when we think about the challenges and difficult times that we have faced in
difficult times that we have faced in
difficult times that we have faced in our lives we often remember our friends
our lives we often remember our friends
our lives we often remember our friends or communities that have helped us
or communities that have helped us
or communities that have helped us through those times today I want to
through those times today I want to
through those times today I want to share about one of the best communities
share about one of the best communities
share about one of the best communities that I’m a part of it’s name is Liberty
that I’m a part of it’s name is Liberty
that I’m a part of it’s name is Liberty in North Korea or link for short it’s
in North Korea or link for short it’s
in North Korea or link for short it’s also the name of NGO where I have the
also the name of NGO where I have the
also the name of NGO where I have the privilege of working at the full time
privilege of working at the full time
privilege of working at the full time staffer it’s a such a unique community
staffer it’s a such a unique community
staffer it’s a such a unique community because it shows that when we share our
because it shows that when we share our
because it shows that when we share our struggles help can come from the most
struggles help can come from the most
struggles help can come from the most unlikely places across borders cultures
unlikely places across borders cultures
unlikely places across borders cultures and even languages this linked community
and even languages this linked community
and even languages this linked community was started by young students as a
was started by young students as a
was started by young students as a response to the immense challenges that
response to the immense challenges that
response to the immense challenges that 25 million knows when people are facing
25 million knows when people are facing
25 million knows when people are facing and overcoming this is North Korea every
and overcoming this is North Korea every
and overcoming this is North Korea every year many North Korean people leave
year many North Korean people leave
year many North Korean people leave their families and friends in their home
their families and friends in their home
their families and friends in their home country to escape poverty and find
country to escape poverty and find
country to escape poverty and find freedom and human rights even after they
freedom and human rights even after they
freedom and human rights even after they successfully escaped from North Korea
successfully escaped from North Korea
successfully escaped from North Korea they’re still in danger many North
they’re still in danger many North
they’re still in danger many North Korean women including teenage girls get
Korean women including teenage girls get
Korean women including teenage girls get traffic in China and sold into a first
traffic in China and sold into a first
traffic in China and sold into a first marriage with Chinese men who are often
marriage with Chinese men who are often
marriage with Chinese men who are often much older than them this is the link
much older than them this is the link
much older than them this is the link community is made of this beautiful
community is made of this beautiful
community is made of this beautiful compassionate and courageous people on
compassionate and courageous people on
compassionate and courageous people on the left side there are some of the
the left side there are some of the
the left side there are some of the Norseman refugees who have reached
Norseman refugees who have reached
Norseman refugees who have reached freedom to our our rescue program which
freedom to our our rescue program which
freedom to our our rescue program which was made possible by links supporters
was made possible by links supporters
was made possible by links supporters around the world even after these North
around the world even after these North
around the world even after these North Korean refugees risk their lives
Korean refugees risk their lives
Korean refugees risk their lives crossing the border from North Korea to
crossing the border from North Korea to
crossing the border from North Korea to China the Chinese government doesn’t
China the Chinese government doesn’t
China the Chinese government doesn’t recognize them as refugees but instead
recognize them as refugees but instead
recognize them as refugees but instead defines them
defines them
defines them as illegal economic migrants if they’re
as illegal economic migrants if they’re
as illegal economic migrants if they’re caught in China they’re sent back to
caught in China they’re sent back to
caught in China they’re sent back to North Korea where they will face severe
North Korea where they will face severe
North Korea where they will face severe punishment for leaving their country we
punishment for leaving their country we
punishment for leaving their country we cover their faces and use pseudonyms to
cover their faces and use pseudonyms to
cover their faces and use pseudonyms to protect their family members who are
protect their family members who are
protect their family members who are still in North Korea if the North Korean
still in North Korea if the North Korean
still in North Korea if the North Korean regime finds out that these people have
regime finds out that these people have
regime finds out that these people have come to South Korea the families back
come to South Korea the families back
come to South Korea the families back home could be her rest were even
home could be her rest were even
home could be her rest were even punished there are the supporters of
punished there are the supporters of
punished there are the supporters of North Korean people through our work
North Korean people through our work
North Korean people through our work there from many different countries such
there from many different countries such
there from many different countries such as the u.s. the UK South Korea China New
as the u.s. the UK South Korea China New
as the u.s. the UK South Korea China New Zealand Nigeria and many other countries
Zealand Nigeria and many other countries
Zealand Nigeria and many other countries I could have kept going most of our
I could have kept going most of our
I could have kept going most of our supporters are young students that
supporters are young students that
supporters are young students that organize student clubs to raise money
organize student clubs to raise money
organize student clubs to raise money through fun and creative fundraising
through fun and creative fundraising
through fun and creative fundraising activities such as bake sales benefit
activities such as bake sales benefit
activities such as bake sales benefit concerts and different ordinance events
concerts and different ordinance events
concerts and different ordinance events on campus to fund our work to rescue
on campus to fund our work to rescue
on campus to fund our work to rescue North Korean refugees in danger thanks
North Korean refugees in danger thanks
North Korean refugees in danger thanks to their support and love as well as the
to their support and love as well as the
to their support and love as well as the resilience and courage of the North
resilience and courage of the North
resilience and courage of the North Korean people link has rescued more than
Korean people link has rescued more than
Korean people link has rescued more than 700 North Korean refugees and their
700 North Korean refugees and their
700 North Korean refugees and their children since 2010 and the number keeps
children since 2010 and the number keeps
children since 2010 and the number keeps increasing thank you
although there’s no scream people and
although there’s no scream people and many of their supporters have never met
many of their supporters have never met
many of their supporters have never met and live far away from each other they
and live far away from each other they
and live far away from each other they still come together to form this
still come together to form this
still come together to form this incredible community that overcomes
incredible community that overcomes
incredible community that overcomes challenges and spreads hope in this
challenges and spreads hope in this
challenges and spreads hope in this community I get to be a bridge between
community I get to be a bridge between
community I get to be a bridge between the North Korean people and their
the North Korean people and their
the North Korean people and their supporters my colleagues and I conduct
supporters my colleagues and I conduct
supporters my colleagues and I conduct written and video interviews with
written and video interviews with
written and video interviews with resettled North Korean refugees about
resettled North Korean refugees about
resettled North Korean refugees about how they overcome challenges achieve
how they overcome challenges achieve
how they overcome challenges achieve freedom and fulfill their potential in
freedom and fulfill their potential in
freedom and fulfill their potential in their new society sharing this inspires
their new society sharing this inspires
their new society sharing this inspires so many people around the world to get
so many people around the world to get
so many people around the world to get involved in their stories change how the
involved in their stories change how the
involved in their stories change how the world views the North can issues by
world views the North can issues by
world views the North can issues by putting the focus on the people rather
putting the focus on the people rather
putting the focus on the people rather than nuclear weapons work in German like
than nuclear weapons work in German like
than nuclear weapons work in German like this here in this picture I interview
this here in this picture I interview
this here in this picture I interview reset of North Korean people living in
reset of North Korean people living in
reset of North Korean people living in South Korea just to be clear this is how
South Korea just to be clear this is how
South Korea just to be clear this is how I look when I’m trying to engage when
I look when I’m trying to engage when
I look when I’m trying to engage when they’re sharing their stories not me
they’re sharing their stories not me
they’re sharing their stories not me wanting to go to the restroom or
wanting to go to the restroom or
wanting to go to the restroom or something one of the stories I’ve
something one of the stories I’ve
something one of the stories I’ve written is about joy
written is about joy
written is about joy pictured here Joe is an amazing North
pictured here Joe is an amazing North
pictured here Joe is an amazing North Korean woman that I had the privilege of
Korean woman that I had the privilege of
Korean woman that I had the privilege of working with if you ever meet her you
working with if you ever meet her you
working with if you ever meet her you know why her name is joy she’s so joyous
know why her name is joy she’s so joyous
know why her name is joy she’s so joyous and strong despite what she had gone
and strong despite what she had gone
and strong despite what she had gone through in North Korea in China she was
through in North Korea in China she was
through in North Korea in China she was rescued a few years of in China after
rescued a few years of in China after
rescued a few years of in China after she was sold to a Chinese man as a
she was sold to a Chinese man as a
she was sold to a Chinese man as a teenager at the time she was only 18
teenager at the time she was only 18
teenager at the time she was only 18 during her interview she revealed that
during her interview she revealed that
during her interview she revealed that she felt like a monkey in a zoo locked
she felt like a monkey in a zoo locked
she felt like a monkey in a zoo locked up with lost by old men who wanted to
up with lost by old men who wanted to
up with lost by old men who wanted to buy her as their teenage bride in rural
buy her as their teenage bride in rural
buy her as their teenage bride in rural China
she’s safe now living in South Korea
she’s safe now living in South Korea praise God and she attends University as
praise God and she attends University as
praise God and she attends University as a Social Work major she chose my major
a Social Work major she chose my major
a Social Work major she chose my major because she wants to work for other
because she wants to work for other
because she wants to work for other female North Korean refugees were also
female North Korean refugees were also
female North Korean refugees were also victims of sex trafficking in China she
victims of sex trafficking in China she
victims of sex trafficking in China she says that she feels a lot of love and
says that she feels a lot of love and
says that she feels a lot of love and support from our community so in return
support from our community so in return
support from our community so in return she is committed to giving back in love
she is committed to giving back in love
she is committed to giving back in love by helping others like herself in this
by helping others like herself in this
by helping others like herself in this community when we hear stories of North
community when we hear stories of North
community when we hear stories of North Korean people like Joyce we’re not only
Korean people like Joyce we’re not only
Korean people like Joyce we’re not only compelled to do something in response we
compelled to do something in response we
compelled to do something in response we also learn from North Korean people joy
also learn from North Korean people joy
also learn from North Korean people joy appreciates her basic freedoms like
appreciates her basic freedoms like
appreciates her basic freedoms like being able to study what she wants to
being able to study what she wants to
being able to study what she wants to study being of the trouble where she
study being of the trouble where she
study being of the trouble where she wants to travel which we often take for
wants to travel which we often take for
wants to travel which we often take for granted you know we all have travels to
granted you know we all have travels to
granted you know we all have travels to different degrees no matter where we are
different degrees no matter where we are
different degrees no matter where we are from right when we hear stories of
from right when we hear stories of
from right when we hear stories of courage like Joyce we are encouraged to
courage like Joyce we are encouraged to
courage like Joyce we are encouraged to find a hope and strength to overcome our
find a hope and strength to overcome our
find a hope and strength to overcome our own struggles another part of what we do
own struggles another part of what we do
own struggles another part of what we do is to help North Korean refugees adjust
is to help North Korean refugees adjust
is to help North Korean refugees adjust to South Korea by organizing gatherings
to South Korea by organizing gatherings
to South Korea by organizing gatherings where they connect with other North
where they connect with other North
where they connect with other North Koreans South Korean people and people
Koreans South Korean people and people
Koreans South Korean people and people from different parts of the world I find
from different parts of the world I find
from different parts of the world I find it very important to share with North
it very important to share with North
it very important to share with North can people that there are so many people
can people that there are so many people
can people that there are so many people around the world supporting them and
around the world supporting them and
around the world supporting them and they get to interact with some of our
they get to interact with some of our
they get to interact with some of our supporters at gatherings like this and
supporters at gatherings like this and
supporters at gatherings like this and meeting and even hearing of our
meeting and even hearing of our
meeting and even hearing of our supporters gave them so much
supporters gave them so much
supporters gave them so much encouragement in the midst of missing
encouragement in the midst of missing
encouragement in the midst of missing their families back home this was a few
their families back home this was a few
their families back home this was a few years ago when I went to visit to
years ago when I went to visit to
years ago when I went to visit to resettle North Koreans head Jung han-soo
resettle North Koreans head Jung han-soo
resettle North Koreans head Jung han-soo mom and daughter and this Julianne one
mom and daughter and this Julianne one
mom and daughter and this Julianne one of my closest friends and an avid
of my closest friends and an avid
of my closest friends and an avid supporter of North Korean people and my
supporter of North Korean people and my
supporter of North Korean people and my hair back then was just like that you
hair back then was just like that you
hair back then was just like that you know we all make mistakes right but I
know we all make mistakes right but I
know we all make mistakes right but I think my hair looks better now thanks to
think my hair looks better now thanks to
think my hair looks better now thanks to the help from my beautiful fiance
the help from my beautiful fiance
the help from my beautiful fiance Miranda who is here with us today I love
Miranda who is here with us today I love
Miranda who is here with us today I love you so much thank you anyway at the time
you so much thank you anyway at the time
you so much thank you anyway at the time Julianne was working as an English
Julianne was working as an English
Julianne was working as an English teacher in South Korea and people he
teacher in South Korea and people he
teacher in South Korea and people he lived here he went to University of
lived here he went to University of
lived here he went to University of Texas Austin which has one of the most
Texas Austin which has one of the most
Texas Austin which has one of the most active student clubs for our work and
active student clubs for our work and
active student clubs for our work and the clock is known for selling fried
the clock is known for selling fried
the clock is known for selling fried Oreos to fundraise for our rescue work
Oreos to fundraise for our rescue work
Oreos to fundraise for our rescue work do you guys like Oreos
do you guys like Oreos
do you guys like Oreos of course anything deep-fried is so
of course anything deep-fried is so
of course anything deep-fried is so delicious so think of that amazing
delicious so think of that amazing
delicious so think of that amazing combination not so good for your body
combination not so good for your body
combination not so good for your body but good for your soul in our world so
but good for your soul in our world so
but good for your soul in our world so hadrian’s who were the first two North
hadrian’s who were the first two North
hadrian’s who were the first two North Korean refugees whose rescue was funded
Korean refugees whose rescue was funded
Korean refugees whose rescue was funded by the student level ut-austin and when
by the student level ut-austin and when
by the student level ut-austin and when Julie and I went to visit them I had the
Julie and I went to visit them I had the
Julie and I went to visit them I had the opportunity to translate for Julian to
opportunity to translate for Julian to
opportunity to translate for Julian to share how these college students had
share how these college students had
share how these college students had sold fried Oreo to fund their rescue and
sold fried Oreo to fund their rescue and
sold fried Oreo to fund their rescue and it was the mom and daughters first time
it was the mom and daughters first time
it was the mom and daughters first time hearing about it and they’re so moved
hearing about it and they’re so moved
hearing about it and they’re so moved and when the UT students heard about
and when the UT students heard about
and when the UT students heard about their rescue stories they became even
their rescue stories they became even
their rescue stories they became even more inspired and sold even more fried
more inspired and sold even more fried
more inspired and sold even more fried Oreos to rescue the rescues of 17 North
Oreos to rescue the rescues of 17 North
Oreos to rescue the rescues of 17 North Korean refugees in total that’s
Korean refugees in total that’s
Korean refugees in total that’s incredible to me that’s love and what a
incredible to me that’s love and what a
incredible to me that’s love and what a loving community does here’s what we can
loving community does here’s what we can
loving community does here’s what we can learn from this community first share
learn from this community first share
learn from this community first share your stories of struggle they matter
your stories of struggle they matter
your stories of struggle they matter your families friends and co-workers
your families friends and co-workers
your families friends and co-workers should hear them because they might be
should hear them because they might be
should hear them because they might be able to help and you can help people to
able to help and you can help people to
able to help and you can help people to understand their own and other people’s
understand their own and other people’s
understand their own and other people’s troubles
troubles
troubles second
second
second listen to other people’s stories to hear
listen to other people’s stories to hear
listen to other people’s stories to hear where and how you can help Julian and
where and how you can help Julian and
where and how you can help Julian and the UT students are listening and
the UT students are listening and
the UT students are listening and continuing to help by Frank one area at
continuing to help by Frank one area at
continuing to help by Frank one area at a time vastly respond with compassion
a time vastly respond with compassion
a time vastly respond with compassion and love that’s how our stories of
and love that’s how our stories of
and love that’s how our stories of struggles and challenges turn into
struggles and challenges turn into
struggles and challenges turn into stories of hope and restoration in a
stories of hope and restoration in a
stories of hope and restoration in a community
community
community remember the hope that Hedgehog ensue
remember the hope that Hedgehog ensue
remember the hope that Hedgehog ensue enjoy having their community they
enjoy having their community they
enjoy having their community they haven’t even met most of these people
haven’t even met most of these people
haven’t even met most of these people who have helped them and continue to
who have helped them and continue to
who have helped them and continue to help them but they belong amongst their
help them but they belong amongst their
help them but they belong amongst their supporters and this community including
supporters and this community including
supporters and this community including North Korea refugees there are
North Korea refugees there are
North Korea refugees there are supporters around the world my
supporters around the world my
supporters around the world my colleagues and myself share hope that
colleagues and myself share hope that
colleagues and myself share hope that the North Korean people will achieve
the North Korean people will achieve
the North Korean people will achieve their Liberty in a lifetime thank you
their Liberty in a lifetime thank you
their Liberty in a lifetime thank you [Applause]
”
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