John Faherty

jfaherty@enquirer.com

Jeffrey Fowle, the Miamisburg man who became the center of an international incident when he left a Bible in North Korea, and who later served nearly six months in detention for doing so, knew exactly what he was doing. He knew the risk and he knew the possible consequences. And he thinks it was all worth it.

He also now has a chore list about a mile long.

Fowle, a municipal worker, husband and father of three children, spoke publicly Friday for the first time since being released. He said that his visit to North Korea in April of this year was motivated in part by a desire to visit the country, which few Westerners have seen in decades. But clearly this was a trip about faith. And proselytizing.

Religious activity is almost completely non-existent in North Korea according to the Central Intelligence Agency. The U.S. Department of State in September spoke of the: "ongoing, widespread, and systematic human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea." DPRK are the initials commonly used for the country of North Korea.

In the weeks before Fowle left Miamsiburg for North Korea, another American was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for spreading the word of God. So Fowle knew the risks.

"I did, I knew I was going against the laws of the DPRK," Fowle said. "Having seen the plight of the people, I knew about the severe Christian persecution. I wanted to help them."

So Fowle left a Korean/English Bible in a public bathroom in a restaurant/bar in Pyongyang. Clearly his tour group was being watched because the next day the tour guide asked if anybody had left anything behind. Fowle would not deny his actions even though he knew it meant trouble. he raised his hand and said he left a Bible.

For two days nothing happened. Then, at the airport at Pyongyang, when he was preparing to leave the country, Fowle was detained.

He was held in his hotel room for nearly a month, and then a detention center for the next five months. Did he think God would protect him. "Yes, and I believe I was protected, I was never harmed physically," Fowle said. "I was never in jeopardy of giving up faith."

But that is not to say his time was easy. The beginning, especially, was arduous. Fowle did not know what his wife knew about his disappearance. He kept thinking of Tatyana waiting for him at an airport. He wondered about the fears of his children, Alex, 13, Chris 11, and Stephanie 9.

He worried he would be sentenced to 15 years of labor. The United States and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations. So he had no information and no visits. The Swedish Embassy does try to look out for American citizens in North Korea who are in trouble.

Only when a Swedish diplomat was able to visit Fowle did he learn that his wife and kids did know where he was. He also got two chocolate bars and learned that the family church, Bethel Baptist Church in West Carrollton, was taking care of his family. Fowle said he broke down for the first time when he learned they were OK.

The Swedes were instrumental in securing the release of Fowle, although he says he still does not understand why he was let go and two other Americans remain held by the North Koreans.

The government of North Korea said that it's leader, Kim Jong-un ordered the release of Fowle according to the Associated Press.

Fowle says he prays daily for the release of Bae and for Matthew Miller who was just sentenced to six years. Bae is a Christian missionary. Miller's exact actions, or "crime," are less well known.

Fowle never had any contact with either man while he was in North Korea or after he was detained.

He knows the price he paid for his faith was high. He knows his family paid a price as well. But he believes all people deserve to have access to the Christian faith. "Maybe one Bible can do a lot of good."

Now Fowle is trying to return to normal. The city of Moraine agreed to rehire him this past week. He has spent 26 years with the city's streets department.

And he is more happy than ever to spend time at his church and to spend time with his wife and children. "Our family has come together even more closely," Fowle said. "I am just appreciating my wife and kids."

Tatyana is glad to have her husband home as well. The worry, she said was difficult for her, but she was able to focus on raising their children. And, she was able to make a nice chore list for him. "I always have a list of chores for him to do," Tatyana said. "He told me that when he was in North Korea, he was wondering what was going to be on my list. He said he even started making his own. That's when I knew it was bad."