Sending to the Nations

Last week, I spent a “pre-project” week in Fullerton, California.  Part of my specific job on SoCal Summer Project is to help with the finances at the PSW Briefings and Debriefings for all of the International Summer Projects.

  **Some context – Cru sends out multiple international summer projects from each region every summer, including Arizona’s region, “PSW.”  Before the students leave for their projects, they attend a “briefing” at Hope International University in Fullerton led by Cru staff.  The briefing helps prepare the students for their mission trip abroad, meet their team, and get all of their support in and organized before leaving the country.  My job is to help with processing the students’ support and working with each project’s personal finance person to make sure their budget is correct/complete before leaving the country.**  

In order for me to become familiar with the briefings, the staff, and my job, I spent about a week in California observing and being a part of the first “sending” of about 30 students to four different countries around the globe.  It was a pretty incredible event to be a part of.  The students came in from different campuses and states, many not knowing each other.  They met a team of students who they may or may not have met before and by the end of a few days it was already obvious that they were bonding with their mission team.  They learned about the importance of loving God and their team, specifics about sharing the Gospel in the region they were entering, and had some hands on experience sharing the gospel at Cal State Fullerton where a student accepted Jesus!  

On the first night, a few of the students shared their stories of how they came to being on their specific project.  One student shared that he had been accepted only 3 weeks before and had been right in the middle of finals!  In just a couple of weeks, he had managed to overcome opposition from his family, raise $6000 of support, and board a plane to briefing 10 minutes before the doors closed!  I love hearing stories about the incredible things that God can do, and I am even more excited to hear the stories when the students return!

At the end of the briefing, the students were “commissioned” and each team was individually prayed for as they prepared to enter into another country for about 6 weeks to share the Gospel.  I was caught up by how amazing it was to see God provide THOUSANDS of dollars to send students all over the world.  I loved the willingness of the students to leave their own comfort zone to follow God’s call to bring Jesus to people who don’t know anything about Him.   I was blessed to be part of the team sending the students, even if only a small part.  And I was reminded that without a team of staff willingly following God’s call to prepare and send the students, they probably wouldn’t have the opportunity to go.

I have been blessed with a few extra weeks at home before heading back for my official 8-week project, but I am really excited to return to California.  I’m sooo looking forward to the next briefing, where we will be sending 63 students to five more countries!  I love being a part of the great commission, and though my involvement may be different than other people, it feels just as important.  What a blessing it will be to continue to send students and working in the Cru regional office helping with finances for the region!  

As I prepare to return to California, I am still working towards completing my own financial support for the summer.  I would greatly appreciate your prayers for the rest of my summer, and if you are able, your financial support.  You can read more about my project and give online at the link below!

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