This week, we've been considering two questions that we use to evaluate our ministry activites at CTI.  We looked first at the question: Are we really helping our partners around the world reach young people  with the Gospel?

The second question that we ask ourselves in order to make sure our ministry actions are moving us towards fulfilling our vision is this:  Is what we are doing (or considering) actually contributing to the development of Christian leadership and character in our participants?

Like the first question, this one is often answered most objectively when someone who has been impacted by one of our programs chooses to share about it in their own words.  We recently received such a note from an alum of last year's fulltime program.  We share it with you here as a way to glorify our great God, who is making Himself known to those who are seeking Him through this experience:

My Dearest CTIers,

Blessings!!

I know I left you just a little over a week ago, but God has been teaching me and confirming so much just within these past couple days, so I sensed the urgency to update you again before I head back [home] to Taiwan tomorrow.

I was having a very difficulty time leaving CTI. I was really angry at God for taking me away from this CTI community that I am so in love with. I wanted to stay, and I was complaining to God for not showing me the next step. For the past 2 weeks, I was struggling with God and what He has for me.

Even when I refused to listen to God, He never gave up on me. He sent at least 7 people to meet with me since I arrived in Houston, and while I got to share with each one of them individually about CTI and Taiwan, God gradually opened my eyes and my heart to see that I was being very selfish. I forgot that God gave me this passion for Taiwan, I forgot that during my time with CTI, God confirmed and called me back to Taiwan. Since I was so comfortable and safe in the CTI community, I put God's calling aside and started to plan things my way. However, I was torn between the will of GOD and the will of ME.

Long story short, I got a chance to visit Dallas this past Wednesday, and while driving 5 hours without ipod or any CD, my only option was the radio. As I was tuning the radio, God spoke to me through a random sermon on Abraham and Sarah. The sermon was about Genesis 15-18. The pastor talked about how God promised Abraham that he will have a son. But instead of trusting God, Sarah and Abraham decided to do things their own way. God asked Abraham to WAIT, and He will give Abraham a son. But both Sarah and Abraham relied on their human wisdom, which caused God's promise to delay for about 13 years.

I was doubting that God really has something more for me. I really thought that CTI was it. I wanted to plan something "better." God woke me up that morning while I was driving, and He again reaffirmed me that, "No, I don't really know what's ahead for me in Taiwan, but Genesis 18:14 says, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Even after that sermon in the car, God continued to speak to me through several events: a VBS prayer on "being patient and wait upon the Lord," a daily devotion note card on "God is in control," and on my way back from Dallas today, the radio had another sermon with a different pastor speaking about the EXACT Genesis passage that I heard on Wednesday, on "Trusting the Lord."

I think it's pretty obvious that God wants me to WAIT and TRUST HIM. I have no plan at all and have no idea what's going to happen in Taiwan, but now I have tremendous PEACE knowing that my God is in control, and He wants to take care of me.

Thank you, each one of you for an amazing year. You are a blessing to me, and each one of you had taught me a lesson or impacted my life in a great way. God used you to keep me going. I will keep you posted once I am in Taiwan, I know God will work and provide accordingly.

THANK YOU. Really. THANK YOU.

Blessings and much Love,

Kylie

We praise God for revealing His faithfulness to us through team members like Kylie.  Be encouraged that the CTI community really is providing opportunities through which God is developing Christian leadership and character!