KOSTA: Day 4

YOUTH KOSTA: GROUP 11
1ST PLACE

GRACE. Uh..... our team won first place. FIRST PLACE!! OUT OF 31 GROUPS!! Why? It must be God's grace. We won "모범상".. (I don't know what that's called in English.) But basically, the staff added stickers to the 'sticker board' according to our citizenship, team spirit, etc etc. IN ALL HONESTY, we don't know why we won. Even after we won, we said this must be an error, something must have gone wrong. Now THIS is what you call GRACE. 

HEART-BREAKING. The praise team was awesome. I mean... it's the "KOSTA Tour Team", so how could it NOT be great? Students were all pumped up and excited during praise. People were jumping up and down, shouting, hands raised..... BUT for some, that was all. As soon as praise was over and we went into the message, cell phones were out. Regardless of what great speakers we had, so many students were on their phones kakaoing, playing games, etc. or just sleeping. So then, did we really worship God? I don't think so. What difference is there in going to a secular concert? People jump up and down, shout, and go crazy because "the music is great" or simply because "they like to sing" or better yet, because "the performers are good looking." (I kid you not, some students were even shouting "멋있다! 잘생겼다!!" at the praise team leader.) A parent shared with me that she was blessed at the sight of students jumping up and down during praise. I responded, "Yeaaa~" but in reality, I was a bit heart-broken. It's so easy to think that we worshipped God, to think that God was glorified, to think that we were blessed. I question..... really?

AFTER EFFECT. KOSTA was held at the largest Korean church in HCMC. The church is nice - big sanctuary, nice worship rooms for every department, great sound-system, etc. This is "their" reality, but not ours. This Sunday we'll be back at Donut's Donuts. This is "our" reality. Not an amazing sanctuary, but a donut shop; full praise band, but one keyboard; not an amazing speaker, but me. Honestly, I'm worried but I know that worrying won't change anything. "God, it's in your hands." I pray that the students will be able to worship God in all situations and circumstances, just as we sang with our own two lips, "부르신 곳에서~ 나는 예배하네~ 어떤 상황에도 나는 예배하네~"

SISTERHOOD. On a brighter note, I was able to get a bit closer with the high-school sisters, and I was able to see the sisters get closer as well. I'm in charge of the middle school boys for small group, so I never had a chance to be in close contact with the sisters. It wasn't all of the sisters and it's not like we talked a lot, but still.. I feel like there's some closer connection now. I had a tough time in general with my group, but there's ALWAYS something to thank God for :)

Bethel Ladies :)