Dear Mark,

Thank you for the recent letter you sent to me. Thank you also for the book that you sent me! It is truly an amazing story.

As a rule, I generally read seventy-two pages of any book before I decide whether or not it’s worth reading. I read the first ten chapters of “If I Perish”. Ahn Ei Sook was on her way to Japan with Elder Park to bring the saving message to Japan after having to run, hide and dodge authorities in her own country At first I thought Mark sent me this book to give me a lesson on faith. Ahn Ei Sook knew of the potential danger and price she might pay for her refusal to worship the idols as mandated by Japanese authorities. She went further though at the mountain. Not only did she refuse to worship the fake idols, she boldly proclaimed that Christ was the true and only God.

So I thought I got the message. I thought of my own fears about the prospect of sharing the Word with other prisoners and how fearlessly Ahn Ei Sook proclaimed Christ knowing the risk and danger involved.

I asked myself a question. Was I really afraid of the danger involved? Or was I more afraid of what people would think and say about me. I’d have to let go of a tough outer image I use as a shield to protect me from potentially dangerous or violent convicts. If I act tough too, I could skate by and survive. But that’s not me. How will I make it if I let down the shield? Well I guess I’d become a “Jesus Freak”, “Holy Roller” or, “Bible Pusher”. But would God protect me? Do I have enough faith to let go of my false image, be who I am and trust Him for protection.

So that was the lesson. I thought I could put the book down and ponder over the thoughts and questions that were inspired. Chapter ten ended on page sixty-eight, and I still HAD to read four more pages. Elden Park (who is a bit of a nut case) inspired me to continue. While Ahn Ei Sook met with some key officials who may have been able to contribute to her cause. Elden Park decides to go into the Diet meeting and disrupt it by proclaiming Christ in his own way. I would have been like Peter if I were Ahn Ei Sook when officials asked her if she was with Elden Park.

Four pages turned in to twenty more chapters. I would have read the whole book nonstop had it not been for the lights that go off at midnight. As soon as the sun came up the next morning I finished the book.

I was amazed at all the things Ahn Ei Sook had to suffer and endure to survive in prison, such as the food, hunter, and constant fear of torture. Yet she volunteered to be imprisoned at the worst possible place, because that’s where her fellow Christians were suffering the most. She even sacrificed her freedom when it was offered.

Would I elect to move a crazed and condemned prisoner into my cell like she did, covered in the stench of urine with fecal matter on her feet. She actually took those feet into her bosom to keep the woman warm, while all the woman wanted to do was bite and harm her.

She did the same for another woman with a scab disease and her child.

What clicked into my head was when you wrote me and told me to thank God for all the little things. I can breathe fresh and clean air, feel the warmth of the sunshine, and look at the trees beyond the barbed wire fences of the prison yard. The food may be bad, but thank God I am not starving from malnutrition. When I have no sap, I wash with a bar of laundry soap that burns my skin. But Thank God I’m able to wash and keep clean. When I can’t afford a tube of toothpaste, I brush my teeth anyway and thank God for clean water, that’s more than likely treated with fluoride.

Mark, I wanted to write to you sooner to thank you for the book and tell you how much I enjoyed it. I didn’t have any envelopes or postage left for the month of June. I had to wait for the first of July because I get ten free envelopes each month.

In conclusion, Mark, I realize that I have tons of little things to thank God for!!

I still have some work to do on my faith and trusting in God’s protection, but one thing Ahn Ei Sook said that really struck home with me was that the more dangerous a situation may be, it is that much closer that God will be near! With that, knowingly I continue to pray for God’s will in my life, to build up my strength, my courage, my faith, and my trust.

Ahn Ei Sook is an exceptional example of such faith.

Thank you again and again Mark for your friendship and guidance. As always my prayers are with you so that you continue to touch people’s hearts and motivate them towards Christ as you have done with me?