"Another girl!" When I was born my dad was very unhappy with another girl. He worked at the Town Hall in our small South Korean town.
 
          My stay-at-home mother had accepted Christ as her Savior and Lord when she was pregnant with me and became a very devoted Christian.  My dad did not like it at all, and he persecuted my mom in many ways.  As a child I did not know all of what went on, but I know my mom suffered. Even so, mom's faith was very strong, and she was never shaken no matter what happened. I went to church all the time with her.  I learned about God's love and forgiveness and became a Christian when I was a little girl, but I know God had a plan to increase my faith.

Eventually, my dad found a concubine he thought might provide that son he really wanted. It caused great family pain.  Later he abandoned us and moved out of the area with his concubine. I hated my dad so much for what he had done to mom and to us.
 
The economy was horrible after the Korean War. If you had enough to eat each day, you were considered rich.  Abandoned by my father, we obviously did not have enough. It was extremely hard for mom, but she worked very hard and did everything in her power to provide for us.  She prayed hard and trusted God for everything.  We were hungry many times, but we did not die of starvation.  God was meeting our needs. 

When I was in high school, my dad declared bankruptcy in his drugstore business and came back home with empty hands and 2 more girls.   Mom forgave him and took him back, although I just couldn't understand why. Personally, my concern was a strong desire to go to college; but it just seemed impossible, since my parents were not able to support me.  The best scholarships at that time included a waiver of tuition and fees, but none paid for living expenses.
 
My mom and I prayed about it.  God was preparing me, increasing my faith, and ready to show His hand once again in my life.  God provided a better scholarship than I ever thought possible through a peace core volunteer working in my high school. Not only were tuition and fees paid, but also all the other expenses for me to study at a university for 4 years!  Everything was provided!   It was awesome to see God's provision for my needs for higher education! 
 
Some years later, Dad repented of all of his wrong doings and prayed to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord.  God answered our prayers of many years for his salvation!  God loved each member of my family, and step by step He revealed His plan for us.  Part of His plan for me was to take the faith of a small child and increase it through numerous expressions of His love.
 
I know God is love. He forgave all my mistakes and wrong doings.  He loves me always so dearly.  He answers my prayers all the time with yes, no, or wait. He gives me peace that passes all understanding.  He gives me purpose to live. He gives me power to live a victorious life.
 
 "God so loved the world that He gave His only son and whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)