International Student Track Reports
"I'm so excited to meet other Chinese Christians"
Anne Mallekoote
"I'm so excited to meet other Chinese Christians and learn
about the organizations and work of God in China." This was Lorraine's answer
to the question of why she came to the International Student Track of Urbana.
Lorraine is from China and has been a Christian for about 2 years. This is her
first time participating in a mission conference. She has never before worshipped
God in a setting with so many Christians.
Sitting in the hospitality lounge of Townsend Hall, center for the International Student Track (IST), Lorraine commented on the comfortable surroundings. There were tables of lively conversations between strangers of different nationalities who were becoming friends. Cups of tea, games of cards, and noodles were the common bonds among a mix of ages, ethnicities, and cultures of people who had gathered together to worship God and learn about God's purposes in the world.
Lorraine found out about Urbana through one of her professors at Calvin Seminary and was encouraged by her InterVarsity staff worker to attend. She was encouraged to see God meet her financial needs through scholarships and is excited to see what God is going to do through this conference.
She's looking forward to Christian community, people from different nations worshipping together and finding out about mission opportunities. She was told there would be people from all over the world, especially China. She knows there are many mission agencies working in China that people don't really know about. Many of the people doing this work have come to Urbana and Lorraine hopes to learn more about programs and organizations ministering in China.
Lorraine signed up specifically for the international student track because she thought it would provide a better chance to meet with other Chinese students and learn about other parts of the world - not just America. She's observed that many of the people from all over the world want to go back to their home countries and says it would be nice to learn about what's going on in those places.
Personally, Lorraine's trying to figure out where God's leading her. She will soon finish her masters in education and as a member of the communist party of China, she will be faced with many challenging decisions as she applies for positions in a Chinese University and seeks to use her training in education to serve the Chinese church.
Lorraine is at Urbana hopeful about the things God will teach her and excited to be a part of such a great multitude of God's people.
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