#bringmehopeintern

Today’s internship lesson was on leadership and 

Aspect 1: Seeks Glory of His Master

As a leader, there is temptation to seek power control but as the word says:

“The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.” ~ John 7:18

A servant leader seeks the reputation of God, not his own.

Aspect 2: Sacrificially Seek Highest Joy of Those They Serve

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant” ~ Matthew 20:26

A servant leader will make necessary sacrifices to seek the progress of other’s in the faith which will result in the greater glory of God! 

Aspect 3: Forgo His Rights Than Obscure Gospel

The gospel is center of their leadership so the leader must trust in not own ability but in Christ’s. There’s a beautiful song by City Alight called,Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me which captures this beautifully. Another example is Paul:

“To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.”~ 1 Corinthians 4:11-14

Paul abstained from certain drinks or foods to not stumble people. Paul refused financial support, went poor, hungry, and homeless in order to promote the gospel! Moreover, he even decided not to marry and was martyred for his Lord!

“Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?” ~ 1 Corinthians 9:4-7

Paul made himself a servant to all to win more people for the gospel!

A servant leader will forgo self for the sake of the gospel.

Aspect 4: Not Preoccupied with Personal Visibility or Occupation

John the Baptist was an example of this: he had a huge role but didn’t act like it:

The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. ~ John 3:29

He considers himself the friend of the bridegroom and his joy was that he would prepare the way for the bridegroom to come! 

A servant leader doesn’t look to making for himself a great reputation or building an occupation for himself but that Jesus’ work is first done.

Aspect 5: Anticipates and Graciously Accepts Time for Decrease

We could be leading a church ministry or a leading something else for a season. An example is the same John the Baptist who said in that same passage in the next verse,

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” ~ John 3:30

I used to be that person who deactivates Facebook or social media for months on end because I looked down on it’s usefulness and really didn’t like people knowing about my personal life.

Somehow seeing how it can be used for God’s glory has changed my mind.

This semester in the internship we’ve been learning about using creative writing, photo and video editing, and social media for advocacy. I’ve learned much about how an intentional Instagram layout can make all the difference to one looking to adopt a child or how a well written short statement can spark interest to one who may be looking to adopt. I didn’t even know that people were that intentional about their Instagram layouts but for their credit it helped inspire me to do more to advocate for my new advocacy kid, Donovan.

Of course, there’s one important question that I ask myself: “For what purpose am I posting these things?”

Though social media can be a great tool, I still pray and look to him to search my heart in posting things. On my personal account, though I want to advocate for my kid but at the same time I want to post things giving glory to what God is teaching me. There will always be temptation to post out of pride so very aware of that, I want to commit now and forward to praying before I post things. I want to commit to giving these things to the Lord to use before posting things. 

Search me, O God, and know my heart!    Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me,    and lead me in the way everlasting!

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Week 4: God’s Purpose Revealed and Goodbyes

*prays before eating lunch*

“Ah! Do you believe in Jesus?”

“Yes...”

“Me too!”

“GOD, WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD TO ME THIS WEEK?!?!?!”

            God gifted me this week with 16-year-old Grace* and 15-year-old Lucy* who, along with several familiar faces, came from the Week 1 orphanage! Day 1 not only did I find out that my translator Matty was a Christian, but also, at mealtime, I prayed and found out so was Grace! By evening, I had been blessed to sing songs like, “10,000 Reasons” with our family and get to curl Lucy’s hair when she couldn’t go to swim time. God also used a volunteer from that week named Kara, to show us all more of why He relocated us Week 1.

“I saw Lucy is in your group.”

“Yeah! I have Lucy and Grace. God is so GOOD! I just found out that Grace and my translator are both Christians!”

“I was thinking the same thing! Every year I went to camp at Yantai, Lucy’s always been in my family group but this year I heard Zhengzhou needed more volunteers, so I decided to come here. I was afraid that Lucy might feel sad that I wasn’t in Yantai this year but then I saw her walk in and I was like, ‘Wow, God! You’re amazing!’”

           My jaw dropped when I heard that and at the volunteer meeting that night when we shared about it, we were all mind blown at God’s sovereignty.

“WOW. God had a purpose and reason for moving us!”

           Even more amazingly, Grace’s testimony affirmed God’s sovereign hand even over orphans who age out! Grace was born with a lot of health problems and abandoned by her parents who divorced. She was sent to a Buddhist foster home where the practice was drilled into them yet somehow she just knew that Buddhism was not “the way”. The foster home burned down and she was relocated to another orphanage where there happened to be Christian teachers who taught the kids math, English, and the Bible! When Grace was 13, she decided to give her life to Jesus. A year later, a Canadian Christian family had read about her online, moved to China, and adopted her so she got to live with them! Still, Chinese law says orphans are not adoptable at age 14 so a year later at 15, she was moved to this orphanage.

           It would seem that all hope is lost, but God had bigger plans.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ~Isaiah 55:8-9

          Grace’s family told her that when she was 18, she would go back to living with them while also giving her a bible and phone to keep up with them. What is God’s purpose in keeping her in this orphanage for the next 2 years? Through brokenness, He started to reveal more of that.

          Grace had a mental break down the whole day of the talent show and we were speechless on what to do. I felt so weak and helpless that day, unable to understand what was going on in her heart- all I could do was get to my knees and pray. That night, we just sat handing her tissues. I knew that the only One who could comfort her was the Comforter Himself, so I said,

“Although I don’t know what’s on your heart, I’m glad you know the One who does. Lean on Him and pray to Him. He will never leave you or forsake you.”

           I just sat there and hugged her for a half hour as she cried. Through it all, my other girl Lucy asked why I was saying what I said. Wow! Even through seemingly “inconvenient” trauma, God can still allow it to be a chance to share the gospel. Truly, not one plan for the sake of His glory can be thwarted!

          Although Grace had to wait for two years to go back to her family, in the waiting, God can use her life as a testimony to these kids. I can’t openly share the gospel with these kids but she probably can! Her life is already a picture of the gospel: for the one who knows Christ will also receive the family of Christ.

          We all, like Grace, are broken humans who move from place to place, fostered by the philosophy of the world that will never satisfy because it is not the “Truth”. In fact, one day, all those who follow in the philosophy of the world will lose everything and similarly burn as they are thrown into the “lake of fire”. Yet, a good and gracious God from afar sees us. He left all He knew to come live in ‘our land’ as a man because of love. God shows His love for us in this: that while we were still sinners (following in the ways of the world), Christ died for us. He died for our sins so we can be forgiven by a Holy and Just God. Not only are we forgiven, but we are redeemed into a new life where we receive His Spirit and are adopted as His children into His heavenly family. 

            Still, because of the work to be done, we still live on the earth surrounded by a broken world but are given the Word of Truth to guide us to live as Jesus lived. Hence, while we wait for Jesus to come back and redeem us fully, we have a mission here to be a witness for Jesus through how we live. As we yearn to finally be with our heavenly “family”, He teaches us to learn to look more to Christ as His power is perfected in our brokenness and weakness. No evil in the world could thwart God’s plan of adoption for Grace and no evil in the world can thwart God’s plan to redeem us into the family of Christ because the work “is finished.”

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

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“I want to encourage you all that there is hope. I wasn’t supposed to stay for Week 4 but I praise God that I did. When these kids left Week 1, I wondered, will I ever see them again? But seeing them again this week encouraged me so much! Just seeing us again, made their days even brighter. You can just tell they had so much fun being back this week! I hope you all would consider coming back next year to be consistency for these kids, something they don’t have. I definitely want to and I want you all to keep me accountable.”

          The Lord allowed me and other staff to impart these words to the translators. Leaving camp was of one of the most painful goodbyes. Today, I still think so much of the kids and all that has happened. Some days I am so happy but then I cry because my heart yearns to see, hold, and hug them. My heart’s desire is to move to East Asia, to be closer to the kids (and my extended family) to the point of questioning why the Lord has me here in the United States. Opportunities have come but He has made it clear that they are not His will. 

           Yet I must remember that He is sovereign and that He has a good plan for me in His timing (which may not be my plans or timing but when He reveals it, it will be perfect). There is a reason He has brought me back to the US. In the meanwhile, He reminds me to pursue Him and pray that the seeds planted in these kids would lead them to a living hope in Christ until we (prayerfully) meet again next year. May You, O Lord, help me to be content in You, wherever You place me, for I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from Your love.

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Week 3: Changing My Flight and Crying for Katie

            More goodbyes. Several dear sisters were driven away to their rides to leave Zhengzhou. As I stood with our significantly smaller group, I wondered if I might feel alone for this last week of being in China. Yet, the yearning to stay in China longer for these kids grew with every beat of my heart. Already, I had been looking for plane tickets all week to stay but due to the choppy Wi-Fi, I quit.

“I’ll stay another week if you don’t eat a cicada…”

Two nights before camp, some staff were making bets on trying to get our director, Jenny, to eat a cicada. I just found the whole concept disgusting so these words essentially blurted out of my mouth. The room went dead silent.

“Wait, don’t you mean if she eats a cicada?”

Jenny started flipping through her phone. The staff members were staring at me with eyes wide open. Although I knew it was wrong of me to say oaths like that, I knew what came out of my mouth stemmed from an immense desire to stay.

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” ~Matthew 12:34

“Wait really? I’ll do it if you’re serious. Let me check the volunteer list, I’m pretty sure we only have 2 people.”

I whipped out my phone and started furiously searching for flights.

“Wait let me see if this is possible. I’m pretty sure this is possible. I’ve been searching for flights all week.”

          Over the next two days, I found it was possible to stay another week. Yet, each airline I tried to book would not let me because I did not have a “Chinese Cell Phone Number”. Fear came into my heart. “Am I being disobedient to You, Lord? Am I not just causing my parents to worry? Am I wasting Your money, Lord? But Your work among these kids...” I came to a point where I just said to the Lord, “If You want me to stay, I’ll stay. If You want me to leave, I’ll leave. Your will be done.” The next morning was the first day of Week 3 camp I woke up and ‘happened’ to read Luke 12:

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”~ Luke 12:32-34 

What a comfort His Word brought to my heart to eradicate the fears! I decided to try one last time to change my ticket before our training at 9:00 am. The Lord brought me to a new airline where tickets were cheaper, with better seating class, and better layovers than my previous flight. The website loaded slowly for a good 15 minutes as I worked on journaling. I looked up and saw, “Confirmed!”

“PRAISE THE LORD! I’M STAYING FOR WEEK 4!”

“What?!?!?”

I jumped out of my bed and ran to find Jenny but she was in a meeting. I’d have to wait until that night’s volunteer meeting to tell her, but my heart was absolutely elated! Not even China’s “Great Firewall” nor lack of Chinese phone number could stop God from allowing me to stay another week if it was His will!

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“姐姐, isn’t it true Mazu protects the seas?”

“*to translator* What’s Mazu?”

“Mazu is a Chinese god.”

“姐姐 does not recognize the god Mazu but 姐姐 knows the God named Yahweh!”

             My new Week 3 family included my translator Chris and two adorable 8-year-old girls, Katie* and Ella*. This week, none of the kids who came had special needs-- they were extremely bright, yet all unadoptable. Katie and Ella were like day and night, rarely wanting to play together, so our family was often split. Katie bonded to me quickly since we had shared loves of studying for exams and she questioned me a lot about religion. After the Lord allowed me to share His name, Katie sparked interest and started asking more. Cautious because of the law, I briefly explained to her about being a Christian.

“姐姐, what are you doing?”

“I’m praying.”

“Oh, why do you pray?”

“Remember, 姐姐 told you I was a Christian? I’m praying to God!”

“I see! So you have to pray before you eat everyday?”

“*laughing* No, I want to pray before eating because I’m so thankful to God for this food, a place to stay, and for bringing us together as a family this week!”

Ella had seen me praying and even though we didn’t spend much time together, not even that could stop God from using her curiosity to share about Him!

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          I called Katie “我的小天使 (My Little Angel)”. She was so sweet-- constantly looking out and caring for me. During the movie night, when Ella had kicked me off a mat, Katie crawled over to give me a hug. She pulled me over to share her mat with me and delicately covered my legs with a blanket to make sure I was warm. Touched and tearing up, I gave her the biggest hug and offered to let her lay back on a pillow. Still, Katie put up a strong front, unwilling to let me love on her, and shook her head as she uncomfortably sat up straight. Being independent and capable was one of few things she could control about her life.

           The next morning, before sending the kids off, we sang a song called, “我愛你 (I Love You)”. Turning towards Katie, I did the hand movements as normal. Suddenly, her smile broke into a pout. She started crying and shocked I started crying too. I hugged her and tried to keep singing through tears but it was a lost cause for my heart broke to see my strong willed, little angel would care so much about this week of camp. As we walked out, the whole camp was crying and Katie wanted to go on the bus last.

“姐姐, these are my bells. I made them into a bracelet for you.”

Since the day we met, Katie had held on to a beloved collection of bells. I kissed her tear-filled cheek and hugged her with thankfulness. Putting her on the bus was so hard. She held my hand tightly and cried even more. Before the door closed, I reached to hold her hand one more time. I never thought I’d cry sending a child off but not even my tendency to “save face” would stop God from helping me find freedom to weep as Jesus wept, yearning for these little ones to know the hope of Christ, in front of others.

“And when He drew near and saw the city, He wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”~ Luke 19:41-42

“I will pray for you always.” The door shut.

“I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”~ Job 42:2

“Actually, camp is going to be a 3 hour drive away... not 30 minutes.”

         My heart froze. All echoes of doubts about going to camp stirred in my head. How upset would my anti-Christian parents be? One who told me to drop the whole orphan ministry thing, how much reason would she have to say, ‘I told you so’. I was already annoyed about being lost in Zhengzhou’s airport for half an hour with barely working Wi-Fi, my only way of communication in China.

“Wait, where is it? Why?”

          As it turned out, our camp for Bring Me Hope 2019 in Zhengzhou was relocated outside the province for unclear reasons. As our group of volunteers walked to the van set for Shandong, I prayed for understanding. As I talked to Amye, a sister and staff member, the Lord started to work hope in my heart. I had no idea why this was happening, but He did (and that’s all that mattered). God had a reason for moving us so far away last minute and, although we couldn’t see what would happen, we could trust Jesus was in control and had a glorious plan for us all, no matter what trials would come.

“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:24-25

Week 1: Flexibility and the Fake Smile

          With no idea what each day brought, we could only, by faith, be prepared for change at any moment. Praise be to the Lord that He provided housing, a camp location, and little campers last minute through our Week 1 Chinese director, Roy. That week 13-year-old Victor* (advocacy name), who constantly held hands with Josy (my translator) and I, became our little brother. Sadly, I must confess that I struggled with apathy towards my family group this week because of several energy-draining sicknesses. 

            The day we went to the aquarium, the media showed up and the foreign volunteers were not allowed to go in with the kids. Our camp was just in too fragile of a situation.

“Victor kept asking where you were, and he insisted on finding you. I tried to tell him you were ‘tired’ and went to rest. I’m worried that at the end of the week when we leave, it will be bad for the kids. What should we do?”

          Panicked, Josy sent me this message that day. My heart broke. Even in my apathy, God was still working through these kids to touch my heart. Did Victor really care that much I wasn’t there? My heart was touched but I was at a loss of how to respond so I asked Gabby, another staff member, to help me. I didn’t want to separate from Victor either, but I suppressed feelings of sadness and fake smiled as I waved goodbye to Victor to maintain his happy memories. I wanted to be strong for Victor but I just felt weak. The Lord would work on me that very weekend; there was a lot I needed to give to the Lord. 

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”          ~ Psalm 51:10

Week 2: Prayer and Practicing Discipline

          After we said goodbye to translators and volunteers, we moved to a new location where we could run camp 24/7. That weekend, I had regained health but nothing could prepare me for receiving heart shattering news from home that broke me into a million pieces. Mourning the sinful way I had handled things, I brought my pains and sorrows to the Lord where He met me in this valley. By grace, He prompted me to pray for focus and love this week as I met cute but rambunctious little Tommy*, an 8-year-old who kept my translator Elise and I on our feet.   

“姐姐(jie jie = big sister), I want to throw up…”

          Tommy had eaten a whole plate of fried meat the night before and refused to eat any veggies. It makes one wonder how much trauma he might have had related to being withheld from food due to his skinny figure. My poor translator Elise grieved at the thought of discipline when I told her our director had discussed limiting his food intake and eat separately from others. Taking up my people-pleasing cross, I prepared to accept the fact that I would be the un-fun sister who was too strict since, at first, only I was the one telling Tommy no. Tommy fussed about food yet I was so blessed when we would briefly leave to scarf food down and come back to the most joyful little boy running into our arms for a hug, happily yelling, “ 姐姐”!

           Praise the Lord, later Elise told me that she was so happy and grateful that we limited his portions because Tommy’s health was so much better! To top it all off, I had been praying for a chance to share my faith but had none until the last day when the brother who chaperoned Tommy’s room shared his art (which had biblical inspirations) with my translator who asked about its meaning since she loves poetic things. Amazed at His sovereign hand, God gave me a chance to translate the meaning to her in Chinese and talk more about the Lord!  I couldn’t believe it yet that is our God, for He is the one faithful to answer prayers-- not even the running around of a rambunctious little boy could stop God from showing His glory! 

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.”- Psalm 145:18-19

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“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." ~2 Corinthians 12:9 

             May God be glorified for being the One who is sufficient in any and all circumstances to sustain any trials we may face! After landing in China and walking around the airport lost for 30 minutes, I heard the news, "We can't stay in this province anymore. We're being relocated 3 hours away because of our affiliation". A part of my mind started to go down a road of worry thinking, "This was not what was supposed to happen! What will my parents think of God? My parents will be so upset and blame God... again. Was I wrong to come to China?" The Lord gave me an incredible amount of grace at the moment to see I could 1) choose to let my emotions run wild and be driven by fear or 2) by faith, trust that He was in control. By His grace, my heart started to have hope that God was in control and although I couldn't see it now, by faith, I could trust in the conviction that God had a good plan for all of this and that He would not leave us or forsake us. After an hour of the Spirit bringing to me remembrance of the Word that He had stored in my heart, the Lord left me with an in-explainable confidence in Him and an excitement to see how He would bring Himself glory during this trip. Knowing it would need to be covered in prayer, I reached out to brothers and sisters. 

        Hours later we made it to the new location and in a matter of minutes we found out no one was certain if we could even run camp. We had no resources besides what volunteers had brought, no orphanage to work with, and no location to hold an overnight camp due to few hotels accepting foreigners and citizens. Somehow, we had to trust the Lord would work through this and that He had sent us here for a reason so that night we all just prayed for His will to be done. The next day, the Lord provided quickly! We weren't able to start camp on a Monday like normal but after volunteer training, we found out God had provided an orphanage to work with. We'd have to run a day camp sadly due to lack of housing but at least the Lord provided a chance to share His love with these kids and translators. Out of all the kids, only one was a girl which was going to be challenging since the rule was two adults of the same gender to accompany a kid older than 5 to the bathroom at all times (due to assistance needed due to disabilities) and already we barely had any guy volunteers/ translators. Still, the Lord throughout the week gave the men in our group such servant hearts and willingness to serve the kids with issues that few adults would probably want to help older kids who should normally be capable with. 

       Amazingly, He also gave us a chance to go visit the orphanage itself which usually never happens for other camps. As 19 boys and 1 girl with various disabilities and personalities walked in the small, crowded, and sterile room, the Lord just softened my heart for them. Despite how they looked on the outside (to an extent, we all knew that they were most likely abandoned because of their disabilities), I knew that the Lord saw them and He cared for each one of their souls. What an amazing sight it was to experience a taste of unconditional love that our Savior might have felt with us- a love not based on what these kids had done for us but a love based on the fact that these little humans were created in the image of God and worthy to be loved as an image of God! 

         My family group was made of my translator Josy and our 10 year old boy named Victor (more about Victor here). Even though our camp was "weak" in a way where we had little resources, limited staff, and barely any time with the kids like a normal camp, it was such an encouragement to see God start to help us love on the kids in that tiny little orphanage room as we drew with the kids, played cards, and got to know them more. The rest of the week echoed the same theme. Each day, we had little resources and little time but the Lord gave us creativity and multiplied our meaningful times with the kids, who had so much fun with just simple games! Praise be to God, He even allowed me to share during crafts times with my translator (and my kid listening) about being a Christian and what God had done in my life with my family!

        After we left the orphanage, the Lord also allowed me to meet a fellow sister in Christ named Faye who was very bold about her faith and extremely passionate about God. Her and her husband had studied at seminary in Singapore to the point of being blacklisted in China yet she still fearlessly shared her faith. It was an encouragement to see the joy and love the Lord had given her for the kids which was so different from the other translators who didn't know Christ. To hear of her bold faith in the face of persecution tries my own faith and encourages me to genuinely pray for the body in China because now it has become personal. 

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” -Hebrews 11:6

Back in January 2019, I went to CROSS Conference 2019 in prayer for discernment about whether I would fund-raise or save up money for China for this internship. I felt guilty and self-conscience about asking for money because my parents raised me to never ask for a penny from others if I could work for it myself. Also, knowing my parent's history with the church, they avoided the church because they did not want to give money. I talked with a few mission sending agencies and what stood out was in asking, it was a way for me to trust the Lord to provide 100% of the way of stepping out in faith and also invite sisters and brothers into partnering with me to send me overseas. After much prayer and consideration, I decided to step forward in faith and I've constantly been overwhelmed by the kindness and love of my brothers and sisters (perhaps much like the reaction of Ruth in Ruth 2:13). Little did I expect fundraising would be a witness to my parents as well! 

Graciously, people sent support through the mail (to my parent's home) and my mother would look through my mail. Intrigued by two wedding invites I had gotten, she opened those invites and looked up the couples. She asked me specifically about a wedding of a dear sister that she had met this past summer. First she asked my about how the two met and I mentioned Cleveland and them meeting in the church. She then asked why this sister stayed in Cleveland if she is from California and I told her because of the church. She then inquired about the best man and maid of honor thinking that they surely must be from Cleveland to have stayed in Cleveland. I then told her no, they were from Rochester and Chicago area and she was surprised why they might stay in Cleveland. My answer was the same, “Because of wanting to grow with the church”. Stunned upon hearing their stories, she incredulously asked my dad in Chinese, "What is it about this church that makes people want to stay in Cleveland of all places?" 

Uncontrollable smiling, I expected that to be the end but as it turns out, my mom then asked about the many support letters I’d received, inquiring if I was going to several other weddings, at which I simply told her about the Bring Me Hope internship and fundraising (wow, what an answer to prayer!) She seemed astounded about the fundraising but quickly brushed it off as three people simply giving a large sum of money. Smiling, I shared it was actually 15+ brothers and sisters who have been praying for me and donated as they could to send me to be part of this mission and she asked how much I had raised. When I told her the number, she was absolutely astonished as was I of God's goodness and wisdom in leading me to fund-raise! 

At the point, God gave me the courage to even share that the only reason I was even in Cleveland or even able to work there was because of God and wanting to grow as well in the church. The only reason I would be able to come home every weekend was because of God and the church. She didn’t respond much to this point but it’s okay, I pray God would still use it anyways and that she heard me! 

Later, on the plane ride to Taiwan, this was confirmed as I got to share with my mother even more about Bring Me Hope and learning about the different therapies. Also, when we went to Taiwan, praise the Lord, I even got to share about the internship and fundraising with my extended family, in my broken Chinese and my mom even helped me translate! Naturally, doing the internship meant I’d have to wake up at 5:30 am in the morning to do the training and I needed to let my relatives know my schedule so it was a chance to tell them about this and through my Chinese was limited in how to say missions (I literally STILL don’t know how to say this...), I tried my best to convey that it was a Christian ministry with brothers and sisters who had a heart for orphans and just trusted God that the message generally got across and that it’d have some impression on them. Best of all, God allowed me to even introduce my intern group to my grandfather!