You are never too young to make an impact in the nations! JM dela Cruz, a Broadcast Communication senior from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, is passionate about making disciples not just in his campus, but the nations of the world. Check out his story here.
Going on a Ten Days trip was a milestone for me. Not only was it my first time to go out of the country; it was an encounter that did indeed change my life!
When Victory Pioneer issued a call for Ten Days volunteers, I immediately signed up to participate. At the time, I was already actively discipling students, but somehow I knew that God wasn’t limiting me to making disciples in my home country. I knew I was called for something more.
It took our team five months of preparation to raise support. Personally, I was challenged because I needed to prioritize schoolwork so I could graduate on time; I truly learned to manage my time well in this season.
Soon after our arrival in the city to which we were assigned, we began to interact with students in nearby campuses. We engaged them further by inviting them to a free Basic Leadership Workshop, where I had the honor and privilege to teach in one of the sessions. We also got to encourage the students to be excellent in their studies. Despite the initial language barrier, our team was able to connect with them effectively. We’re really amazed at how the locals were quickly responding to our invitations, both for the Workshop and the hangouts.
During the trip, I was able to engage Vic*, a student from an aviation school. We’ve only met twice during our ten-day stay, but we were able to immediately establish trust and friendship with each other. We also exchanged gifts before our team went back to the Philippines. I gave him my favorite shirt, and he gave me his favorite cap, polo shirt, and badge. When I asked him why he was giving me these gifts, he replied that he found not only a friend, but a brother in me. I am in awe of what God is doing in this nation, and I am just excited to see more people like him build a relationship with Christ, and be able to preach the gospel to his family as well.
I’d liken a Ten Days trip to a trip out of your comfort zone! Admit it—it’s not easy to go out of what you’re accustomed to! The journey in itself isn’t just a physical one. God challenged me to step out in faith and obey Him with all my heart. I learned that I should not look down on myself, because God has a great purpose and plan for me. This trip also enabled me to discover new opportunities and skills I didn’t think I had.
Now that I’m back in my home country, I’m ready to share what God has done in and through our team through my Ten Days experience. I want more people to be part of what God’s doing in the nations; I’m more than ready to go on my next Ten Days trip!
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.