Where God’s Heart Is, There Our Hands Should Be

Sangryul Kim YANA Board Member

The final scene of the movie Schindler’s List goes like this:

A Jewish lawyer whose life was saved through Oskar Schindler gives him a ring engraved with a line from the Talmud: “Whoever saves one life saves the world entire.” When Schindler receives the ring, he breaks down and says,“I could have got more, and I could have got more. I didn’t do enough… 10 people… 10 more people… this pin—2 people. This is gold—2 more people. I could have got more, but I didn’t.”

When I saw this movie at the age of twenty, I remember being deeply shocked. How can a human being be so cruel? And yet, how can another human give everything they have to save even one life? Watching one person’s sacrifice transform another human being—and seeing how that transformation changed the course of their life—left a lasting impact on me.

Here at YANA, there are people who are committed to raising even one person well, and I am grateful to be able to join this ministry. Although I live far away and can only participate briefly once a year through the Flying Happiness program (Project Homecoming) —staying in Utah for two or three days to visit Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, and sharing a few meals—I thank God that He allows me to share even the small things I have. It is God who gives me a heart willing to share. Every year has been meaningful and memorable, but I still can’t forget that very first year. In February 2013, after moving to Utah, it was the first time we traveled with the Dongmyung children, their teacher, and even the director. The drive to Moab, where Arches National Park is located, takes about four hours. Even just seeing the mountains along the way, the children kept taking pictures, saying how amazing everything looked. Watching them, I thought, “We haven’t even seen the real sights yet—there’s so much ahead of us to explore.” I kept telling them not to waste their camera storage… that they didn’t need to take so many pictures.

When we finally arrived at our destination, everyone—both the children and the teacher—said their hearts felt wide open, as if they could finally breathe. After living in a cramped and suffocating city, standing before such vast nature, breathing in the clean air, and taking in the extraordinary scenery of Arches and the Canyons—God naturally healed the stress and burdens they had carried for so long. In that moment, I realized that “coming all the way out here really is worth it.” Even though the schedule was intense—flying here, loading luggage, driving again, and then returning to New Jersey—I sometimes wondered if it was too much. But sharing time together, talking with one another, and experiencing something new made it all worthwhile. Interestingly, the children we bring are usually not very shy—they’re bright, cheerful, and full of joy, perhaps because this trip breaks them out of their usual environment. They truly enjoy every moment to the fullest.

In February 2018, new members from New Jersey joined us, making the trip even more special. Walking through the National Park with the four Dongmyung children and two teachers, I felt a sense of freedom and gratitude reflected in each of their hearts. We planned to watch the stars blanket the sky that night, but due to changing weather conditions, we couldn’t see them—something I still feel a little disappointed about. On the last day, we visited a ski resort nearby. It was the children’s first time doing this kind of tour. Riding the gondola to the summit—over 10,000 feet above sea level—the mountains they saw from the top gave both the children and the New Jersey members a fresh sense of wonder. As we looked forward to winter, we suggested that in 2019 it might be nice to learn to ski together.

When we first met Pastor Whang and heard about YANA Ministry, we felt that our family also wanted to be involved. At the time, Han-eon was just over two years old, and as we raised him, we were reminded again of how important the role of parents truly is. Naturally, we began to think about how difficult it must be for children who grow up without parents or who come from broken homes. We found ourselves hoping that we could help—even just a little.

As Jin-eon was born, we began to seriously consider the idea of taking in a child, just as some other YANA members have done. Although the timing hasn’t been determined yet and our family still needs more preparation, this plan is still ongoing. Above all, just having the opportunity to walk alongside someone, even briefly, on their life’s journey feels like a blessing.

We believe that we are all created in the image of God—or at least, those of us who believe in Jesus believe this. We were created to resemble God, and throughout our lives, we grow to reflect Him more and more. Because of this, being able to offer something small to people whom God created and loves, and to places where there is need and His heart resides, is always a joy and something to be thankful for. And seeing our members serve together faithfully and wholeheartedly brings joy and inspires me to want to become more like them. This too is another joy in life.

And every year, we find ourselves wondering with anticipation, “Who will come next year?” The way the children treat each other like uncles, aunts, and siblings—like a true family in Christ—feels like yet another blessing added to our life here in the U.S.

Sangryul Kim

YANA Board Member