Greetings from Taiwan and Jeju

We’re sharing the Jeju team’s news from Taiwan. Emily is visiting Taiwan in order to join the meeting of Inter-Island Solidarity for Peace ten days so far. Dongwon also visited in these days to greet Emily’s family and relatives in Taiwan. Just after Dongwon’s arrival, Brother Song and Kaia returned back to Korea as well. I was so sorry to send them without having breakfast together but rushed to go to the airport from the early morning. All of you did good job indeed!

 The meeting of Inter-Island Solidarity for Peace has been successful as they still have many reflections among the participants. They have been in eastern Taiwan to meet the indigenous people, and watched together the film of ‘Gurombi’ related with Gangjeong village’s issue. They also stayed at the indigenous villager’s home. At there, they could share the plan for Okinawa camp in coming September. It seemed to be really good chance for visitors and local friends.

This is a sharing from last week in Jeju.

Since our tent was forcibly demolished at the front of the construction site of military housing, we built another ten at the opposite side of the site again. If there is a tent and stove to make our bodies warm up, people will gather at there even though the weather is cold. Roasting meat or sweet potatoes, listening music and chatting is common thing around there. It seems to be a shelter or guest house lounge rather than demonstration site. Villagers, peace activists and travelers are hanging around at there.

We had a welcome party, too. Quaker Chulgeun Oh, Chef Uncle Kim, Uncle Dokdo, a woman named rainbow and Dongwon were at there to celebrate for the Magaji housing association. Eating together, introduction and orientation for new resident of the house had a meeting simply. The residents agreed to give the new name of the Joongduk Samgori as the ‘Joongduk chon’. A villager of Gangjeong, Uncle Jonghwan voluntarily wants to be the chief of the village and then everybody became happy to get the chief.

In the weekend, we had a workshop to make wood stove. One of Jeju boiler expert came to teach us and Jeju team could get a stove. Dongwon tried to do welding at the first time. After Taiwan visiting, he wants to make fire on it.

We wish for your Happy Seolnal (Lunar New Year).

Prayer requests:

1. Pray that Gangjeong can break the walls between neighbors.

2. Pray that Joongduk chon could be a peaceful place.

3. Pray that Hosu could have a good restart after her contract has completed with The Frontiers. Brother Song and Kaia and other friends have a good rest after their meeting in Taiwan.