Martin, builders venture into North Korea

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Just days before the death of Kim Jong Il,  in North Korea, I and a team of builders from the Fuller Center for Housing visited that country. We were in North Korea to explore constructing houses for the workers in a tree nursery outside of the capital Pyongyang. 

We were introducing a type of insulated concrete form block that stirred much interest from the Koreans. Though it was too cold to pour foundations when we were there, we hope to send new teams during milder weather.

Our group represented the first team of builders to go to North Korea with the Fuller Center, a Christian ministry for home building and repair founded by the late Millard Fuller, also the founder of Habitat for Humanity. The Fuller Center hopes to send other teams of builders, although no definite dates are set for the next delegation.

Architects and engineers from the North Korean Paektusan Academy of Architecture work with David West of Millennium Blok, the company that made the insulated blocks that Martin's group imported. Photo provided.

Virginia Mennonite Missions formed a support network around my visit and has channeled funds to the Fuller Center. The venture is as much about building trust and building peace as it is about building houses. The smiles and warmth we received from people in the villages and markets encourage us to pray for new beginnings between our people and the people of this little-understood nation.

Given the history of warfare between our countries and decades of mutual mistrust, any people-to-people contact that build trust is a blessing for all of us.

Further inquiries can be directed to Earl Martin: patearl@aol.com or The Fuller Center for Housing: fullercenter.org. 

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