The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Health invited a delegation of 5 members of the Eugene Bell Foundation to visit North Korea from September 7-14. This was my 45th trip to North Korea in 15 years.
The purpose of the trip was to visit 5 Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Care Centers in North and South Pyongan Provinces, and a Pediatric ward, also in Pyongyang and one in Nampo.
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The following was the schedule.
Schedule of “Eugene Bell” Technical Mission
7-14 September 2010
Date | AM | Activity | PM | Activity | Stay |
09/07/10 Tue | 15:50 19:00 | Arrival Briefing with MoPH | Potonggang Hotel | ||
09/08/10 Wed | 10:00 | Departure for Shinuiju By Train | 14:00 | Sonchon MDR TB carecenter, N. Pyongan | Apnokgang Hotel |
09/09/10 Thu | 15:00 | Departure for PY By Train | 19:30 | Arrive PY Station | Potonggang Hotel |
09/10/10 Fri | 10:30 | Songsan MDR TB carecenter, S. Pyongan | 15:30 | Pediatric ward, S. Pyongan TB Hospital | Potonggang Hotel |
09/11/10 Sat | 09:30 | Kangso MDR TB carecenter, Nampo | Potonggang Hotel | ||
09/12/10 Sun | 13:00 | Mass at Polish Embassy | 14:00 | Ryongsong MDR TB carecenter, PY | Potonggang Hotel |
09/13/10 Mon | 10:30 | Sadong MDR TB carecenter, PY | 16:00 | Debriefing with MoPH | Potonggang Hotel |
09/14/10 Thu | 09:00 | Departure for Beijing |
l MoPH: Ministry of Public Health PY: Pyong Yang
After the Mass on Pentecost Sunday, May 23, in the library of the Swiss International Aid Agency in Pyongyang, I met the Polish Ambassador to the DPRK. He invited me to offer Mass at the Polish Embassy the next time I would be in Pyongyang, so I contacted him on Sunday, September 12, that I would be in Pyongyang. The Ambassador made all the arrangements for a 1 PM Mass at the Polish Embassy. A Mass booklet and hymns were printed for those attending the Mass.
Over 52 people attended the Sunday Mass, including 8 children. An altar, with candles and flowers, was prepared, and I brought the vestments. After Mass all were invited for brunch in the Embassy garden. It was a grace-filled time to be with those that needed spiritual help and to be speaking to such an alert and enthusiastic group of worshippers. They represented over a dozen different nationalities. Everyone seemed reluctant to leave after the Mass so I remained at the Embassy till 6 PM.
The Ambassador hopes that when I return in the last two weeks of October that I will be able to offer Sunday Mass on October 24 for the diplomatic community and UN personnel. Clearly, a deep spiritual hunger had brought these people together under such difficult circumstances, and I felt blessed to be able to minister to them even for such a short time. God willing, I will be able to do this again soon as we are tentatively scheduled to return for another visit in late October.
