God's grace increases when I let Him do the work!
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March 17, 2008 |
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 I can boldly confess to all those who aspire to become missionaries or are hesitant to dream of becoming missionaries: "I am not afraid of mission work! Why? Because God's in charge of it all!"
The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic nation and many people do say that they believe in God. For most of them, however, their faith in God pertains only to going to the church once or twice a year, rubbing of the foot of the statue of the virgin Mary, and asking for blessings.
Perhaps it is because of the warm climate here but in the afternoons many people spend their time napping or picking at lice. Others are seen playing card games in pubic in hopes of earning pocket money.
I was heartbroken by their attitude on life and flawed values. As I sought to teach them what I felt were right, I sometimes hurt their feelings and many of them began to keep their distance from me. It was a predicament.
When I was first commissioned to the Philippines, my biggest fear was not the new living environment or the language. I was afraid that because of my shortcomings, I would cause distress to Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee and many other beloved ones back in Korea. I was so embarrassed whenever I asked myself, 'Am I fit to be a missionary?' Once I began the mission work here, I repented many a time as my shortcomings and flaws were exposed.
Last year, the Manmin Mission Training Center (MMTC) came to the Philippines on their vision trip, and the entourage included people of many different age groups. Among them, the oldest participant named Deacon Gideon (he only went by his adopted English name and I am thus unable to remember his Korean name) was most popular with the Filipinos. He could only say a few simple phrases in English, including, "Hello," "Come," "Sit down," and the like. When he treated his brothers and sisters in Christ with love, however, the language barrier did not pose a problem. Everyone here thought of him as a father.
That's precisely it. Mission work is done not by man but by God; all missionaries have to do is to share with the locals the love of our God. God takes care of and resolves all the problems they face and all the worries we have at the time of His choosing in the best way possible.
On top of that, the power embedded in the Muan Sweet Water (Exodus 15:25) and from the handkerchief on which the Senior Pastor prayed (Acts 19:11-12) cannot be stressed enough. Handkerchief prayer meetings take place every Friday at Cavite Manmin Church (Rev. Sharon Cho). On account of hot and humid weather, many suffer from a variety of skin diseases and many children from asthma. Many other diseases always threaten the lives of the people here. From the handkerchief prayer meetings, however, believers begin their lives that have nothing to do with visits to hospitals and doctors. Even people tormented by the abhorrent abscess express their gratitude and magnify God after receiving the prayer with the handkerchief and using of the Sweet Water just once.
Such individuals have come to believe in the living God. They had come to church before in hopes of getting rice and soy sauce or to literally engage in fighting against others with weapons in their hands but now, they come to volunteer in the church cafeteria or to help with the service.
I cannot thank God enough. It is by His grace alone that as much as I allow Him to do the work, such a layman deaconess as myself can carry out this God-given duty as a missionary.
"Thank you, O Lord, for using me for the glory of God!"
~ Missionary Rosetta Sung (Cavite Manmin Church, Philippines)
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