Serving Missionary Kids
June Yang
Over the summer, I had the privilege of joining the Asia team due to this small comfort that she found in having some-
to serve at a conference for M’s. During our first missions body to communicate with, but over the next few days, she
meeting, Pastor Choi mentioned that we were going “to was able to catch onto a few phrases and she gained cour-
serve those who serve.” Throughout the entire trip, I found age to start singing along with the songs by repeating the
myself reflecting on this statement over and over again as I sounds she heard, rather than the words. One time, while we
learned what it meant to serve those who serve. were playing with one of her classmates, she started saying,
“Yummy!” and, “Let’s go.” I asked her if she knew what
My main role for the mission trip was to provide transla- they meant but she didn’t know because she was just copy-
tion for the children that only spoke in Korean, in hopes ing the other girl. When I told her what they meant, she said,
that they would also be able to enjoy the children’s program “Yummy! Let’s go! 맛있는거 먹으러 가자!” Not only did the
while their parents attended the conference. Three years ago, girl find encouragement to be more like herself, but I was
I had attended the same conference as a volunteer babysit- also encouraged because every morning she would come to
ting the 2 year old class. As a result, when I found out that me and say in Korean, “Teacher, I didn’t cry today!” My
the girl I would be translating for was 5 years old, I was heart was warmed and encouraged to know that God could
especially excited to be able to see and take care of the same use me to serve these children and their families as they con-
group of children that I had previously taken care of. It was tinue to do His work away from home.
so encouraging, adorable, and warming to see how much
the children had grown and to hear talk about their lives
overseas as MK’s. My heart continues to go out towards
these children because of my own experiences growing up
as a MK in Asia.
On the first day of meeting the children, the little girl that
I was going to be translating for came in with her eyes red
from crying. The mother expressed the relief that she felt
because the girl had been worrying that the teachers would
only be speaking in English. Although at first the girl was
shy and did not participate in the activities that required her
to know English, such as singing, watching videos, and even
playing with her classmates, I was thankful that the girl was
able to understand my Korean and felt comfortable speak-
ing and playing with me. Every day the girl would hold my
hand and had so much she wanted to tell me. Perhaps it was
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랄리제일한인침례교회
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