He is Kim Tae Jin, and comes to us by way of China, North Korea, China again , North Korea again (this time through the prison system including well-known Yodok), again China, Mongolia, Seoul. And that's just the outline of his story. If you dare, read on.

His father was Chinese military, so he started out there. But he and his Korean mother returned in 1961 to North Korea when he was five. Went through the "educational" system, got a job, all in South Pyong-an Province. At age 30, a full grown adult, he decided to visit family in China. There he was arrested and forced back "home."

Then he was passed through North Korea's other education system, where one learns even more. The lessons are about fearing and then hating the Nortth Korean government, though that is not what is intended. First, torture in the "People's Safety Agency" (great names, yes?) near Chongjin. Four months later, more torture at the "National Security Agency" (right!). He was eventually accused of treason because of his family visit.

The torture? Beatings. Sleep deprivation. Forced to kneel or sit motionless for hours. Not permitted to wash, thus fleas, lice. Freezing temperatures in the jail cells.

Then on to "university." The "Revolutionizing Process Zone" at Yodok. Four years six months. A slave labor camp. Helps the body. Helps the mind. Keeps North Korea's economy barely afloat. Farming corn. Cutting trees into firewood. Making furniture. Serving the neurotic whims of Master Educator Kim Jong Il.

So what's so bad about farm work for a prisoner? Hey, after 8 months in confinement as described above, that's what the prisoners think at first. I can move around! But the food is meager, even before famine rations. To survive, he has to eat plants, grasses, rats, snakes, frogs. People around him dying from starvation every week. Personally witnessing public executions of those trying to escape. Still enduring beatings. Sit-down-stand-up exercises until he can barely sit up.

Four and one half long years. But at least, now free at last. Happy? No. His wife has to denounce him. It's the Communist way. Denounce and divorce anyone suspected of treason or you are supporting him and may be punished yourself.

Five more years. Finally he must leave this cruel land. Off to China. Off to Mongolia. Seoul in 2001.

I tried to warn you. It's not pleasant . Let us bear Kim Tae Jin's name to the Father tonight, along with all the other Tae's who are still at Yodok, Hoeryong, Chonjin, and all the others. How helpless we feel. But let us keep believing that God is working in all of this, having His perfect will. And as Mary said to the servants at Cana, "Whatever He says to you, do..."