"Don't Cry For Me, Tonj."

- Lee Tae Seok (Catholic Father John Lee)

- 1962 ~ 2010

Born out of 10 siblings, John Lee was the 9th child.Having his father passed away at the age of 10, his mother raised all 10 children. John Lee graduated in 1987, and became a doctor. Later, John Lee was sent to work in South Sudan, among the poorest, poorest villages, named Tonj. Father John Lee worked as a teacher, a conductor, a doctor, and an architect in the village, Tonj. For the people in Tonj, he was like God. When first arrived in Tonj, he set up a building where he could take care of the sick. He brought comfortable shoes for the people who were shoeless, and brought clothes for the people too. His actions towards the Sudanese people, brought him closer to the young and old immediately. While taking care of the sick, he also formed a brass band, by teaching each kid an instrument. He trained the young Sudanese boys and girls to discover their talents. As there was no music sheets in Sudan, John lee made it himself, by using the computer, by transitioning many music into something the band could play. His talents were incredible. While taking care of the sick, and teaching the Sudanese some music, he also helped construct a school in Tonj. In addition to that, after constructing the school, he taught math for the students in Tonj. Everyday, he worked nonstop, as he had to take care of the sick, teach music to the kids, make music sheets, construct a church, and educate children. Can you see all the work he had done on his own? One person, made everything successful for this village. However, when John lee returned to Korea for a quick rest, it was found that he had cancer. The status of the cancer was quite worse, as he had been working in Sudan without knowing it. Desperate, he wanted to return to Tonj, because he hadn't finished all his work for the village. Unfortunately, John Lee went under a surgery multiple times, but turned out that the cancer was incurable. As he laid on his deathbed, he regretted not being able to do everything for Tonj, and regretted he was not able to stay beside his mother. With that, Father John Lee passed away in 2010, January 14th.

"Don't Cry For Me Tonj" -

John Lee's dedication towards Tonj was made into a documentary movie.

- John Lee conducting the band. (Don Bosco Band)

- These outfits were all brought to the Sudanese by John Lee, who bought these uniforms.

John Lee having fun with the Sudanese by playing in the river -

Making the shoes for the people who have a disease that grows on their feet -

Taking care of the sick -

The Sudanese people with everything John Lee had given to the society -

- John Lee and the young Sudanese taking a picture.

<- A Student pass that John Lee had made for them.

Making the Sudanese study in school.->

(Translation) - "At first, because they are poor, I planned a lot of things for the village. But as time passed, I learnt that being with them was the most important thing. No matter what happens, I want to be by their side." - John Lee

2009 in December. John Lee's status one month ago before he passed away. As he lay here, he recorded a small video for the village of Tonj saying that "I'm sorry."

As he left the world in January, Tonj cried out for him. The villagers of Tonj all burst into tears when they heard John Lee had died. The brass band gathered once more, and played a piece for John Lee. The people walked around Tonj, holding photos of John Lee, while they cried.

John Lee serves as a role model for all of us. Through his dedications towards Tonj, he taught us the importance of helping each other. Equality was also shown through his actions as he was standing up for Tonj. If one person could dedicate all of those things to a village, then why can't we all do it? If the whole world were to help each other's villages and all, we could live in a better society. Every person, is worth fighting for. It's worth fighting for.