Brenda (right) at an outing with other North Korean refugees.
One of the most mystifying things about the gospels is that God came to live among us and got involved in our affairs. In Matthew 1:23, the angel of the Lord said that we will call him Immanuel, which means “God with us.” We see this plainly at Elim House, as our staff cares for our residents.
Brenda came to us in late December as she faced continued housing insecurity. She had lived in South Korea since 2011 and was sixty years old. Brenda had been bouncing around between an acquaintance's house, a goshiwon (a dormitory style small room), a church shelter, and had most recently stayed at a church mission center. However, nearing the end of her allotted time there, she had to leave and find other means of housing. Brenda found herself at a studio apartment near a church, but due to the poor environment (bugs, fire, people around her), she inquired with our team and moved into Elim House.
Prior to her arrival, there had not been a resident who came to Elim House with strong faith. During her time spent in South Korea, Brenda had sought out a seminary education, and currently serves as an evangelist in the North Korean defector community at a local church. She pursued this position for the past seven years.
Just last week, as Brenda and Elim House manager Elsa sat down to eat lunch together, Brenda prayed for their meal. She started with “God, it’s raining lightly today,” and Elsa thought her prayer would be followed by something light-hearted or thanking God for the rain. Rather, tears welled up and Brenda cried “God, but my heart is sad.” Her housing situation and the lack of clarity on where or when she might have a place to call home weighed heavily on her heart. Brenda was usually having fun and full of energy, but that is also how she had masked her worries to the other women around her. Elsa’s heart broke for Brenda.
Later that day, Elsa drove the residents to a new line dance class at Elim Community where the women laughed together as they tried to follow the instructor’s dance moves. It hadn’t been more than a few hours when Brenda unexpectedly poured out her heavy heart as she prayed over lunch. But it was a relief to see her laughing and enjoying herself. Elsa shared with us that this verse came to mind in that moment:
‘Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep’ (Romans 12:15)
Elsa was convicted that even if a problem or situation for a North Korean refugee under our care can’t be solved right away, that God’s calling for her was to be present and to laugh and cry with them. The gospel proves that God was not some being who was uninterested in human affairs, that he stood at a distance and watched the chaos from afar. It’s the opposite. It says that he is here with us. Though we cannot solve all our refugees’ problems, we can sit with them and cry with them, as Jesus did with us.
