‘The Father predestined me’

Dr. Chul Hong Kim, a pediatrician, and his wife, Jung, live in Globe and attend St.Charles’ Catholic Mission in San Carlos Apache Reservation. They have worked on the Apache Reservation for about 10 years.

My family lived in North Korea till I was 8 years old. We, seven of us, escaped to South Korea as refuge during the Korean War in 1951.
Confucianism was a traditional way of life in the family and society.  I did not know what was a faith or religion or even Christ. The life in South Korea was hard but happy because all seven of us were living together. Both parents worked hard. We children helped our parents to pay our tuitions and at the same time we studied hard to get grades.
In 1962, I was accepted to a medical school that was the Catholic University in Seoul. During the first two years I was mysteriously compelled to search for the meaning of life by reading books on philosophy written by Western thinkers, such as Kant, including scholastic philosophy. Soon, the University offered a Catechism on Catholic faith (modern RCIA). I was baptized in 1964. This was how my faith began.
During these two years of conversion, I was also introduced to a student club called Veneratio Vitae Club, translated as Reverence for Life. Club members were students who were studying medical, dental, nursing, pharmaceutical and veterinarian science. The motto was V.V. , first declared by a German physician, Albert Schweitzer, who also was theologian. Dr. Schweitzer went to Africa in his late 50s to do medical services for the poor. During his medical missionary works he was inspired to recall that the life is a gift from God and to be revered. The ultimate goal of medical practice is serve the life.
The typical activities of V.V.C. members were to gather on Saturdays for fellowship and to hear lectures from senior members. On Sundays we would go to designated rural “un-doctored villages” to provide medical treatment. I met my future wife, Jung, who was a nursing student in the club. V.V.C. taught us that the medical/nursing profession is to share our gift with others with self-sacrificial hearts. Small mustard seeds were planted in our hearts.
In 1971 -2003, we came to America individually for nursing work and pediatric residency. We married here and have three children.
After 26 years of private practice we began to search for an opportunity to work for others. In 2004, God heard our prayers, we heard His calling individually: “I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘whom shall I send?’ Who will go for us?’ Here I am, I said; “Send me. Send us to San Carlos Apache Reservation.”
I am working in the Indian Health Hospital as a federal employee and Jung performs a wide variety of community service. It has been the most joyous life.
In reflecting on my journey of faith, the Father predestined me for divine adoption. Predestination can have no other cause than the will of God, which I confirm.