Day 7 - 7/6/18 - Now Until Forever
"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." - Luke 15:7
Joy, grace, love, and uplifting hardship. Our week here at Taiwan has seen us through a rollercoaster of emotions - an uphill battle in overcoming obstacles but simultaneously a ride full of pure happiness. I am genuinely relieved at the thought that our VBS has successfully concluded, but we are so sad to see it all go. Tears were shed, hugs were given, and even in the painful effort to control my own emotions, I barely managed to say goodbye to some of the kids that I taught throughout the week. Seeing other people so emotional and sentimental over the relationships we were able to form just lifts up my heart to another level - a level that brings me ever so closer to God. God has shown the team and me not only His true grace and power, but also His methods in using our struggles for His glory. How God works His awe-inspiring power remains a mystery to us, but the privilege of being able to experience how He works intimately among us and the kids pushed me to my limit for His glory and His glory only. Even as sinful beings - individuals destined for doom, people of innately tainted emotions - the amazing truth of God's sacrifice still remains as beautiful as ever. Our flaws are truly so ungodly that our Lord has no reason to love us, yet He still does. This seemingly paradoxical fact stuck so strongly with me throughout this trip, as I'm sure it has for the rest of the team. I know reflect on all my past experiences this year as stepping stones leading up to this week: a week of pure transformation, absolute transparency with our feelings toward God, and a week that has now sealed me to be a co-heir with Christ. In other words, this week has shown me what true happiness feels like. And this feeling of happiness only reached its peak on this very day, our final day of the VBS.
Before I elaborate too much on my feelings, let's get into a very brief summary of the day. The day kicked off with a short devotion. We read Psalm 45 and reflected on how much our hearts have been stirred by God this week. I meditated on how our opportunity to truly get closer to God and build this amazing connection with Him was priceless. Priceless in the sense that not only were we able to form loving relationships with the kids and the Taiwanese youth, but also in the sense that God has opened His glory to us.
The actual VBS day was very similar to all our previous days up to the afternoon program. Amy taught her Taste of American Culture lesson, which was on famous American cities. Even though the kids were very rowdy today, Amy did an amazing job of keeping her calm and eloquently delivering her presentation. I admired how positive and happy she stayed throughout the entire presentation even on the last day; praise the Lord for giving her the much needed energy after this tiring week! Thank you so much Amy!!
We then transitioned into our English lessons, and for my group, I am very satisfied with how we ended the week. Throughout the week, all of my kids showed a genuine enthusiasm for learning and seemed to show a growing interest in the Gospel message. Using the wordless book beads, my kids were able to explain to me the basic concept of the Gospel, and I am so so thankful to the Lord that their hearts opened up to the message. I ask that our readers pray for the kids, that after leaving the camp today, they continue to cherish these moments which were full of God's love and spirit.
Following the English lesson and lunch was a small ceremony to celebrate the end of the VBS with all the kids' parents. The kids all danced to songs and verses we helped them prepare, and the Taiwanese youth and our team choreographed our own dances. We actually managed to plan out our dance in only a couple of hours, so praise the Lord for lending us his ever-present helping hand! We then named select kids MVP for their outstanding behavior and attitudes. However, this was also where tears were shed. Many of us were heartbroken when the kids started leaving, and needless to say, so was I. Nevertheless, I am confident that their future with Christ remains hopeful and bright, and I look forward to potentially seeing them again next year!
Today, we also celebrated Cherry, Daniel (two Taiwanese youth), Josh, Jonathan's birthday! After the celebration, we had a great time fellowshipping and just enjoying dinner with each other. Following dinner was a action-packed ~3 hours of sports and arcade games. There was badminton, basketball, foosball, and other activities among all else. What a fun but tiring night!
And that's pretty much how the day unfolded. Within this brief account, I want to highlight the key moment that really made this day stand out for me and "maxed" out my feeling for God's joy: how my relationship with one of my English lesson kids, Schuyler, ended up. During my classes, Schuyler was always a quiet, shy child that never seemed to interact with the other kids during our lesson time. Since the beginning of the VBS, he appeared to be the kind of person who rarely opened up and made little effort in engaging with others, including myself. Yet, with that being said, he also was very attentive and paid absolute attention to the English lessons, and as time passed he got more and more comfortable (but he still didn't talk). I could tell that he really took the Gospel very seriously and wanted to dive deeper into Christianity.
The reason why Schuyler stood out to me was that I could directly sympathize with him. I was also "that shy kid" in the class years back when I was growing up in the beginning years of Audubon Elementary School. So, I understood how he felt and how uncomfortable that kind of classroom setting could be. But he also had that intrigued expression on his face that I would sometimes have if I was interested in a lesson at school. This confirmed my belief of his passion and desire for God.
Now, at the end of the VBS, Schuyler personally came up to me today and thanked me by giving me a hug; this already made my heart swell. However, the real kicker came when I learned that Schuyler told his parents that he wanted to now go to church. If a shy kid like Schuyler was inspired by our actions, then who knows how much we impacted the other kids? Schuyler was the only kid from my group (that I know of) who actively sought to make his belief a reality this very day. And while there may be others who have done the same, I am so relieved and joyful to know that I have forever touched at least one of the kids I worked with. As Luke states in Luke 15:7, to have brought someone unsaved to God's kingdom is an act beyond most, if not all. Thus, I feel that I have finally unlocked what it truly means to do good in our world. Schuyler and all the other kids have shown me that the world is all about loving others, no matter if that others constitutes one person or many. Our world is about lifting up God's glory, high enough such that it even reaches the depths of our sinful nature. Satan hides the good news from many people around the world, and to know that our teams have made huge strides in tackling this problem...well, let's just say it is indescribable.
I'm writing this reflection late at night, and now that I have really thought about this week, I can only sum up my experience here as a forever life-changing moment. Whenever we reflect on past experiences, we usually categorize them as either happy, sad, or whatever emotion it may be. However, I don't really know how to categorize our week here at Taiwan. Not only has God showed us the absolute pinnacle of truth and joy, but he has also shown us what it means to fight even in the brink of exhaustion, to fight when you feel like giving up. God has given us an opportunity that will last a lifetime, but at the same time it's an opportunity that itself only lasted a week.
So, if I had to, how would I categorize this? Well, let's just say that this week was a week that embodied how we should be living out our lives. A week of joy, grace, love, and uplifting hardship. A week that showed the team and me how great our Lord is now until forever.
Please pray for:
Joy, grace, love, and uplifting hardship. Our week here at Taiwan has seen us through a rollercoaster of emotions - an uphill battle in overcoming obstacles but simultaneously a ride full of pure happiness. I am genuinely relieved at the thought that our VBS has successfully concluded, but we are so sad to see it all go. Tears were shed, hugs were given, and even in the painful effort to control my own emotions, I barely managed to say goodbye to some of the kids that I taught throughout the week. Seeing other people so emotional and sentimental over the relationships we were able to form just lifts up my heart to another level - a level that brings me ever so closer to God. God has shown the team and me not only His true grace and power, but also His methods in using our struggles for His glory. How God works His awe-inspiring power remains a mystery to us, but the privilege of being able to experience how He works intimately among us and the kids pushed me to my limit for His glory and His glory only. Even as sinful beings - individuals destined for doom, people of innately tainted emotions - the amazing truth of God's sacrifice still remains as beautiful as ever. Our flaws are truly so ungodly that our Lord has no reason to love us, yet He still does. This seemingly paradoxical fact stuck so strongly with me throughout this trip, as I'm sure it has for the rest of the team. I know reflect on all my past experiences this year as stepping stones leading up to this week: a week of pure transformation, absolute transparency with our feelings toward God, and a week that has now sealed me to be a co-heir with Christ. In other words, this week has shown me what true happiness feels like. And this feeling of happiness only reached its peak on this very day, our final day of the VBS.
Before I elaborate too much on my feelings, let's get into a very brief summary of the day. The day kicked off with a short devotion. We read Psalm 45 and reflected on how much our hearts have been stirred by God this week. I meditated on how our opportunity to truly get closer to God and build this amazing connection with Him was priceless. Priceless in the sense that not only were we able to form loving relationships with the kids and the Taiwanese youth, but also in the sense that God has opened His glory to us.
The actual VBS day was very similar to all our previous days up to the afternoon program. Amy taught her Taste of American Culture lesson, which was on famous American cities. Even though the kids were very rowdy today, Amy did an amazing job of keeping her calm and eloquently delivering her presentation. I admired how positive and happy she stayed throughout the entire presentation even on the last day; praise the Lord for giving her the much needed energy after this tiring week! Thank you so much Amy!!
We then transitioned into our English lessons, and for my group, I am very satisfied with how we ended the week. Throughout the week, all of my kids showed a genuine enthusiasm for learning and seemed to show a growing interest in the Gospel message. Using the wordless book beads, my kids were able to explain to me the basic concept of the Gospel, and I am so so thankful to the Lord that their hearts opened up to the message. I ask that our readers pray for the kids, that after leaving the camp today, they continue to cherish these moments which were full of God's love and spirit.
Following the English lesson and lunch was a small ceremony to celebrate the end of the VBS with all the kids' parents. The kids all danced to songs and verses we helped them prepare, and the Taiwanese youth and our team choreographed our own dances. We actually managed to plan out our dance in only a couple of hours, so praise the Lord for lending us his ever-present helping hand! We then named select kids MVP for their outstanding behavior and attitudes. However, this was also where tears were shed. Many of us were heartbroken when the kids started leaving, and needless to say, so was I. Nevertheless, I am confident that their future with Christ remains hopeful and bright, and I look forward to potentially seeing them again next year!
Today, we also celebrated Cherry, Daniel (two Taiwanese youth), Josh, Jonathan's birthday! After the celebration, we had a great time fellowshipping and just enjoying dinner with each other. Following dinner was a action-packed ~3 hours of sports and arcade games. There was badminton, basketball, foosball, and other activities among all else. What a fun but tiring night!
And that's pretty much how the day unfolded. Within this brief account, I want to highlight the key moment that really made this day stand out for me and "maxed" out my feeling for God's joy: how my relationship with one of my English lesson kids, Schuyler, ended up. During my classes, Schuyler was always a quiet, shy child that never seemed to interact with the other kids during our lesson time. Since the beginning of the VBS, he appeared to be the kind of person who rarely opened up and made little effort in engaging with others, including myself. Yet, with that being said, he also was very attentive and paid absolute attention to the English lessons, and as time passed he got more and more comfortable (but he still didn't talk). I could tell that he really took the Gospel very seriously and wanted to dive deeper into Christianity.
The reason why Schuyler stood out to me was that I could directly sympathize with him. I was also "that shy kid" in the class years back when I was growing up in the beginning years of Audubon Elementary School. So, I understood how he felt and how uncomfortable that kind of classroom setting could be. But he also had that intrigued expression on his face that I would sometimes have if I was interested in a lesson at school. This confirmed my belief of his passion and desire for God.
Now, at the end of the VBS, Schuyler personally came up to me today and thanked me by giving me a hug; this already made my heart swell. However, the real kicker came when I learned that Schuyler told his parents that he wanted to now go to church. If a shy kid like Schuyler was inspired by our actions, then who knows how much we impacted the other kids? Schuyler was the only kid from my group (that I know of) who actively sought to make his belief a reality this very day. And while there may be others who have done the same, I am so relieved and joyful to know that I have forever touched at least one of the kids I worked with. As Luke states in Luke 15:7, to have brought someone unsaved to God's kingdom is an act beyond most, if not all. Thus, I feel that I have finally unlocked what it truly means to do good in our world. Schuyler and all the other kids have shown me that the world is all about loving others, no matter if that others constitutes one person or many. Our world is about lifting up God's glory, high enough such that it even reaches the depths of our sinful nature. Satan hides the good news from many people around the world, and to know that our teams have made huge strides in tackling this problem...well, let's just say it is indescribable.
I'm writing this reflection late at night, and now that I have really thought about this week, I can only sum up my experience here as a forever life-changing moment. Whenever we reflect on past experiences, we usually categorize them as either happy, sad, or whatever emotion it may be. However, I don't really know how to categorize our week here at Taiwan. Not only has God showed us the absolute pinnacle of truth and joy, but he has also shown us what it means to fight even in the brink of exhaustion, to fight when you feel like giving up. God has given us an opportunity that will last a lifetime, but at the same time it's an opportunity that itself only lasted a week.
So, if I had to, how would I categorize this? Well, let's just say that this week was a week that embodied how we should be living out our lives. A week of joy, grace, love, and uplifting hardship. A week that showed the team and me how great our Lord is now until forever.
Please pray for:
- God's continued presence in the Taiwan kids' lives
- our continued devotion to spreading the Gospel even after the mission trip
- us and the Taiwanese team for an eternal passion for serving God
Prayer thanks:
- All of the adults here in Taiwan (ex. Amy and Steven) for their gracious support
- Successful VBS
- Opening the kids' hearts to God's love
- The opportunity to experience true happiness
Adam this is AMAZING!! I'm so touched and inspired to see how God worked this week. Thank you so much for sharing the story about Schuyler! I know you guys had a lasting impact on the children this week, but your impact goes BEYOND that -- you've touched those reading your blog (like me!) and those at TCCGP who you'll share your experiences with.
ReplyDeleteI'm honestly amazed and speechless at how God worked through you all this week. I can feel His love pouring out through all of you just from watching that short video. For all of you, I'll be praying you'll never forget this experience -- that the memories will always stay fresh in your minds. For whenever you face trials that test your faith, you'll remember the faithfulness of God and how real He is. <3
How wonderful, Adam! I’m so touched reading about Shruyler. This is the ultimate reward after a week of hardworking. May God grow those “seeds” you sowed inside the children and may God continue transforming you to be like Christ, to live for Him entirely! God bless you 🌹
ReplyDeleteThank you, Adam, for sharing your story with Schuyler. Yes, as the verse in Romans 10:15 says: “Hie beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” All of you certainly did a very beautiful thing in God’s kingdom this week and some to the eternity. Praise the Lord; your kingdom reward is great! We are so proud of what you all have done this past week in Taiwan with our serving youth team and all the kids who attended the camp. Your impact in their heart is great. Keep up the good work! Praise the Lord!
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