Crossing Over 6,000 Years for 60 Hours
- देश |
- तिथि | 31/दिसंबर/2004
Peru is in the middle of hot summer opposite to Korea which is in the middle of cold winter. From December 14 to 31, ten members from Peru visited Korea with the Korean missionary and his wife.
Peruvian members visited Korea in nearly two years after the first visit in March, 2003. On December 13 and 17, four members from Chicago came to Korea and joined them.
This time, the overseas members had some difficulties. Sister Gloria Beristany from Chicago had a serious acrophobia. She had never been on the airplane; actually, it was hard for her to go up only to the second floor. However, God helped her overcome the fear with the faith in God and she arrived in Korea safely after the 10 hour flight. The Peruvian members had saved money for the air fair which is 10 times more expensive than their monthly pay. They arrived in Korea after a long 60 hour journey from Lima Airport in Peru via Caracas in Venezuela and Frankfurt in Germany. God gave abundant grace to them who flew into the arms of Jerusalem Mother, crossing 6,000 years with overcoming all the physical difficulties.
"Dios lo vendiga Muchos (God bless you)!" "Muchos Custa (Glad to meet you)!"
On December 14, Korean members welcomed the Peruvian members in Spanish at the Incheon International Airport. They hugged Korean members delightfully, forgetting their fatigue from the long journey.
When the Peruvian members saw the New Jerusalem Temple out of the bus window and when they met Mother whom they had been only dreaming of, they gave glory to God with their overflowing joy and emotions. They asked Mother for blessings, saying in Korean, "Omeoni, mahni mahni bogoshipeosseoyo (Mother, I have missed You so much)." Their voices also delivered the longing and love of 700 brothers and sisters in Peru who couldn't come to Korea this time.
While studying the Bible and sharing friendship with Korean brothers and sisters, Mother's example of humility and sacrifice were written on their hearts with the love of heavenly family. They said that they were impressed by the bright smile and humility of Mother and that they wanted to walk the way of faith like Mother.
Korean members were impressed by the humble and pure behaviors and passion of the Peruvian members. On December 19, Peruvian members attended the "Third Quarter 2004 Awarding Ceremony for Gospel Fruit Bearers" held in Okcheon Training Institute, being dressed in their traditional clothes. They sang a new song in their colorful costume. They reminded us of the Korean old story about a dutiful son who pleased his parents by dancing in colorful clothes like a child even though he was old, and the prophecy in the Bible that all the nations come to Zion and ask God for grace and praise His glory.
The 2nd Lima Church in Peru received the second prize as a small church and the first prize for women evangelists. The 1st Lima Church received the first prize for men evangelists as a medium church. Sister Maria Arango, who was awarded on the behalf of the women evangelists of the 2nd Lima Church, gave thanks to God for giving her Church such a big award. She said, "Through this awarding ceremony, I could feel that the gospel is being spread through the whole world very quickly. Peruvian members, too, will preach the gospel diligently so that we can please God by bearing abundant fruit."
The time to part came. The members from Chicago and Peru left Korea on December 26 and 31. They couldn't stop crying but braced themselves up, remembering Mother's earnest ask to preach the truth of life to many souls dying from disasters.
"When Mother told us to preach the new covenant loudly to save many people like Christ did, we didn't understand the exact meaning. But, a few days later, we were all astonished, watching hundred thousands people dying from the great tidal waves caused by the earthquake in deep sea. We realized that God is God of Power who runs this earth with His words."
Missionary Jun-ho Kong from the 2nd Lima Church in Peru explained that the Peruvian members were more awakened by the earthquake happened in December 26 in Asia. He said, "We experienced the love of God through this visit and realized that the way to put into practice God's love is to save souls through the new covenant. We will deliver to Jerusalem the good news that we save a lot of souls."
The overseas members said that they would tell their brothers and sisters about Mother a lot and preach the gospel quickly as Mother asked them. They kept giving thanks to God and also thanked the Korean members who put into practice brotherly love, following the example of Mother. While they were exchanging, 'Nos Vemos (See you)' rather than 'Adios (Bye),' 2004 was closing and a new year was coming.