>>Dear Bradley Hartliep
>>Thank you for your very warm message. For the moment the best way to help the hungry in North Korea is to contribute funds to organizations such as mine, which will purchase rice, corn and medical supplies most economically and then ship them there also most economically to be distributed to the most needy, with proper monitoring. The North Koreans have allowed us to monitor our own donations but other groups have faced some problems. They usually will only permit me and one family member to accompany me on these missions. I have also asked the local UNICEF representative to monitor my donations to malnourished children when I am unable to go. In principle the North Korean officials are not receptive to visitors (other than tourist tour groups or delegations with an agenda). They do not feel they need volunteers, but just food and medicines. So I cannot be too encouraging to you in being able to visit North Korea unless you join an organization that has already established a contact with them such as a UN agency and such an agency assigns you there. I would like to share your warm heart and sincere feelings with readers of our Home page and request your permission to run your message in our correspondence section.
>>Best regards,
>>Bernard Krisher
.................... You wrote ....................
>>>Dear Bernie & Debbie:
>>>As a former member of the U.S. Armed Forces during the mid-late 1980's, I was stationed @ Kunsan AB, ROK for 13 months. During my tour of duty, I learned much about the history, culture, and ethnicity of the aboriginal peoples of the Korean peninsula and their treatment by others (Chinese Japanese soviet, American etc.). I made many friends and came to have a great amount of respect for their land, their culture, and their ideals. Since departing the 'Land of the Morning Calm,' I have watched and read and tried to keep current all newsworthy details coming out of either side of the DMZ border that divides and causes such ill-will between members of a once and future united country. I have been closely monitoring the developing situations over the past few years and have become increasingly concerned with the continually worsening conditions as they have evolved for the once-proud peoples desperately living and surviving in a now devastated region of the world. I have wanted for many years to return to Korea and minister to the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of its residents without regard to their political situation or location. Of particular interest to me is the innocent, abandoned, diseased, malnourished, challenged, etc.--the unloved. A few weeks (days?) ago, a news broadcast revealed the UN-supported inspection of north Korean children as a condition for food aid. Since first seeing that news story, I have spent dozens of hours combing the Internet looking for information and connections to aid suppliers and ways by which I could assist. It is here that I first came across references to your work. I have read through your stories, letters, diaries, etc. and have viewed some of the pictures. The two of you are accomplishing what I have long desired. I want to help your efforts in any way that I can. But, I would also like to go beyond, if it is possible. I would like to obtain the ability and permission to travel with you on one of your missions into the flood and famine stricken country of north Korea and for that matter, any other missions to any other country as my talents are warranted. I do not have many medical abilities (1st aid, cpr, and such), but i am currently working towards a teaching career and have approx. 2 years of experience working with children ages pre-kinder to 8th grade in various before, during, and after school environments. I know you work with limited resources and I'm sure it takes a lot of discussion to get entry permission, but if I can be of any assistance in accomplishing your mission tasks, please do not hesitate to contact me. I only want to do what is best for the little children who need so much.
>>>Bradley S. Hartliep good luck and blessings
>>>101 n. Washington ave
>>>Springfield MN 56087