I attended the last Latin American conference when our Chicago UBF orchestra was invited to perform a special music program. At that time, I did not expect to receive anything or even learn anything. However, I witnessed God’s abounding love and compassion for Latin America and was encouraged to live a life of mission after hearing the testimonies of pioneering missionaries. After much prayer support from my Bible teacher/shepherd, I decided to attend the Latin American conference this year. I prayed that I might be a blessing, receive world mission vision, and learn more about the God of Latin America.
During my preparations, I ran into some difficulties. I registered for the conference and bought a plane ticket much earlier than other Chicago coworkers. No one wanted to go on the same plane as me because the prices of the tickets had dropped. My mother worried day and night about my airplane flight. She and I earnestly prayed that someone would go on the same plane as me. When I was on the plane, sitting in the midst of strangers, I saw one Korean lady a few seats away from me. I asked her, “Are you from UBF?” She said “yes!” We took the plane to Mexico together and plan on leaving on the same flight as well. I thank God for answering our prayers even before the conference began.
When I arrived in Mexico, I was met by a smiling missionary, Barnabe Choi, and his daughter, Hanna Choi, who had woken up at 6:00AM just to see me. She invited me and a Korean missionary to stay at her house to eat, rest, and help prepare snacks for other foreign delegates. When I arrived at the conference place, I was immediately looked after by two second generation missionaries, Joan Park and Goheun Rhee. They made sure I was comfortable. Later throughout the first night of the conference, I received many gifts from other second gens. The humble and serving attitude of the second gens moved me. They were ready to serve and offer all they had to their guests, to establish a loving environment at the conference place.
The title of this year’s Latin American conference is “Jesus is the way of the truth”. All the messages at the conference were very moving. Through each message, I learned more and more about Jesus who is the Way. In Msn. Jorge’s message, “Jesus the spring of living water”, I learned that Jesus is the only source of true love, joy and peace. The Samaritan woman trusted and depended on men. But each man disappointed her in one way or the other. She could not experience true love, joy, or peace. But when she met Jesus and accepted him as the Messiah, living water began to spring within her. Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I fully trusted and depended on my friends. However one by one, I felt betrayed by each one, until none were left. I lost my security. I could not trust anyone. However when I heard Jesus’ words “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” I recognized Jesus as the only source of life, hope and peace. I recognized my sins of pride and selfishness before God. And made the decision to grow as a shepherd for my friends and build relationships with them on the foundation of Jesus’ love and grace. Like this woman, I experienced the living water welling up in my soul. However at this conference I learned that the spring of water within me was being covered up with mud, with my sins that I had not repented of.
A few weeks ago, I discovered that I put my hope in money instead of Jesus. When I stopped receiving work, I stopped receiving money. And without money, I felt paralyzed. I realized that I depended more on money than I thought. Out of pride, I decided not to confess my realization with anyone. And because of my pride, I could not repent of my sin of greed and my lack of dependence on God. This became like a plug, stopping the spring of living water in my soul. However when I repented of my pride and decided to grow as a humble shepherd, God filled me with peace and joy. Jesus came into my heart.
I decided to practically serve the conference by participating in the orchestra performances. Immediately I knew that this would be a challenge for me to control my pride as a flute player and humbly serve. I prayed to obey God’s command, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” God blessed the orchestra abundantly under the humble leadership of Shp. Rafael. He set a good example for me, serving orchestra with all his heart, with complete humility. Through this orchestra training, I personally learned to overcome my pride and serve God humbly at the conference.
Part 2: Mission Vision
Each night, we heard life testimonies and mission reports from several different countries in Latin America. Through these testimonies and reports, we could see God’s great work in Latin America. Mexico is a missionary sending nation. Currently they have sent out numerous missionaries throughout Latin America. These missionaries are full of spirit, joy and peace. One missionary left his home and went to his new mission field in a new country without anything. He visited the campus, prayed, and buried some pieces of his hair there to signify his promise to stay in that mission field. Despite his poor health condition and unstable job, he continues to teach students the Bible faithfully. Another missionary left his home and pioneered another Latin American country. He opened a car dealership to support himself. But because of his thieving employees and the economy he fell into despair. However, he learned through all his hardships that suffering is fertilizer for the work of God. Now, he is the most joyful missionary. Despite his sufferings, he continually feeds sheep in his mission field. Now, our fellow coworkers in Latin America pray to pioneer all universities in Mexico, Central America, Latin America and the whole world.
I was greatly encouraged by the lives of all the missionaries who attended the conference. They gave up their comfortable lifestyle to go out and preach the word of God to lost sheep. I also have received God’s vision for me to be a missionary. However I did not realize how much little sufferings could hinder a person’s life and sense of mission. In my heart I complained about the cold weather and the dirty-looking rooms at the conference. But I realized these physical sufferings are nothing compared to what a missionary experiences in his mission field. However by faith, I believe that all people can go out as able missionaries and endure this suffering for Christ. By God’s grace, I met Jesus personally and accepted his forgiveness of my sins. I received the gospel truly in my heart. Now I pray that like our Latin American coworkers, I may be used completely to do the work of God. Practically this means that I must serve Loyola students with a shepherd heart with courage and honesty. Through Jesus alone, I must love all people unconditionally wherever I go and allow the spring of living water to well in my soul and my life.
