Christian Science Sentinel, JULY 24, 1954
Relief for Korean Orphans and Widows
As a result of gifts made by The Mother Church, several orphanages in Korea have been enabled to improve the lot of the orphans in their care. In one instance a one-story frame building was erected for one hundred and twenty girls who had lived in tents which had been badly torn by winds and rains. The girls themselves helped in the erection of the new structure.
In another instance an orphanage situated on a farm and caring for one hundred children was enabled to rebuild one structure and erect another offering sanitary facilities. The improvements made it possible to care for an additional hundred children.
A third orphanage used its portion of the donation to repair the interior of its building, which is located in one of the most devastated sections of the city, and to buy additional property to serve as a playground for the children who otherwise roamed around.
A babyfold has been much helped by the financial assistance given, for the temporary quarters it had occupied were about to be taken away. It has now taken title to a piece of land upon which to build its own structure, and work has already begun. The couple in charge of the babyfold had never thought of caring for babies, but were led into it through their love for them. They have made great personal sacrifices in order to help the babies.
Six other orphanages were helped in various ways. All homes are in the care of Christians, and the children receive a Christian education. The recipients expressed much gratitude for the loving help given.
Before leaving for duty elsewhere, a Christian Science chaplain in Korea distributed about thirty-eight parcels of clothing he had received from Christian Science branch churches in the United States. Because he had heard of a very worthy institution which housed only widows of Protestant ministers who had been killed, he decided to take all the packages to this home. When he got there, he found ninety widows and three hundred and twenty-four children living under appalling conditions. They had practically no means of support, and it was evident that no one was helping them. The packages were received with wide-eyed astonishment and gratitude.
Two days later it was reported to the chaplain that one of the widows had been mentally deranged, owing to worry about herself and three children, but when she saw the packages she realized that someone cared about them and that God would look after them. She set about helping to unpack the clothes and busied herself in altering the garments for the people who would wear them. It was then realized that she was healed of her disturbed mental condition. She is now perfectly sound mentally. The superintendent and others in the widows’ home attribute this healing to the change which came over her upon the arrival of these packages from Christian Science churches.
Another great need was met through the distribution of CARE parcels. As contributions for CARE parcels for Korea continued to be received by The Mother Church, our chaplains were asked to distribute the packages where they were most needed. In this instance, also, a worker was able to give instant relief to a group of very needy widows. They had just moved to the mainland from a nearby island to which they and their children had been evacuated, and they had applied for their rice rations. The day the CARE parcels ordered by The Mother Church arrived, the pastor in charge of the school home for the widows came to say that the government had not yet processed their application for rations and that the little community was desperately short of food. The CARE food parcels were immediately turned over to them to meet the emergency.
