Tell us a bit about yourself
Hi! My name is Ayl (pronounced like ‘aisle’). I was born in the Philippines, raised in Toronto, and just transferred to Redeemer University from the University of Ottawa. I’m an ESFJ + ennea 2 who loves matcha tea, music, connecting with people, playing volleyball and spending time with those I love!
What was a favourite moment or memory of your summer?
This summer was a very eventful one! There are too many good memories to mention, but a highlight would be checking off an “Ottawa Bucket List” with my friends before moving to Hamilton. They also surprised me with two goodbye parties which I’ve often fondly thought about during this season of transition.
How has being a Christian impacted the way you made plans this summer?
I spent a lot of time back and forth between Toronto and Ottawa this summer, despite my original plan to spend it entirely in Ottawa. Although that may have seemed inconvenient (and in many ways, it was! Going back and forth took up a lot of time, money and effort), serving God is what mainly motivated all these trips. My reasons for going back home often involved some form of discipleship or serving with my local church, whether it be through our being a leader at our kids' summer day camp and youth retreat, sharing about my missions experience with my church, or just spending time with and supporting friends during milestones. I think if I had it my way, I would have saved that time/money and made the most of my time with Ottawa friends before leaving, but the Lord had other plans. Today I am able to reflect and see fruit from all the times I went back!
Were there any new (good or hard) experiences for you from this summer? Did these help or hinder the ways you engaged in missions?
This summer, part of living missionally looked like going on my first mission trip! This was a new experience for me as I NEVER saw myself going on an overseas trip. Overall, it went really well and I really experienced that 2 Corinthians 1 comfort as I engaged with locals and my team. One of the harder experiences for me was reconciling the Christian missional mandate and the sovereignty of God, as I observed a nation full of people that did not know Jesus as saviour, friend, and Lord; a nation of people who don’t have the same access to the gospel that I do. That thought discouraged me multiple times throughout my trip and even made me doubt God’s character. My discipler used Scripture to remind me of God’s infinite wisdom, that his ways are not my ways, and that no matter how I feel or what I think, He is good and knows what He’s doing. Instead of discouraging me, I hope these feelings further motivate me to share the love of Christ with people around me. (J.I Packer’s “Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God” is next on my to-read list! Shoutout to my old roommate Rebekah ❤)
As summer comes to an end, what are you hopeful for moving forward?
Moving forward, I am super excited to finish my degree at Redeemer. Classes have just started, but I am already so encouraged by the quickness of my professors to pray and point our subject matter to Christ. I hope and pray that this education will better equip me to live out God’s mission regardless of where I end up, as I hope to take up space as a Christian wherever I am without the secular/sacred divide.
