Leader: Jesus has told us to go into all the world and tell others about God. That means that wherever there are Christians, there must be missionaries. Someone has said that missionaries go “from everywhere to everywhere.” That means some will leave their home in Africa or India or Asia or North America or South America and travel to another country to share God’s love. In the Adventist Church this happens a lot.

If we were to put a pin in the map to show where every missionary or mission volunteer is from and put a string from that pin to where they serve, our map would look like a huge spider web. That’s the way God wants it to be.

Today we have two young missionary kids with us. Wonbin [wawn-BIN] and his sister, Yewon [yeh-WAWN], are from Korea. They and their parents spent five years as missionaries in Japan. Let’s ask them what it was like to be missionary kids.

Where did your family serve as missionaries in Japan?

Wonbin: We lived on an island in southern Japan. [Locate Japan on a map. Point to the southernmost islands.] My father is a pastor, and we volunteered to help raise up a church on an island where there were just a few believers.

Leader: Was it hard leaving your home to move to another country?

Yewon: I was really little when we moved to Japan, so it’s been like home to me. But I think it was harder for our parents. We all had to learn Japanese, but Wonbin and I learned faster than our parents did! Sometimes we helped them when they didn’t know a word.

Wonbin: We would speak Japanese at school and while playing with our friends. But at home we spoke Korean. Our parents wanted us to know our language when it was time to return to Korea.

Leader: What was the hardest part about being a missionary?

Wonbin: It was a little hard making friends at school. And often there were no children in Sabbath School, so we had to read quietly while the adults had their lesson. Sometimes Mother would tell us Bible stories if another child came to church. We couldn’t sing, and Mother had to whisper when she told us the story so we didn’t disturb the adults.

Leader: Could you share your faith with your friends at school?

Wonbin: I tried. But when I’d tell my classmates about Jesus, they didn’t understand. Most of them hadn’t heard about God before. I’d tell them that I’m a Christian and I go to church on Sabbath, but they couldn’t understand. They just wanted me to play on Sabbath. I invited them to church, but their parents wouldn’t let them go. Some of my friends worship their ancestors.

Yewon: I talked to one friend about Jesus and asked if she knew who He was. She said she’d never heard about Jesus. That’s so sad!

Leader: Do either of you want to be a missionary when you grow up?

Yewon: Yes! I want to be a missionary like my mom! She found good ways to tell others about Jesus. And our parents showed us that kindness can make friends out of strangers. I want to be that kind of friend to others.

Leader: Korea has more Christians than Japan has, but still many people there need to know about Jesus. How can you share God’s love in Korea?

Wonbin: I can be a good example to others by being kind and helpful, playing nicely with other children, and showing others what God is like.

Leader: Do either of you want to say something to children around the world?

Yewon: Yes! We don’t have to leave our homeland to tell others about God’s love. Jesus wants us to share God’s love wherever we are!

Leader: Thank you, children, for telling us about being a missionary—wherever we are. And thank you, children, for your weekly mission offering that helps support missionaries such as Wonbin and Yewon.