Tell us a bit about yourself
Hello!! I am Caleb and I just finished my undergrad in Computer Science at UofT. I love sports, programming and spending time with friends. While I was in school, I was involved in Power to Change!!
What is a favourite memory from your summer so far?
I think my favourite memory was my graduation! It was my first time in con hall which was pretty cool. It was a great time celebrating with friends and enjoying the great weather. It still doesn't feel like I actually graduated but I am grateful for God giving me the strength to make it through and to grow me in Christ through different trials and many godly people in my life.
How has following Jesus impacted your goals and plans this summer?
One big way my summer was impacted by Jesus was my mission trip to Vietnam! I got to spend around a month meeting students, building relationships, and sharing about Jesus with them. It was a bit nerve wracking going the first time on campus but God was so faithful in that and the first people who we sat down to talk with were so open and we ended up talking for almost two hours (and afterwards found out they knew one of my team members who visited last year). We got to have many meaningful conversations and with these types of trips, we can always use more time but it is encouraging and brings relief to know that the local students and staff will continue to have conversations and God will continue our work through them.
How has God encouraged you this summer as you pursue His mission?
On my trip, I was really encouraged by my friends’ openness to share how they view life and what God or life means to them. They were eager to share their views and answer questions. I got to share how Jesus is my hope and salvation who gives me purpose. I think what I took from this was just to know that God is indeed working in people’s hearts and these kinds of conversations are possible. Many of my non-Christian friends are hesitant to discuss faith and are disinterested, but this encouraged me to not lose heart and keep loving them well and sharing how God is at work in my life, knowing God can work in anyone’s heart. Part of this I think is also a humble and patient heart. My expectation of how and when my friends will come to faith is different from God and I have to love and serve them, trusting God’s work and timing.
How have you seen God working this summer in your life / community / this world?
One of the big themes in my life has been waiting. It was no different this summer. I had applied to three master’s programs which I was awaiting responses for, and summer jobs I applied to were also taking long to get back to me. I got rejections from my top two choices of master’s programs in May which was a lot. I was content whether I got in or not but it still did hit me hard. The day I received that news, I was reading 1 Kings 17 which spoke of God’s provision for Elijah. God provided through nature (v.4), through people (v.9), and used that opportunity to bless the people Elijah came across (v.14). This was such an encouraging word to read and I felt an overwhelming amount of trust and contentment in where God had me in that exact moment and what he has for me next. Since then, I have still been waiting for my last program response and the jobs I applied to for the summer never got back to me. But, because of this, I was connected to a few positions I could start full-time in the fall. I have one offer from a start-up and have finished two rounds of interviews for a job that I would love to do. These have already been a way God provided for me which would not have been possible if I had accepted an offer to one of the programs. I am looking forward to seeing where God will lead me and how he will have me serve there.
