Wallenstein, my mouth hung open as my teammate, Jordan, told me, "Charlotte, we have 10 applications for mission trips already."
"How many of those are admin testers?" I asked skeptically.
"Zero." Jordan replied.
"Are most of them just opened or are some of them significantly filled out?" I asked.
"Most of them are over 50% completed" he said.
This conversation happened the day after applications went live for 2022 mission trips. I couldn't believe my ears. Our team had just spent the last month confirming locations, trying to find staff directors for the trips, preparing the promo resources and none of this had been easy. As of today, 20 students have started applications. It is exciting and surreal for our team that we will have in person mission trip opportunities for 2022. Please join us in praying that 75 students will join us on mission trips this summer.
This month I'm also celebrating ongoing impact from our digital mission trip (DMT) this past May. When the official DMT came to an end, the group of students and staff reaching out to East Asia decided to unofficially continue. Recently a student in East Asia, "Herbie," came to faith. Here's the story as told by one of the Canadian students:
Through the DMT, I got to meet Herbie, a very friendly and approachable student, in his first year of university studying law. I remember when we first met each other, we discussed ethnicities and geopolitics, and Herbie's answers were filled with knowledge and insight. Then, out of the ordinary, during our conversation, I asked him, do you believe in God? We swiftly entered a spiritual conversation and I got a chance to share my mini testimony. In the beginning, Herbie seemed a bit confused and unable to fully understand the gospel. Yet, he continued to have an open heart and was very receptive towards spiritual conversations. Shortly after, Herbie started to attend our weekly English corner on a regular basis.
In late July, we started an Alpha Course online. One week after attending the first Alpha, Herbie decided to reach out to a Christian friend of his, to seek a way to access a Bible and to visit a church in East Asia. He even took initiative to visit a local church near his place on a Sunday. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic or unknown reasons, the church was not open. Yet, despite these barriers, Herbie's interest to know God’s Word did not fade.
In late October during Alpha, the topic of the week was “How can I be fill with the Holy Spirit?”, where the video invites viewers to accept the Holy Spirit. Without much expectation, when we invited Herbie, he said “yes" to accepting the Holy Spirit! There, we got a chance to lead him to accept: 1) God, the Trinity, created the heavens and earth; 2) Jesus, son of God, came to earth in human form, died for us and resurrected 3 days after; 3) Holy Spirit, part of the Trinity, to enter Herbie’s life. Praise God for his wonderful works! I feel honoured and encouraged that I can be part of God's ministry, and that I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the work of God in Herbie – from sowing, growing, to now harvesting!!
Currently, because of pandemic restrictions, Herbie has not been able to find a local church community in East Asia. Therefore, he virtually attends a Toronto church with one of our DMT teammates. He now has access to a digital Bible on his phone, but much more prayers are needed for him.
As we know God has not stopped working during the pandemic. It may look different than before, but God is not limited.
Wallenstein, because of your partnership students in Canada have the opportunity to go on mission trips in 2022 and students in East Asia have the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel. Thank you so much.
This Friday (November 19-27) I will be traveling to North Africa with two of my colleagues. We are going to support and encourage the campus staff we have working there. The last time I was in North Africa was 2012. As we head overseas for the first time since the pandemic started, please pray for safe travels and that we would be an encouragement. Also pray that we would have a deeper sense of how God is at work in that part of the world.
Check out some of my fall fun below:
Picture 1: Waiting to ride the city bus for fun with my nephew.
Picture 2: Pumpkin carving.
Picture 3: Learning to shuck a lobster while at leadership meetings in Halifax.
Picture at Top: Walking along the harbour in Halifax
