Our Digital Strategies team have just sent through a report on an online campaign Cru Fiji was a part of in the month of July.
We were glad we could be a part of it and blessed by so many stories from around the world of discipleship. One of the stories we really enjoyed was of Josiah. Josiah grew up in the Amazon completely convinced that he was luckiest kid on Earth, but when tragedy struck at the age of 13, God revealed to him a much greater identity.
“Someday I’m going to be gone… but who am I going to leave? I want to leave a generation of disciples who will make disciples better than I did” Josiah Huber.
A few weeks before our wedding, Judith invited me to a Scripture Union camp for kids. It was to be her last camp before moving over to campus ministry. We had an awesome time with the kids. I’ve found that one of the joys of living and working in a small place like Port Vila is the opportunity to work with and alongside other ministries. It’s a blessing to rub shoulders with people serving under different umbrella organisations; Scripture Union, Youth with a Mission (YWAM), Christian fellowship, Bible translators and other missionaries. During my short time there God has reminded me of how he uses us all in different ways but with the same objective, to help fulfill the Great Commission – to make disciples of all nations. I can honestly say that one of the highlights for me was simply “guys’ fellowship”; where we’d meet on a Tuesday night, read a passage of scripture and just break-off into talking about the “big questions” in life… in BISLAMA! [laughs] God is so good. I feel that God has been teaching me to be more practical with my faith and not to limit ministry to students on university campuses but to be open to opportunities that present themselves everyday. Not by going out on the streets and giving out tracts but by learning to love people more and being sensitive to their circumstances. More than that; offering to lend a hand.
I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited to share such exciting news. Judith and I [finally] got married on Saturday 21st May at Joy Memorial Chapel in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Thank you for your continued prayers and support, the day was truly one that we will never forget and one of many fond memories.
Church was packed to the rafters and it was such a joy to see a large contingent from Fiji fly over to be part of the celebration. I was especially happy that my older brother was able to come in all the way from Afghanistan. What a pleasant surprise!
I don’t think we can really begin to express how overwhelmed at how smoothly everything progressed; only that God is faithful and that he was with us every step of the way.
What a great blessing it is to work with these guys from Korean. I am so encouraged by their heart for missions and their vision to make multiplying disciples here in the Pacific. Jonathan, Paul and Sejin share a bit about their expectations here in Vanuatu. We’re excited to see God move!
What an adventure it has been. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I am so excited for what God has in store for us this year. I am finally done with new staff training and have committed to continue serving full-time as a staff of Campus Crusade for Christ here in Fiji and the Pacific (or wherever God leads).
During our time of evaluation last year we were able to revisit our vision for the ministry and look at some of the results of God’s work through us on campus. Thank you for helping make this possible. Below I have also included our goals for 2016.
FIJI CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST VISION
“Fiji is trusting the Lord to be the hub for spiritual movements in the Pacific; having over a hundred full-time, fully-funded staff in 10 different locations in the Pacific by the year 2020.”
upcoming events and prayer points
JUDITH IN FIJI FOR SHORT TRAINING
We really saw God move in amazing way. At the beginning of the year we were unsure whether she’d be able to make it over but we praise God for friends that offered to pay for her ticket. It’s so great to have her here. She’s enjoying her time of learning and practice. Here’s a short extract from what she wrote in her most recent update.
“A call made 3 years ago has finally transpired. As I transition into campus ministry I anticipate what God has in store for me. I am excited for the lives that will be affected along the way by His great love and grace. This past month has seen the beginning of my new venture with Campus Crusade for Christ. Firstly through a Discipleship Ministry Partner Development training (DMPD); sharing with family and friends and friends of friends the opportunity of investing in this ministry…”
Judith with her support coach Sera
Judith, (my lovely fiancée) is currently still with Scripture Union Vanuatu but will be joining Campus Crusade in June.
ORIENTATION WEEK AT USP
We currently have teams of staff and students this week at USP engaging with new students. Yesterday alone I was told that they were able to get about 700 students to fill out survey forms. Please pray that students will be available to meet up next week as we begin following up with them.
VANUATU STINT
This month I’ll be accompanying a team of three Koreans to Vanuatu, helping with the campus ministry there. We have a growing movement on Emalus campus and over the years we’ve been able meet with many students during our mission projects. However, the students have never had any staff on the ground to help in discipleship. I’m excited for the challenge! This will also be a great opportunity to be with Judith as we prepare for our upcoming wedding in May. I leave with the Koreans on the 21st of February and will be in Vanuatu till the end of June. Please be praying that we’ll be able to find a suitable accommodation close to USP.
MAY WEDDING
Please pray for Judith and I (and our respective families) as we prepare for our wedding day on the 21st of May. Pray that everything would just come into place accordingly and that we won’t be anxious about it. Lastly, pray for God’s provision. We are already beginning to see Him move and use people to bless us.
I remember it vividly. It’s 2007, I’m fresh out of high school in my second semester of uni. I sit with my friend Savenaca (Save) in the common-room of 6c. We’ve just finished having noodles for lunch and are telling aimless stories while sharing a cigarette. This man enters the building. He spots us and as if to proclaim that he had found what he was looking for. Walks up the stairs with the biggest smile on his face. I recognize him. This is the guy that holds bible studies on campus. I’ve seen him a few times in those small groups. I think he’s some sort of missionary. Yeah, something like that.
We greet each other. He introduces himself… Caleb. I introduce Savenaca and myself. Knowing who this man is, Save subtly puts out our cigarette out of respect. He is very soft spoken and proceeds to ask us about what we’re studying and if we share this dormitory. Save and I laugh, we’re both a bit ashamed to share that we only come here so that no one can see us smoking. But we tell him that we’re only visiting our friend Posky. He laughs with us. He’s seated now and has the biggest smile. Save and I don’t realize that he has used that light moment to pull out these small blue booklets.
When I stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ
And He shows me His plan for me,
The plan of my life as it might have been,
Had He had His way; and I see
How I blocked Him here, and I checked Him there
And I would not yield my will,
Will there be grief in my Saviour’s eyes,
Grief though He loves me still?
He would have me rich, and I stand here poor,
Stripped of all but His grace,
While memory runs like a hunted thing
Down the paths I cannot retrace.
Then my desolate heart will well nigh break
With tears that I cannot shed;
I shall cover my face with my empty hands;
I shall bow my uncrowned head.
Lord of the years that are left to me,
I give them to Thy hand;
Take me and break me, mold me to
The pattern Thou hast planned.
This hill, though high, I covet to ascend;
The difficulty will not me offend,
For I perceive the way to life lies here:
Come, pluck up, heart, let’s neither faint nor fear!
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.
-John Bunyan
I read this gem on my friend, Rob Weyreter’s bedroom wall.
aelannius.blog 