Earlier this year in February, my husband Jeff and I went to Thailand with the organization called Joni and Friends. We were part of the Wheels For The World program which brought donated wheelchairs from the United States to developing countries and third world countries to distribute to disabled people. My role as an Occupational Therapist was to find a wheelchair for every recipient. There were many other roles on the team including Jeff's role as a photographer to document the whole trip. Each recipient had an appointment made for a specific day made by local workers, many of whom were missionaries. They arrive to the site early in the morning. Some had come from far places. The resident Doctor takes their medical history and any pertinent information the therapist might need to pick out the right chair for the recipient. Then the therapists measure the recipients, adjusts the wheelchairs, adapt plywood and cushions to make cushions or supports for the recipient. While the mechanics help physically make what the therapists requested, a team of translators and assistants tell the story about Jesus and his desire for people to know Him, and hand them a bible and a Joni Earekson Tada biography about her own life as a paraplegic who devoted her life to Christ. As you can see, it takes a whole team of people to accomplish this task. There were 6 teams operating at the same time. Jeff had to document every team's actions.


One particular story was from a college student named Jasmine. She comes from a very special family of 12. Her parents have adopted many kids specifically with disbabilities. She had a 13 year old young brother name Joey who had Spina Bifida, which means that when He was born, part of his lower spine did not fuse together. He was wheelchair bound. He suffered a major infection and passed away 3 months before our trip so the memory of him was still very fresh on Jasmine's mind. She brought Joey's wheelchair in hopes to give to someone in need. This means finding a young child who fits perfectly in his chair with the same measurements. As the days went on, we didn't find anybody who would fit Joey's chair. We didn't see many children who needed chairs. Those that we did see needed very special chairs with a complicated support system due to their diagnosis, many of them with Cerebral Palsy.

In the town of Phayao we met a woman named Sompong who was 31 years old who had post polio. Her frame was very small and seemed like she would fit into Joey's chair. Most chairs had to be taken apart, and adjusted and added cushions and straps to be more supported but Joey's chair did not need much adjustments. It fitted Sompong perfectly! We had finally found the perfect recipient. All along we had assumed the chair would be for a child because it had a small frame. But to our joy, we found a recipient who had a small frame. Jasmine found this to be a blessing because because Sompong was older, she fully understood the value in the chair that was given to her. Through tearful eyes, Jasmine explained that the chair once belonged to her brother who grew up in a family who loved God. And because of that, they wanted to share God's love as well as this wheelchair. Although Sompong was a Buddhist, she readily accepted the wheelchair and accepted God's gift of salvation. 



At the end of July, I joined a team of people to go to Panama and participate in an English Camp. The theme of the English camp was called "Faith In Action". We taught about certain characters in the Bible that put their own faith in action. I acted as a teacher and Jennifer was my assistant. The program was more or less set up like a retreat with daily English classes. We used the bible to teach English. In our particular class, we used the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den.

One of the methods we used to teach the gospel was to use the evangecube. The campers all loved it and were promised one after they have demonstrated the understanding of the gospel and repeated it back to us. Two girls in particular in my group were not Christians but they wanted an evangecube. They corrected identified each side of the cube and explained the gospel completely. They had both been attending church and were familiar with the gospel.They believed in the truths but had not yet accepted Christ salvation. I had asked one of the girls named Carolina if she was going to share the cube with other people. She said yes. I had told her that when she shares the cube with someone, it will just be like sharing a story since she was not a Christian. How wonderful it would be if this were HER story to tell. I went through each side of the cube with her again asking her personally if she believed in it. When I got to the side of the cube where it asked the person to make a choice, she said she wanted to accept Jesus Christ as her savior. So, we prayed together and she accepted Christ. 



But the story doesn't end here. When I got back to my usual schedule, the people I come in contact with all ask about my trip and it was the perfect opportunity to share with them about Panama and the English camp and even the gospel. One lady in particular who was struggling with homosexuality was very interested in talking about God but was fearful because she thought God hated her and church was full of people who would look down on her. When I had told her that church is full of forgiven sinners like me and Christ died for us while we were still sinners because He loves us. She was so wrapped up in her own sin, which was her false perception of God, that she didn't see who God really is. A God of Love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. As we talked, you could almost see the clarity in her eyes as I told her about the gospel. I look forward to discussing God with her again.

On Sunday July 26th, 12 middle school students who had just finished either 7th or 8th grade embarked on a 6 day short term mission trip to Indianapolis, Indiana. With them were 3 adult counselors, Wendy, Sunny & I.

At the beginning of the planning process for this STM, the desired location was somewhere within driving distance on the East Coast. However, opportunities were limited and we had overwhelming response from the students. At last, Indianapolis was chosen mainly due to the program’s ability to accommodate our team. I witnessed a powerful God who saw that these students had a heart for missions and a passion to serve Him. He opened doors just as doubts began to surface about whether this STM would actually take place. This also opened the door for me to have the opportunity to serve as a counselor on this trip. There could have been no trip, or the team could have been so small that no additional counselors were needed. It was a whirlwind of activities and preparations once the location was decided upon. Consensuses from the parents were needed regarding transportation. Flights had to be arranged. Forms and payments were to be submitted. In the end, God delivered us healthy, all together, and on time to begin His work in Indianapolis.

We were enrolled with a program called Group Work Camps from Sunday to Friday. We stayed at a church near downtown Indianapolis, where the congregation graciously offered for the camps to run all summer. There were about 50-60 people total in this last camp of summer 2009. They comprised of youth groups from all over the country. We met churches from Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma. We lived together, ate together, and most importantly, served with one another. Every day, we departed in crews of 5 or 6 to work on projects coordinated by the Group Work Camps staff. In the morning and at night, students (and counselors) participated in structured programs including talks, games, sharing and praying. Themes were specifically designed to help bridge what the students experienced during the day to their relationship with God. We also had group devotions and small group time daily in order to share and pray together. All of this created a balance of doing God’s work and experiencing Him in physical, tangible ways, while nurturing and developing their faith.

Wendy and I led the girls in our group in 2 teams while Sunny led the boys. We were assigned to work with an organization called Global Peace. They work with other local organizations and rely heavily on volunteers to better the city of Indianapolis. During this trip, we were able to participate in 2 projects. The first was a neighborhood beautification initiative. The goal was to transform neighborhoods, one street, one property at a time. We worked on a lady’s garden for 3 days, weeding everything in sight, tidying up a flowerbed, restoring decorations to their original conditions, and adding in new features. Several teams also worked close to us. One team helped to strip walls in a vacant house, while another team further down the street performed some much needed maintenance work. Other projects included visiting the Boys and Girls club, doing work for our host church and beautifying other parts of the city.

On our one day away from gardening, we took part in another initiative started by this organization, aiming to feed the hungry. Volunteers would take donated plots of land from the government or from businesses, and turn them (from scratch) into farms that produced food year round. We worked on a large plot of land behind a bowling alley, where we turned and raked soil to make it suitable for vegetation. We plotted plants and sowed seeds, sometimes in the pouring rain. We met and worked alongside local volunteers, where many were amazed at how far we came from, just to do what they were doing. We witnessed the kindness of this community when the manager of the bowling alley invited us inside to hide from the rain and have our lunches. A representative from the community center that would be reaping the harvest of this farm even came out to thank everyone for their efforts. It really lifted our spirits to be recognized and thanked for the work we were performing. Sometimes it was hard to see the purpose and meaning of your work when your muscles ache, face drenched in sweat and you’re not sure how much longer you can last in the scorching sun!

Aside from the actual labor involved, the most critical and rewarding part of this STM were the relationships developed and the transformations that took place for the students, the people they worked with and the people they served.

I first witnessed the capability and potential of our students. Physically, they were just as strong, if not stronger than me. While they don’t have much physical chores to perform at home, they worked extremely hard and learned the ropes of gardening and farming quickly. They took directions well and respected their leaders. The girls we led were loving and encouraging to each other, as well as to anyone they crossed paths with. Within the group, friendships were deepening and stronger bonds and unity were formed. When someone was tired, another always stepped in to help. You could always hear things like, “Take a break!” or “Drink some water!” throughout the day. When anyone was involved in the morning or night programs, whether they were part of a game, reading scripture or serving on the worship team, others cheered them on. Everyone made an effort to be positive and adaptable to unfamiliar situations, like showering outdoors and in ice cold water!

Two events really demonstrate how much love these students have for others. While we were working on the garden one day, one of the girls met a homeless woman down the street. She was asking for our soda cans to recycle for money. Afterwards, everyone made an effort to either find or collect empty soda cans. Towards the end of our trip, they managed to track down the lady to give her the collected cans. Another day, our site manager Marty was home sick, and that was when we participated in another project for the day. The girls were so concerned for her and prayed for her health. Even though we only worked with her for a short time, the girls had already formed a bond with her. I personally really witnessed the brokenness of this city through the people we came in contact with. The owner of the garden we worked on, Molly, really had a heart for this project but physically she was unable to do much gardening herself. Her pregnant teenage daughter just moved back to the house with her boyfriend. She shared that the neighborhood they were living in was too dangerous. She stays home while her boyfriend works daily. Both of them are college-age but most likely won’t have a chance to further their education. On our last day at this site, we also met several kids hanging around because they were curious about us. We learned that they were actually siblings and the oldest one (only high school age) was responsible for taking care of 2 younger siblings, one still in diapers. These experiences really opened our students’ eyes to a world beyond their own. God really humbled them, filled them with compassion and love for the less fortunate.

I was also encouraged by the local people there. I saw the immediate impact we were able to make in the community in just one short week. These people on the other hand work every single day, relentlessly, and for the most part unpaid, to show Christ’s love for this city and its people. Everyone involved in these projects come from different backgrounds and different paces of life but it was so encouraging to see them coming together to achieve one goal. On our day farming the plot of land behind the bowling alley, I met and talked to a man who had been volunteering with Global Peace for a long time. He basically just came out and helped for as long as he could when he had a day off from work. God really spoke to my heart through him. Rather than taking the day off to run errands or just relax, he made serving a priority instead.

Overall, it was a great time to spend a week fellowshipping with one another, meeting new people that had the same passion, and being a part of God’s mission. I was really glad to be able to serve alongside the students instead of just supervising. From a counselor’s point of view, I think this trip was a huge eye opener for them. Living in New York, it’s easy to forget what the rest of the country is like. Through this trip, not only did the get a taste of being in another part of the country so different from the East Coast, they were able to see that God isn’t only at QHC or at their homes. I hope that by seeing how much they could contribute in one week, they will realize how much they can do in their own homes, in their schools, in this church and in this community. I’ve definitely been motivated by this mission trip to make more effort to reach out to those around me.

Before leaving for my short term mission trip to Panama, I really did not know what to expect. It was my first time being led on an STM by a pastor not from my own church. It was also my first time going on a short term mission trip with very few other QHC members (there were four of us). Another big difference with this trip was that we were not going to serve the poor and needy, but we were going to minister to privileged Chinese-Panamanian teens. As the trip approached, I thought about all these things and began to worry. However, all these worries became ways for God to reveal his power and show me that even faith the size of a mustard seed can do great things.

The night before the campers were to arrive to our English Camp, I prayed asking God to allow the campers in my squad and me to click. I knew that in order for me to be able to share Jesus with them, we would first have to get along. The next day when the campers arrived, I found that many of the ones in my class were quiet and didn’t speak much English. Even so, all it took was a few questions and a little broken Spanish, and they quickly opened up. The girls I was chaperoning also had a lot to say on our first night together. It was definitely by God’s grace that we created such strong bonds with one another in just one afternoon. All I had to do was take one little step, and God took care of the rest.

As the week went on, God blessed our squad with many opportunities to share our thoughts on God and reflect on our relationships with Him. Still, I found myself worrying about whether or not these campers were really absorbing the sermons they heard and taking their faith seriously. I prayed for them, and on the final night when there was an altar call, I got my answer. Eight campers accepted Christ for the first time, and over thirty people (including my whole squad) recommitted themselves. Afterwards, when we had a small group time to discuss the altar call, it became clear that all my campers were really touched in their own personal way by God that night, as well as throughout the week. I was amazed, and I realized that God is always at work and that He has the power to touch people’s hearts in unprecedented ways.

Everyone needs Jesus – the poor, the sick, and the privileged. Christ said that it is nearly impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. However, all things are possible through Him. And it was through my trip to Panama that God was able to bless me with the opportunity to see this promise in action.

I never though I would be working with God in Berlin. I remembered during the first meeting, Pastor Frank asked everyone in the meeting to calculate their probability of going to the trip based on a scale of 0 - 100. My assessment was only 50 percent. It was difficult to convince myself that I am capable of serving God. Besides attending Sunday school and studying the Bible on my own, I have very little evangelistic training. My biggest obstacle was leaving my wife and unborn child at home. Two weeks before we flew out to Berlin, the team was waiting for my confirmation. At last, with God leading me, I finalized my air ticket purchase.

In very little time, we joined forces with John and Hoiling, a missionary couple, and a few others from the Berlin church. We set out to evangelize Chinese students. Most of us are inexperienced in this field. Not even our team leaders Gao and Eileen, who had been to Berlin could prepare us for what we will face in spiritual warfare. So we prayed to our almighty God for courage and wisdom. In the daytime, we spoke to students in the crowded campus cafeteria and the frigid street corners. In the nighttime, we ventured into student dormitories. Our goals were to invite them to our Friday night meeting at the church and to preach the Gospel as much as possible. Students’ responses were not encouraging. Numerous students shot us down coldly and some students even went around to avoid us on the streets. Praise the Lord, many students accepted our invitation flyer willingly. At the end we reached out to over 100 plus students.

I believe this trip is not only designed for the Chinese congregation. The English congregation should consider it as well. Mandarin communication is not essential because many Chinese students I came in contact with in Berlin spoke English. Most of them learned English while they were in China. Berlin attracts more than 60,000 Chinese students to study aboard every year. Most of them never went to church or even heard of the Gospel. Just imagine if we plant a seed in each one of their hearts, and let God do the rest. Those students will become monumental influences wherever they come from in China. This is a strategic point for God’s ministry. It is just as effective as sending out missionaries to the heart of China.

The Berlin Short term mission felt like evangelistic boot camp. Our schedule was full of activities. It demands physical toughness and mental readiness. Unlike the Congo short term mission which I heard focused on surveying the mission field, the Berlin Short term mission covered all the basic evangelistic training. We should not let language complications stop us from experiencing God’s omnipotence in Berlin. It enriched my spiritual battle awareness. I felt very bless to be part of the Berlin mission.