Easter is Coming!

My busy schedule was a good excuse to not write, but I think I've been hiding from writing. I canceled our Spring Break trip to Houston a week before we left, and that was really hard. We only had 4 students signed up. It wasn't enough to do the extra neighborhood visits the ministry we were working with had planned. I was able to work on my fundraising. I was glad to be in town when some friends asked Kyle and I to come over while they went through something. But it was still hard to cancel the trip, because it left me with questions: Had I heard from God to plan it? Had I prayed "enough" or done "enough" work to recruit? Why hadn't students signed up? It takes a lot of energy to wrestle through questions, especially when lies are the easier answers to believe.

I've had a great time since Spring Break, though. I read applications and interviewed Ministry Intern candidates for our area. We've got one Ministry Intern and one Volunteer Staff now, and we're still waiting to hear back. We had our Area Team Meetings in College Station this week, where we focused on prayer and celebrated my 5 years on staff. I had so much fun, and started crying hysterically from all the nice things people said. I was just a little overwhelmed. My parents and brother even drove down and a few friends who support my ministry came over for ice cream sundaes!

This weekend, of course, is Easter. I'm excited to celebrate with my family the greatest gift God could give us, salvation through Jesus. I'm hopeful for some rest and refreshment as we worship the risen Lord and race around hunting Easter eggs.

I'm also filled with hope about God's ability to provide my funding. Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" I've realized I haven't trusted God to be the kind of Father who loves me so completely nothing can separate us. So, whether I'm funded or not, God still loves me. And he's with me in the midst of the struggle. And he will provide what Kyle and I need, whatever that looks like. If you'd like to pray each day in April with me for my fundraising, would you email me or comment on the blog? I'd love to give you a couple specific prayer points. Thanks!

Evangelism Experiences

Recently, I took a couple students I'm discipling to do conversational evangelism. I asked some of the SFA students I disciple to grab someone else in IV and go too. I decided not to drive the 3 hours to go with them...

One of the spiritual conversations at A&M ended with me inviting the student to a GIG (Group Investigating God). It's an evangelistic Bible study, a chance for him to ask questions and look at the Bible for himself. Could you pray for J, that he sees God "prove" himself in some way, that he sees God is real? I'm hoping to connect him to Asian American IV after Spring Break.

God surprised the Thrive (South Asian American IV chapter) students who went with me with how easy it is to strike up spiritual conversations. No one attacked them; everyone gladly talked about God. That happens a lot, especially at A&M. The SFA students shared how they felt stumped a few times, but they planned on going again after Spring Break to grow and learn how to respond to hard questions.

I still have a flutter of fear before conversational evangelism. The real cost for me now is my energy. I thought about this a lot last week. It takes energy for me to talk to strangers. And it takes energy to follow up with someone, pursue relationship, invite them into community, and keep sharing who God is with them.

But God has a sense of humor. I found an article today succinctly dealing with many excuses for not sharing the gospel. My energy excuse wasn't on there, so I came up with a potential response. "God is faithful to provide our needs, including energy and rest. It's good to spend our energy storing up treasure in heaven that will last - people knowing Jesus!"

What holds you back from sharing the good news about Jesus? How is God inviting you to think differently?

Some Encouragement

I asked one of the Thrive leaders if I could share this email they got. Last January, they handed out slips with encouraging Scripture and Thrive's contact info.

Hi, I just want to share some encouragement with you guys!

One day last year, someone handed me a little pink flyer on campus and I thought, "great, another one for the recycling bin." I folded it up and stuck it in my backpack's pocket with intentions of throwing it away.

After class, I glanced down at the crinkled paper as I was looking for the nearest trash can. In bold print, I read, "Blessed is the one who preserves under trial because, after having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that The Lord has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12). It took everything I had not to break down crying right there on campus.

I saved that little pink piece of paper and it has honestly saved my life on more than one occasion. Those small words of encouragement reminded me of the bigger picture in life and what really matters, and who I owe it all to. Just now I looked at who made the little flyer, and I wanted to say THANK YOU, and to let y'all know that you ARE making a difference in the lives of others.

Keep up the good work! Thanks & gig 'em.