“It Was a Battle”

When Nam Mi Kyung moved to Onyang with her three young children in 2017, it had been some time since she had attended church. She was surprised when Kim Chun-hee, a member of the local branch, reached out to her to invite her over for dinner. Twenty-five years earlier, Chun-hee had served as a missionary in Mi Kyung’s home branch in Taebaek. “I was reluctant to go with three children to an unfamiliar place,” said Mi Kyung, “but I couldn’t refuse, because I was thankful for her sincerity in inviting me.”

After dinner, they reminisced together as Chun-hee pulled out photographs from her time in Taebaek when Mi Kyung was still in high school. After that initial reunion, Chun-hee continued to call Mi Kyung with invitations to attend church or study the gospel together. Coming back to church, however, was not easy. “It was a battle,” said Mi Kyung of attending church with her children, who were now nine, six, and three years old. “I needed to hear the good word and sprinkle water on the seeds of my faith,” she said. “When I was wrestling my youngest child throughout the meeting, there was no time for the word to hit my ears.”

Chun-hee offered encouragement, stressing the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy and telling Mi Kyung that they would face the challenge together. Over time, Mi Kyung’s desire to come to church with her children increased, and she knew they could benefit from the love and fellowship of the branch members. She soon accepted a calling to serve as the Jecheon Branch Young Women president. “Now I know how important it is to keep the Sabbath and [how] great a power it is,” Mi Kyung reflected. “I thank my sister [Chun-hee] who knew that it would not be easy but encouraged me to keep the Sabbath.”