Park's Prayer Letter (No. 16)

Date: June, 1999

Greetings to all our friends !

It's been long time since our prayer letter was written way back in December. We finalised our furlough time in Korea and now we are having study program at OMSC (Overseas Ministries Study Center), New Haven, CT in the U.S. until December, 1999.

Since we've been in Korea, it was so much precious time for us to be with both of our families, friends and supporting churches. We celebrated Jong? father? 80? birthday with his family and relatives. My father is doing good after his surgery. My brother came home after finishing his study in Italy and my sister also came from Switzerland to see us. It was great family time together, especially for Jason and Anna who didn? remember their kinship very well. Now they feel proud of being a part of our family and Korean.

Since middle of March, we have been touched by the lectures, such as Counselling Across cultures, The African Churches: Implications for Global Mission, Spirituality for Mission, The Religious Tension between Christianity and Islam. Every week we have different subject and lecturers from Fuller theological seminary and Trinity evangelical seminary, etc. We shared what we felt and struggled in the field with other missionaries and church leaders. We thank God that He gave us good opportunity here to prepare our ministry back to Ethiopia.

We still hear war is going on between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The history of the conflict is long and complicated. We continue to pray for a speedy resolution.

In June, there is the 2nd graduation of Jimma Bible School that we worked in Ethiopia. The 27 graduates are going back to their tribes to plant and minister their churches. Haptamu and Bulgu will be the first evangelists among Mien tribe. 12,500 people who were baptised for the first time among this tribe and other people are waiting for those 2 evangelists leading their churches. Husein, Aman, and Imam, who converted from Islam and came to the Bible School, are going to plant churches in Muslim area. Please pray that our graduates may be used for ministering Ethiopian people and churches.

We prepare for going back to Ethiopia for another 4 years. We communicate with SIM Ethiopia to decide what works are suitable for us. Jong kook is more interested in evangelism and pastoral care. I want to be involved in Sunday School Ministry and its teacher? training. We are likely to base in Addis because of Jason and Anna? schooling. We decided that we would not send them to boarding until they become 9th grade. Jong? work permit as church planter needs to be renewed in July so that we may continue to work in Ethiopia. It? very hard to get work permit as religious work from the government. Please remember this in your prayer.

As we were busy travelling in Korea, we were invited to report our ministries in Korean churches of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, New York, Hartford and Boston. That was great privilege for us to extend our reporting about what God is doing in Ethiopia to Koreans in U.S. We thank that we had great fellowship with His people here through the report. And we pray that many of them are challenged to join us building His churches in the world as well as in Ethiopia.

We pray for you as well, and we thank you for your fellowship with us and the Church in Ethiopia.

With our love always,

Jong kook and Grace Park