JOSEPH YOUN

Hello, my name is Joseph Youn, a senior at the University of California, Riverside. This year, I had the opportunity to participate in a short-term summer mission trip through KCM to South India. My decision to go on STSM again was an uneasy one because I’ve already gone on it before, and I was going to graduate from college this year, so there were worries about my future. However, as I reflected on past mission trips, I decided to sign up again because witnessing God’s kingdom come and spread across the nations, hearing the testimonies of missionaries and locals, and serving God in this capacity was such a blessing to experience, which led me to South India.

A big blessing I was reminded of was the importance and privilege of prayer. Before traveling to South India, I was in a season of seeking God through constant prayer. Amidst a troubled and anxious heart, it was in the place of prayer that I was reminded of who I was praying to. I was praying to the Creator of the universe, of the heavens and the earth, and of me. This same all-powerful God is also my heavenly Father who knows me, loves me, and cares for me more than I could ever imagine. When there were moments of a troubled and anxious heart, I was reminded – with the little faith that I had – that there is nothing impossible for this God to do and accomplish. He invites me into His loving arms to lift my honest heart and prayers to Him and to find refuge, strength, and rest in Him. Day by day, I would seek God in prayer, asking Him to strengthen me by His grace for each day as I walked and served. Through this, I was reminded that God was with me wherever I went, and this became my confidence. Even through the fear and worry of encountering, talking, and serving the students and locals, God was with me. This allowed me to step out in faith and enter into what I thought were uncomfortable situations. Though initially uneasy, there was much joy in serving. Our team also had the privilege of praying for every student. Though exhausting at times (because my prayers seemed repetitive), it was an honor to intercede for the students, knowing that God hears my prayers and His heart for these students is so much more than I can ever muster.

Another big blessing I was reminded of was the importance and joy of serving God. There was a serving opportunity called Blind Friend’s Ministry to meet and pray for those who were born blind or had gradually become blind. After the missionary called us to pray for the blind, he called us to shake their hand and embrace them as Jesus would. It was through this that I experienced a small glimpse of God's compassion and love. I can imagine that there was and is much frustration and sorrow over their condition, but I was reminded that we have a God who knows, loves, and understands them completely. This brought me to awe and gratitude for God. Another serving opportunity was through Gospel presentations. My initial reaction to any serving opportunity we had was anxiety and fear, and when I heard that we were going to go to a classroom on our own or in pairs for around 40 minutes, I was nervous. Again, in prayer, I walked in faith that God was with me wherever I went. Through this serving opportunity, I was able to share the Gospel and God’s love with the students with much joy. I was especially overjoyed whenever the students had questions, seeing that God was working within their hearts to ask such questions. Lastly, another serving opportunity was through discipleship. Discipleship was a relational ministry where our team would split into pairs to a class of students to talk about Jesus, the Gospel, life, and so forth. Through this, I was able to get to know one of the students I encountered: her faith and her household situation. I tried my best to encourage her by answering questions she had, and I prayed for her towards the end of our time together. It was so encouraging to see other brothers and sisters in Christ bold and passionate in their faith.

As I come back home, I’ve realized the importance of prayer in my day-to-day life. I must pray every single day because I need Him more than I know. There are many decisions, thoughts, and emotions I go through within a single day that I cannot bear on my own. I am weak, but He is strong. He is my refuge to whom I can pour my heart out, and He understands me and loves me. I plan to make it a priority to pray to God from the moment that I wake up, throughout the day, and as I go to sleep. For serving, I am reminded that it is a privilege. Not only do I serve my neighbor, but I serve the Lord as well. So in all things that I do, I plan to serve with all my heart to others as unto the Lord.