What an amazing summer God blessed me with! When it comes to sharing it with you, I hardly know where to begin! As a D-Group Leader at Kaleo in Panama City Beach this summer, I grew more than I ever thought possible. My time there was full of making food for celebrities, being challenged in both leadership and personal areas, and seeing people’s lives changed for eternity. I laughed many times, cried a few, and made memories that will last forever. More importantly, however, the Kingdom of God was grown. As a project, we shared the gospel with over 2600 people and saw over 360 come to Christ!! On top of that, every participant was taught how to go home and continue sharing Christ with those around them. The ways God will continue to use this summer to affect His eternal Kingdom are endless.
For anyone previously unaware, I led and discipled three girls this summer, two from SNU and one from Iowa State. It took us some time to get to know one another and we had some rough patches along the way, but by the end of the summer, God really worked in incredible ways in each one of us. I saw them be broken free from burdens, grow committed hearts to honor the cross of Christ, and even one accept Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior!! I was very proud of all the ways God grew each of them. The main thing that God taught me through them was how to lean on the Holy Spirit for every single one of my needs. I knew that if I wasn’t on my knees regularly praying for them, all of my labor would be in vain and anything that I tried to teach them would be worthless because it wouldn’t be from the Lord. God certainly did choose to work in their lives, and I will forever be grateful.
There were so many things that took place this summer that it is difficult to iron out the most important into one letter. I would love to share with each of you more stories personally, but for this letter, I will share about one precious friend named Cansu that I was able to share the gospel with. She worked me with last summer and was from Turkey, returning this summer to get married. I was unable to share with her last summer because I was focused on another coworker, but at the end of the summer, I simply wrote her a card and told her I hoped to see her again and that I could take her to church with me. Little did I know how the Lord was going to use that card. It meant so much to her, that she got my phone number on Facebook, and called me as soon as she got into Florida. She reminded me I had told her we would go to church together and asked to go with me. Of course I took her with me to our worship service, and after one of the participants shared her testimony, she asked me about it. “What was she talking about?” she asked. I then explained to her that the girl wanted everyone to know what Jesus had done in her life. After the service, she asked me more questions, and I ended up sharing the gospel with her in very simple English, as it was somewhat difficult for her to understand. It was the first time she had ever heard it, and her eyes grew bigger and bigger the longer we talked. By the end, she was so touched by what Jesus had done, that she prayed in Turkish to God, confessing her sins and telling Jesus she loved Him. She has grown up Muslim, however, and still has many barriers to overcome. I am still uncertain whether or not she fully understands the gospel, or that there is a difference in Islam and Christianity-that being Jesus is the Redeemer. Regardless, I trust God with her heart and only wish that I had more time to spend with her to teach her about Jesus and that He is the only way to the Father. She now has a Turkish Bible in her possession and I am praying that God will continue to reveal His truth to her. Please be praying for Cansu.
All in all, the gospel was rampant in our project and our group this summer. One of my girls even led her boss to Christ!! A boss that she never imagined would even let her mention the word Jesus in her presence. It truly was incredible to see all the ways that the Lord moved and I hope to tell you all more in person when I see you!
This summer, God now only allowed me to see the truth of His gospel spread, but also grew my heart even more for His calling of discipleship. I know that there are 12 well-equipped young men and women going back to SNU’s campus who desire to share God’s truth and calling with other students. Not only that, but there are also 4 others going into the real world, myself included, who all desire to see both their homes and all the nations changed through the truth of the gospel and the ministry of discipleship. Jesus’ last words on earth, the ones he knew his disciples would always remember, were these, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” I am confident that these students will seek the Lord in order to live out this Commission on campus, and I am more than excited about all the ways the Lord will use me to live this Commission out in my own life as well. If anyone asks me what I am going to do with my life now that I am graduated, all I really want to say is, “share the gospel, make disciples, and bring glory to my Heavenly Father, who is deserving of all our praise”. Granted, I know that I must work and seek avenues with which I can bring God glory, but my real purpose in life is to live for something that outlasts it, and that can only be through the cross of Christ. As I pursue a career in nursing and potential mission work, my prayer for my life and yours is that Jesus Christ be glorified in all I say and do. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for all of your loving prayers and support. God truly used each and every one of you in unique ways in my life to carry me through this summer and my life, and I am so incredibly grateful for the roles each of you played. I pray that this update brings you encouragement, inspiration, and a small glimpse of the eternal impact that your support made. May God bless each of you for all the ways you were willing to be used by Him. Glory to God for all that He did this summer! Love you all ☺
