Meet Justin. He is born in one of the most brutal countries in the world, North Korea, where fear and horror fill the streets. At the same time, he is born into the hands of a loving mother, who loves him and takes care of his every need.
Up until the age of 9, Justin has a pretty decent life as far as he is concerned. He works hard on the family farm feeding animals. During his free time he hangs out with his friends, kicks balls around, and jumps fences. All this happens under the tender watch of his mother who feeds and clothes him despite her own pain. This pain comes from losing 3 children to starvation and medical complication. These horrific events lead to a moment of desperation; she gets on her knees and prays to whoever is listening. What starts out as an act of concern results in her being thrown in jail for a year. Religion is not tolerated. With his father away in China, Justin and his 11 year old brother are left to fend for themselves.
Anger is brewing within Justin towards the North Korean government. They have taken away the one person who makes life good and bearable. He starts dreaming about escaping to America, because his government hates America. He believes this is the best way he can pay back the government.
A year comes and goes
and his mother is back home with him. He shares his dream, many laugh but his mother
trusts him and encourages him. Plans of escape swirl in his head. Money is
needed since his mom has spent all the family’s money on rescuing his father
when the Chinese government returns him to North Korea. He wants to go to China
to find his relatives and get some money.
Dangerous rivers and
border police are fears that he has to face at the tender age of 17. One day he
is in China and the next he is back in North Korea, and thrown in prison.
Death, hunger, uncertainty, and misery are his friends in captivity. Tears
roll down his cheeks. Nothing happens and now choices lie ahead. He can give up
and waste away to his death or keep going. His dream of leaving this dreaded
country is only further supported by the constant love and encouragement of his mom.
His mother will do anything
to save him including bribing the local police to go pick him up and bring
him back to the local jail. He is able to sleep at home and work at the police
station during the day. Then it all comes to a screeching stop when he is
driven by hunger to steal from a government farm. A neighbor rats him out.
The fear of Justin going back to jail is unacceptable to his mother, so she tells her husband to take him to China immediately. They wander a forest in China for 10 days only to be deceived into working for a gang who treats them like slaves. They barely escape just to end up working for people who refuse to pay them. These people threaten to report them to the Chinese police if they say anything about it. Things get worse for Justin and his dad, but Justin is determined to have a better life in America with his family. At all times, Justin remembers his mom's faith in him. So they keep working and save every penny until his mother and brother can join them in China.
Through the assistance of an agency that helps North Korean refugees come to America from China, Justin and his family go to Laos until it is time to move to America. The agency asks him where he wants to live in America; he says somewhere cold, so it’s off to Rochester, NY they go. They journey doesn't end here for Justin as tragedy hits once again.
His mother dies in 2011. What Justin doesn't know is that her legacy remains in him. According to
Justin, his mother is just an ordinary woman, quiet and boring, but what she leaves him is no less than extraordinary. Her legacy is one of love, trust,
faith, encouragement, and perseverance. He dreams of America and he is able to achieve it with the love and encouragement from his mom. He
tells his mom before she dies that he wants to go back to North Korea and change the country for better. The same hands that have lovingly tend
for him all these years have given Justin the hands that will continue her legacy to make his dreams come true. The fear of Justin going back to jail is unacceptable to his mother, so she tells her husband to take him to China immediately. They wander a forest in China for 10 days only to be deceived into working for a gang who treats them like slaves. They barely escape just to end up working for people who refuse to pay them. These people threaten to report them to the Chinese police if they say anything about it. Things get worse for Justin and his dad, but Justin is determined to have a better life in America with his family. At all times, Justin remembers his mom's faith in him. So they keep working and save every penny until his mother and brother can join them in China.
Through the assistance of an agency that helps North Korean refugees come to America from China, Justin and his family go to Laos until it is time to move to America. The agency asks him where he wants to live in America; he says somewhere cold, so it’s off to Rochester, NY they go. They journey doesn't end here for Justin as tragedy hits once again.
Photo Credit: Joanna Ra
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