MEXICO 2018

Winter 2018

Joined by our THMC English Ministry, Youth Group, and 2018 Spring SPARK participants & volunteers, 34 team members went to Chiapas, Mexico to serve in the mountain community of Mitontic. During the 6 day trip, 4 days were dedicated to spending time with the kids through VBS, arts & crafts, games, and fellowship as we spent the entire day together. God worked wonders in the mountains of Mexico and blessed the team with so much!

 

TESTIMONY

Justin rocker (EM)

What an awesome trip to Mexico! Though not my first time in missions, this was my first time serving with Ttokamsa EM. Going further south to Chiapas was a challenge I looked forward to.

Did we go to Mexico to have a good time and feel better about making some kids happy for 4 days? Or was it because we had the opportunity to pray for Christ’s blessing on kids who are in a place where they may be tempted to hopelessness? What if the purpose of going to Mexico was to be an inspiration to someone who didn’t know what they could do for God, but now has been blessed to make a change in their surroundings?

If all the time, energy, and expense we poured out over the months of August, September, October, November, and December (just the last two for me) were simply to bless one person that way, I attest that it would have been worthwhile.

And how many were in tears with the move of the Holy Spirit while we were there?

Eunice Kang (Youth Group)

When I first saw the children in Chiapas, the first thing I noticed was how grateful they were towards all of the members that had served for this mission trip. They all had so little, yet consistently gave an abundance of love to us. Many of them had no shoes, no new pairs of clothes, no showers, the responsibility to take care of their youngest sibling, but each and every one of them came back everyday with genuine smiles and a heart to worship God. All the children poured out the same amount of love to us as they did to one another. From that, I took time to reflect upon myself. I felt the guilt of taking advantage of my everyday life where I had so much to be thankful for; my family, my house, clean water, new clothes. The energy the children radiated made me reflect more on how I can be a better embodiment of God.

The positive energy given off from the children allowed me think if I was truly happy. I think understanding that I should be more grateful was a great first step of my journey towards happiness. However, this mission brought together a great group of people. I felt as if God had perfectly chosen these people to come together as one body through Him. I felt as if each testimony and each talk helped me understand more of what I had to focus on. This mission truly was a blessing that allowed me to come into the new year without fear.

Katherine Min (Youth Group)

Chiapas was an one of a kind experience where I deeply connected with God and His children. I felt his presence, love, and power, and the beauty of it all overwhelmed me. It strengthened my love for God and opened my eyes to the many blessings we have in our lives. I truly feel that this experience has matured and humbled my heart to serve God in my everyday life. The tears during alter call, the happiness of being together, the passion and heart of serving, the whole mission was one I hope I will never forget.

 

Chanwoo Kim (Korea Spark)

저의 첫 선교는 멕시코 치아파스였습니다! 미국에 오기전 예배에서 목사님께서 ‘빈들에서 하나님의 말씀이 임한다’라는 말씀으로 설교를 하셔서 미국에서도 계속 기도했던 내용은 ‘하나님의 말씀을 들려주세요’ 였습니다.

치아파스로 떠났고 첫째날 준비를 할때는 정말 설레는 마음으로 세상의 유혹들로 자연스럽게 멀어진 지금 하나님께 all in해보자라는 마음으로 선교를 시작하였습니다!
둘째날부터 아이들을 보았는데 보았을때 가슴이 너무 아팠습니다! 신발없는아이, 아이가 아이를 업고있고, 옷이 더러운것 등등을 보면서 어떻게 이러한 환경에서 살고있나 하였습니다.
하지만 그 아이들은 작은것에 감사하고 행복해 하였습니다. 그러한 아이들을 보면서 많이 반성을 하였습니다! 기도하는시간에 그 아이들을 위해 제발 주님을 알게해달라고, 주님의 사랑을 조금만이라도 경험할수 있도록 해달라고! 울며 부르짖었습니다.

하지만 저는 아이들의 외관으로 인해서 아이들의 손만 잡은채 기도를 해주다가 문둔병자들을 섬겼던 선교사가 생각나면서 내가 그곳으로 가라는 주님의 명령을 받았을때 거역할것인가라는 질문을 하였습니다! 저는 당연히 NO! 순종하겠나이다 였습니다 그 이후 아이들을 꽉 껴안고 기도를 하기 시작하였고 아이들과 정말 많은 사랑을 나누게 되었습니다!
아이들을 보면서 저는 저의 모습을 많이 보고 또 많이 반성을 하였습니다! 주님께서 날 내가 저 아이들을 사랑하는것보다 내가 저아이들에게 섬겼던것보다 더 크게 하셨을거라 믿어 의심치 않으며 정말 주님께서 날 100% 사랑하시는구나를 느꼈고! 아이들이 작은것에 행복해하는 것을 보면서 나는 왜 저렇지 못할까라는 반성과 회개를 하며 다짐을 하게 되었습니다!

치아파스에서 온전한사랑을 배워서 저도 2019년에는 온전하게 100%하나님께 저를 드려보려고 합니다!
정말 단 1초도 빠짐없이 행복한 시간이었고, 가슴속에 영원히 간직하겠습니다! 치아파스의 하나님의 역사하심과 구원을 위해 항상 기도하겠습니다