There were many difficulties even before the start of this camp. We lacked the hands necessary to work in preparation for the camp, and advertising was insufficient so much so that we thought if 100 local students attended it would be a successful camp. However, on the first day at orientation as time arrived, 1000 people (600 university students, 100 Chinese brothers and sisters, 270 from Korea, 60 volunteers) gathered at the Cultural Center to register.
As God sent many students, we could feel heart of God which loves this camp. Although we had volunteers, since they had their own assignments they could not translate for their class and hence we lacked volunteers. Although there was translation, there were classes without 100% translation, classes without translators and so teachers of each class had to seek God and His wisdom.
On Tuesday, there was the morning class academy. Due to much interest in Korea: Korean, Tae Kwon Do, Korean traditional mask (Tal) making were all included in which the students participated. Inside the Cultural Center: Academies, meals, mind education took place and so it was complicated and had an untidy atmosphere, everyone followed instructions very obediently.
Pastor Park speaks during the mind education but even just before pastor Park arrived we could not find a translator. Sung Min, the son of missionary Soon Nam Yoon was set to translate but it had been 3 years of Mongolian he learnt, it was also his first time translating and so there was no choice for us but to pray together. Pastor spoke about how God realistically helped him and showed Himself and that we are to connect with that God.
Opening Ceremony – secretary of the President of Mongolia attended and opened her heart to IYF which teaches the world of the heart to students who will lead the future, and said she will try to arrange a meeting with pastor Ock Soo Park and the President. Performance of Mongolian traditional instrument, Mongolian dance, Lincoln students’ performances of each country and the Gracias Choir’s performance opened the hearts of the people, and especially as Gracias Choir sang “Jo Gook”, a Mongolian traditional song, there was a great applause from the attendees.
On Tuesday, there were two gospel classes: in the morning and the evening in which many students who wanted to know about the Bible and the gospel attended and listened to the Word. The guest speaker, pastor Sung Hoon Kim gave the message about the death, funeral and resurrection, how Jesus’ death was for our sins, the funeral for our freedom and the resurrection to show that we are righteous.
In the evening, there was a time for mini-olympics and horseback riding. The time of mini-olympics which requires teamwork became a time when our hearts could become one through sweating and laughing together. The horseback riding time became a time where students who have never ridden to enjoy in the fresh air.
On Thursday morning, there was no time for academy and so there was gospel class finally. After clearing up the gospel for 30 minutes, students who received salvation during the camp had a time to testify. All our hearts were warm and thankful when we could hear that the gospel is implanted in their hearts so surely as they testified one by one. Students who have never heard about God believed that they became righteous through the blood of Jesus, believed God, and as we saw them tell other students who did not accept the gospel yet to believe in God, we were very surprised at the work of God.
During mind education time, through various examples pastor spoke of how to throw away my thoughts and accept the Word. As the translator carried out all the words, actions, expressions of the pastor, the students were able to focus.
In the afternoon, the teams were able to sight-see, tour museums, take pictures and spend an enjoyable time. At 3 pm (students) and at 7 pm (outer invitees), the Cantata was set in order to be performed and so everyone gathered at the event venue. During the righteous stars’ opening performance the metallic door descended and so the performance was on hold. As the fire alarm button was pressed, metallic door came down and so the performance at 3 was not possible. While waiting, the born again students were able to testify and dances from each class became an enjoyable time for everyone. Eventually the 3 o’clock performance was cancelled and everyone watched the performance at 7 together. What we heard afterwards is that as the metallic door came down some of the amplifiers were damaged but if they were not damaged then the electric wires would be disconnected and the 7 o’clock performance would have to be cancelled as well. With the heart that God protected us, and that He will bless the 7 o’clock performance even more.
At the 7 o’clock performance, the family member and friends the students invited could see the performance together. In the 4 act cantata, the 3rd act was most liked. Especially as they saw the video of snow falling from the sky drew grand applauses. After the 4th act, everyone gave a standing ovation.
Mongolians are not culturally open so they have almost no responses to interculturation. But as God opened their hearts, after the show was over, they applauded with a standing ovation and shouted “encore” which was nothing but a touching scene. The last encore song was the “Jo Gook” again, which is the Mongolian traditional song which drew cheers from the crowd and became a time where everyone became one.
Before the camp started, I thought the Camp failed. However, as God worked, the camp ended successfully. Pastor Park said that he wants 300 university students to become workers of the gospel through this camp. Almost all the students heard the gospel and received salvation.
He also said this was not the end but a new beginning.
We hope that these students become workers of the gospel and turn over Mongolia.
