Elim House officially opened one year ago in July of 2020. Since opening, we’ve hired one full time staff, our missionaries have endured two rounds of 14-day quarantine, three children have come to Elim House with the four women that resided there and our fifth resident arrived this July. While the number of residents that we took in were fewer than we anticipated, God in his wisdom knew that that was exactly what we could handle.
“Julie’s” arrival
“Julie” (pseudonym used to protect refugee identities) was our fourth and most recent resident that came to Elim House in January, 2021. While her husband was asleep, Julie fled her house with her son to stay with a close friend. This friend took her to a medical center in Seoul where she received medical care and also was seen by counselors who treat North Korean refugees. Julie was referred to us at that point.
Julie and her husband are both North Korean refugees and had lived in South Korea for five years. She shared with us her fears that she might not leave her house alive if she returned to her husband one more time. Even if they were to divorce, she believed she would have to live the rest of her life in hiding from him.
One evening our missionaries gathered all the residents, including Julie, to lead them in a Bible study and to share the gospel. Julie, who was not a believer, was immediately very curious to know about Jesus and the gospel. As she followed along, when asked if she would repent her sin and commit her life to Christ, she responded with an enthusiastic “Yes!”
As her husband persisted in wanting to reconcile with Julie, she returned back home after about a month of staying at Elim House. She had set conditional terms of seeking counseling together, which seems to have been fruitful as Julie recently shared with us that her husband treats her much better. It is a blessing to see her life change so dramatically in the short time we’ve known her. Julie and her husband even invited our missionaries over for a meal at their house soon.
Elevated COVID levels and Elim House
While South Korea had the spread of COVID-19 under control during the better part of 2020, spikes and continued elevated levels in 2021 have placed the entire country under strict restrictions. Under the latest curbs, people are advised to stay home as much as possible. These limitations have also slowed down the number of North Korean refugees referred to Elim House given the elevated risks of moving into a shared facility with strangers. As such, we had not taken in any new residents since Julie came to us in January until just last week.
“Heather” wanted to be admitted to Seoul Medical Center but was referred to us since the hospital was at capacity. Heather is 44 years old, was sold to a man in China at the age of 21, was captured, sent back and jailed in North Korea until 2006. She was sold again to a farmer in China in 2007 and where she lived until she arrived in Korea in 2021. Abuse has followed her through every season and every country including South Korea. Heather has been diagnosed with severe depression and cries uncontrollably when she is by herself. Elim House will be a short time of respite while she waits to be admitted to the hospital and we pray God will work powerfully in the coming days.
Elim House residents
We shared in October about our first resident “Cathy” who came to us after a thwarted suicide attempt of jumping from a bridge. She was very receptive to the care and love given by our missionaries and even confessed her faith in Jesus after hearing about him over the course of two months. It was unexpected and unfortunate when we discovered that she had stolen money from another resident and left Elim House in February. We have not seen or heard from Cathy since. We pray constantly that her heart might be fertile soil and not rocky soil and that the gospel truth she accepted is still at work in heart. We hope to see her again.
In our first quarter update we shared a little bit about another resident who joined us in December. She had been sexually assaulted by a man whom she personally knew and trusted. During her time with us, she was able to get legal advice on her situation and request government assistance to relocate to a new apartment. She officially left Elim House in June and our missionaries shared that it was bittersweet and akin to sending a daughter off from their home to get married.
Finally “Kristine”, who has been with us since November, has made good progress with the counsel of lawyers to clear up her legal Korean identity on record with the government which will then open the door to gain custody of her two sons. She continues to grow in her faith and we are so encouraged to see Kristine cling to God’s word when she encounters setbacks.
Drive-by Banchan and other updates
We shared about hiring our first South Korea team member in our first quarter update. “Cindy,” the full time social worker for Elim House, has been an amazing addition to our team and a huge blessing to both the residents and our missionaries. Kristine recently shared with our missionaries how she has witnessed the love and care Cindy has for North Korean refugees that come to Elim House.
“I want to be a martyr while serving banchan (Korean side dishes typically served with each meal),” is how this amazing woman and mother of four serves Elim House residents and our missionaries. She is a friend of Cindy and has blessed us with several “drive by” banchan drop-offs.
While our missionaries returned back to the States for their COVID shots, a kind neighborhood grandmother planted flowers in the garden at Elim House.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. - Isaiah 26:3
The past year of learning to care for refugees in South Korea in the midst of COVID has stretched the faith and abilities of the Crossing Borders team. COVID numbers may continue to climb in South Korea and we may encounter more unexpected hurdles but we know the only way to navigate uncharted waters is for us to trust God and keep our minds steadfastly on him.
