Dear Loved Ones!
The Muns’ journey of trials and joys for July 2013 until July of 2014:
“God cares for the land and water it, He enriches it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain.”
It is so wonderful that I recall how God poured His love and care for us abundantly as I am looking back our one year of journey with our Lord. Your part in our journey was great and precious as you have prayed for everything we needed most. Thank you so much from the bottom of our heart.
Greetings to you from the cloudy and foggy mountain top of the Mihi Tribe. July supposed be a threshold of the dry season but 6 months of the wet season is still going on. We haven’t seen any view of the jungle about 3 weeks but the heavy clouds and fog. “Sunshine on my solar makes me happy, but when it rains and rains, my Jenny (generator) cries, and I also cry when it’s out of oil! I feel like sing this song as we follow the foot step of a senior missionary who passed away once sang in tune “Sunshine on my shoulder”.
Psalms 65:9-13 He supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.
Psalms 147:8-9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call”.
The village people have troubled having the dried fire woods from the jungle and their roof that made out of wild grasses also have got so wet and leaking in the huts. And children and old people always suffer from flu as they easy to catch cold without any blankets or anything to cover to sleep at night but depend on only the fire in the hut. Nonetheless we thank God for the beautiful rain water that filled our water tanks to be prepared for coming of the dry season. The village people used complaining about of the dry season and the wet season. But now their negative attitudes have changed to thankful heart for the sun and the rain how God looks after them season by season and
time after time. We talk about how the beautiful rainy season was, when we face the dry season and think about how beautiful sunny days we had, when we are in the wet season.
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he was committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:14-
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Can you imagine how it happened to uncivilized, the primitive men in
the remote and the isolated place! Proudly out of 20 translation helpers
now 8 men know how to use computers as Seong and I have taught
them kindly with patient heart for many years. Actually they had to learn
how to read and write first, and next step was learning the computer. It
took so many years for illiterate people to be able to read and write with
persistent efforts. Their desiring heart helped to open their blind eyes
as they say, “their eyes were darkness (the eye of an ignoramus) but
now they can see brightly”. They feel they became people of another
world as they seat on the chair and using computers or books, pencils
etc. We ask them to help their family rather than spending time with us.
Especially we teach them how important it is to help their wives. Hence
each man participates for 3 days to work on translation and they go to
their garden with wives and children or he goes hunting or gets the fire
woods. The wives saying that they are happy as they see their
husbands are changing life style and very much supportive for wives.
According to their culture, polygamy system is still in practice but since
we came in the tribe, thankfully their depravity culture is changing and
disappearing. Seong once said that he won’t do any work with the
computer skill when we left Seoul to do missionary training but we are grateful for our gifted skills from God as Seong had 18 years of experienced as a compu ter expert and I was a school teacher for 18years that God has given us those skills to serve Him as we serve the Mihi people. We feel privilege being a part of members of God’s orchestra playing His song of joy according to His conducting through minister the Mihi people. What a wonderful and marvelous our Conductor that we have for our lives!
At the end of July, 2013: God’s time and His plan are always perfect and good.
I would like to share with you how God has been teaching and leading us with His love and care in the midst of storm peacefully by His mercy and grace as we sit together side by side and face to face. He put obstacles out of our way for us to reach out to Him when we needed Him most rather than depend on our own experience or knowledge.
Proverbs 3:5,6 We have climbed on the rough mountains of hills and valleys. It wasn’t easy and simple to climb those mountains but we can see we made it with Christ our Lord as He has been push us up with His comfort of love and His words of encouragement. Our trials and hardship make us press us forward. Usually NTM Bible translation consultants come to where we live but Seong and I have flown out from the bush to NTM highlands HQ with our translation helpers for the Bible translation consultant as he requested us to come out to meet him because he wasn’t able to fly in to our village to check our translation as he was busy. Most Bible portions of Old Testament Scriptures
have translated in the Mihi language for the Bible lessons. It has been checked by NTM Bible translation consultant at the end of July, 2013. We have got encouraged and so pleased when we were told that our translations in Mihi have done greatly and we have got permission to start to translate New Testament whenever we can. Page 1
Proverbs 6:9 in his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. A week before we left our village for checking the translation at HQ, we have received an email from 3 Korean believers that they wanted to visit the Mihi Tribe from Seoul, Korea. 2 believers are involved on Korean radio broadcasting service and the other believer was a producer of Christian TV Broadcasting Service. We never met them but they have heard our ministry through our articles on the Korean Christian newspaper. Seong didn’t want them to come to our village for their own sake, if
they wanted to make their own TV or radio commercial program. And we did not want our names appear as a great missionaries rather than God is great. So Seong has shared his heart with them via email that we will welcome them if God can open the eyes of the Korean churches and the believers can reach out to unreached people through our ministry and it will be wonderful if the Korean believers can build up the value of the blood of Jesus Christ through our ministry. They understood our sensitive thoughts and heart deeply. Seong asked my opinion for their visit but my heart
wasn’t peace about their visiting to produce the story of the Mihi people. I told Seong that I did not want them to visit us.
Ecclesiastes 7:13 “Who can straighten what He has made crooked!” No one can straighten what He makes
crooked or make crooked what He has made straight. If the Lord has not first decreed to either make it happen, or permit it to happen. Lamentations 3:27
No one can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it. My reason was that I did not want people to know that how we suffer for Christ or how we work hard for Christ, or how we have given up our own good lives etc. I just wanted to go our own way humbly without getting reputation, or a good name or fame. Someday I would like to say “We did it our way for His glory!” But more I shut the door of my heart for their visit. I realized that all my reasons came out from the bottom of my pride. We haven’t met them. We never asked them to visit us. We never desire for
their visit but they have prayed about it and they have asked us humbly their plan for God’s glory, not their own sake. If God hasn’t touched their heart, if God hasn’t challenge them! Who would like to come to this village! Who would spend their own money and times! Yes! It was God who wanted send them to us to show them how God brings the lost and how God desires to save the Mihi people! It is not the work of missionary but God is at work.
Who can speak and have it happen if the LORD has not decreed it? Lamentations 3:37
I realized that I was blind not to see God’s plan and His Sovereignty. O my Lord! I have forgotten God’s sovereignty.
Everything comes from God and in His control but my pride made me think to go on my own way proudly. Finally I kneeled down before God to ask forgiveness of my pride. I wish I can open my heart to show you how God has taught me and humbled me through my most deeply rooted desire of pride. Hence I have shared my heart with Seong and told him of my trusting and depending heart on God’s sovereignty and have accepted their visit. We have made plan for their visit as our plan consistent with God’s purpose. Seong has sent a letter of our acceptance. We knew they will be arrived at Goroka on the 20th of August and were going to bring them to our village after 2 days. There was no reason to stay at HQ after the translation checked done until the 20th of August. We would have come back to the
bush if there were no Korean visitors. We had to wait for the Korean visitors to bring them with us to the village. But God knew we must stay at HQ to deliver Seong from unknown death.
On the 20th of August, The 3 Korean visitors have arrived at Goroka town in the morning, so Seong went to the airport to pick them up at 10:00am and I have prepared breakfast for them at NTM
guest house. Seong brought them at the guest house and they had breakfast
together but Seong had only a piece of toast before he left to the airport. They were
excited and Seong also was excited to meet them. It was about noon, all of sudden
Seong had terrible chest pain while he was having fellowship with them at the table.
The 3 men got up and tried help him but Seong had to lie down on the floor but it
was getting worse. I called missionary via intercom to take Seong to see NTM
doctor at NTM clinic. 2 visitors came along with us. They were filming since
Seong’s pain started. It took 15 minutes to reach the clinic. 2 NTM doctors have got
shocked when they discovered Seong’s ascending aorta already was expanded to
9cm. Actually it should’ve burst and Seong supposed seen his dead but he was still
alive. The doctors amazed. The doctors contacted Cairns base hospital in Australia
that nearest place from PNG.
Our father knows what we need Thankfully God has provided NTM King Air twin
engine airplane and 1 chief pilot who can fly the big plane for long distance at that
time. The doctors told me to go back to the guest house to pack and meet Seong
at NTM hangar. I didn’t know what to bring with me but other missionaries helped me to pack and I left everything at the guest house and went to NTM hangar. According to the size of ascending aorta, the 2 doctors’ opinion was that I will see Seong’s death while the plane flying up in the air before even reached the hospital in Cairns. I called my two sons from NTM hangar to meet them at Cairns base hospital before I get on the plane. I told them peacefully that it is medevac emergency flight for Seong same as 2003 medevac flight for Abdomen Aorta Aneurysm operation. Of course,
my sons were panicked but I tried calmed their panicked heart with comforting words. One of doctors came along with two nurses. The doctor waited for me to call my sons. He told me gently that I should prepare of my heart to face Seong’s death on the plane. My tears burst and I cried as I put my face on the doctor’s heart. My heart was choked with sorrow. 2 NTM pilots and the doctor with two nurses sat by the side of Seong kept watching him and gave him
injection. I was just watching Seong from the corner of the back seat. So often the doctor came to me and comforted me with love and care in Him. Page 2
All of these circumstances were under the controlling hand of our sovereign God, who was working them out in our lives for our good. I only had to remember that God saying softly “Be still and know that I am God”. No panic, no questions, where to go, what to do, why, how but “Be still and know that He is our God. He was in control.” He allowed us to experience pain but the pain and fear brought us joyful and thankful heart. I wasn’t struggling but trusting, wasn’t running but resting in Him, wasn’t worrying but praying. Acknowledge the God’s sovereignty led me into His presence
peacefully. 20th of August, 2013 The medevac NTM plane left Goroka the highlands of Eastern province at 3:00 pm and we have arrived at 7:30pm in Cairns. Actually NTM plane supposed to stop by Port Moresby international airport first but they have got a special permission to fly directly to Cairn because of Seong’s life threatened for emergency case.
Ambulance already waited for Seong at the airport. I couldn’t ride with Seong because there was no seat for me but NTM doctor went with him. There was no vascular surgeon team at Cairns base hospital so they have made decision to take Seong to Townsville hospital which a small town and it took another 1 hour flight from Cairn. Seong had to wait in the emergency room of Cairns base hospital until “Fly Doctor” small plane arrived from Townsville. They said helicopter will be too slow so the small plane came and took Seong but my whole family had to spend that night and flew to Townsville next morning. Of course, my sons and daughter in laws and I couldn’t sleep at all. Someone called
me at 12:35am that they have arrived at Townsville Hospital and they were going to operate Seong at 1:00am.
Actually one of NTM doctor has given permission to Korean producer filming Seong’s last words for 5 minutes when Seong was in NTM clinic. Seong’s desire as the last speech was the Mihi people’s salvation and he has asked me to go back to the Mihi tribe to finish His ministry if I would carry his desire. Of course, my answered was yes, I would go back and will be kept pressing on for the Mihi people’s salvation. I could not get a wink of sleep. Millions thoughts covered me, if God took Seong’s life, then it was the last time he was with me at NTM guest house, without telling me
anything, is he with the Lord without telling me anything but the Mihi people’s salvation? Seong was in ICU when we arrived there in the morning. What most joyful time to see him on the sickbed with 15 different IV and pipes in his nose and mouth. One of doctors told me that the operation has done at 8:00am successfully and they amazed the ascending aorta was 9cm and they never seen a man who was still survived without ruptured. He told that “Seong must be a very good man or he does something good deeds for others.” I guess he can rendered that way only as none Christian. I already have shared with you via previous email. Seong was induced coma for 5 days until he could
breathe by himself without machine helps him to breathing. There was internal blooding but thankfully it has stopped after perfect amount of blood flow out through the hose. Afterwards he had suffered from hallucination such as hearing conversation in different language and seeing strange thing, was distrustful from many different drugs. The doctors and nurses and myself explained him it is not true whatever he hears or seeing but he was unhappy with me because I didn’t believe him. Seong has been required to sleep on his back for up 2 months but he has got pain on the back as
felt like sleeping on the sharp stone. He sat up and slept like holding or hugging pillow position butyl the sternum bone stick together.
Romans 8:28 “we know that in all things God works for good of those who love Him who have been called
according to His purpose”. So now we “give thanks in all circumstances”. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
I was told that one Korean producer filmed every step of Seong’s medevac flight until the NTM plane took off the NTM hangar. The 3 men cannot speak any English but NTM missionaries looked after them for 2 days and they left Goroka to Port Moresby international airport via Philippines to Korea. Surely they were angels that God has sent them to save Seong’s life. If God hasn’t sent them, we could’ve gone back to the bush right after translation checked. If we were in the bush when Seong has got chest pain, Seong wasn’t able to make it. Therefore God already knew that Seong’s
ascending aorta was expanding and He knew that Seong must be out from the bush and be ready to fly to Townsville hospital. So God humbled me to welcome them and has sent the 3 Korean men to meet us there at Goroka town on the very day of Seong’s medevac flight. They couldn’t come to my village but their traveling expenses and their times have used so valuably to save Seong’s life. Their visit was worth enough to save Seong’s life. They were a special God’s instrument to hold our feet at the right time and the right place for our good and for His glory. God was in control.
In the midst of our suffering we believed that God was in control. God has moved their foot step to accomplish His purpose as He wanted spare Seong’s life and He used my sinful thought of my pride to accomplish His purpose. The 3 men want to visit us in His time if Lord willing. To acknowledge of marvelous and yet mysterious God’s sovereignty make us trust and depend on Him only. The power that I surrendered all was that the world cannot be able to shaken me. Trusting God in the midst of our fear of death and pain means that we accept the circumstance from Him. There were so many friends prayed with me and my prayer was the expression of trusting and depending on Him only. We
marvel once again at how the Lord goes before us in all things, and how He has turned trouble into blessing and has glorified through it all as we share testimony of His great faithfulness in our lives. Thank you so very much again that you have been praying for Seong.
September, 2013: Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. Psalm 50:15
Seong had unbearable physical pain after operation. I was not allowed
to stay with Seong in the hospital. So Seong had to stay in sickbed
along as lonely man. Seong told me as “the pain brought me to
Calvary to see the cross how Christ Jesus has suffered for me. What a
blessing to taste a speck of HIS pain of suffering that HE had to go
through for sinner like me. Page 3
Then my physical pain turned into thankful heart for His mercy and grace and delivered me from the pain.” I couldn’t do anything for him but the Holy Spirit has helped him to bear the pain in HIM. Seong has been discharged Townsville hospital after the stitches have been taken out from the chest but there was a section in the middle of the wound that had not come together completely. We were so overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness in brought Seong through that difficult journey and stand amazed in His presence as we acknowledged His wonderful healing touch on Seong’s life.
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet water! Psalms 23:1
We were grateful to God for His provision as He led us in green pasture. Ted and Fay Radford are godly people as they have welcomed us to their lovely home. They have given us their main bed room for Seong to take showers in the bigger shower room as he had to seat on a special chair that they have hired for patient Seong. The big banner was on the bed, “Welcome! Make yourself at home” that made our heart so warm and we thank God for their serving and loving heart in Christ humbly. God went ahead of us and has provided a home for me to stay when Seong was in the hospital and we have stayed even though we had not met before. After Seong has got discharged, we have stayed
their place which was near the hospital in Townsville for several weeks in case Seong should need any medical assistance. And we also have met Fay’s Korean friend. She has been served Seong with a special Korean food for each day. It was a wonderful opportunity for all of us to share together with physical food and the Spiritual food in Him.
We won’t forget a bucket full of her warm tears that kept flown down on her face because of God’s grace. They have said that God has brought us in their lives to remind them of His mercy and grace again through Seong’s trial. Who would open their house to strangers like us! Who would give their precious time and gifts for others! It was the power of God’s love.
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” Philippians 2:13
God has given me an opportunity to share the gospel at elementary school in Townsville while Seong was still in the hospital. Fay was a RE teacher of the elementary school. She teaches them of the Bible story once a week for 30 minutes for each class. I was excited when Fay asked me to participate for RE class with her.
Bravely I told her I would love to go with her because I have experienced of teaching at Christian school for 18years and I knew many children’s Scripture songs. So I carried Fay’s guitar and I started to play the guitar for opening the class. They loved it and sang with me with the hand motions too. The theme was “the work of the Holy Spirit”. It was perfect theme for me to tell them about reach unreached lost Mihi tribal people’s salvation and missionaries who serve
God by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit tell us who Jesus is, and the Holy Spirit tell us that the people need the Lord.
I have used the global to show them where I come from and now where I live and how to serve God through Bible translation. I brought my Korean and English Bible with me and show them that the Mihi tribal people need the Bible in their own mother language. Thankfully 5 teachers allowed me to come to their each class room to share the gospel.
Some kids said that they want to be missionaries when they grow up to share the gospel of Christ like me. We never know how God leads the little ones lives for His glory.
I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1
Our son Geoffrey, Stephanie with our granddaughter and Joshua, and
Sally have visited to be with Seong. Seong had a joyful time with our
sons and daughter in laws and especially he was so happy being with
granddaughter Skyey who just turned 1 year old at that time. And it also
was blessing time for our children that they see God’s grace through
this difficult circumstance as God has spared Seong’s life. We have
shed happiness and thankfulness tears and praised His name. We
were so touched by our sons were telling us that God answered their
prayers. They had prayed and asked God to spare their father’s life
“Heavenly Father! Some believers would say “a missionary passed
away through serving God greatly” but do not let him die as a hero missionary. Please spare his life so that he can be an ordinary loving father to us who loves the Lord and serves Him.” It was a beautiful and precious time as our two sons shared with joyful tears with us this testimony how God spared Seong’s life and how God answered all our prayers.
October, 2013, When Seong was well enough we have traveled to Cairns base hospital for a checkup in 6 weeks’ time with the specialist who did Seong’s surgery in Townsville hospital. The vascular doctor also has visited Cairns base hospital.
December, and January 2014: It was one of our best Christmas and New Year as we had a wonderful family time we have not been for years as we always were with the Mihi people, even though God has blessed us through Seong’s painful operation. Especially we have got encouraged and comforted by 12 months old of our first granddaughter Skyey at that time but now 15th of August will be 2 years old. She melts our heart. Great thing and full of thankfulness was that God has spared Seong’s life again. A new day, a new year, a new thoughts and mind with desiring to share the gospel of Christ! Wonder what God has for each one of us this year! Whatever lies ahead, it is great to know that
He holds our future in His hands, and He will keep us in His mercy and grace. So, each day is a new gift from God, and His mercy and grace is poured out upon us as we trust and depend on Him. Page 4
We have prayed to God as we go about our days, have asked HIM to direct us in the choices we are making and to empower us for the ministry we need to get done for the Mihi Tribal people. As we acknowledge that God is always with us, we will keep HIM first in everything us set out to do in HIM. We trusted we follow the moment by moment, day by day leading of the Holy Spirit will cause us to enjoy every day of our life. Our prayer was to resting in Him, and excited to see what wonders God performs throughout 2014. I sing this poem “One day at a time, and the day is His
day, He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay. His grace is sufficient! We walk not alone, as the day, so the strength that He giveth His own” At the end of January, 2014 How we were excited when we were told that we can go back to the field in PNG when we had last meeting with the vascular surgeon who has had Seong’s operation. He was a Christian and He said it was
only by God’s grace that Seong is still alive and it was truly miracle. He also believed that God has spared Seong’s life.
He gave glory to God through Seong’s operation. The size of Seong’s main artery bulged near his heart was 9cm. it should have burst causing death within a few hours but Seong was still alive for 13 hours until the operation could be started at Townsville hospital. One thing is that he has a pitiful heart for Seong, because descending aorta has had tears but he could have done only ascending aorta. The surgical teams have only operated on the front part of the
main ascending artery this time. He couldn’t do the operation at the same time because it would have been a big operation as it is the back of the heart. He said Seong’s aorta must be checked at least every 6 months or once a year but it depends on how Seong’s high blood pressure can be controlled well.
February, 2014: We had a beautiful time with our granddaughter. But Seong couldn’t hold her or lift her because it was processing time of healing his sternum and not allowed carry heavy stuff but it was so lovely to watch her acting cute.
4th of March, 2014: We had special meeting with NTM doctor and one of the leadership of the Highlands HQ in NTM clinic at PNG field HQ, and had another meeting with the highlands
leadership at the Highlands HQ on the same day but two different
places. It was not easy for all of us as we had to answer our thoughts
regarding Seong’s death in the future. Even though the Australian
doctors have given Seong to go-ahead to return to our Bible translation
work after his recovery from Thoracic Aorta Aneurism, NTM doctors
were reminding us that because Seong has had two dear death
emergency evacuation in the past due to aneurisms, and also his
descending aorta has had tears at this stage, so it is very risky for us to
live in a remote and isolated location again. And there also will be no
NTM chief pilot for medevac flight this year as he goes back to USA for
his furlough. Hence, we might be faced Seong’s death if it happened
again the field. NTM doctors have mentioned that it would be better for
all of us to prepare for Seong’s death. *We need to prepare our heart
what, how to do with Seong’s dead body if God took his life in the Mihi
Tribe. *Reality of is that we had to make decision whether Seong’s body
will be buried in the Mihi Tribe or taken out to Goroka, town. *If Seong
wants his body to be cremated in Goroka town, NTM staff should find
out the place to cremate. *Ready for death certificate, make decision
and find out how to carry the ashes to Australia where our sons are or
Korea etc. *The doctor has even mentioned that we should apply for
funeral insurance. *Prepare the big plastic zipper bag to carry Seong’s dead body. *We should let our sending church, our sons and family about this matter. *Find out how to be carried the box of ashes by Air Niugini aircraft, etc. Even though we have heard and talked about sad and heavy conversation but we have laughed and have made jokes. I was holding my tears during the meeting but the conversations were unbearable for us. My sorrowful heart burst into tears that flowed down on my cheeks when the doctor said to prepare the large plastic zipper bag, to carry Seong’s
dead body. We have closed the meeting with prayers of trusting and depending on Him. Seong was silent but he wrapped up this meeting with a joke, “Thank God! God has spared my life and has blessed me. I am a blessed man who could prepare my own death while I am still alive! What a blessed man I am! Only by His mercy and grace, I am here and can face tomorrow! I am not afraid when He calls me.”
6th of March, 2014: NTM doctor thoroughly checked Seong and he was pleased to see the report of the doctors of Cairns base hospital and Townsville hospital. NTM doctors said that he would not allow us to come back to the field if we are young couple. Young missionaries must consider their children, family and their church prayer partners, but we are old and surely NTM doctors know that our desire is to be with the Mihi people for their salvation. And they thought it would be great for Seong to come back to the field a he desires to prepare for the rest of his life as God has spared
his life until HE calls him. Seong should check his high blood pressure 3 times a day and write on the paper, and the must report it through email to the doctor once a week. And Seong must come out from the bush to see the doctor once 3 months, and he should go to Cairns base hospital once 6 months or once a year, it depends on his health condition, to take CT scan, to check the enlargement of descending aorta. Now true lumen is quite narrow and stable at this stage, but it can be burst or ruptured if Seong’s high blood pressure gone up without knowing of how Seong is
in danger. Page 5
Knowing that we have a lot of work to do to get ready to prepare for teaching of Creation to Christ, so praying for our mental and physical well-being, it is hard to think through so much when we have a heavy heart and physically challenged.
The 14th of March, 2014 According to Acts 20:22-24: “God has compelled us, we are here in the field for the Mihi tribal people’s salvation, not knowing what will happen to us here. We only know that in every place, the Holy Spirit warms us that hardships are face us. However, we consider our lives worth nothing to us, if only we may finish the race and complete task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Finally we came home where our heart already was and where the people were waiting. NTM pilot came to our village after we left PNG for Seong’s medevac to tell the village people unknown future Seong’s situation. Some people thought Seong was dead or some people
thought we won’t come back. They said they felt their hope was gone.
What a wonderful and memorable moment that we all had with the
Mihi tribal people on Friday, the 14th of March. It is hard to describe
with even many words how the Mihi tribal people have welcomed us
as we came back to the village after Seong’s operation. There were so
many the Mihi people have waited for Seong at the helicopter pad.
The people rubbed the black and brown color mud all over their face
and their heads and body to show us their heart of lamentation. Some
people threw their body and rolled their bodies on the ground to show
their tearing heart. We all cried and cried. It was a wailing of ocean
with mixture feelings of mourning with joyful tears. We are
overwhelmed with the hearts of gratitude. Our hearts were too full
words. Our translation helpers made a sedan to let Seong sat on a
sedan chair that made out of the bush rough timber and 6 men carried
him down on their shoulders. They showed their respect Seong with
their hearts of gratitude. We had to ride NTM helicopter for Seong
even though it cost much more than the small plane Cessena as he
shouldn’t hike from the airstrip to my house as it is quite steep and
rough mountains. NTM missionary came along with us and he filmed for one hour how they welcomed us and how they showed their love for their missionaries. Many people say that we are
out of mind or foolish. They have questioned, What made us come
back! and What is our motivation! It was a good opportunity that God
has used their worldly thinking and mind for us to share our motivation
and His desire of their salvation.
15th of March: Days went by with burst tears, flowing tears of sorrow for Seong and had sleepless night. Daily living was often filled with unexpected dangers. We never know what lies ahead as we begin each new day, daily security is having an unwavering confidence that God is in absolute control and personally involved in every detail of life. We pray that we must be willing to accept His help and remain close to Him wherever He leads. On Saturday morning, it was such a beautiful and peaceful break morning. The village people were still in their hut as sitting around the fire
place to make their body warm as they cook in the ashes their staple, living on the sweet potatoes. I stood up at our back veranda, the beautiful sun rises, was looking down thick jungle trees, the clouds sitting on the mountaintop, wind blows to the south and turns to the north as it touches the leaves, hanging the spider webs every corner of threes, morning dew on the leave like crystal, I felt as God was holding and hugging me with His gentle arms, and softly said, “It is a new day and new Seong. Do not wait for Seong’s death but wait on Me as I am holding his life for each day be
thankful and joyful heart as Seong is at beside you moment by moment and day by day.”
Seong will say, as David in Psalms 118:17-21 “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.”
From the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I the LORD, do all these things. Isaiah 45:6-7
April, 2014: Day after day, week after week, we had many Mihi visitors
from different villages. They wanted see the scars of Seong’s
operation. They said “Show us the hand mark of God!” They have
seen Seong’s operation on his tummy 2013. It was shocking operation
scars on the tummy because when they operate their pig’s tummy, the
pig never survived but Seong’s tummy has got operated as a long
zipper scars but never died. Now they wanted to see the scars on his
chest as the sternum had to cut and joined with a special 8 wires.
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They have amazed what God can do and how wonderfully and fearfully God’s wisdom and knowledge can save human’s lives. May, 2014: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, Philippians 4:6
As you knew that I was heavy hearted in asking you to pray for our trip to Australia to apply for Seong’s Evacuation insurance. You can imagine how difficult all the decision making was for us and how hard it was to go forward with the recommendation of others when our hearts was telling us that we wanted to be with the ministry of teaching the gospel to the Mihi people we love so much. And we have just got back home after Seong’s operation. It was just about to settle again in the bush. But it was required in the NTM-PNG field policy about having full medical insurance. This
means that we needed to return, as soon as possible, to Australia to go through the process of applying for medical insurance. We took the leadership’s message as God’s voice wanted us to prepare for unknown time of Seong’s death.
Hence, we went to Australia and have applied for Seong’s Evacuation insurance for pre-existing conditions and I have applied for Budge insurance for 5 months. We have to apply again in September for 12 months when we go to Cairns base hospital for Seong’s medical checkup. And we came back home here in the bush after 3 weeks as we desired.
We thank God for His provision and thank you so much that you have prayed with us for our financial needs. June, 2014: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be save. Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ. Romans 10,13-17
We are quite busy to translate for the Bible lessons and teaching them how to read and write in the literacy class. And I also teach 7 men how to play the guitar and to play on keyboard. I am dreaming to see them that they would sing in their own mother tongue to praise God with joyful songs. We used to have 14 translation helpers but 6 new men have joined since we came back after Seong’s operation. God has poured His desiring heart of salvation upon them through Seong’s trial. It isn’t easy to serve them with hot and cold drinks, meal, and savory every day but break time
for snack and refreshment is their favorite time. They love to drink hot cocoa and hot coffee. They can taste those things only at my place as there is no market or store at all in this village. Everything is so special to them as they cannot able to buy or get them from any place else but through us. I must prepare lots of cookies. Every Friday is sleep over night for a time of fellowship and for team up. They bring their main staple the sweet potatoes and some
greens and I provide rice, noodle, oil and salt etc. Of course, their favorite time is eating desert and they love being in the fluorescent light so we run the small generator for them to enjoy over night at my place. They always eat noodle soup again in the midnight. Seong checks his high blood pressure three times a day and report his record to the doctor via email once a week. A month ago, the doctor has sent new medicine to drop down Seong’s high blood pressure but it makes him weak and tired but it helps Seong high blood pressure these days. I praise Him and thank
him for letting Seong just beside me for one more day. My worry and sorrow have gone. I am not thinking of Seong’s death but think of God’s mercy and grace upon him. I am pleased to see him doing wonderful deeds in the name of Jesus Christ. Tomorrow has not come yet! I will continually look forward to seeing my LORD, how God holds Seong’s life each day to bless us to see His grace that saves the Mihi people. O we are blessed sinners who live in His presence by God’s mercy and grace! God’s merciful and gracious compassionated heart overwhelmed me. The joyful and thankful tears are pouring down on my cheeks, as I am captivated by the heart of God’s comfort. One day at a
time with my Lord, Christ Jesus, I will keep thanking for His grace and will keep pressing on our journey with Him prayerfully and peacefully. Our heavy hearts make us to pray daily with earnest heart and to make us meet our Lord deeply. Our prayer is the practice f the presence of Almighty God in every activity of our daily lives. Thank God! Seong is till right at beside me here among the Mihi tribal people! Pray with us that God gives us the time we need in the Mihi tribe to bring to gospel to the people and help them establish a lasting church to fellowship in and minister them. We
thank you so much from the bottom of our heart for your prayers and giving gift, words of encouragement. Keep praying with us for Seong’s health and our needs as we continue to walk with Christ for a long journey until the Mihi tribal people know Christ. We rest in Him and give all the glory to God! I pray God uses our testimony for His glory, even more than He has thus far.
Praise God that He watches over Seong’s health.
Praise God that He pours His desiring heart upon us for salvation for the lost.
Praise God that He gives His desiring heart to our translation helpers for their own people’s salvation.
Praise God for the work on translation going well joyfully.
Praise God for a special gift of God, Sally is about 10 weeks pregnant.
Pray for Seong’s health.
Pray for our translation, literacy class, for our financial needs.
Pray for our trip to Cairns base hospital in September and pray for our insurance.
Pray for the time of Sally’s pregnancy and the baby grows well.
Step by step in faith, we keep pressing on with a trusting heart and God’s protection. As the Lord has been faithful to go before us, each step of this unknown way, we trust God for His un-surpassing grace and wisdom for each step that lies ahead. In the grip of grace, Seong and Mina E-Mail: seongnmina_mun@ntm.org
GIVING FOR OUR MINISTRY (Financial Gifts are Tax Deductible)
Seong & Mina Mun, Gideon Fellowship International, 3226 45th St NE, Tacoma, WA 98422
Contact: Mira Kim 206.778.6596 Cell, mirasongkim@gmail.com
The way of transferring from your bank.
Bank: Wells Fargo, 1424 South 320th Street Federal Way, WA (253) 839-4312
Name: Gideon Fellowship International:
Routing No: 125008547, Account No: 9636724859, Wire Transfer Swift Code: 121000248
