Right around the year 1995 in the northeastern section of North Korea lived a 10-year-old boy named Hyok. Hyok later escaped from this land and gave us his story in the fascinating This Is Paradise! But in this particular year on an especially boring day in school, Hyok made a serious mistake.
Now it's pretty easy to make a mistake in North Korea. The government takes the place of God but has created rules that the true God never dreamed of inflicting on His creation. In fact, Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who labor, and I will give you rest." Unfortunately this Scripture and all the Scriptures were strictly forbidden to young Hyok, and to all the people he left behind to this day.
Hyok knew it was a terrible thing to do anything disrespectful to the government's "Great Leader." He would never consciously have tried to ridicule this man-god. But when you're bored, you're bored. Looking at the badge on his chest, the compulsory one bearing the image of the nation's dictator, Hyok began to doodle. Well, a little more than doodle. He began to re-create the picture that he saw. Slowly, carefully, the badge's surface was reproduced on his paper.
The little boy sitting next to him probably didn't want to hurt Hyok. But instinct told him that something was awry here, and that if he didn't report this incident, he himself would be in trouble.
"Teacher! Hyok is insulting the Great Leader!"
Now, before I unveil the scene that ensued, imagine a similar scene in the United States. Alright, we're a pretty disrespectful nation, let's be honest. So let's suppose it is a strict Christian School down South or out West. You're bored in class. You start drawing. And from pictures you've seen on TV, you start to create the likeness of our President on your paper. Your neighbor sees you. Questions:
- does he report you or try to draw something even better at his desk?
- supposing he does report you, what does the [good Christian but strict] teacher do. Imagine the worst.
Now that you've imagined the worst America might offer, let's revisit Hyok in 1995. Here's what happened, according to his own story:
- He was made to stand in the middle of the room, where
- For five minutes the [female] teacher literally beat him all over his body in front of his peers.
- During this time she yelled at him hysterically to make him realize how utterly awful was the sin he has just committed.
- Hyok was then sent to the back of the class where he was to stay - on his knees - the rest of the day.
- As a final "blow" he was asked to write several pages of confession of his crime, showing his true penitence.
That was one of Hyok Kang's childhood memories. The kind of scar that only Jesus can heal properly. Lord we pray for Your saints in that land, but also ask that You use the hardships of North Korea to continue to draw unbelievers to the rest that You freely give. Amen.
http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!
And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.
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