Despite the very tense and difficult political situation regarding North Korea, we are grateful to report that we completed a very successful spring visit to DPRK from May 23 – June 4.  During the visit, we completed a final technical assessment at the National TB Reference Laboratory in preparation for a major renovation and refurbishing effort planned for later this year.  We also confirmed at 18 different locations the delivery and distribution of multiple container shipments, including food, medicine, medical supplies, greenhouse supplies, and fertilizer that had recently arrived.  We shared in the joy of final completion of the 4th hospital operating suite renovation project at the Kaesong TB Hospital.  Our technical team, in partnership with local staff and officials, worked hard  last October towards this effort.  We also rejoiced over the completion of the Hwangju TB Rest Home rebuilding effort accomplished by members of the local community over the winter months, using building supplies provided by a special CFK donations.  Please see our newly posted newsletter for more details on these projects and current efforts.

We are deeply grateful for your support that helps us cover shipping costs, and our faithful long-term partners that help us fill containers with food and other necessities.  Our shipments, given in the name of Christ, are bringing healing and hope to the lives of tens of thousands of ordinary North Koreans and we are deeply grateful for your love and sacrifice on their behalf.

We are deeply concerned about the resurgence of TB in the DPRK.   We heard reports during our visit that food shortages and other hardships persist, much the same as last year.  A recent joint UN food security survey indicates that despite a relatively good harvest in 2008, 8.7 million people will be in need of the most basic food support this year, up from 6 million last year.  In this circumstance, their bodies are not able to fight off infections very well, and many are succumbing to active tuberculosis infection.  In discussions that we had with the World Health Organization in October '08 and again in June '09, they confirmed to us that they expect there will be a significant shortage of TB medicine for 2009 because existing funding sources have been exhausted and new resources have not been fully identified.  This means that unless more medicine can be sent quickly, many patients will have to wait, in many cases for months, before they can begin treatment.  During this time, their infection will worsen, some will die, and many will remain contagious to others.  We are working very hard to try to raise more funds in order to send the medicine needed by our supported area, and more if possible, so that it can be shared with other areas that are also in great need.

Matthew 25: 36, 40

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Books available by Eloise Reid Frary

Elevy: Growing Up as a Missionary's Child in Korea in the 1920s

South of the Mountain ~ A Story of Faith in the Land of Morning Calm