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True Stories From WEC Trekkers

Creating Opportunities

Cross-cultural workers have been active in Douarnenez, France, a while. Everyone knows who they are, so it's difficult for them to just approach anyone and share their faith. But because of my being there, opportunities presented themselves. For example, one time we approached a fortune-teller and started asking questions about what she believed. My being there opened the door. Because my major in college is psychology, the worker presented me as a tourist who wanted to know the difference between a parapsychologist and a psychologist. In the end, we were able to share the whole gospel with her, and she even came to church. 

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Something for Everyone

What's great about being on a team is that we were able to put together a whole VBS program, do some mimes, run a sports camp, remove one ton of cement rubble from a church and encourage one another along the way.

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Finding a Future

I went to South Asia asking God to confirm the future direction for my life. I stayed with some people who needed to develop a manual on local religions—something they could give to new personnel. So, we went to almost all the local ashrams (religious centers) where we interviewed the Gurus, asking them their specific beliefs. Then we compiled all the information into a manual. It was a lot of hard work and long hours, but without our time and effort the research never would have been done. God confirmed to me that I'm to go into the area of Christian research to further the spread of the Gospel. 

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Shifting Gears

During my short-term in Spain I felt God challenging me to lay down my career goals: a doctorate, a wife, 2.5 kids, 2 cars, nice job, status quo. Finally, I said to God, "Whatever YOU want for me, I'll accept with joy!" While I was there, a WEC worker died. At the funeral, the Lord spoke in a mighty way to me. As I watched the field leader cry and weep over the draped casket, I heard God say, "Who shall I send? And who will go for us?" And it was there that I realized that God wanted me to go into full-time cross-cultural work.

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So Simple Yet So Incredible

I have found a new strength emerging during and since my trip to Ghana: and that is being able to see value in all people, of all colors and socio-economic backgrounds. This seems so simple, yet it has changed me in a large way. I now see that God is Lord of all the earth…not just North America. It’s so simple, yet so incredible to really discover about the power of our Lord.

My view of sharing my faith cross-culturally changed mostly by learning that God can use anyone, of any background, profession or culture. You don't have to be directly involved in church planting—there are so many jobs and roles that need to be filled to keep things running smoothly. I learned that there is not a stereotypical cross-cultural worker.

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Kudos

You have a great program set up for us Trekkers. From your first phone call to me, to the orientation package you sent me, to the debrief, everything has been organized and well thought out. It was comforting to my family to see that you know how this type of thing works, and you were planning/preparing for everything. The week of orientation really helped me to get focused on God, not my exciting journey. It was so nice that in just one week you got us thinking about team work, cultural problems, expectations, language troubles, what not to eat, etc. When I got to the field, my hosts said they were impressed by how well you had worked out the details of my finances, etc., right down to $5 to tip the shuttle driver on the way home.

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Touching a life…

The one thing that impacted my life the most was meeting a young Mexican believer who had a heart and hunger for God. I truly feel that he was the reason God sent me down to Mexico. The whole time I was there this man was on my heart, and I always wanted to encourage and pray for him.

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He's all we need…

The most important lessons I learned overseas were these: God is the only person we need; He's the best listener, forgiver, provider and friend. If you work for the appreciation of men, you'll get crushed when men fail you. If nothing else, my short term made me turn to God when I was up and when I was down—and He was there for both. He taught me that instead of blaming someone for problems between us, I can see Him in the situation, making and forming me more to His design.

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My Relationship Challenged

The Lord's purpose in bringing me to Venezuela was to open my eyes to cross-cultural ministry. I didn't think too much about (or at least not accurately) all that was involved. Now I understand better. Also, I think the main purpose was for me to realize that I need to be more serious about my relationship with God and to seek to really know Him as my God.

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More in love with Jesus

My walk with the Lord has grown tremendously. Although it is humbling to confess, the fact ALL people need a Savior was not a burden on my heart before I left. It was more or less head knowledge. I was aware of this before I left for Venezuela. I prayed I would change, and I was confident I would. God, full of mercy, did change my heart. I remember prayer walking down the street in Santa Ana and feeling completely frustrated because I didn't feel in my heart what I was praying, so I started praying about my own life. It was on that street that God began to break me. I began to see things through his eyes. I understood with my heart that Jesus is the only way. As a result I would say that when I came home I was definitely more in love with Jesus than when I left.

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