In the issues of Feb. 16, 1948 (Religion) and May 24, 1948 (Publisher's Letter), TIME told the story of Ye Yun-Ho, a young Korean seminarian who was sketching among a jumble of packing cases on Seoul's city dump when he discovered that there were homeless children living in them. Presbyterian Ye Yun-Ho moved in among the packing cases, began to organize his first parish among the swarms of ragged dead-end kids of Seoul.

So impressed were TIME readers that many sent in money to help Ye build a steepled brick church and a ten-bed hospital beside it. In 1948, Ye Yun-Ho married pretty young Dr. Chong Young-Duk, who had just graduated from medical school.

Last June, when the Communists invaded the city, a group of South Koreans forceably carried off Pastor Ye under the impression that he was a Red guerrilla. By the time they realized their mistake, the Communists were in full control of Seoul and Ye could not get back. For over three months he waited anxiously in Pusan.

Last week, a friend in the U.S. heard from Ye at last. His wife and baby were both alive. He wrote : "Our church and1 the hospital building were damaged approximately 60%. They said church had been used as an office of Communists . . . And many Communist soldiers stayed in our hospital.

"There are long trenches at the back of the hospital and church . . . I felt our religious U.S. flyers had tried to avoid bombing and shelling toward the church tower. Most of the houses were burned down, except the houses around the church building in this village . . .

"Nowadays we have very great inflation in Seoul. We have to pay 200 won to 300 won for an apple ... So I think the expense to repair all will be an estimated 1,500,000 won (about $1,370 U.S.) . . .

"Fortunately, all of medicines and medical instruments, and mattresses were carried out. And the nice organ is still here and useful . . . All is thankful and blessing for me...

"I have to go back to 1947 and paint G.I. portraits to raise funds again for His work. I am greatly ashamed before God and men that I had been trying to go to the U.S. How much time and energy I spent for it! God needs me on this ruins today.

"When once I had trouble in my heart to go to the U.S., the morning of Sept. 10 in Pusan a dog bit my leg just at the entrance of a church. I never touched the dog, never saw it before I was bitten. Then I saw blood on my leg. That tune my tired heart heard His voice saying: 'Where are you going to go?' "

On this letter Ye made a watercolor sketch of what had happened to his church and hospital. It is reproduced here.

Cordially yours,

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