Mission Trip to Korea

Mission Trip to Korea
When most of us think about a mission trip, the first places that come to mind are Mexico or somewhere in Central or South America. That’s because we are geographically closer and we already have partner missionaries there. But for our church, the story was different. We began praying for a country across the Pacific — South Korea.

Last September, the idea was proposed, and ten members showed interest. We prayerfully began holding monthly preparation meetings for the trip. We studied Korea’s history, religion, basic language, and culture, and also learned about the Salvation Army Church in Korea and Christian School, where we would serve. For most of the team, this was not only their first trip to Korea but their first trip to "Asia", so there was a sense of nervous excitement.

We planned three fundraisers: a Korean food fundraiser, a bake sale, and a Bingo Night. Through these events, God provided abundantly, and we felt confident and ready. We decided to run a five-day VBS program at the Salvation Army church’s after-school program, with the themes God is Creator, Provider, Protector, King, and Savior. From Tuesday through Sunday, each day started with worship dance and then rotated through 30-minute stations of crafts, games, and Bible stories. The children danced while shouting the name of Jesus, and we too rejoiced in the Lord. On the final day, we held a parents’ dinner, and unexpectedly, five new families came.

Every day, we were amazed by the uniqueness and variety of Korean food, and in the city of Jeonju, we experienced a deep sense of Korean culture. Those five days of VBS were a time when we felt God’s provision and presence, and when cultural and language barriers were broken down through His love.

We also spent two days and one night with students at a Christian school. Like a “field day,” we played games and did team-building activities, sharing God’s love. From kindergartners to 8th graders, the students rejoiced and had fellowship together in the Lord.

Later, we traveled to Seoul and spent another two days there. At the DMZ tunnels, as we walked down the tunnels stretching from the North toward South Korea, we had to keep our heads bowed the entire way. We were struck by the foolishness and recklessness that these tunnels represented. At the War Memorial, we saw how the United States and other allies had genuinely supported Korea during the war. Reflecting on the past, present, and future, we witnessed how God had allowed Korea to grow into such a remarkable missionary-sending nation through its Christian history.

On the very last day, we visited the Centennial Missionary Cemetery, where missionaries who had crossed the Pacific over 100 years ago were buried. These men and women from the U.S. and Canada gave their lives, many succumbing to disease, yet they planted the seeds of the gospel.

Our 10-day mission trip concluded with a sunset over the Han River. The worries and anxieties we had carried disappeared. Instead, we came home with Christ deeply imprinted on our hearts — it was both a true learning experience and a precious time of reflection. 
Just as Jesus came to this earth on a short-term mission trip, yet His impact is eternal, we pray that our mission trip will also leave an everlasting impact.