For the past couple weeks, I have been taking part in an internship in a city far away from where I live. It has been an incredible time during which the leader of our parent organization (TM), has been able to share story after story about his past 20 years serving in this area of the world. On top of this, I now have a much better grasp on Asian history and how it affects modern day society. From religions and ancient Asian language (in character form) to Confucius and Mencius, there is so much culture and tradition that has been passed down through the past hundreds and thousands of years. Through better understanding the past, I believe I am now more equipped to understand my Asian friends and their ways of thinking. I’ve also learned much about Asian history that will be useful when I am sharing the Gospel with friends, as well as with the discipleship process.
Out of everything that I have gained from doing this internship, what I hold closest to my heart is the opportunity that all of us had to hear from a local pastor that has been preaching for the past 40+ years. This is a man who has been above and beyond faithful to the call of God – despite heavy persecution, being imprisoned multiple times, and much more. To hear his story and see how his faith and actions combined are changing this country is absolutely remarkable. A fire is being stirred in my heart that cannot easily be quenched. The more time I spend in this nation, the more I am falling in love with this place and these people. All glory goes to God!
In two days, I will be flying back to H-town. I’m very excited to get back into a consistent schedule for studying . Last month, as I wrote to you all, I mentioned that I was unsure as to whether I would continue to study at the university. However, after meeting with my leadership, we were unified in agreeing that for visa purposes, it would be best if we remained full-time students. Therefore, this semester, I will again be enrolled in classes at my university. On top of this, I am looking forward to spending much more time with my Asian friends, as I am sure that the majority of what I will be learning will be through interacting with these friends. A personal goal for these next couple weeks is to begin studying the Bible with a couple Asian friends – of course, all in the local language! I also believe that as these next few months unfold, friends like Lydia, Rita, and Ivy will come to know Jesus as their Savior!
Thanks so much for all your love and prayers!