Field Reports: Going Back

posted by guest blogger, on August 24th, 2011
tagged in: Canada, Journeyman, Students

Taxis, like the ones forming a queue at a public transportation hub in Hong Kong, are a common mode of travel within East Asia.

Canadian volunteer returns to East Asia

by a summer worker from Canada

We exited the train station amidst a flood of people pushing their way towards the gate and out the other side. The sunlight hit us followed by the noise of voices, honking and shouting. “Do you need a ride, a map?” We headed for the taxi line.

I began to take it in. Ah yes, the store-front signs written in Asian characters instead of letters, the familiar golden arches of McDonalds, the smog, the traffic and the smell of the street.

I’m back. Back in a place I love.

One of my traveling companions asked me if I was scared now that we were really in East Asia, with our senses being assaulted and overwhelmed.

I paused for a moment and thought about it.

No. This is normal. This is East Asia.

It had been two years, eight months and 15 days since I had last been in the country.

I sometimes feel I have been on a roller coaster since I left. I spent two years in Asia as a Journeyman. At that time I studied the language, was invited into homes, made good friends and shared about God.

It was a life-changing experience complete with many firsts. First time on a train. First time sharing my testimony in a foreign language. First time sharing with someone who had never heard of Jesus. First time baptizing a new believer.

But then my time there was up and I knew that God was leading me elsewhere. There was more for me to learn, more people for me to meet and more ways God wanted me to grow before I would see East Asia again.

So I packed my bags and said goodbye. While I looked forward to what was next in my life, leaving was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

The year that followed my return was brutal. Reverse culture shock hit with full force. Relearning life in North America was a painful journey.

But God was at work through it all. I began seminary classes and started looking for a church. I could have disappeared into an Asian community here in Canada and try to convince myself I had never really left. But God had other ideas for my life. His plan was for me to get to know life and church in a Canadian, non-Asian context.

As God began to work in my life through school and church, I started to get involved in the College and Young Professionals group at the church. My involvement there led me to a university where I spent the last year as a chaplain investing in students on campus.

The heart God has been cultivating in me for university students led me back to East Asia.

The taxi line at the train station was just the beginning of an amazing five days in a city full of Asian university students. My team spent five days exploring a city of several million people that has over 70 universities. No known Christian workers are present in the city.

We visited 18 campuses during our stay and sought God’s heart and vision for the students of this city. We asked the Holy Spirit to make clear to us where God was already at work in the lives of students and which campuses were open to our presence.

When you ask the Lord of the harvest, He is always faithful to answer. We saw His faithfulness again and again as doors opened and closed before us. There were many opportunities to share. We saw some come to Christ. We all caught a glimpse of God’s kingdom and how it could grow and be strengthened in that place.

I will admit I was nervous about going back to East Asia. It was hard to leave the first time. Would it be hard to leave again even though it was a short trip? Would it be nothing like I remembered? What if it had changed, or I had changed? What if the combination of East Asia and me didn’t work anymore! What if God was up to something in my life that I wasn’t ready for?

Throughout all of my experience in both countries, God has been quietly burdening my heart for university students. Going back to East Asia helped me put the puzzle pieces of my life and call together.

He is allowing me to put the two together through future trips, taking Canadian students to share with students in East Asia.

God is constantly at work weaving our passions, gifts and calling as He moves us forward along the path we walk with Him. He has a purpose and place for each one of us. I look forward to what is next on this journey.

   Follow @eapeoples

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.