Saturday, October 20

At the end of the day on Friday, after meeting Bishop K. H. Ting, we visited the Amity Foundation, of which he is Honorary Chairperson.  Amity Foundation is a Christian ministry of compassion, promoting education, social services, health and rural development throughout China.  Amity's work is extensive - in scope, scale and geography.  In receiving a recent award, it was cited for its "clear aims, pioneering spirit, high-quality corporate governance, professionalism, good reputation and the strong impact of its work."  That this is an accurate description is evident from the articulate, dedicated staff.  We heard how they have trained over 16,000 "barefoot doctors" - doctors who work in rural areas; how their special education of blind pre-schoolers resulted not only in young, blind children being able to participate in school in critical developmental years, but also elicited compassion from their classmates, who learned to guide, assist, and play with their peers.  Amity works with experts around the world on blindness prevention, special education and programs for the disabled, that have become models adopted in public education.  HIV/AIDS is a growing concern in China, as it is in so many parts of the world; and Amity is bringing awareness, care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS - and orphaned by it - to places of greatest risk.  English education, microfinance, church-run community development, volunteer service, inter-cultural learning and social exposure, clean water, environmental protection and more - they are modeling Christian compassion and service to people of all faiths and no faith under the leadership of Qui Zhonghui.  Helen Zhao, Deputy Director for the Integrated Development Division, was a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) peacemaker recently.  (To read more, see the link at left.)

On Saturday morning, we traveled to Seoul, our third time passing through in the airport.  This time, we got out.  We were met by Simon Park and Haejung Shin Park, both PC(USA) mission workers.  The Parks first served in the Congo, worked in the United States, and are now based in Korea.  Haejung is a chaplain at Hannam University, and Simon works in many parts of Asia and the world, including some important current projects for us in the United States and Pakistan.  They now live on the campus of Hannam University, in the Talmadge house, named after the first Presbyterian missionaries who resided there.  Grateful for the accommodations provided to them, they in turn open their home to visiting pastors and scholars, serving as "innkeepers" (an image drawn from the innkeeper in the story of the Good Samaritan).

We were hosted for dinner by Lee Sang Yoon, President of Hannam University and Choe Young-Keun, Vice President.  Hannam University was started 50 years ago by Presbyterians, beginning with a student body of a couple of hundred.  Today, 13,000 students study in numerous departments as undergraduates and graduate students.  Avowedly a Christian school, the student body is about one third Christian.  All students are required to contribute 72 hours of community service.  When asked what he envisions for the future, President Lee didn't hesitate.  "To be the best university in Asia," he quickly replied.  Hannam has joined the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities, our association of PC(USA) affiliated schools.  Again and again, President Lee expressed his deep and genuine appreciation for the founding by - and longstanding relationship and support of - the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).