My Summer 2011

This summer God has been doing many wonderful things in my life.  I'm truly thankful that He led me to a summer internship at Tyndale Intercultural Ministries center this June.  Since a mission trip in 2008, the concentrated passion in me to reach out to people has been slowly diluted by busy workloads and cares of different responsibilities in life.

Being led to working at TIM center this summer, my passion to reach out and get in touch with people is reignited.  Despite an overwhelming interest and excitement learning about different cultures and their traditions, a gentle whisper reminded me that cultural research will only be meaningful if the new knowledge I gained brings me to a deeper understanding, love, and care of others.  Only if I let go of my self-interest (to get the research job done!) and humbly learn about other cultural values, will I experience real joy, freedom, and love in the new discoveries.  

In the Bible, Matthew 22: 37 - 40, "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Some of my friends have courageously stepped out of their comfort zone to follow the dreams God placed in their hearts.  One of my friends flew to India for a health project.  Another friend joined the MoveIn community to live in a new neighbourhood wanting to get to know her friends better.  

Some other activities happening this summer in my life also include: studying systematic theology (challenging myself to love God not only with my heart, but also with my mind), helping out a Vacation Bible Camp at Don Mills Baptist Church, giving piano lessons to children from different cultural backgrounds, participating in the initiative my friend started - first blind tennis in Canada, facilitating Koinonia fellowship at church for the first time ...

All of these activities are really exciting because I pray that God will shape me to be the person whom He created me to be.  The Bible verse in John 15:5 spoke very loudly and clearly to me in early May that apart from Him, I can do nothing.  It is my prayer that I will be mindful of the work that God is doing in my life and His presence amidst all the activities, so that each day I can ask Him and join Him in the work that He is doing, rather than thinking that I can take control of everything.

I am excitedly anticipating how all these different stories in both my friends' and my own life will intertwine and unfold in the rest of this summer!  Stay tune for more blog and stories :)