Elder Dong-rip Lee
(1-1 Parish; Teacher at Sudo Girls' High School)

Elder Dong-rip Lee has since taught the history of Korea and the world at schools for 28 years. He says that he feels as if he completed his military service and started teaching at school just two or three days ago. He remembers many things that have occurred to him during his service to the schools: Having concentrated on teaching from 6 am until 11 pm; Having petitioned to the police on the behalf of the parents of bad students; Having stayed outside all night with students to open the door to conversations with them; Having been impressed at the letters students gave him on the Teachers' Day; and many more.
"No matter how unclean the world is, schools are still clean and pure, so there are so many people who have the innocent and warm hearts at schools" says he. "No one knows what kind of person one will become in the future, whether he is good at study or he is deemed to be a problem at his school. I am always happy with them because I look to them only with the eyes of faith."
Amidst his service as a teacher he met with a turning-point in his life. "In December, 1991, I was led to Manmin Church by my wife, Senior Deaconess Keum-sun Yoo. While listening to the messages, I started repenting of my sins, quit smoking and drinking and determined to lead a proper Christian life. In prayers I was healed of my tympanitis and came to have the assurance of the life after death. The purpose of my life turned into God-centered one."

And he realized he had tried to put his students into the frameworks of a good student he saw fit although he thought he loved the students, and changed his attitude and tried to understand them. Afterwards he has done his best not only to give them knowledge but also to tell them the love of God.

He has prayed for his students, their parents and homes every day, and expressed his care and love to the students who were not interested in study by emailing or sending letters to them. When he prayed to spread the Lord's love to many more students, God let him transfer from a private school to public school, and thereby moving to other schools time and again and having chances to meet with new students.

"I am teaching history, so at my class I explain to the students about the cultivation of mankind, heaven and hell, and the gospel while teaching them the origin of mankind, history of Israel and Middle Age of Europe. By planting the truth into their hearts that are pure and innocent, I wish for them to realize how precious they are and become the light and salt of the world." Thus, he reveals his affection to them.

- Reported and written by Jennifer Lim (manminnews@hotmail.com)