May 10, 2026: Myeongdong Shopping Day
Written by: Kenko Morikawa
On May 10, 2026, the Next Gen Missionaries were out having fun and shopping in the beautiful city of Myeongdong for their free day!
Now, just because this is where the missionaries are out in the city all day by themselves, they were to be reminded to have our Heavenly Parents and True Parents in the city during the day. The missionaries started the day with a Hoon Dok Hae session on the drive, emphasizing the importance of being the light of God's love in any environment. This was given by our True Mother to remind us of the amount of hope she has for us on any occasion. This allowed for the missionaries to have Mother's words as a center within the fun they will experience in Myeongdong.
The moment the missionaries arrived at the fabulous and vibrant city of Myeongdong, they were immediately astonished by the vibrant atmosphere of the streets of Myeongdong, with cars driving all over and people talking over each other. As they looked out into the city, the missionaries were filled with a determination to have fun while reminding themselves that they are representatives of Heavenly Parents and True Parents American Pure Waters.
At the moment of arrival, the missionaries formed small pairs/groups to explore, shop, and eat at different areas within the city. As time passed by, the missionaries were at their individual locations, sharing a good time. Even though there was a physical barrier of language between the missionaries and citizens, the amount of love and confidence the missionaries had within themselves allowed for the communication to be something they didn’t have to worry about. As a matter of fact, some missionaries were able to have a positive give-and-take with a cashier that resulted in laughter, happiness, and two free face masks!
The afternoon portion of the day started with the missionaries having lunch within the teams as they ate at different food vendors, convenience stores, and restaurants. Even though the city was starting to crowd with more people, that didn’t stop the missionaries from enjoying their free day in the city. As a matter of fact, that really allowed them to become the light and representation of True Parents as they spread their love and affection to the people they met.
As the day in the city of Myeongdong came to a close, and people were buying things at the last minute, it was time to say goodbye. During the bus ride back to Cheongpyeong, the bus would be filled with the missionaries being excited about their individual experiences and items they purchased throughout the day.
As they arrived back in Cheongpyeong, the missionaries came to celebrate Mother's Day together with the amazing Aunties in our community. Last but not least, the day concluded with some missionaries having fun playing sports while others continued talking about the individual amazing experiences they had in Myeongdong and redeterminations for the next time they might come back.
