, however, the Lord is calling them out of darkness into His marvelous Light.
The Light shines brightest in darkest places.. The Light is shining most bright in North Korea.
South Korean Christians struggle with the same demons as the USA Christians, complacency and secularism. However, the churches in South Korea are full, and every Wednesday, every Christain church prays at 10 am no matter what the denomination.
Yet, the DMZ sadley separates this “Chosen” divided country. What can be said about this division ? What can be done to remove this division? Taking a closer look , this country is more unified than we “know “ if we pull away the physical curtain and see the spiritual picture. We could see a unified people who are seated together In Christ. A Chosen Generation. A Holy Nation . Sending out ambassadors all over the world, inviting the world out of darkness as the “Chosen” shine so brightly in darkness. Inviting everyone into the Kingdom of His dear Son of His Love. One Korea, a picture of the “Chosen” generation.
They did an excellent write up on Author Sally Jo Messersmith’s passion for North Korea, and her continued efforts and writings that help to bring awareness about the crimes against humanity that continue to occur in North Korea.
You can help to support the work of HANA – One Free Korea by spreading our message of love and hope as a way to fight against crimes against humanity in communist countries.
Also, please consider purchasing a copy of our book HANA Crosses The Freedom Bridge to share with younger generations of children, dreamers, and lovers of freedom!
Photo Credit: National Review: https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2019/07/08/the-incredible-guts-of-thae-yong-ho/
”I want to tell them there is a new way to the Future”
Thae Yong Ho { Ku Min }: “save people”
Congratulations! To South Korea and a new way to the future.
South Korea has elected the first North Korean defector to the South Korean Parliament, Thae Yong Ho { Ku Min : meaning “save People”}
He was a former North Korean diplomat in London’s embassy representing North Korea .
He escaped from North Korea’s control to South Korea with his family in 2016 . He left so his children would not have to live miserable lives.
Thae Yong Ho was elected by the residents of the Gangnam district { remember the hit song Gangnam style back in 2012}
He was elected only a week ago.
“ I thank you { Gangnam residents for selecting me to become the first{ defector} of North Korea to win a constituency. I’ll only uphold your order and work hard,” Thae Yong Ho stated.
He belongs to the United Future Party. They take a hard line on North Korea’s nuclear pursuit and they don’t ignore the human rights abuses in North Korea . He is known in North Koreas as human scum.
North Korean refugees are the only refugees in the world that are automatically made citizens when they arrive in South Korea. They are given a chance to learn how to function in South Korea’s fast paced and competitive lifestyle by training given at Hanawon Settlement Support Center.
However, North Koreans find themselves in an uphill battle to be accepted by South Koreans in everyday community life. They are often not seen as South Koreans but as “ North Koreans”. Refugees feel as if they are always trying to ”catch up” while dealing with the guilt of leaving their families behind in a torturous country.
Thao Yong Ho’s election is a victory for all Koreans and another step towards accepting each other and being known by your “Character“ and not by your location of origin. His perspective gives him the passion for freedom that comes only from knowing what it is like to live without it. He has an understanding of the true nature of North Korea and therefore has a better pathway to a unification policy that does not compromise the human rights of North Koreans.
Unlike President Moon Jae, who seeks reconciliation with Pyongyang over human rights concerns.
The Election of Thao Hong Ho is the wedge that dislodges the closed door that separates North and South Koreans hearts. His election catapults all Koreans towards becoming ONE Korea. HANA.
CONGRATULATIONS South Korea! You have taken an enormous step for all Koreans to no longer be known by your location of origin, but by their heart and soul.
The Dream for HANA took flight this Summer, and we can’t wait to see how she SOARS!
What a wonderful and busy summer it has been! We were able to make so many wonderful connections both locally and with DREAMERS around the world!
The summer of 2019 for , Hana Crosses The Freedom Bridge, was rewarding and successful!
It was made available at 12 book signings in 9 different towns in Michigan, 1 book fair, and 3 sidewalk sales!
We even had some missionary friends who presented our book and our “Use YOUR DREAMS to Change the World” presentation at children’s camps in both the Ukraine and Israel!
“I love your HANA book because it doesn’t hide the truth, in a world of fairy tales” – A Father of young HANA Dreamers
Hundreds of children were invited to pray for the reunification of Korea. They did this by decorating ribbons with Korean words expressing DREAMS of PEACE, JOY, FREEDOM, LOVE and HANA!
They tied the ribbons on a small fence representing the fence that separates Korea at the DMZ where many individuals have tied ribbons expressing their dreams for reunification.
“I want to turn your book into a MOVIE when I grow up! Can I? I want to help Korea become ONE too!!” – A young HANA Dreamer!
We were so happy to be able to connect with so many people who are from South Korea, or who have defected from North Korea, who are also passionate about changing the hearts and minds of the North Korean people with LOVE until God makes them ONE, HANA.
So far, we have been able to donate over $1,000 for the proceeds of our book “HANA Crosses The Freedom Bridge”, to Jungdaehyun school in Busan, South Korea. This boarding school is dedicated to educating and developing life skills of North Korean students, while encouraging and cultivating a relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Thank you for your support as, Hana Crosses the Freedom Bridge, is made available at schools and church presentations, and more book signings this coming school year! And thank you for Praying and believing for HANA – One Free Korea!
“…….and they had golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of God’s people. {the saints}”
Revelations 5:8b
“But, God is in His heaven and while all does not seem right with the world at the present time it will soon be all straightened out. For He has promised it to His children and I certainly believe His Word to be true.”
Zola Payne August 14, 1935
Zola Payne, Methodist Missionary nurse for 20 years ministered in Union Christian Hospital Pyeng Yang, Korea, which is now North Korea.
She prayed this prayer before North Korea made the disastrous decision to become communist under Kim Il Sung’s cult like regime.
Before she prayed this prayer she gave this insightful warning, “ We are surely living in peculiar times and certainly all this must be leading up to a climax. This depression cannot last. What I am afraid of is that the communists will get a hold of our {Korean} government. People think Russia is a paradise, but I live too close (to the idea) to have any illusions about what Bolshevism and Communism are.”
We are living in peculiar times right now. Children living out their lives in prison camps is beyond disturbing. How can this continue to go on. There are other disturbing human rights violation that are taking place in North Korea that are ignored by our world leaders. But why do they turn away from children? The very people who would ensure their future?
It is most perplexing. It is peculiar. Like a snake eating its own tail, seemingly helpless in the face of this grandiose tragedy.
Another prayer, prayed long ago from a Korean Author, waiting to come to life:“ Now I pray with all my heart for the surviving young people in Korea. That they may be Equipped with faith and have good education to meet their unpredictable futures. And I pray also for the insight to show me how to help them. I may help them.” Taiwan Koh , 1959, author of Divided Family.
What happens to prayers that were prayed 50 years ago? Almost 100 years ago? Are they lost in a sea of words never to be remembered again? Certainly not.
The Lord does not turn a blind eye to the children who are in prison. It grieves Him.
The prayers of the saints are like golden bowls of incense that raise up before Him. They are the prayers of the saints. When we pray we are joining hands with our Lord Jesus who is always interceding and INTERVENING for us.
Hebrews 7:25
There is no way for us to know all His ways, or which individuals He is using to activate a change in the world that can not be stopped by any man or government.
And even though all does not seem right, God is in His heaven, and knows the beginning and ending of every story, weaving his way through every situation so when we look back we can see God’s hand at work even in our darkest times.
He chooses to use our hands to carry out his promises, so… “ Put your hands in the hand of the man who calm the sea ……” Whatever He puts in your hand to do, DO IT. Your dreams, and God working through your hands may be the answer to a prayer dreamed a 100 years ago.
“ Thousands upon thousands of dreams, spoken and unspoken, are buried in this hardened soil. These dreams are spoken in prayers, released, buried and then dreamed again.”
Why it’s okay for children to learn about difficult subjects.
In the journey of our book, we have ran into many different people and opinions. Some have even felt that our book “HANA Crosses the Freedom Bridge” should not be shared with children, because of its portrayal of some hard truths that take place in North Korea.
We believe that it is the right and responsibility of every parent to determine what subject matter their child can and can not handle.
Though it is important not to put the entire weight of the world on your child’s shoulders, we do believe that children are capable of learning to carry smaller weights, as long as it is lifted with the the wings of hope.
“What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship so is prayer to the soul”
Corrie Ten Boone , Author of the “Hiding Place”
Corrie Ten Boone {1892-1983} was an inspiring activist and women of faith, whose courageous acts during WWII, continue to inspire human rights activist today.
She lived in Haarlem, Netherlands with her family during the Nazi occupation. Her family had a strong faith in Jesus and a deep respect for their Jewish community. This caused her family to help Jews escape from the Nazi Holocaust during World War II. They were betrayed by a neighbor and her whole family was imprisoned in a concentration camp. She alone survived. She wrote an inspiring account of her experience in her book, “The Hiding Place.”
In her book, Corrie Ten Boone recalls a conversation she had with her Father when she was a child. She asked her father a question that he considered an adult question, to big of a question for a child to know the answer to. He answered her question with a word picture:
“I was sitting in a train car with my Father and asked him a question about sex. He turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case off the floor and set it on the floor. Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?” he said. I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning. It’s too heavy,” I said. “Yes,” he said, “and it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It’s the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger, you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you.”
I would like to believe he handed her a smaller carry on bag that she could carry.
When I first heard about the “Holocaust” I must have been about 12 years old. When I learned about slavery, the Civil War, and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, I was in 2nd grade.
Our history books showed drawn pictures of John Wilkes Booth with a gun pointed at President Abraham Lincoln’s head. I am sure I was shown pictures of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross much younger. These are subjects that contain highly sensitive material.
They were presented to me as if they were placed in a “small book bag” that I could carry.
I appreciate being able to learn about valuable sacrifices as a child, as they created within me a passion to do what was right for others, which may require a certain amount of sacrifice on my part.
This is true of “HANA Crosses The Freedom Bridge”. We don’t want our young readers carrying a “ suitcase” full of the weight of the world, much to heavy for a child to carry. But we do hand them a smaller “book bag’’ that is easier to carry, and still teaches them about the hardships that others in the world face, while still empowering them to do something about it.
When we ask a child to handle sensitive subject matter, we place within this smaller bookbag the truth; but also hope, a bright future, and an impossible dream that could change the world, if grown in the hearts of children.
Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) : (American author, painter, and illustrator} illustrated this brave little African American girl carrying her books in hand, her head held high ,and dressed in a crisp white dress walking to school. She is surrounded by four US Marshall agents. Right behind her is red tomatoes smashed on the white wall, barely missing her.They are escorting her to school. This is an incredible illustration depicting a highly sensitive subject.
Though this image had a great impact on me as a child, it was a small burden of the civil rights movement that I was able to tuck away and carry in my child sized emotional book bag. She on the other hand walked into an all white school and changed the course of our nation. A child. A true story that she actually lived. She didn’t read about it. She lived it as a small child.
Please, take this imagery into consideration when reading or informing your child of a sensitive subject matter or image concerning the children in North Korea, such as some of the pictures depicted in our book.
The children in North Korea are not shown the images of their life as if it were a horror scene from another generation. They are living out their lives in a highly oppressive country, and a large number of of them are living in prison camps. They are born, live and die, with ongoing pictures of heart break playing in their mind as they try to survive in the most notorious country for human rights violations in the world. The North Korean Children are born carrying a heavy suitcase.
This is not a bedtime story for them. “Hana Crosses The Freedom Bridge“ is not a bedtime story. But we do believe that it is a light enough story that, with guidance, can be carried in your childs back pack. We pray that this book will move your child with compassion and inspire them to help make the world a better place.
“There is no pit so deep, that God’s Love is not deeper still”
“When the Eagles are silent, the Parrots begin to chatter.”
– Winston Churchill
We encourage our readers of all ages to pray for ONE FREE KOREA, HANA.
It is our mission to empower people of all ages to NOT remain silent concerning the human rights violations taking place in North Korea.
There are CHILDREN who are born, grow up and die in prison camps.
And even those citizens who are not in a physical prison, remain imprisoned by fear. Not just of their own lives, but the lives of every person they love.
This may not be a popular topic, it may not be comfortable, it may even cause you to have some enemies, but if we do not stand for the silenced North Korean people who will?
We support the mission of the Voice of the Martyrs in South Korea, VOM. For many years they have been using balloons to send messages of hope, truth and freedom across the DMZ, into the dark and fear filled nation of North Korea. Their acts of faith and courage are what inspired our HANA-OneFreeKorea books.
In a recent letter to their donors, they encouraged Christians to “do God’s work today and not wait for a “better ” tomorrow.”
Many North Korean defectors, who now live in South Korea, come to be trained by the ministry of VOM, on how they can help their fellow North Koreans TODAY, and not just wait around for a “better tomorrow” when the country is reunified.
In their recent letter to us, the VOM informed us of a disturbing letter which was sent to them from the Ministry of Unification of South Korea.
The letters states:
” Now is a very sensitive time in the political process toward national unification as we meet in summits with North Korea. Your work fouls the air for peace. Please wait until later to do your work so that you do not disturb the peace process. Then in the future we can invite you to travel to North Korea with other South Korean religious groups to participate in government sponsored religion and culture sharing events.”
This letter is disturbing for two main reasons:
First, a free country is telling a religious group of North Korean defectors to silence their voices.
Second, a free country is telling this Christian group they will control their voices when the two countries are reunified.
In an interview with Fox News, Todd Nettleton, Chief of Media Relations and Message Integration for the Voice of the Martyrs USA, reports that:
“The regime punishes the families of anyone who defects at the time of their defection… If they were to comment publicly and further embarrass the regime, they know their families would be punished further, possibly even executed or sent to a labor camp.” Punishment often extends for up to three generations after the defection.
The NK Defectors who have been brave enough to escape the dark and fearful land of North Korea, already know what’s at stake. They have already lost their friends, and their family. They already have gone through the torture of knowing that their freedom comes with the price of 3 generations of their family being imprisoned or killed. They have already lived an entire lifetime of fear, of silence. A lifetime controlled by the whims of the Kim regime.
They didn’t risk EVERYTHING to continue to be manipulated, controlled, and silenced by Kim Jong Un. So to silence them now? To tell them that being unoffensive is more important than spreading truth?
They have already heard this story. They have already believed this lie. They have already been silenced by this egotistical dictator. They just thought they escaped from it all when they defected from the “The Place Where Dreams Die”, and gave up everything and everyone to come to “The Place Where Dreams Live”.
And yet, even the request for their silence is like watching the dark manipulative arms of Kim Jong Un, reach across the border to strangle their well fought for dream of freedom.
In our book, HANA Crosses the Freedom Bridge – a story of how Korea becomes ONE, it is the people {children} that bring about a FREE unified Korea. Not the governments.
It is a story that represents how the prayers, dreams and seeds of truth, sent over from South Korea, can take root and grow in North Korea. It depicts how that dream becomes alive and spreads with the light of truth and love in the hearts of the North Korean people. It shows the power of the people, the power of God, and the power of PERFECT LOVE being able to cast out all fear!
Of course, the story that happens in our book is nothing short of a miracle, to have one person be a catalyst for the two Korea’s to become one, but then again, that is exactly what happened with East and West Germany. It wasn’t the governments that initiated the merger, it was the people themselves.
After 28 years of isolation from the rest of the world, the people East Germany began to have a change of heart and thinking, In part because of the economic downturn they faced, and also largely because of the radio messages that were sent through the air waves from West Germany to East Germany, that the East German Regime tried to silence.
At that point, the people just had to wait for the perfect storm… they had to wait for their Miracle. In November of 1989, their miracle happened.
And according to Mary Elise Sarotte at Johns Hopkins University, the Berlin Wall
“would not have opened when and how it did without the last-minute decisions of a secret police officer named Harald Jäger. Struggling with the fear that he was dying of cancer, and angry over insults from higher-ups, he disobeyed direct orders and started letting East Germans through the gate.”
Do not underestimate the power of the suppressed North Korean people. Do not underestimate the POWER of the messages sent to North Korea from its defectors. For THEY are the ones who are changing the hearts of the North Korean people, not the control and fear from the Kim Regime.
Do not silence the story of truth, or else the story of lies is the only story that will be told.
“When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to chatter.” – Winston Churchill
We encourage all of you to pray for ONE FREE KOREA, and for people all over the world to not remain silent and not to silence the voices of North Korean defectors. May we all ” foul ” the world’s air with the voice of TRUTH and not remain silent concerning human rights violations or the truth of Jesus our redeemer.
We wanted to connect and support North Korean Defector students who share the same dream as we do… HANA, that Korea will become one. Suzzanne Scholte, president of the North Korean Freedom Coalition and the Defence Forum Foundation, connected us with this school in South Korea-
JANGDAEHYUN SCHOOL, BUSAN
Founded in 2014, Jangdaehyun School was the first North Korean defector school in Busan. It currently serves 22 students from North Korea, South Korea, and China with 70 students on a waiting list to enroll.
Lou and Lisa Gallo are missionaries from the U.S. and teach at the school for the small group of NK Defectors. Lisa Gallo said that it is the only school for North Korean defector children outside Seoul and provides middle and high school education.
Lisa has shared great stories about the students in Jangdaehyun School and how they have been thriving in this Christian defector alternative school. They have graduated eight students and four are now attending Handong.
Due to the current political climate of South Korea, the funding for the school has been drastically decreased as has happened for any and all NGOs/entities working for North Korean human rights based in South Korea.
Yet they continue to keep their hope that God will provide for these once enslaved dreamers…
These are some of their DREAMS!
These students were able to travel to America and attend the North Korean Freedom Coalition & The Defense Forum Foundation meeting in Washington, D.C. in January 2019.
Lisa Gallo from NKMissions presenting a check to the administraitors of Jangdaehyun School!
2 years ago, we didn’t know where this dream of HANA would take us… but we gave it to God, and he is doing beautiful things with it, in beautiful people!
“Dreams must be let go.
Dreams must be shared with others.
Dreams can be more real than what we see,
more real than what is called reality.
The fact is, HOPE starts with a DREAM! “
HANA Crosses The Freedom Bridge
Proceeds from our book help to support this school for North Korean Defectors, but if you would like to donate to them directly, you may do so at their website: https://www.nkmissions.org/donate
Thank you for your support and for praying for HANA – One Free Korea!
We are very excited to begin our “HANA Crosses The Freedom Bridge” Book Tour!
When we first began writing this book over 2 years ago, the idea of HANA-OneFreeKorea seemed like an impossible dream, and it felt like we were writing a completely fictional book. But through the events of this last year, it seemed more like a calling, and that we weren’t just dreaming it, but that we were speaking it into existence!
We are literally jumping for joy to share this message of hope and love with the world! Because Korea will become ONE again! Will become HANA! Even the most hardened of hearts can be healed by LOVE!
The Chosen Generation. The Royal Priest Hood. A Holy Nation. God’s own picked people. They show forth the praises of Him. For He has called them out of darkness into His marvelous Light.1 Peter 2:9 This verse is written for all believers. The way it is written describes Korea. It is as if it was […]
We were very excited to be featured in the National Writers Series! Click the link to read: https://nationalwritersseries.org/authors-next-door/author-next-door-sally-jo-messersmith/ They did an excellent write up on Author Sally Jo Messersmith’s passion for North Korea, and her continued efforts and writings that help to bring awareness about the crimes against humanity that continue to occur in North […]
