Last summer, we piloted our first summer retreat for current and past residents of Elim House. God graciously provided the group last year with a time of rest, delicious food, hours of laughter, vulnerability and shoulders to cry on. Our team returned to Korea this June for two weeks to serve at Elim House and Elim Community. They taught English and workout classes, spent time cooking for and ministering to the women at Elim House and finished the trip with our second summer retreat.

This is the second year for Jacob, one of our team members, and his family to make this summer trip. The main difference this year was having his mother-in-law, Hannah, join the team. Hannah has faithfully followed Jesus for many decades and through many trials. She had always wanted to experience being on a missions trip and the Lord finally allowed that to happen this summer.

Hannah’s presence was immediately felt, not just by the women at Elim House but by our South Korea team as well. She was quick and constant with her words of encouragement and affirmation with everyone she encountered. As a first generation Korean American, Hannah had no trouble communicating with everyone at Elim House. She lovingly held the hands of our Elim House residents and as she heard their stories, prayed over them and consoled them. As an experienced restaurateur while living in the States, Hannah blessed the women by cooking and sharing meals with the women of Elim House.

Eight North Korean women attended this year’s summer retreat. Though it was her first time at one of our retreats, Hannah was intentional in getting to know the women and was often seen spending one-on-one time with many of them. She had heard about North Korean refugees through Jacob and Crossing Borders in the past. But now face to face with this group of women, she was hungry to learn about each of their stories. As she listened, she cried with the women, encouraging them to hope in the Lord with their own lives and with the fate of their loved ones still in China and North Korea.

The second day of the retreat started with Hannah’s home cooking and visits to a few key locations along the Northern Limit Line, which divides the North Korean coast from South Korea’s five coastal islets near Incheon. As the group visited these sites that look towards North Korea, one stop included an unexpected chorus of a well known reunification song while another stop finished with raising hands towards North Korea as the group cried out to God to heal the land.

Looking towards North Korea, the women who attended the retreat prayed together for their homeland.

As their time in Korea drew to a close with the ending of the retreat, with tears in their eyes, each of the women took turns embracing Hannah to say goodbye and insisted that she come back next year. We knew God would use Hannah to show love and compassion to the North Korean women on this trip. Yet, we were still amazed to see how deeply the women were impacted by her loving presence and her steadfast faith.

A mother’s love is precious and irreplaceable. We’re so thankful for God’s providence and provision in sending Hannah to Korea this year. We pray Hannah and other moms will bless future trips to Elim House.