Missing Yi JIen!!

WEST GLACIER, Mont. — Searchers on Friday found no sign of a 27-year-old Kentucky man who was four days overdue from a lengthy backcountry hike in Glacier National Park.

Park officials say Yi-Jien Hwa was last seen at the St. Mary Visitor Center on Aug. 11, the first day of a hike that he planned to end Monday at Kintla Lake. His car was found in the Logan Pass Visitor Center parking lot. He was believed to be hiking alone.

Park spokeswoman Norma Sosa said improved weather Friday allowed one helicopter to join the search.

The incident commander said the flight “gave them a better grasp of the areas” Hwa intended to hike, Sosa said.

Searchers check back with park officials every two hours and none had reported finding any sign of Hwa by mid-afternoon Friday, Sosa said.

Hwa’s family notified park officials Tuesday night that they had not heard from him since the first day of the hike, and he had not contacted them as agreed at the day he expected to end his hike.

Tina Puge, a spokeswoman at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky., said Hwa is a master’s student as Asbury and lives in Lexington, Ky. She said Hwa’s wife was traveling to Montana.

Sosa said Hwa’s permit said he planned to cover 96 miles on his hike, with an increase of 15,000 feet in elevation and a similar descent over the course of the hike.

“It was quite an arduous trip,” Sosa said.

Hwa’s backcountry permit, like many given out by the park, advised him to watch for bears and mountain lions and warned him that hypothermia and giardia were possible concerns. It also said that a solo hike was not recommended.

Hwa is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs about 170 pounds. He is believed to be carrying a blue Kelty backpack and trekking poles, along with other equipment, and might be wearing dark-colored clothing.

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Yi Jien is Aunty Kim Guat’s eldest son. He has been missing and Aunty Kim Guat is already in US.

1. Please, please, please pray for Yi Jien that he will be safe and the Lord’s mercy will be upon him as he survives each day.

2. And also Aunty Kim Guat and her family as they must be very worried about Yi Jien now.

.

Hope everything will be what it is according to the Lord’s mighty plan.

*Sigh*

--- On Wed, 8/27/08, kimguat goh wrote:

From: kimguat goh
Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 9:37 AM


Dear All,

If it is possible, can we ask you all to fast as well with us for this last stretch?

Thank you . ..

kim guat

On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 9:05 AM, kimguat goh wrote:
Dear All,

We have talked to them again; they said that they had covered quite extensively the area that Siu Yin had thought about also within the first few days of their search; they also had some people there the last 2 days. They have not planned out tomorrow's schedule yet depending on the weather; does not look good, most likely would be like today (tues) where it snowed in the higher parts and rained in the lower areas. So the seachers could not do much. Unless weather clears, they would not be able to do much tomorrow and will concentrate their resources like aerial search on Thur and Fri when the forecast is better; they said they needed to preserve the energies of their people because the terrains are not easy to cover. (Siu Yin said the rain might not be bad cos it might give Yi Jien a source of water)

They said they have not given up yet even though they have scaled down; their other strategy has been to widely inform all rangers, visitors, etc, whoever is in the park to keep a watchout as well. Now it is only as they said 'rolling the dice' - because they don't know where to go unless they have specific clues which they don't have up to this point. All the high probability areas have been covered and the rest of the area is very vast.

So we now need to pray:

1. for clear weather as soon as possible
2. wisdom and clear guidance for the rangers as they plan their schedule for tomorrow and the next few days as to where they should cover; they said if Yi Jien is hiding under rocks, it is really not possible for them to be able to cover all the areas with rocks
3. God will lead the searchers to the exact area or somehow Yi Jien is able to move out to an area where at least some sign will show to them that there is someone there (they do watch out for animal activities, etc., but so far nothing, not even the flying birds - they said the moment they get anything, they will immediately refocus their search but so far they have not got anything
4. God will continue to keep Yi Jien alive till they find him
5. for Patrick (head) and Kyle who is now running the operations (Gary Moses will come back next week) that God will change their hearts and attitude because at this point, I know they are thinking that it is only looking for a dead body; they are frustrated and discouraged and humanly speaking think that it is not possible for Yi Jien to be alive since it'a already 2 weeks; they lack the motivation now I believe

but we have not given up hope yet; so even if less people or efforts are involved, God is still sovereign and can do anything - so we need to continue to ask Him to stretch out His arm and save and deliver. Thank you all for continuing to prevail - let's make this one last effort together - so if you can inform people to pray . .

Keep well . . it is still 'well with our souls'

God bless

kim guat

Dear All,

I trust that you are all keeping well in the Lord. Siu Yin and I are doing well. God has encouraged us greatly even though the day ended without Yi Jien being found and we have to continue waiting for another day.

This morning the Lord encouraged me through Pauline as she shared with me about her conviction as she spent time with the Lord that Jesus himself was ministering to Yi Jien in Hi own tenderness and also in my own time with the Lord where I was reading Psalm 124:

"If the Lord had not been on our side - let Israel say . . . when the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away . . . Praise be to the Lord who has not let us be torn by their teeth, we have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare, the snare has been broken and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

The part about the waters was quite comforting because that was what the rangers thought most likely could have happened to him - either swept away or covered in a glacier . . . but generally the gentle assurance from Him again that YJ is kept alive and safe by Him.

For Siu Yin, the Lord was very gentle and loving knowing that this would be a hard day again for her because each night had always ended up in 'disappointment' . . in the afternoon she napped just before outr time of breifing with the rangers. She had a dream which was all filled with light and she saw not Yi Jien's face but his body on a gurney being pushed into an ambulance. She said that gave her peace when she woke up and the quietness of heart which prepared her for the meeting.

So God has been really good to assure us every step of the way, through other friends as well, to keep faith and hope in Him. And I share that to encourage each of us to continue to trust Him and wait in quiet confidence.

Please pray for the following:

1. Weather - to clear fast and not to have strong winds otherwise they cannot do an aerial search; they have agreed with Siu Yin's suggestion to cover more extensively the trial leading from Mary's Falls to Gunsight Pass; she thinks he may have started here instead but there is a lot of densely covered brush area for a few miles.

2. The doghandlers would be open to use dogs again to see if they can pick up human scent - there are some risks of bears around so the handlers must assess the dangers and decide . . . we think that this will help in those areas that are covered by dense brush

3. For the aerial serach to be able to start early (only possible if weather clears quickly) - and just guidance for them as they scope the area

4. What areas to specifically cover - they will somehow home in on the right area. Right now, they are at a loss because of lack of any detail/clue to follow on . . or that some detail may change that will alert them to where he is

They have been really helpful and are trying to accommodate our requests as far as possible - so we can really thank God for that answer to our prayer. So let's continue to pray that God will lead and guide them to make the right plans and search areas tomoorw meeting.

Thank you all so much again . . I know the going has been really trying . . but He has continued to comfort and assure along the way.

God bless, everyone and thank you . . .

kim guat

in God we trust

As I write this, I pray that He will be safe and in God's hands...

I hope aunty Kim Guat will be assured of God's protection on him.

God, Lord Jesus...

any current news?

aunty Kim Guat is back in Seremban. No news yet,

Sad.....

this is the time where our patience is tested. many similar but not so extreme cases happened 2 me oso. my patience is tested. cant go forward nor do anything to save da situation cuz of uncertainties.

but hopefully we will get news bout yi jien soon. good news.