Hi everyone! My name is Elsa and I recently finished my undergrad and am going into my first year of Master’s at UofT! I love animals, side quests, and am a big deep conversations person. Some of my favorite times with people are listening to their testimonies on how Jesus changed their lives!
One of my favorite memories this summer was staying at my grandma’s place in Taiwan and spending time in God’s word by the window. Despite being 12,000 kilometers away from my home in Toronto, it was comforting to know that the Lord was with me and that I could dwell in His presence anywhere and at any time.
Going into this summer I planned to visit my grandma in May, make it back in June in time for graduation, and start Summer DG (discipleship group) with other P2C leaders. (Which now looking back seems quite packed haha). If I had the opportunity to go back to April and tell myself something, I think I would say that your realization of your reliance on Jesus will grow.
One of the big reasons why I wanted to visit my grandma was to share the Gospel with her since she isn’t Christian. If I’m honest 2 years prior when I visited I had the thought to share my faith, but unfortunately did not end up doing so out of fear. I remember feeling so defeated at my own cowardice that I had prayed that God may one day give me another opportunity in the future. And He answered that prayer this year.
In the month I had spent with my grandma, I quickly realized that there were many things about my faith I could not articulate in her language. I was heavily discouraged by my lack, since all the things I knew about apologetics and theology had all been in English and she only speaks Mandarin. But I think God was challenging me to not put my trust in the knowledge I had but rather in the simple truth of the Gospel I can learn.
How has following Jesus impacted your goals and plans this summer?
Through small steps of faith, I started to learn and write verses in Chinese (through the help of Bible Gateway and Google Translate) I could give to my grandma. As the time passed, I asked her more questions about her views on faith and religion, and had the opportunity to share about my God. But sometimes I would still wonder if anything would change.
During the the last week of my trip I put together a powerpoint explaining the Gospel and God’s plan of redemption for sinners through Jesus. She was still skeptical as Jesus seemed so foreign. Even though she did not give a definitive answer on if she would accept Jesus as her Saviour, I know that her faith journey is in God’s hands.
Any other specific stories you'd like to share?
After coming back to Toronto it was the start of Summer DG. Every Friday people have been coming out on campus for a time of worshipping God and growing more through His word. This year we even had outreaches at Nathan Phillips Square and the CN Tower. Even though we had faced plenty of rejection and opposing views, God had still drawn out people to have conversations with us. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”
I may never know when or how someone will turn to Jesus. Whether it’s someone that we had a 30 second conversation with on the street, or my grandma, I can still trust God’s perfect plan and provision. At the right time He will send the right people or situations to bring people to faith.
On the topic of right people, I am truly grateful that God has blessed me with so many Christian friends that have supported me through the big and small things this summer. Whether it was through spiritually dry seasons, discouragement, or even just random prayer requests I could really see God’s love through the gift of friendship. (And also shoutout to the amazing team of P2C Summer DG leaders that I would meet with each week!).
I am reminded that engaging missionally is not a solo ministry. As Christians we are part of the larger Body of Christ that has been called to bear each other’s burdens as well. And whether it’s ministry through prayer, evangelism, preaching, or discipleship etc. it is God who brings everything to completion! (Philippians 1:6)
