April Newsletter

Next Year
            “I’m tired of not knowing what I am doing next year,” I shared with the team in a fellowship meeting. “It’s like I have to feel both the excitement and sadness of possibly STINTing and the excitement and sadness of possibly not. It’s exhausting.”
            God had consistently met me as I waited. He reminded me that He championed my cause. Whatever decision CRU made about my application for an exception to STINT a third year (internships can only last two years), it would be God’s best for me and not a person’s random decision. I had been encouraged by God, but it was still hard to wait. I emailed Cayla, who coordinated my application, asking where they were in the process. She replied that the procedure was challenging and changes had to be made to my application, but I might have an answer in a week.
            I finally hit a point where it seemed God asked me to start hoping about Japan. I felt like I should look forward even though it risked disappointment if I could not go. Again God grew my heart for Japan: its people and culture.
            At the end of the week I got an email from Cayla. Before reading it I knew it was good news just by the number of exclamation marks; she said, “SARAH!!!!!! WE GOT IT!!!!! After the battle of our lives, we got you approved for a third stint!!!!!! Wohoooooo!!!!!  And, we would love for you to lead the Tokyo stint team with Albert, officially!!”
            So next year I will go to Tokyo and lead a STINT team that will include six people from this year’s team (Amanda, Christine, Amy, Albert, Kylan, and me) along with three or four new people.
            Next letter I will include some great stories from the end of this year, but on the back of this letter you can read some things students said this month. Their words encouraged all of us here, and I hope you feel their thankfulness as well. Thank you for the prayer and financial support that is changing Hawaii.

                                    -Sarah

Prayer Needs:
            Pray for us and students as we say goodbye. We’re viewing goodbyes as an opportunity to share the gospel with everyone we leave.
            Praise the Lord that our visit to the CRU movement on Oahu resulted in a strengthening of ties between the islands. We participated in a fundraising dinner raising over $30,000 for continued ministry in Honolulu and Hilo.
            June 2-6 we go to Maui to debrief the year and say goodbye to the team. Pray that God blesses our time together.
            Finally, praise the Lord that He has brought everyone on my team to consider or commit to another year of full time ministry.