Pastor Choi, How have you been? I hope you are at peace. After a long break, I slowly got into the swing of things again and settled myself back to the daily routines at my mission place (Pastor Chung is a missionary in Uganda). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kumi university (this is where Pastor Chung primary serves as a missionary) was only open for the students who were about to graduate. They wrapped up their graduation requirements within six short weeks and returned to their home one after another. Three students studying Theology could not return home so they are staying at JIL training center. I have been spending time with them every morning reading and sharing Bible verses together. Discovering the secret of the Gospel and its power, they are being built into new faithful ones. They are altogether lovely to my eyes.
On the other hand, evil spirits are discouraging us and straying us away from missionary work and spiritual training. Some strange neighbors disputed the ownership of our women’s dormitory building and my office building in our training campus. They even intruded into our property and built their own buildings. While I was gone for the break (9 months), they passed themselves off as an owner of the property. I did not expect that evil spirits would just sit back and watch our missionary work without interference; however, I did not think they would be so cunning and persistent in attacking us.
Last weekend, I gathered the town’s leaders and brought up the issue with the bad neighbor. Unfortunately, they just pushed the matter to us and asked us to settle it by ourselves. I don’t think I can sue the bad neighbor or fight over it. Like Jacob in the Bible, I think I will just need to find another place and build a new women’s dormitory and an office building. Meanwhile, to make clear the property boundary with the bad neighbor, and to minimize their interference, We started to build stone walls this week. Please pray for me that I don’t lose the substance and the reason for missionary work because of the bad neighbor. I always thank you for pulling me up with prayer and love.
The above is the picture of stone wall construction that started this week. They are all amateurs but I can only appreciate their hard work.
This picture shows the two buildings the bad neighbor wants to take away from us. They are the women’s dormitory building and my office building. It is really hard to get used to the custom in Africa but I am trying very hard to respond to the situation with faith ㅎㅎ.
This week, I took a retreat to the rural mountain village, ‘Kamchora’, with students at the training center. It was out of appreciation for the training they worked hard on for the last six weeks. Also, I wanted to refresh them with a new experience ㅎㅎ. They are being raised up as the people of God and people of faith, precious servants of Heaven. There were stressful times but the greater joy overcame it. The testimonies the students gave on the last day of retreat blew away the heavy burdens off my shoulder! ㅎㅎ All I need from you is prayer. That is enough, Thank you. The last picture is our son in the faith, Joel who is like TImothy in the eyes of Paul to us.
정태현 파송 선교사님 편지