Campus Target » Simba

What’s Next?

laura — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:56:48 +0000

At an Asian restaurant yesterday, I was relieved to be speaking the language I’ve been learning for the past few months with the workers. After being back in the States for two weeks of debriefing and a leadership conference, I was feeling afraid that I might lose my language skills.
I thank Jesus for my new ability, and want to honor Him for this and more. Reflecting on these last nine months has reminded me of how He provides for our needs and even the desires of our hearts. I think about my tutor Luke, who happened to major in teaching the Asian language to foreigners. I remember Peter, who helped me to get a visa extension, and MANY other examples of His provision. I also remember that He has provided me with you!
While I’m in the States for about six months, I have two major desires. Number one: To be productive and effective in my pursuit of knowing Christ (2 Peter 1:8) Number two: To know my next assignment. I want to be able to articulate it ASAP. Please join me in believing Him for these and more!

ALL glory to HIM,

Simba

Visa Friend Update

laura — Wed, 18 May 2011 14:53:16 +0000

With a happy, childlike grin of contentment on his face, my friend Peter thanked me for praying for him. From what I understand, there had been some kind of offense between him and a friend. Peter recently forgave this friend, and they were able to spend time together.
Also, Peter’s relationship with God has grown sweeter. He had not forgiven his friend as Christ forgave him, and that disobedience was separating him from having a clean conscience. He is now seeking to hear and obey Jesus with greater intensity.
Thank you for praying for him! In my heart, I can see Peter totally free and following Jesus with all of his heart, mind, soul and strength. I can also see him helping others to do the same. Please join me in believing God to give Peter the endurance that he needs.

More Than a Visa Extension

laura — Sun, 01 May 2011 18:34:10 +0000

I needed a new visa, or at least a 30 day extension. When I went to the Public Security Bureau, they told me to come back with a “guarantee” person. This person had to be an official citizen of China, and would be responsible for me leaving the nation on time. Also, if I read the form correctly, they could be held responsible for any unresolved financial matters when I leave.

Two days prior to the deadline, I had no peace about asking anyone to do this. That night, I received a phone call from a Chinese guy I had met a month earlier. Since our first meeting at a bus stop, we had not talked. He asked me about my plans for the week, and I told him my situation. He then said “I have helped Russians to get visa extensions before.”

Glory to God for an extension, as well as another brother! Come to find out, Peter has been a Christian since at least 2000. On the bus ride back from our adventure, we had fun quoting Bible verses to each other. He has since expressed to me a distance in his relationship withGod. I want to see him fully hearing and obeying Jesus. Please join me asking and believing God for this.

Apart from Christ I can do nothing,

Simba

Science, Jesus, and Little League Baseball

laura — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:45:54 +0000

After three text messages within ten minutes, I knew that my friend really wanted to meet with me. While eating lunch with him the next day, he invited me to come speak about science at his campus English corner.
     The topic on my heart was the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. It states that everything in the universe is moving to a state of disorder. After I explained it to the group of roughly thirty college students, I asked them “If this law does not change, what does that mean for humans?” They came to the logical conclusion that everything and everyone will cease to exist. I then asked them “In light of this, what is most important?” The answers included happiness, meaning, friendship, and more. Then, a student in the front row asked me, “What is most important to you?”
     After I stated “My relationship with God because He is greater than everything He has made”, the flood gates opened. The public discussion that followed included Cain, Abel, Obama, the president of China, why it’s better to trust in God than ourselves, why people go to hell, and of course, why Jesus died on the Cross.
     It reminded me of my first year of little league baseball. Our coach pitched to us because he knew right where to put the ball so that we would get a hit. Dad is the best pitcher ever! Please join me in believing Him for more opportunities to swing away!

In Christ,

Simba

Creative Sharing

laura — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:04:27 +0000

After I had finished drawing my picture, I noticed the professor’s painting. We were at a new creative arts club on our campus. My picture had a Jewish star with a cross through the center of it. His had these and many more “religious” symbols. I looked at him and before I could speak, he said, “World religions.”
The conversation that followed included both of us sharing what we believe and why we believe it. After our conversation, an Asian brother stepped in and took it to a whole new level. Watching this happen was the highlight of night, even more so than getting to draw, paint, and play musical instruments unto Christ!
I am encouraged because God led us to initiate this art group, He has given us favor with the department, people have an opportunity to come to a knowledge of the truth, and it’s really fun!

Please join me in believing Him for more opportunities like this!

Triumphing in His Victory!

Simba

Reunions in K-town

laura — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:57:41 +0000

Though feeling a little nervous and insecure about my new language abilities, I decided to call some friends from last year. I happened to be in K-town, the city where I lived last year, for some teaching on Asian history. Here is a brief summary of who I’ll name as “Prophet” and “Kept.”
     Prophet is solid and mature. When we prayed together, I knew that he was just listening to the Holy Spirit. When I finished speaking, he placed his hand on me, looked me in the eyes, and began to speak. He told me just about word for word what God had been telling me a week earlier.
     Kept is full of joy and continuing to grow in his identity. He expressed to me that he has continued to spend time in the Bible, and has been meeting regularly with other believers to pray. This is the guy who hit the big block of concrete two years ago on a bike ride. (at full speed)
     God is to be praised for sending us to reach these guys with the good news of His Kingdom! Please ask Him to steer them away from becoming more western, and to teach them how to love and honor Him with their own culture.

May Jesus be worshiped by every tribe, nation, and tongue!

-Simba

His Word Cuts Through All Lies

laura — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:18:27 +0000

I went to dinner with a friend. I asked him, “So what do you think about Jesus?”

His reply was along the lines of “He’s a great guy, but I can’t follow Him. Science disagrees.”

When I told him that I was a science teacher for four years, and that I followed Christ, he lit up and began to ask me a number of questions. I answered him with what God had taught me through the Bible. After a while, he said “I now see that a true Christian is someone who loves Jesus, and can use science as a tool.” We then prayed together. He said a lot!

Dad has led me to others who are in a similar position. They are interested in Jesus. Some have openly said “I want to follow!…But…” Please join me in believing and asking Dad to bring these students to a knowledge of the truth, that the remaining chains on their hearts and minds would be no more.

In this year and the ones to come, may we be drawn into ever closer relationship with Jesus!

By His Spirit,

Simba

PreChristmas Friend Party

laura — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 01:41:11 +0000

As the apartment began to fill up with people, my heart began to fill with expectation. I knew there was about to be some major spiritual seed planting and watering going on! About fifteen people came. Here are some of the highlights…

1) While people were beginning to make personal pizzas, a student began to play the song “Here I am to Worship” on the guitar. (light of the world you stepped down into darkness…) I followed his lead on a hand drum, and another guy started dancing. It wasn’t fast enough for him, so we started playing “I’m Trading My Sorrows” (I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord…) He REALLY started dancing, and I wish I could show you a video!

2) We were all sitting around in a circle, and my friend asked the question “What is the greatest gift you have ever received?” The first person to respond was a girl who didn’t conceal her love for Jesus. Also, three other students strongly testified about the gift of salvation, as well as my teammates and I.

I praise God for opportunities like this to share the Gospel. Also, for close Asian friends, and a lot of fun!

Please join me in believing Him to 1) lead us by His Spirit into greater closeness with Jesus, and 2) lead our friends to the same!

He loves us with an everlasting love,

Simba

Unfamiliar Encouragement

laura — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 02:07:53 +0000

As I sat eating my lamb noodles at the Muslim restaurant, I heard the familiar sound of a Asian person talking about me. I heard, “…waiguoren (foreigner)…is he Russian?….is he American?…” His next question was very unfamiliar, and he decided to ask me personally. Not only that, he said it nice and loud for the whole restaurant to hear. He asked, “Why are you so happy? You’re just sitting there eating your noodles, and yet you’re so joyful. Why?”

This has been a huge encouragement to me, because I used to be a sad, depressed, and angry man. I count this as one of many demonstrations of God’s Spirit in my life. Please ask Him to grace the man from the restaurant with more opportunities to hear about and to follow Jesus. His self given English name happens to be Joy Love!

Also, please ask Him to grace my immediate team and I as we are entering our first “foreign language only week”. Up until now, we have had about one hour a day to speak English if we need to. This week, at the very least, our verbal output will only be in a different language.

May He bless us all with more closeness to Him this week,

Simba

Classroom Concert

laura — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 23:10:08 +0000

So I was in class last week. Because I told the teacher that I liked to play guitar during my free time, a classmate went to get hers during a break. I played a little, and then I gave it to her to play.

The chords she played reminded me of a familiar song, and I began to sing while she played… ‘Majesty, Majesty…Your grace has found me just as I am, empty handed but alive in Your hand…knowing I’m a sinful man, covered by the blood of the Lamb.’

I then realized that the majority of my classmates who could speak English were standing or sitting near me listening. Also, the teacher ended class fifteen minutes early, and asked me to give the class a concert. More often than not, my teachers go overtime!

God is worthy of my praise in private and in public, no matter what nation I’m in. I am still mildly shocked that He got my teacher to give me this opportunity! Please ask Him to water the seeds that were planted and to bring about the growth that only He can.

By, through, and for THE King!

Simba