Meet Cindy, our first team member in South Korea and Elim House’s social worker

Korea requires a licensed social worker to be on staff for a shelter for abused women like Elim House. We shared in February that God had brought us a candidate who was a pastor’s wife and had served North Korean refugees in her church for the past three years. She goes by “Cindy” and has been a huge blessing to both our Elim House residents and our missionaries. We had a chance to sit down with Cindy to get to know her better and ask her a few questions why she chooses to serve North Korean refugees.

What made you want to work with NK refugees?

While working with my husband at our church, I met North Korean refugee women and their children. I came to know their pain and life situations and realized that no one seemed to really understand them. But I was sure that God’s love could heal them just like God’s love did not give up on me. With that hope I was able to start working with them.

How has God prepared you for your role at Elim House?

Through serving in the children’s ministry and a ministry helping with resettlement of North Korean refugees at Onnuri Church, we got to know more about the lives of North Koreans in South Korea, including their culture and the harsh realities they face. At first it was shocking to me and I felt helpless, but I began to realize that the only thing that would give them true freedom from their suffering was the gospel.

I initially served the North Korean refugee population as a volunteer. And three years ago, I decided to formally work with them and started studying to be a social worker.

It seems that is how God has prepared me to be a social worker at Elim House today.

What has been the most challenging experience at Elim House?

The most challenging experience at Elim House has been when I served our residents with the utmost consideration and heart, only to have my efforts shunned and shot back at me like arrows. I was hurt by the actions of some of our residents and I have regrets regarding my reaction to them as well. I feel there are still many things I do not know about North Korean refugees. But because I am also a person in need of God’s love, I am able to relate to them in this way. God has been teaching me a lot through our most difficult residents.

What has been the most blessing experience at Elim House?

It is a blessing for me that God has allowed me to meet a healthy organization like Crossing Borders, a warm missionary couple with loving hearts that always respects and praises me and a women’s shelter that operates with biblical values like Elim House.

Please share some prayer requests with us.

Pray for refugee women who need healing and recovery at Elim House.

Please pray that I will be able to carry out the role of a social worker wisely and fruitfully.