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[Paraguay] Former President Lugo, “This is the camp where I met God.”

The Congratulatory Message from Paraguay’s Former President, Fernando Lugo Méndez

The venue of the 2014 Paraguay World Camp opening ceremony this past Jan 6th, has a welcomed visitor. It’s Paraguay’s former president and current senator, Senator Fernando Armindo Lugo Méndez, who has a special bond with Pastor Ock Soo Park. As Senator Lugo shared his heart with students from different countries hoping to become friends with them, he shared through his speech that he was thankful God was with this camp.


Hello students from Paraguay! Hello students from Chile! Hello students from Argentina! Hello students from Uruguay, Bolivia, and Brazil! Thank you. I thank Pastor Park for inviting me to this year’s World Camp. Everyone, when you have met someone for the first time, I don’t know if you have ever felt a special harmonious feeling. My first meeting with Pastor Park was like that. When I saw Pastor Park for the first time here, or when I met him in Korea, or in any place, every time I see him, what I can say for sure is that he is a man of God. Today, I have learned a lot. I have learned that God never stops His Word and through dance, through music He speaks through youth and this camp. I do not doubt for a minute that God is with us, here this afternoon. Many people meet God during one moment in their lives. I’m not exactly sure what he will talk today, but as we remember the moments when we met God this afternoon, I would like to share an experience of one person as he met God. Not only did he meet God, but to me, this is the only story of a man who faced God. A long time ago, there was a belief amongst the Hebrew people that if someone came face to face with God, they would die. Please listen carefully. The bible is telling us this. 22  And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. 23  And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. 24  And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25  And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26  And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27  And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28  And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29  And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31  And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Pastor Park, if you do not give us the blessing of God tonight, I will not go. At this camp, this camp is meeting God and wrestling with Him. Jacob was the only one to win God. And God blessed him. That is why I do not want to lose this opportunity. Whenever I see the dances, the songs, the instruments, the performances, and the youth of many different countries, I feel as if I am seeing God. God is the one who touches the heart. The people who feel the warm feeling that comes from God, they can never be the same person they were before. That person will be a person filled with love and he or she will be receive change from God. I would like to thank you once more for giving me this chance. I feel once more that God is with us. Especially, I feel that He is with us and even closer to us at this camp. Thank you.