Serving the Lord in Italy

Hello everyone,

It has been a busy week here even with some of our soldiers deployed for a two week exercise down south of us. When we are not busy with ministry activities, much of our time is spent as if we were home. Shopping has to be done and home repairs have to be made. I (Brian) thought I would have a break from 'honey-do' lists while over here. Just like any house, things have to be done to keep it in running order. Several weeks ago I found myself under the van repairing the gear shift linkage that came disengaged. Just this past Thursday our boiler sprung a leak in the upstairs apartment. The landlord was quick to have it replaced. Thankfully one of our Korean faithfuls (Kimberly) acts as our contact point whenever we need to order heating oil, LPG and water. She is such a help.

We need your prayer support on an issue that just came up. While inspecting the boiler replacement, the landlord informed me he wants to raise the rent by $1,000/mo starting May 1. This is a big financial hit. I sent off an email to home office to understand if there is a lease and if so what are the terms and conditions. I'm also talking with Kimberly who just happens to be a realtor to get an idea of our options for another place. Please pray for discernment for us while we navigate through this issue for the next couple of weeks. I can't imagine a better place then this because of its size, layout, location and the fact it has a yard (very uncommon feature here in Au Jung-Ri).

For our activity day this past Saturday, we did something everyone has been after us to do, take the USO tour of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). If we are to understand why the US military is here, we would have to experience one of the last bastions of the cold war. It is the most fortified, guarded and monitored border in the world. I'm sure the facts of this sound as insignificant to you as they did to me until I went up there. It's hard to describe the atmosphere. For an American, freedom is a natural right. Something we are and something we do. Here in Korea, the civil war never ended. The frontline (DMZ) is still militarily active even after 53 years since a cease fire (Armistice) agreement was set in place. It is basically a section of land 4 Kilometers wide running the entire length of the Korean peninsula. In the center of the DMZ is the Demilitarized Line (DML) which is the actual border between the two countries. Many Koreans still live with the pain of families separated by the war. The unification of Korea is ever present in the minds of South Koreans.

Because of age restrictions, Mary and Johnny could not go. Leaving Camp Humphreys, our first destination of the tour was to Camp Boniface, an army post whose motto is "In front of them all". It is the closest camp to Panmunjon which is the place where the Armistice was signed back in 1953. It is also the closest post to the DML. This post would likely be the first to encounter any fighting if hostilities between the two countries reignite. Here we were given a briefing of how and what we were to do when up in Panmunjon. The security measures were extreme. It was in Panmunjon that some of the killings since the signing of the Armistice have taken place.

Panmunjon is only 800 meters in diameter and a map of the compound is above (do not be concerned, I'm not giving away any secret information here). Designated as the Joint Security Area (JSA) between the U.N. and North Korea, it is outside administrative control of both South and North Korea. The U.N. and North Korea sides each operate 6 guard posts and 35 security guards reside inside. Since the ax murder incident on August 18, 1976, by North Korean soldiers, security guards are forbidden to cross over to the opposing side's area.

We were allowed to enter the center blue building (#3) as indicated on the map above. The DML runs right through the middle of these buildings as indicated by the concrete line seen in the image to the left. Discussions between North and South take place in these buildings. When people are present in the JSA, guards are posted along the buildings. They straddle the corners to present less of a target. Inside the building, one Korean soldier straddles the DML indicated by the position of the UN flag on the table and another guards the door on the North Korean side of the room. In the image above right, Katie is positioned safely in South Korea while Claire stands in Communist North Korea. It is common for North Korean soldiers to peer into the windows (on the North side of course) to watch what is going on as indicated by this file image. This did not happen while we were there however. We then made our way to check point (CP) 6 which is the second blue building from the left closest to the DML on the chart above. In the picture to the right you can see CP 5 just over the soldiers left (our right) shoulder. Back in 1976, an ambush occurred when a detachment of 12 UN soldiers went out to trim back a large tree that was beginning to block the line of sight between CP5 and CP6. The image to the right captured the malee. 2 American and 4 Korean soldiers were killed with axes and the others survived. A marker now stands where that tree once stood and it is visible just over the soldiers right (our left) shoulder. In 1984, there were other killings when a visiting Russian citizen bolted from the North side between buildings 1-5 on the DML. North Korean soldiers pursued him into South Korea past the big blue building named Freedom House into the sunken garden area. In the seconds it took for the North Korean soldiers to get there, UN soldiers out flanked them and surrounded the sunken garden and protected the defector. A small arms fire fight ensued killing several North Korean soldiers and one American soldier. Also from CP6 we were able to get our first view of Gijeong-dong. This North Korean propaganda village, situated 1.8 km from Daeseong-dong Village, was built in the northern area of the DMZ for the purpose of propaganda. The image to the right shows the village which has no residents except soldiers. The world's highest flag tower flying the North Korean flag stands at the entrance of the village. The flag weighs 600 pounds dry. From CP6 we traveled down to CP5 to see a very important bridge. The Bridge of No Return as shown below right, runs astride the DML. After the Armistice Agreement in 1953, prisoners of war from both sides were exchanged on this bridge. The name came from the fact that the prisoners of war who voluntarily chose to go to North Korea instead of staying in the South would be unable to return to South Korea. From Panmunjon, we made our way to another observation post to the west that gave a panoramic view of North Korea. We were unable to take any pictures here. If we had, you would see many of their hills are barren. They need the resources for heat and energy. We also were able to descend into 1 of 4 known infiltration tunnels the North dug under the DMZ. They have since been fortified beneath the boundaries of the DMZ and DML. Anyone traveling to Korea should take this tour. It gave me a new appreciation of what our soldiers here at the HH are doing on our behalf. I know the ladies enjoyed themselves.

Prayer and Praise Requests

Praises be to God for the safe journey home of Tom, Beth and Sophie. All three are back home in TN where they joined their three other children. Thank you all for praying for them.

Jeff Norris is back from Hawaii. His eye surgery went well. Continue to pray for healing.

As you can imagine there are many prayer requests here at HH. People are suffering or have loved ones suffering from illnesses and diseases. Many unsaved family members back home and all sorts of issues that arise from that. People coming up on their last days in the service and wondering what the future has in store for them. Please keep this house in your prayers and all the issues God is working on in our lives as well as all who attend. God knows what the specifics are.

God Bless you all