Tell us a bit about yourself
Hi everyone! My name is Katryn and I’m currently going into my 4th year at the University of Toronto! I grew up in Boston my whole life but moved to Toronto in 2019 for uni. I am currently leading in my fellowship, UTCCF and I find joy in seeing God at work in my fellowship and the lives of people around me. I like listening to music and taking long walks no matter the weather conditions, and I enjoy making friendship bracelets or doodling when I have free time. I would say I’m pretty introverted by nature, but I love connecting and getting to know other people!
How has being a Christian impacted the way you made plans this summer?
For me, being Christian has impacted the way I look at meeting up with my friends during the summer. Recognizing that God gives me opportunities to share the Gospel through hanging out with my non-christian friends, as well as building upon kingdom-oriented friendships with my Christian friends, made the time I spent with them seem more meaningful and intentional. Understanding that the time spent with these friends has eternal significance has definitely impacted how I planned my time during the summer.
How have you seen God at work this summer in your life / community / this world?
This summer, I was originally supposed to go on a summer abroad trip to Ecuador and I was excited to finally be traveling again after COVID, so I bought new gear and emotionally prepared myself for what was supposed to be an adventure of a lifetime. Ultimately, God closed the doors to go on that trip but opened doors for other opportunities that He had in store for me. Since I couldn’t go to Ecuador, I was able to stay home and spend time with family and friends as well as help out at a Christian summer program for kids in the Greater Boston area. Through volunteering at the summer program, I was able to see their childlike love for Jesus and how even at such a young age, God was already at work in them. Being able to grow alongside the kids and see how God was working daily was such a blessing and it made me realize that while my summer plans were disrupted, God instead led me to serve my community and see the love of God in action.
As summer comes to an end, what are you hopeful for moving forward?
As the summer comes to an end, I'm hopeful for the opportunity God has given me to be salt and light on campus and to share with others the hope that I have in Jesus. I’m hopeful for those who don’t know Christ yet to one day understand God’s sovereignty, grace, and love for us and in turn live to glorify God.
