T-Land FO Testimony – S.Park
Editors note: Country names have been changed to “-Land” for security purposes.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, it is such a privilege and a joy of mine that I have this opportunity to share with you what God has been doing in T-land!
Everyone has been asking me “How was your mission trip?” or “How was T-land?” and I didn’t know how to respond because I couldn’t just simply give a simple answer of what God has shown me in the two weeks I’ve been there. It really was an indescribable time I’ve wanted to go to T-land ever since last winter, however, I felt like God was telling me to wait, so I did. As the new school year began this September, God reminded me about Vision School and T-land again. There were complications here and there, but God provided and I was able to attend VS. And my mom’s not the person who would allow me to go on mission trips but she simply agreed to send me off to T-land. Looking at these things, God really made a way for me to go.
The first week in T-land was mostly holding events and going through different types of events. We participated in City Ministry (going out to different areas assigned to us and sharing the Gospel there) and Tent Ministry (first half was having various booths and performances for the kids, then second half was going out to different tents and share the Gospel with the family, giving out care packages to each family that we met), and Christmas Café (invited friends we’ve met from city ministries and held skits and performances for them. After, we had snack time to talk with them and share the Gospel). The second week consisted of our individual F.O. trips with our smaller teams (3 or 4 people on each team).
Tent Ministry was really hectic. Our patience was really tested but through prayer we were able to have peace serving the locals. After all the booths and performances were done, we went out to the tents nearby and shared with the families that we had met. As my team started walking (not even for 5 minutes!), 3 little girls tagged along with us and invited us to their tents. We didn’t even have to look for tents and God just provided us with little girls who led us to their family. They were living in a tent right next to their home! When we asked why, they said they were scared of dying [in their home] just in case another big earthquake hits. Their dad made the tent from scratch! It was amazing to see how sturdy their tent was, but sad at the same time because of their fear of death that was so evident. We started to share the Gospel to the little girls, and then the mom started to listen in along with her sister. The girls were more interested in the Gospel and started to ask many questions. The conversation went on for a quite long time. However, the dad came home from work and our conversation ended. We were running out of time and we wanted to pray for them before we left. We asked if anyone was sick, and the grandmother was sick. Her eyes were damaged from the debris of the earthquake and she smoked so she wasn’t in the best condition. My ministry partner and I laid our hands on her eyes and prayed for her. My heart felt heavy and burdened as I was praying. My heart just hurt; it felt really heavy. And I thought to myself, “this is what the Father’s heart might feel like.” God graciously allowed me to feel just a glimpse of what He feels for His lost souls. I bet He feels an infinite amount of more constant pain than I did. As we finished praying, I opened my eyes and saw her eyes glisten with tears. I couldn’t help but to cry. Even though we prayed in English and she probably didn’t understand we were saying, it was her spirit working and responding within. Her tears reminded me of the verse “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). I knew that the Holy Spirit planted the seed inside, and all we could do is pray, and pray for God to water the seed more and more. We were able to leave the Bible with them, hoping their eyes would be unveiled to see the love of Christ.
When we were in the tents, we were exposed to local culture firsthand as we ate with them, danced with them, and talked with them. 1 Corinthians 9:20-23, I saw these verses come alive this night, for we became one with the local people that we might win some. We were able to share the Gospel as we separated into smaller groups. I had a chance to witness to a sister who spoke in English because she lived at D.C. for a year. Talking with her, I realized how much little I knew about the Bible myself. I’ve taken many discipleship classes, served in the church, heard about the cross and what Jesus did. But God humbled me by revealing to me that there’s so much more to the Bible than just knowing it in your head. I started to realize that the battle wasn’t against flesh and blood but it was with the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12) and I couldn’t change her mind with my own words. My words are limited, but the power of the Gospel, His Word, can pierce through the hardest of hearts and open up people’s eyes. And so as I spoke, I hoped and prayed that it would accomplish what He purposed and that it wouldn’t return to Him empty (Isaiah 55:11). When we were in the tent, I witnessed the body of Christ working together in unity because I saw everyone at one point sharing the Gospel. I knew we were all eager to share the Gospel. Even though none of them accepted Christ, we had comfort and peace in our hearts knowing that it’s in all of God’s good and perfect plan. All we had to do was plant seeds, and trust God. God led me to verses like Habakkuk 3:17-19 and Ecclesiastes 3:11, and Isaiah 55:10-11. Even though we didn’t see anyone come to Christ, it was a beautiful time and moment. It was the best Christmas ever just sharing the Gospel!
Of all the things God allowed me to witness, He gave me a burning heart to pray for these people. Please pray this with me:
- Their fear in death is so evident. To them, Allah is a god who judges. But we have this confidence of God’s love, for 1 John 4:18 says, “perfect love casts out fear”. Pray that they would come to know the perfect love of Christ. Not fearing death but having freedom in Him, we pray and hope for the Spirit to come and flood the place, for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom!
- I truly believe that God will rise up a leader in T-land and will use the weak to lead the strong in the nation. Let us continue to pray for the lost souls and if we don’t pray for them, who will? And lets pray for more obedient workers! How will they hear if no one goes? “How will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”” Romans 10:14-15
- For all the souls that we have reached! That God would continue to water the seed through the yearlong student missionaries there. And that we would continue to have the Father’s heart for the souls. Seeing the importance for one precious soul. That God would leave the 99 sheep to seek out the 1 lost sheep.
Thank you and God bless!
Soli Deo Gloria
Sincerely, S.Park
