(A Mustard Seed) Changes in a Certain Consulate’s Daughter

“PASTOR, PLEASE HELP MY DAUGHTER!”

As I am doing the work of IYF, I meet with many ambassadors and consulates from many different nations. Once, a consulate from a nation in South America attended the World Camp and we were able to greet each other. Afterwards, I frequently had chance to meet with him. One day, he came to me and asked for my help with his daughter.

“Pastor, please help my daughter.”

He had been living with his daughter after his divorce. However, the daughter fell into depression while being alone and in agony from missing her mother. For a long time his daughter had been staying alone at home, contemplating in her own thoughts. She could not find the true meaning of life, and survived few suicide attempts over the years. Right before he came to see me, the daughter attempted suicide again, so he called on me for help.

It was his only daughter, and the father cared for his daughter dearly and wanted what was best for her. However, the daughter lost any interest in life and was in constant watch for suicide attempt. The father’s heart was breaking for his daughter and was in profound pain. There was nothing he could do to solve the problem, so he came to me for help.

It may be absurd to think that I could guide his daughter, when the father himself could not. However, I had God with me and I am a witness to the workings of God, so I visited the consulate’s house. When I arrived at his place, his daughter locked herself in her room and would not come out. The consulate continuously pleaded with his daughter for a long time.

“Honey, this pastor is a very busy man. I am begging you, please open the door!”
There was silence. After 30 minutes had passed, the daughter came out from her room.

I WANTED TO HELP THAT GIRL TO COME OUT FROM HER OWN WORLD

I was able to sit down with her and speak. No one quite knows about the world of the heart, especially people who suffer from depression or have problems in their heart. The illness of the heart arises due to not opening and using one’s heart. This girl also had been closing her heart and living inside of her own world for a long time. Therefore, no one was able to provide any kind of influence in her heart. While living in this kind of isolation, a certain thought arose in her continually and pulled her into the direction to commit suicide.

I felt compassion for her and wanted to help her. God created mankind in the midst of all things and made a heart in man. The heart is more precious than any other thing in this world, and God made it well. The heart will respond when in love, and feel happy and pleased when it flows with the heart of others.

People have vague ideas of how the world of the heart works. Today, the world is so corrupted it came to a point where no one can trust each other. Consequently, many people tend to shun away from sharing what’s in their heart. This is because they are in fear of being despised and treated dumb by saying the wrong thing. Therefore, many youths tend to close their heart. Especially when they are into computer games for a long time, they feel burdened to meet other people. Hence, they end up closing their heart towards others.

Sadly enough the heart of consulate’s daughter also was tightly closed. I wanted that girl to open her heart and run out from her own world.

HER FACE WAS FILLED WITH JOY

People who are caught within themselves will feel peace when they are in contact with the feelings of other people and feel a bond with them. For two hours, I spoke about Jesus to that girl—how Jesus had been crucified for her, and about opening her heart. Surprisingly, the girl accepted the Word in the Bible and received salvation. The more I think about it, I cannot erase the feeling of joy I felt at that time. The girl’s face lit up.

I told the girl, “My wife makes delicious Korean dishes. If you are not busy, can you come over to my house tomorrow morning? I want to invite you and your father for dinner.” The girl was not busy since she stayed home all day. The next day, she came to my home with her father holding a small gift for us. We sat at the table and ate dinner together. The girl seemed very happy, and she said this was the first time she had dinner at someone’s home in Korea.

“Madam, this food is so delicious. How do you make this kind of food? Can you teach me how to make it?” The daughter of the consulate conversed with my wife, and joyously ate the food. Her face was filled with joy. It was pure delight to see how just putting two extra spoons on the table could bring so much happiness to the person. After dinner, for two more hours the consulate’s daughter enjoyed our company and went home.

“PASTOR, PLEASE COME TO MY RESTAURANT AND ENJOY THE FOOD.”

Ever since that time due to my busy schedule I did not have a chance to see her again.
 However, one day the consulate came to visit me.

“Pastor, I am going to be dispatched to another country. I received a call from my government. I will be going to Taiwan. I really liked Korea, and truly feel love for Korea. I am saddened to depart this land. Pastor, please visit Taiwan when you have a chance. I want to spend some time with you.”

The consulate then took out his phone, called his daughter, and transferred the call to me.

“Where are you?”

“I am in Montreal, Canada. Pastor, I am studying cooking here. After I finish my studying, I am going to Paris and start a restaurant of my own. I want to especially invite you to my restaurant and taste my cooking. Thank you, pastor.”

I was truly happy to see the girl coming out of her own thoughts of darkness and speaking brightly, planning a new life by studying cooking.

THERE IS NO ONE WHO WILL NOT CHANGE WHEN THEY MEET JESUS

Jesus has the power to change a person’s heart. Whoever accepts His heart, He enters into their heart and works. When He works, anyone can become beautiful. I never had another occasion to see the consulate’s daughter since then. However, I believe Jesus in her heart will guide her through. I don’t know where she is, but she may have opened a restaurant somewhere in Paris by now. I feel very thankful to know that she will be living a life of joy in Jesus.

Before I met Jesus, I was a person who gave worries and heartaches to many people. But through Jesus, I have become a person who gives peace by introducing Jesus to other people. I am also thankful to see people change and become happy when Jesus works in them. Even today, Jesus works amongst many people. He changes their heart and gives His righteousness, holiness, peace and love which they previously did not have. It is so amazing and thankful to know that there is no one who will not be changed when they meet Jesus. (An excerpt from With the Gospel to the Ends, With the Lord to the Last by Pastor Ock Soo Park)