PR Mission 2018 Reflection – RJ

RJ’s Reflection

When you are leading a team to go on a mission trip, it is easy for us to stay occupied with the logistic of the team. Is the preparation going well? Are we ready to do the work? Will there be enough for us to do, or will it be too much? Are the team members getting the best out of this experience? And the list can go on…

We did have a great experience. We saw how our preparation was proper, in both over preparing and under preparing. We saw how the work was accomplished, even though we needed to overcome some hurdles, i.e., lack of tools, material arriving on time, heat, etc. And we enjoyed the fellowship with the team and the beautiful people we met.
Our team frequently retreated to reflect on what God was doing and prompting in our lives.

It all felt well until I was challenged/ or asked by another team member asking, ‘RJ, what are you expecting to get out of this trip?’
The question hit my spirit. For me, the trip was just another mission trip; I am used to leading every summer. For me, I seemed to be preoccupied with if everything was working out well. For me, I was focused on what the team will get out (?) of this experience, rather than focusing on what God needed to speak to me.

That question rang in my heart throughout the night until the next day. I was asking God and myself, what God was trying to reveal in my heart. Instead of being distracted by the logistic of the trip and standing in a position to teach, God pulled me down to see what God was showing me through this experience. As I was seeking, God uniquely spoke to me.

During the break from work, I stepped aside to search my heart. After a while, I encountered a Facebook post from my home church. They invited a Korean missionary to Vietnam, who brought a group of young Vietnamese to visit Korea. The group prepared a song, in Korean, and the clip was them singing the song, and the missionary standing among the group singing and weeping.

The moment I saw the clip, I knew God was trying to say something. So throughout the day, I started to hum the song, and every time I sang it, my heart became warm.
Below is the translated version of the lyric;

Title: Until Jesus comes again

Until Jesus comes again
I was walk in this journey
Narrow door, narrow path
As I carry my cross

At the end of this journey
I will meet my Lord
Glorious King and my redeemer
will embrace and welcome me.

Until Jesus comes again
I will rise and run
Until God’s glory covers the world
I will rise and praise His name

The Lord that I love
Is the King of all creation
The Lord that I love
Is the glorious King

The more I sing that song; the more God was saying, ‘Rise up and run, where  you are at.’
Recently, I am going through the discernment of my call. Ever since I was called, my area of ministry was with and for the Korean Church. Since serving Raleigh Court United Methodist, for the past three years, I have also learned that my call might change. In this discernment, I do have to admit, I was in a way, lost.

Through this brief encounter, God was showing that it wasn’t where I serve, but more of who I serve. Even though I knew who I served, it was a refresher for God saying, ‘focus on who you are serving.’ I learned, as long as I serve that God,  while I ‘rise and run’ for my Lord, wherever I served shouldn’t have taken away my focus.

I’m grateful for all we experienced on this trip. I’m also thankful for how God touched and challenged our hearts individually.  And I pray that God will continue to work in our lives, in the same way, after this trip.

Quick Servey