A young married couple in North Korea, Mee and Yong, were expecting a baby boy. But then Yong, the husband, was arrested as a “political prisoner.” (A political prisoner is someone who is arrested for disagreeing with people in power, and speaking out about it.) North Korean officials arrest people who they think do not agree with them, including many Christians.
Yong was put in prison, and officials told Mee that she must not have the baby. They did not want a child born to someone who disagreed with them. Mee gave birth to her baby, Min, in secret.
Hiding
Friends and some family members were scared that the baby would cause them trouble with the government. North Korea officials often punish entire families if one person in the family breaks strict North Korean rules. Mee feared that the friends and relatives might harm Min, and she cried often.
Mee found a kind grandmother in a nearby village to take care of the baby. She gave the grandmother food and milk and asked her to keep Min hidden inside.
But Min got very sick. Mee had to take him to the hospital. When the hospital workers found out that Min was the son of a prisoner, they kicked him out.
Mee and Min moved to another village where they lived safely for a while. But one day they watched a DVD from South Korea in their home. The government does not allow North Koreans to watch movies from other countries. The leaders want to control what the citizens see and hear.
Somehow officials found out about the DVD. Perhaps a neighbor noticed the DVD through a window and reported Mee. The authorities came to search Mee and Min’s house. When they searched the house, they found out that Min was Yong’s son. Min and Mee were in danger of going to prison, too.
At great risk, they escaped from North Korea to another country. In their new land, they learned about Jesus and His love for them. Now they believe that their troubles were part of God’s plan for them. “God chose and called my family and saved me from death,” said Mee. “I glorify the name of Jesus.”
To Talk About
- What do you suppose the North Korea government doesn’t want people to learn about life in other countries?
- How did Min and Mee’s problems lead to something good?
- Can you think of a situation in your life or someone else’s in which something bad brought about something good?
- Pray for those in North Koreans prisons who are separated from their families.
To protect their identities, the names of some of the people on this website and some identifying details have been changed.
