God Has Opened the Way: We Are Heading to Korea

[김현중]

April 2026 Update from Missionaries Hyonjung Kim & Hyojung Kim

Dear beloved ministry partners,

As April comes to an end, we greet you from Calgary, Canada, where we are still waiting for spring to fully arrive. Today, heavy snow fell once again. Yet when we think of what God is doing, our hearts are already filled with warmth and hope.

We spent 12 years in the tropical country of the Philippines, and now we are entering our 7th year in the winter land of Canada. Though the environments are different, we continue to witness the unchanging faithfulness of God wherever we are.

For many years, we have been serving through library ministry and reading movement outreach centered around Dongsan Church in the Philippines. At first, it may have looked like simply helping children read books. But over time, we clearly saw that this work has become a powerful tool for building the church and raising the next generation.

Through books, children’s lives are being changed. Those children are being connected to the church, learning the Word of God, and carrying faith back into their homes and communities. The library has become more than a room full of books—it has become a missionary touchpoint where the Gospel enters everyday life, and the church has become the community that disciples and nurtures the fruit.

In this flow of ministry, educators, church leaders, and scholarship students who have been serving with us will be visiting Korea this year.

Especially meaningful is the fact that several of the youth and young adults joining this trip are students who have been raised through your prayers and support. They are living testimonies of how your generosity has been growing in real lives.

Recently, obtaining Korean visas has become very difficult. However, by God’s grace, every single applicant was approved. We truly confess that the Lord opened the way.

This visit is not simply a tour or sightseeing trip. It will be a significant turning point to clarify ministry direction and expand future missions.

They will experience firsthand how Korea’s small libraries and churches work together, and how library ministry can be organically connected with church ministry.

By witnessing the example of Korean churches that have been built through sacrifice, service, and missions, the educators, leaders, and scholarship students joining this trip will return to their communities with renewed vision—to build churches and raise the next generation in their own regions.

Most of all, it is a great joy that they will be able to personally meet many of you who have supported them through prayer and giving. Relationships once connected only through names and photographs will now become face-to-face moments of grace.

This trip has been made possible through the generous help of the Korea Small Library Association and Chairman Jung Kiwon.

Participants will visit various regions of Korea to learn directly about:

• Small library operations
• Reading culture
• Educational systems

The trip will take place from May 21 to May 31, 2026 (10 nights / 11 days). They will visit Incheon, Seoul, Iksan, Jeonju, Gochang, Jeongeup, Suncheon, Gwangyang, and other cities to share together in both library ministry and church ministry.

---

👥 Participants (11 Total)

These are educators, church leaders, and scholarship students who have been serving together in the Philippines.

From an 81-year-old library leader to a 4-year-old child, this team represents multiple generations walking together.

---

• Fe Abelardo (81, Female)
  Head Librarian, ICCT University

---

• Maria Rosario (71, Female)
  Early Childhood Education Specialist / Textbook Author

---

• Dr. Luis Gatmaitan (57, Male)
  Children’s Book Author / Medical Doctor

---

• Aireen Abelardo (56, Female)
  Artist

---

• John Elijah (26, Male)
  Pastor, Hilltop Worldview Church Philippines

---

• Mary Ann (31, Female)
  Church Leader / Finance Coordinator

---

• Reina Matudan (23, Female)
  University Student (Nursing Major)

---

• Mark Gayapa (20, Male)
  University Student (Automotive Technology Major)

---

• Maribel Gayapa (18, Female)
  University Student (Education Major)

---

• Kristine Goroy (14, Female)
  High School Student

---

•  

---

🇰🇷 Korea Visit Schedule

📅 May 21 – May 31, 2026

May 22 (Fri) – Arrival in Incheon
May 23 (Sat) – Incheon Tour (Grand Park, Chinatown, Wolmido, Yeongjongdo)
May 24 (Sun) – Church Visit & Worship
May 25 (Mon) – Iksan: Book Love Library, Yucheon Library
May 26 (Tue) – Jeonju: Ajung Lake Library, Hanok Village, Jeonju University
May 27 (Wed) – Gochang: Hwang Yunseok Library, Dolmen Site, Book Village Haeri / Jeongeup: Matthew Church
May 28 (Thu) – Suncheon Bay National Garden / Gwangyang: Yonggang Central Church
May 29 (Fri) – Seoul: National Museum, Myeongdong, Namsan, Bukchon / Bundang: Hodoae Library
May 30 (Sat) – Osan: Mulhyanggi Arboretum / Homestay with supporters
May 31 (Sun) – Church Visit / Return to Manila

---

❤️ How You Can Help

We confess that God has opened this door. Yet we also stand before real financial needs.

A round-trip ticket from Canada to Korea cost approximately 1.5 million KRW($1,000), and tickets from the Philippines to Korea cost over 500,000 KRW per person($340). Due to rising fuel surcharges, airfare costs have become much higher than originally expected.

After arriving in Korea, additional expenses include lodging, transportation, meals, and travel between cities.

Honestly, as we prepared for this ministry, fear sometimes came over us. We wondered, “Can we really carry this?” Yet we choose to take one more step forward, trusting the God who has led us this far.

So we humbly ask for your partnership.

Whether through one night of lodging, one shared meal, transportation help, practical supplies, or prayer support—every act of kindness will help complete this journey.

🚐 Transportation Support (Very Important)

Because we will travel to several regional cities, we need a van or passenger vehicle that can accommodate 11 people.

🏠 Lodging Support

If you can host for even one night or part of the schedule, it would be a great blessing.

🍽 Meal Support

Our Filipino guests are excited to experience Korean food 😊
(Samgyeopsal, grilled fish, dakdoritang, bibimbap, gukbap, etc.)

🥪 Simple Food Supplies

Breakfast and light meal support is also appreciated:

• Sandwiches
• Cereal
• Instant rice
• Seaweed
• Milk
• Fruit

---

🙌 Please Join Us

This trip is not simply travel.

👉 It is about building lives.
👉 It is about transforming the next generation of a nation.

It is God’s work.

Your prayers and support will help complete this journey.

---

🙏 Prayer Requests

1. Provision for church land and future building project
   That God would open the way and provide all necessary finances.
2. Many people to join the “Buy One Square Meter” project
   That small acts of generosity would come together to build God’s church.
3. A safe, healthy, and fruitful Korea trip
   That every participant would remain healthy, protected, and strengthened throughout the journey.
   That all meetings with churches and supporters would be full of grace.
   That this trip would become a new bridge and launching point for future missions.
4. Spiritual growth of all Dongsan Church members in the Philippines
   That they would stand firm in faith and mature deeply through the Word and prayer.

---

We sincerely thank you for always standing with us through prayer and support.

In Christ,

Missionaries Hyonjung Kim & Hyojung Kim Family