Our team of sixteen students and four teachers from Jeju Christian School (JCS) embarked on a mission trip to Sri Lanka from October 13 to 22, 2025. Our school operates on a four-quarter system, and the entire third quarter after summer break is devoted to preparing for and carrying out our annual mission trip. A significant amount of time and resources go into this, because at JCS, mission trips are a core part of our educational journey.

 Even the process of choosing a mission location follows the YWAM way: both teachers and students gather to pray and listen to God’s voice together. This year, that led us to Sri Lanka, a place most of us only knew as a Buddhist country famous for its tea. But after this trip, we can confidently say that we know Sri Lanka now.

 We partnered with a Korean missionary named Angelina, who has served in Sri Lanka for over twenty years. Through her, our team ministered for five days at three schools, four churches, and one café. Our program included traditional Korean dances such as Hansam and fan dance, two worship dances, a band performance, three personal testimonies, children’s ministry, and even Korean food outreach. Depending on the setting, we adapted our program and served with all our hearts, doing as much as possible within our tight schedule.

 We couldn’t have done it without the local Sri Lankan leaders and volunteers who supported us almost full-time throughout our stay, with more than five local leaders and over twenty local supporters aiding in the endeavor. The local leaders who played a key role were actually the first graduates of the DTS that Angelina had led in Sri Lanka fifteen years ago. Today, they are respected leaders influencing their churches, schools, and other spheres of society.

 With their help, we were able to perform for and share life with many Sri Lankan people, anywhere from 30 to over 300 students, children, and locals at a time. Their warm welcome and enthusiastic response went far beyond what we had imagined. None of us expected such joyful applause and heartfelt hospitality, but that’s exactly what we received. The response was overwhelming, filled with love and gratitude. Each time we said goodbye, there were tears and hugs as locals thanked us and wanted to serve us with sincerity in return.  It was truly a time of deep joy and grace, and our ministry was remarkably successful.

 Of course, the trip wasn’t all easy or comfortable.  Even though the trip was short, it was a challenging experience. We encountered both big and small difficulties that tested us along the way. In Sri Lanka, people eat with their hands, and out of respect for their culture and to build closer relationships, we decided to do the same. While some students enjoyed the experience, others found it quite difficult.

 The living conditions were also inconvenient due to issues with the running water. On the first night, the men’s dormitory had a clogged drain, forcing students to shower in standing water. We had to call for help multiple times to repair the bathrooms and showers. Although our lodging still had three usable bathrooms, it was hardly enough for teenage students who cared about cleanliness and their looks. 

 Some students stayed awake through the night due to jet lag and other reasons. On busy ministry days, some woke up as early as 4:30 a.m. to shower and dry their hair and some stayed up late preparing for the next day’s ministries. The teachers, meanwhile, barely got any sleep. 

 Although it was uncomfortable to eat, wash, and sleep under such conditions, what was most amazing was that no one complained or became discouraged because of them. Living together with twenty adults and children in one space wasertainly not easy, yet everyone chose to endure the inconveniences with a good attitude. 

 If the story ended there, it would have been a perfect trip. But it didn’t. Despite all the outward success, there were inner struggles and relational tensions within our team. Those conflicts eventually led to one member leaving the trip early and returning to Korea. The person at the center of that conflict was me. It would have been easier to leave that part out, but I chose to include it, because I believe there’s meaning in sharing even the uncomfortable truth.

 So, what was God trying to teach us through this trip? What does He truly value in our mission journeys? Is it a well-prepared, outwardly successful ministry? Evangelism to unreached people? Building relationships and cultural bridges? Or meeting practical needs?

 All of these are good and important. But I’ve come to see that they’re not the whole story. A mission trip is not merely an event for evangelism; it’s a sacred process in our lifelong journey of knowing God. Before it is our offering to Him, it is first His gift of grace to us. Through this time, we encounter His presence and learn the lessons He intends for our hearts.

What I learned on this trip: God is our hope.
Even in a land like Sri Lanka, where it might seem that hope is scarce, God remains the living hope. For the many who don’t yet know the gospel, God is still hope. For our team members and the missionary who serves faithfully there, God is still hope. And even for me, in the dry wilderness of my own heart, God remains my steadfast hope. This trip helped me see more deeply who God truly is and who I am in His eyes. It was a time of rediscovering that unshakable truth that God is hope.

When I returned home, my heart carried both joy and pain. I felt gratitude for the team’s successful ministry under God’s protection, but I also wrestled with the sting of relational conflict, feelings of failure, inferiority, shame, anger, and disappointment. And still, I give thanks for it all, because through everything, I hold on to one truth: my God is my hope.

 God’s hope doesn’t depend on our success. When we succeed, He is hope. When we fail, He is still hope. Our ministry, our mistakes, our shortcomings, and our sins cannot cancel His hope. God’s hope never fails, not even for a single moment.

 Instead, He stands even more firmly and faithfully in those moments, meeting us there. As Scripture says, “When I am weak, then I am strong,” for the God we believe in is mighty and He is our hope.

ㅡ Cho Seung-hyeon, JCS

✳️My Unforgettable Mission Trip

On Monday, October 13, I woke up at 4 a.m. and took a bus to Gimpo Airport.
I was full of excitement, thinking about all the new experiences waiting for us in another country.
Since it was after the Chuseok holidays, it also felt great to see my friends again after a week apart.
After meeting everyone at Gimpo Airport, we headed to Incheon Airport and began our long journey, connecting through Hong Kong before finally flying to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Meeting my friends again, sharing stories, and laughing together made the time fly by.
When we finally arrived in Colombo, I learned that the time difference between Korea and Sri Lanka is three and a half hours, with Sri Lanka being behind.
We arrived at dawn, met our local missionary, and were introduced to the local guides who would help us.The local guides were two men named Christopher and Nirash, and the missionary was a woman.

The next day, Tuesday, we stayed at our accommodation and practiced for the SUM performance.
At that point, I hadn’t completely prepared, so I felt uneasy.
During school rehearsals, it was easy to just go through the motions, but this time I decided to stay focused, to be thorough and give my best effort.
I told myself, “Next time I face the choice between drifting aimlessly or committing my whole heart, I don’t want to do something I’ll regret.”

For lunch, we had local curry fried rice for the first time.
They ate with their hands, which was fascinating.
I love trying new things, and the food was delicious, so it became a fun memory.
That evening, local pastors and several guests came to visit, including Christopher, Nirash, and Nathan, the principal of Lyceum School.
They were all believers, and we took time to introduce ourselves, hear about Sri Lanka, and learn some important guidelines.
Haejin and Geonwoo served as our interpreters.
We also performed our SUM rehearsal before everyone.
Dinner was again curry fried rice, and that’s how our second day in Sri Lanka came to an end.

On the third morning, we visited a school for children with disabilities.
There weren’t many students, but as we met them, I prayed with compassion that God would personally lead each one of them.
Remembering what I had learned about God’s love and values, we performed fan dances, drumming, dramas, and more, hoping our performance would bless the children.

Our second stop that day was a place called “Farm Center,” which gathered children three times a week for educational activities.
We did our SUM performance there too, folded origami together, and did face painting.
I remember the children sitting in a circle around me as I explained in English how to make shapes step by step.
We laughed together, and it became one of those moments I will always remember.

The next morning began our fourth day.
We always started each day with a devotional, led by different students.
That day, I remember the story of King Uzziah, who became proud.
We went to a school called “Logos School,” which had about 300 students, most of them Christian.
It was a special opportunity to talk openly about God.
Sri Lanka is over 70% Buddhist, so speaking about God can often be difficult.

During the SUM performance, I especially remember Juwon’s amazing piano playing and Geonwoo’s heartfelt testimony.
The warm sunlight streamed in, and his honest words lingered in my heart. The SUM performance was used beautifully by God.
Later, we visited several places of worship, Buddhist temples, Hindu shrines, and a Catholic church, and we prayed that Jesus would be Lord over this land.

After lunch, we rode paddle boats together, which was so much fun.
That evening, we served Korean food to local friends and held a game night in the banquet hall of our accommodation.
We played Korean traditional games like gonggi (jackstones), jegichagi (hacky sack), and yutnori, as well as a local Sri Lankan game.
In that game, people ran to grab an item in the middle when their number was called, trying not to collide.
It was a joyful time of cultural exchange and laughter.

On the fifth day, we visited Lyceum International School, which had over 3,000 students, from elementary to high school.  I couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to study in such a large school.
We performed fan dances and traditional Korean drumming, and their students also performed a drum and dance piece for us.
This time, Yejoon’s older sister shared her testimony.

We ate breakfast and lunch there, and performed in the afternoon.
It was a delightful day.
Even now, the printed photo from that day is beside me as I write this.

Since we missed morning devotions that day, we gathered in the evening for worship and intercession.

On the sixth day, Saturday, we visited New Life Church, where we performed SUM again and made a mosaic art piece with the children.
We had lunch at the church, and a few kids asked me for my autograph. I signed their papers proudly.
I even showed them some Taekwondo kicks.
They gave each of us a lotus flower, Sri Lanka’s national flower, as a gift.
Later that evening, we went to a café and worshiped together.
The atmosphere was peaceful and beautiful.
The ceiling was high like a warehouse, giving the space an open feeling.
The melodies in Korean, Sinhala, and other languages blended together so beautifully.
On the bus ride back, chatting and joking with friends made the evening even more special.

Sunday, our seventh day, we worshiped on the hotel rooftop, singing in Sinhala, Tamil, English, and Korean.
It was amazing. The view was beautiful, and the lotus flower and souvenir magnet I received that day still remind me of that moment.

That afternoon, we went shopping at the biggest mall in Sri Lanka.
For the next two days, we stayed at a place called Dolphin Hotel, enjoyed delicious meals, swam in a deep pool, and watched TV together, just having fun.
Finally, on the ninth day, we returned to Korea.

From this mission trip, I gained so much.
First, it was a time to learn about new cultures.
I realized something:
“One world becomes even more beautiful and full of wonder when it meets another.”
Seeing and experiencing life in Sri Lanka opened my eyes to new possibilities.
There were things in their way of living that inspired me, ways I might try myself.
Hope began to bloom as I saw new paths opening.

I also learned something about relationships.
Instead of being anxious or afraid of being rejected, I learned the importance of accepting one another.
I found confidence in knowing that I am someone worthy of being accepted.
When one person chooses to trust and stand firm instead of being swayed, a community can begin to experience real, positive change.

During the trip, we each had roles such as health care, hospitality, work duty, inventory management, and note taking.
Through these responsibilities, I learned the value of teamwork, that everyone’s efforts combined lead to the fulfillment of the mission.
It made me realize that while individual achievement matters, greater change and growth happen when we work together.

After returning to Korea, we stayed one night at Manseok Church for our mission trip debriefing.
Not everything went perfectly, but even through challenges, we learned to rely on God and to keep walking with Him.
Because we tried to love one another, this mission trip became a truly joyful and thankful experience, one that I will never forget.

ㅡKim Joo-young,  Jeju Christian School