Joy Venning: Pacific Internship 4

Wow, the days fly by - it's ridiculous! I can't believe I'm half way through week 4 already. I'm totally not ready to come home yet, and so thankful for every day to come. I'm valuing my time here more and more as each day goes past.

Wow, what a special opportunity to have this time in my life to be so intentional about seeking God and studying Scripture and sharing the Gospel. I love how we go right back to basics and I love how I'm challenged in so many ways about how the gospel should be impacting life.

Things we've done:

We spent a weekend in a village, serving (and being served by) the local Church members. It was an awesome time. We had a youth rally where we met lots of youth groups from the region, performed our Meka (Fijian Dance) and get to know them and hang out together. We painted a Church there, and spent time mingling in the village and in the community. We killed a pig (yes that is true) and ate it the next day! We also shared in the worship service that morning. It was just a wonderful time to be away in the slowness and quietness of the village community, spend time thinking and praying and talking.

We've also had a week of preparation for an EE clinic we are running next week in a big city, Latouka. I'm actually really excited about this opportunity. It's been fun to divide up the teaching responsibilities and watch everyone step up and work hard and teach well. We spent the whole day today practicing our teaching units in front of each other. I loved listening to my friends, giving feedback and getting excited about the opportunity ahead of us.

We also did OJT (On the Job Training) with a small village church yesterday. We took the trainees out to meet people in their village. After trekking across a river, up through a sugar cane field, and over a hill, my group finally arrived at the house we'd planned to visit, only to find no one home!! (Haha! So funny!) Instead, I saw a man in the house behind, so we went up and spoke to the Hindu lady who lived there. We had a wonderful time talking with her about what she believes and what she knew about Jesus. It's always a challenge with Hindus here because many of them 'worship' Jesus, but as one of their many many gods. Explaining saving faith in the context of transferring your trust to the One True God, becomes so important and we are trying to be so careful to explain that distinction carefully. I really love conversations we get to have on OJT - I could (should) do it all the time!!!!

Things I'm learning:

I've spent a lot of time over the last week thinking and praying about the claims the gospel makes on my life. As I'm thinking through how God has called me, as a Christian, to share the gospel, actively and intentionally, it makes me realise how it should be a number one priority in life. I say these things a lot, but that's not good enough! It has to be a reality in my life! God has called me to Himself, to produce fruit for Him, and aside from the strategy side of things, I mean, come on! - there are so many lost people, and we as Christians have this life on earth to share the good news with them. I only have one short life to live, and I need to invest it well - intentionally! Wow, big calls! It's hard to think about the implications this might have on life. I know that I've been slack about this in life, so I think the implications are massive!

There are so many things I delight in - but since being here, I've noticed a few things. I love sitting in conversation with someone, even a stranger, and sharing about Jesus with this contact. I love trying to understand them, and I love seeing them wrestling with the truth of the gospel. I actually love doing the walk up evangelism thing. It is hard, starting conversations, and trying to intentionally move the conversation, but I love it, and I get so excited as we share! It's great! I also love being in our team. I love the conversations we have, and the chances to sit together and read the Bible and pray together. I love hanging out talking, talking, talking - I could do it all day!! I love the community - I'm definitely sitting on top of the mountain (I don't really want to come down, but I know that I need to...come down off the mountain and get on with the mission!) I love the bread and pineapple! I love sitting in the Bora trying to think and pray. I love walking through the sugar cane field behind our centre. I love the routine - three meals a day, quiet times and study, training etc. I love our sneaky adventures. I love the way we drink instant coffee, and just get on with life. I love asking questions.