International Student Track Reports
A Taiwanese Perspective
Nick Johnson
"Wonderful!
Hard to put it into words!" This was Christy's exclamation of her involvement
with the Urbana Convention on Monday right before the General Session was to begin
in Assembly Hall. Her response was characteristic of many students who came to
this year's Urbana Convention.
Christy hails from Taiwan, a country in Southeast Asia seeking autonomy from neighboring China. She is involved in the Global Christian Fellowship Chapter of InterVarsity at IPFW (Indiana/Purdue Fort Wayne). Christy was a student leader in the past, and remains very active in the group. She came to Urbana with her boyfriend, also a Taiwanese, who is currently working in New York City.
"God has been at every single meeting" Christy shared enthusiastically. Her staff worker (the author of this article), told her that once she got to Urbana, all the sacrifice and cost and efforts in recruiting would be realized. She understood completely! "I feel like He [God's] among us, especially in our small group" she shared. "He spoke to us this morning; we feel the Holy Spirit among us."
Christy is soaking in the entire Convention experience…Including the infamous bus rides around campus. Delegates use the Champaign/Urbana mass transit bus system to find their way around campus. "The bus reminds me of New York City traffic jams" Christy mused. "Only here its better because you can talk to others about [Urbana] and share the experience with them." Sharing happens, as around 90 students are expected to board each city bus to be transported from Assembly Hall to their dorms or around campus each afternoon.
Christy shared what was the experience of most delegates, "we're all trying to find the answers to God's guidance for our lives." Both Christy and Daniel, her boyfriend, are trying to see if God's will is what they've been thinking about already for their lives. They hope Urbana will be a clarifying time for them. God has been clarifying His call in students in Christy's small group study. Her leader, for example, is feeling confirmation about her call to medical missionary work. Another is thinking about going back to India to serve the Lord Christ there.
When asked if Christy thought God would continue to speak over the next three days that remain for the Convention, there was no hesitation: "Absolutely!"
Christy is trying to invest her time wisely. She's being selective on which seminar out of the over 300 available options she might attend each afternoon. She wants to go to a prayer workshop being offered…just to allow God to guide and direct her in listening prayer. That's something she can definitely do at Urbana!
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