Six TWU students are getting ready to travel on May 3-28 to Surabaya, Indonesia. Their purpose is to build relationships with teens through the Youth Development Program (YDP), part of the International Christian Assembly network of international churches.
They will focus on helping at-risk teens from communities experiencing poverty—supporting teens through education, mentorship, and leadership training.
Building relationships with the youth and leaders of YDP in Indonesia began three years ago.
In 2020-2022, TWU students and YDP participated in an online Friendship Club program to build relationships online over the spring semesters. As both groups moved to in-person activities, the online club retired, but it was replaced with plans for TWU students to visit and help with the YDP summer youth camp, which over two hundred students will attend.
Carrying friendships forward
Students who were part of the online Friendship Club with YDP are looking forward to meeting the people they’ve been connecting with over the last two years.
Nursing major Christabel Kartiyanta is a member of the team. As a student leader who helped coordinate the online Friendship Club over the past years, she is now journeying to meet her Indonesian peers in person.
“I thought it was such a fitting idea to carry that friendship forward with the staff and participants, making more of a connection in-person rather than just online.” Moreover, this trip will be Christabel’s first ministry trip, and she is looking forward to the journey, “I am excited to see what I can learn as well as how I can serve God through this experience.”
“I am excited to see how God is working in the community, from the smallest to biggest scale. I am excited to learn more about others, myself, and God, and how He is using all of us to further His purpose and demonstrate His love.”
Openness to learn
In Indonesia, Christabel plans to be open and receptive, and ready to learn, “I am looking forward to simply being in the moment, taking every connection and experience with open arms.”
“I am excited to see how God is working in the community, from the smallest to biggest scale. I am excited to learn more about others, myself, and God, and how He is using all of us to further His purpose and demonstrate His love.”
Students participating on this trip to Indonesia have been preparing for several months. Last December, the team met for the first time to kick off a series of training sessions. Since January of this year, the team have been gathering for bi-weekly training sessions as they prepare for their departure in May.
The students have also shared with others on campus about their upcoming trip, through speaking at the Sunday Night Alive worship service and inviting others to support their work.
One prayer request Christabel and her teammates would like to bring forward for those willing to support them in prayer is for peace and courage, “that even amidst the nerves, there will be a sense of peace and excitement as all of us in the team venture outside of our comfort zone.”
Members of the Global Outreach Indonesia team include students from many disciplines: Olivia Corps (International Studies), Christabel Kartiyanta (Nursing), Joyce Leung (Education), Kylah Macleod (Education), Zoe Russell (Psychology and Music), and Neftali Tuyub (Nursing).
Prayer points for Global Outreach service-learning teams
Preparation
Pray as teams train: for humility; in completing the When Helping Hurts curriculum, a Biblical and development framework for missions work; developing a heart for prayer; and learning to fellowship.
Host Communities
Pray that the students and host communities will form a mutual relationship, learning and receiving from one another.
Protection
Pray that the teams can carry the gospel of Jesus Christ through relationship building, word, and deeds.
God's glorification
Pray that God's name be glorified in pre-trip training, in-country ministry, and post-trip debriefs.
Ways to support students on Global Outreach service-learning trips
To support financially, donations can be made through TWU’s online donation page. (Select "student missions trips.")
The Global Outreach teams also provide updates on their Instagram account @globaloutreach.twu.
See also: TWU Global Outreach service-learning trip to Fort Babine
About TWU Global Outreach
Every summer, Global Outreach, part of TWU's Global Engagement Office, sends teams of students to participate in cross-cultural community development and missions projects. Learn more at TWU Global Outreach.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four locations in Canada: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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