I myself was a little nervous as I virtually dropped in on our Digital Mission Trip (DMT) that launched on Monday. Even though I wasn't helping to lead this year, I could empathize with my teammates’ nervousness, wondering if participants were going to show up, hoping that teams would click and desiring that the planned content would run smoothly.
As I popped into the zoom call, the 41 staff and student participants were wrapping up an intro game and moving into a time of worship. Seeing everyone's faces on the screen brought a sigh of relief. Everyone showed up! Things are in motion and I can’t wait to hear how God is going to work over the next month.
The DMT this year has split into four focus areas. The first two teams will be reaching out to students in East Asia and Desert Rain using social media platforms. Another group will be partnering with OMF to engage with their ministry activities in Japan, and the last group has a focus on reaching out to international students in Canada.
Wallenstein, thank you so much for your continued partnership that is helping to make the DMT happen. God is using the DMT to plant seeds of faith in the hearts of many students.
Please join us in praying for the digital mission trip this month:
Pray that students would grow in their understanding of how God is at work around the world.
Pray that God would help us to know how to be effective online missional agents.
A Quick Side Story:
As an online mentor for P2C, I received a message from Maria through our IssuesIFace.com website three months ago. Maria is a college student from the US and she shared that her father had recently passed away. As we've messaged, Maria has been very grateful for someone to "talk to" and process her grief with. Maria seems to have a faith in God, but at times it can be hard to know where she is at with God in the midst of her grief. Pray that I can continue to have meaningful conversations with Maria and that God would be drawing her into a deep relationship with him.
On a personal note, I will be on Sabbatical from May 10 - June 10. I'm looking forward to doing projects around the house, reading, and hopefully having a little fun too! If you respond to this update and don't hear back from me right away that's why.
P.S. My mom has instilled in me a love for garden metaphors. I planted these tulips last November and was so excited when they began to grow. However, it seems like the flowers are taking forever to bloom. It reminds me that when participating in God’s kingdom work we love the joy of bearing fruit, but we can be impatient and want to rush the growth process.
“It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.” - 1 Corinthians 3:7