God often uses simple things to bring joy to my heart. This was one of those times:
Friday night we had our bi-weekly "Noche de Conexion" (Connection Night) with students from all 3 Universities we work at. This week, we handed out a questionnaire for the students to fill out, with a few simple questions. Some of the questions were: What is the vision of Vida Estudiantil? How has Vida Estudiantil helped me in my Christian walk? And, what can I be doing to help fulfill the Great Commission in my generation?
One of the students, who accepted Christ the end of March and has just recently gotten involved, read the third question and was like, "What Commission!? What are you talking about?" We told him it was the great commission Jesus talked about in Matt 28:18-20. He responded with, "I need to look this up." So, he went, grabbed a Bible and read the passage. His next comment was, "Interesting. You learn something new each day," and then continued to fill out the questionnaire.
His enthousiasm was encouraging and it reminded me of times when I've learned or understood something new in God's Word - its really EXCITING!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
what commission!?
Thursday, April 16, 2009
the past, present & future few days
This week we've had Vida Estudiantil frosh tables set up in 3 different faculties, the Science, Law and Architecture faculties.
Today, while I was at the science table, a guy, Toddy came up and asked me what Vida Estudiantil was. I told him some info on it, and then he said he knew someone on staff, but couldnt remember the name. I named off one current staff member, Toddy said no, that wasnt him, and then I mentioned Leopoldo, the former campus director of VE. As soon as I mentioned Leopoldo, Toddy's face it up. He continued to explaine how a few years back in Colon, Leopoldo had really encouraged his father to follow hard after God and was a real inspiration to their family. He also said how they lost contact with Leopoldo, but still hold a special place for him in their hearts, because of his encouragement. This conversation really reminded me that God really does work in His own timing, and we just need to be faithful in serving Him although we may not immediately see visible results or fruit. Leopoldo probably had no idea his encouraging words back in Colon would impact a family for many years to come.
Thursdays also mean we have the Weekly Vida Estudiantil Meeting from 12:30-2! This week we saw about 25-30 people there. It was awesome, as most of the students were in their first year or were friends of students already involved. There were lots of new faces - Praise God!!!
Tomorrow we head off for a 4 day trip to El Salvador. Every 90 days we have to leave the country, as our Visas expire and we want to stay legal in Panama :). We're gonna be staying with Raquel's grandma, are planning on seeing a Panamanian friend living there and the US STINT team in San Salvador. It should be fun!
On another note, we headed out last week on a conference for Semana Santa (Holy Week) from Apr 9-12, with the Crusade church here, La Comunidad. Here are a couple pics from the weekend in Boquete, Chiriqui.
Day #1: Oliver, a Crusade staff member, sharing a morning devotion before the main session
Our team overlooking beautiful Boquete!
Day #4, Sunday - we had some baptisms!!! 13 Panamanians got baptized in the pool.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Have some faith
The end of March and beginning of April means Frosh preparations and time spent connecting with students on campus. Frosh week is the first week of classes on campus, and is where we aim to reach first year students with the gospel and also the vision of Vida Estudiantil. If we can reach first years, they have another 4-5 years to grow in their faith, transform their campus and be equipped to change the world!!
March 23-27 was the first week of classes on the Universidad Tecnologica de Panama (UTP) campus, and we had the chance to set up an info table and Soularium outreach tool in the lobby area of the main building. Many students engaged in spiritual conversations with us through the Soularium pictures and signed up to receive more info as well as weekly Bible Studies. After hearing what the vision of VE was, one first year student, Michael, told Raquel and I he was praying to God to find a group of Christian students on campus, and then he found us! Marielena, one of the Panamanians who works on UTP, got to meet a student named Jesus. They talked, she shared the gospel with him, and he accepted God into his heart. He stopped by the info table each day after that, and also came to church on Sunday. It was so encouraging to see such interested students that are hungry to learn more about God.
Mar 30-Apr 3 was the frosh week on the Universidad de Panama campus. We had the opportunity to enter some first year classes in faculties of law, arquitecture and sciences. We described what Vida Estudiantil was, and invited the students out to the weekly meeting held every Thursday. Our frosh activities will continue over the next couple weeks, connecting with students next week and setting up info tables and using Soularium the week after.
As I reflected on all these activities and had a quiet time on campus yesterday, I came across a word that summed it all up: faith, as seen in this verse:
1 Tim 1:4b - "...advancing God's work - which is done by faith."
I couldnt help but think that our faith in God, that He'll accomplish exactly what He wants to, and will always be at work through His Spirit in the hearts of man, is the backbone of our ministry. Sometimes we may see a lot of fruit on campus, in the form of really excited students or those who accept Jesus as their saviour. Other times, it may be such hard work, seem like everyone is apathetic and like nothing is happening. Regardless of what we may be visibly seeing or feeling, we need to have faith that God is doing things and moving in people's hearts.
Isa 55: 9-11 - "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so it is with my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
March 23-27 was the first week of classes on the Universidad Tecnologica de Panama (UTP) campus, and we had the chance to set up an info table and Soularium outreach tool in the lobby area of the main building. Many students engaged in spiritual conversations with us through the Soularium pictures and signed up to receive more info as well as weekly Bible Studies. After hearing what the vision of VE was, one first year student, Michael, told Raquel and I he was praying to God to find a group of Christian students on campus, and then he found us! Marielena, one of the Panamanians who works on UTP, got to meet a student named Jesus. They talked, she shared the gospel with him, and he accepted God into his heart. He stopped by the info table each day after that, and also came to church on Sunday. It was so encouraging to see such interested students that are hungry to learn more about God.
Mar 30-Apr 3 was the frosh week on the Universidad de Panama campus. We had the opportunity to enter some first year classes in faculties of law, arquitecture and sciences. We described what Vida Estudiantil was, and invited the students out to the weekly meeting held every Thursday. Our frosh activities will continue over the next couple weeks, connecting with students next week and setting up info tables and using Soularium the week after.
As I reflected on all these activities and had a quiet time on campus yesterday, I came across a word that summed it all up: faith, as seen in this verse:
1 Tim 1:4b - "...advancing God's work - which is done by faith."
I couldnt help but think that our faith in God, that He'll accomplish exactly what He wants to, and will always be at work through His Spirit in the hearts of man, is the backbone of our ministry. Sometimes we may see a lot of fruit on campus, in the form of really excited students or those who accept Jesus as their saviour. Other times, it may be such hard work, seem like everyone is apathetic and like nothing is happening. Regardless of what we may be visibly seeing or feeling, we need to have faith that God is doing things and moving in people's hearts.
Isa 55: 9-11 - "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so it is with my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
The info table and Soularium board at UTP; talking with students
The team at the UTP table
Welcome sign for 2009 year at Universidad de Panama
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