Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Caleb and I am going into my third year at U of T for Computer Science. Within computer science, I am hoping to go into computer graphics and get involved with game development, engine development, or research. I love pretty much any sport that exists but my absolute favourite is soccer which I have been playing since kindergarten. Fun Fact: I grew up in Japan because my family were missionaries there. I am now involved with Power to Change at U of T and it has pushed my faith so much I can’t imagine the university experience without it.
What did it look like for you to live missionally this summer? How do you practically practice this?
One way would have to be my mission trip to Vietnam at the beginning of the summer. I got to build relationships with local Christian students to be mutually encouraged and lifted up, and also with non-Christian students who I was able to share the gospel and my testimony with. Another big part of the trip was sharing with people back home. I got to share my experiences through a youtube interview, post-trip support letters, Luke 10:2, sharing with people at church, and also while hanging out with my friends. I also had the opportunity to help lead a summer discipleship group with P2C and grow together with all those involved. Finally, I think my personal time with God and taking time to rest has best equipped me to live with a missional mindset over the summer.
Were there any new (good or hard) experiences for you from this summer? Did these help or hinder the ways you engaged in missions?
One hard experience was having a job that was guaranteed to fall through due to some complications. I was looking forward to work at the same internship from last summer but my summer suddenly opened days after I was supposed to start work. I was left with a very open summer and was disappointed looking forward. But because of that, I had so much more time to spend time with my friends that I usually don’t see during the year. I was challenged to use my time to be a light to them and take the initiative in sharing the gospel and what life looks like with Christ.
Did you have any frustrations in your Missional journey this summer? How did you find hope in the midst of it?
I had many opportunities to spend time with my friends who don’t know Christ and talk about deeper topics or just share my life as a Christian and yet I did not see any change or fruit in that. I think I am quick to forget God’s faithfulness and what he has already accomplished and impatient when things aren’t going as I would want them to. There were many moments where I would feel down after not being able to share as much as I wanted to or not getting the response I wanted but looking back to this summer there has been so much fruit and seeds that God will continue to work through and that brings me so much joy.
As summer comes to an end, what are you hopeful for moving forward?
I am first hopeful that God is continuing his work in people’s hearts that I was able to reach and that the result of that is not up to me. Looking into the new school year I am excited for a brand new year of P2C with awesome returning leaders and students and even some early new faces. I looking forward to all the opportunities that post-covid school will bring to our impact on campus. We recently had our Frosh Launch event and just seeing so many people there ready to serve God and make his name known on campus was so encouraging.
