2011 PICTURES & TESTIMONIES
Charlene's Testimony
[ Charlene is an American born Chinese (ABC) college student. This is her first time in China.]
" Leading up to China Mission, God had had everything work out so well: I finally passed a job interview and would have a job when I got back to the US; I passed my summer school class and managed to drive to and from there safely and on time every day (even though I sometimes left my house late); I was able to go to fellowship whenever they had meetings even though none of the events were in Irvine (i.e. car rides would always be provided). Basically, even though there were some problems that popped up, God still managed to make everything pan out in the end. Even while my team and I were heading to China God was faithful: I managed to survive the 13 hour plane ride without getting too airsick.
However, during mission, things seemed to be wrong. For the first few days, I honestly did not know my position during the camp (at first, I thought I’d be a group leader but then ended up being a camper; however, campers didn’t really have anything to do during the first few days and I found myself wandering around campus and restless) and even felt lonely sometimes because praying as a large group or even singing worship songs was somewhat taboo. I also was not used to the fact that the toilet (squatty potty, mind you) was right next to the shower. Like literally, RIGHT NEXT to it (that might not be a huge deal for most people but for me, it was, especially cause I had never even seen the two that close to each other). During the camp, there was one night where there was a HUGE thunder storm and both the electricity and the warm water of the dorms stopped running. Nonetheless, the biggest struggle was probably how closed of a Christian I had to be: I couldn’t pray with my eyes closed, I couldn’t tell others about how much God loved them, and I couldn’t have that constant fellowship (with Bible studies or praying time) with others I was so used to.
I struggled with these problems throughout the camp (and more significantly towards the beginning of the two weeks). However, as always (and as God had shown to me before this mission trip) God was faithful. He gave me the confidence that I needed (and the reminder that I smelled really bad) to brave the bathroom. He turned on the electricity and the warm water right after I prayed to Him that night there was the thunderstorm. He provided new Chinese and American friends during the camp and I soon found myself not bored at all. He gave me deeper relationships with my LA teammates (especially my sisters in Christ) and allowed us to have our own private times where we could pray and just talk about our struggles. And, probably more significantly, He gave me opportunity upon opportunity to share and show God’s love and to talk about who God is and who I am as a Christian.
Although this was definitely a new experience as a mission trip, God most unquestionably was still the same. He remained (and still is) faithful before and throughout the entire trip and He allowed everything to happen in His own time. I know that, even though this mission is ending, that God will still be faithful and have His own timing for everything.
" Leading up to China Mission, God had had everything work out so well: I finally passed a job interview and would have a job when I got back to the US; I passed my summer school class and managed to drive to and from there safely and on time every day (even though I sometimes left my house late); I was able to go to fellowship whenever they had meetings even though none of the events were in Irvine (i.e. car rides would always be provided). Basically, even though there were some problems that popped up, God still managed to make everything pan out in the end. Even while my team and I were heading to China God was faithful: I managed to survive the 13 hour plane ride without getting too airsick.
However, during mission, things seemed to be wrong. For the first few days, I honestly did not know my position during the camp (at first, I thought I’d be a group leader but then ended up being a camper; however, campers didn’t really have anything to do during the first few days and I found myself wandering around campus and restless) and even felt lonely sometimes because praying as a large group or even singing worship songs was somewhat taboo. I also was not used to the fact that the toilet (squatty potty, mind you) was right next to the shower. Like literally, RIGHT NEXT to it (that might not be a huge deal for most people but for me, it was, especially cause I had never even seen the two that close to each other). During the camp, there was one night where there was a HUGE thunder storm and both the electricity and the warm water of the dorms stopped running. Nonetheless, the biggest struggle was probably how closed of a Christian I had to be: I couldn’t pray with my eyes closed, I couldn’t tell others about how much God loved them, and I couldn’t have that constant fellowship (with Bible studies or praying time) with others I was so used to.
I struggled with these problems throughout the camp (and more significantly towards the beginning of the two weeks). However, as always (and as God had shown to me before this mission trip) God was faithful. He gave me the confidence that I needed (and the reminder that I smelled really bad) to brave the bathroom. He turned on the electricity and the warm water right after I prayed to Him that night there was the thunderstorm. He provided new Chinese and American friends during the camp and I soon found myself not bored at all. He gave me deeper relationships with my LA teammates (especially my sisters in Christ) and allowed us to have our own private times where we could pray and just talk about our struggles. And, probably more significantly, He gave me opportunity upon opportunity to share and show God’s love and to talk about who God is and who I am as a Christian.
Although this was definitely a new experience as a mission trip, God most unquestionably was still the same. He remained (and still is) faithful before and throughout the entire trip and He allowed everything to happen in His own time. I know that, even though this mission is ending, that God will still be faithful and have His own timing for everything.
