Although I was blessed to be born into a Christian family, I grew up never fully understanding what it meant to personally pursue God. Because of this, KCM served as the first of many new experiences. For someone who never imagined that I would join a campus ministry in college, UCSB KCM became a central part of my freshman year.

In fact, my warm welcome into the KCM community marked my introduction to the idea of companionship and accountability in my faith. With this, I became more and more curious about God, and I grew eager to understand what it meant to build a personal relationship with Him. Before I knew it, I found myself convicted of going on STSM, and as I reflect upon my time abroad, I would like to share three points of learning I received in Taiwan.

1. God meets me exactly where I am.

In the weeks leading up to our departure, I harbored certain doubts and shame regarding my faith that I fought to suppress. Yet by encountering Him so personally just one week before we left, I knew that God had brought me right to where I belong. In using my unique and specific circumstances, He pressed on my heart the most important truth of all–His great and unconditional love.

Growing up in the church, His merciful love was something I heard again and again. But it was not until this moment that I was able to grasp an understanding of the truly personal and redemptive nature of this love. For even through my imperfection, God continues to overflow my cup, and this is the redemptive grace that filled my heart and became the cornerstone of my STSM experience.

2. His work is greater than my understanding.

During our week of ministry at a missionary conference, I led a small group of eleven-year-old girls. However, I found myself inadvertently doubting their faith solely according to their young age. But in childhoods so different from my own, I was able to learn of the sacrificial lives they faced as missionaries’ kids, and as I listened to how these livelihoods shaped their faith, I stood in awe of their maturity and love for God.

This revealed to me that I had not only set the wrong expectations but that my little faith had limited my idea of God. Yet through this week, I found such joy in witnessing His work in the girls’ lives. His loving hand was laid so clearly upon the missionaries of Taiwan and their families, and I realized once again how prone I was to overlook the wonders and sovereignty of God. So rather than relying on my own understanding, I pray that I may first seek a humble heart that praises His great work being done around the world.

3. Community in Christ shares an abundance of love.

Although we ultimately went to serve the people of Taiwan, I was truly blessed to have received an abundance of love on the trip. Whether it was from my team, leaders, missionary contact Pastor Peter, members of the church we attended, or even strangers of faith we met during random evangelism, the support I received from others was truly overwhelming.

Where I had never truly experienced a Christ-centered community before college, these intentional relationships allowed my STSM experience to abound in the joy of fellowship. Coming back, this has renewed my understanding of the importance of accountability, and with it, I hope to continue supporting my college years by building strong relationships in the church.

As I look back upon my time in Taiwan, I am incredibly grateful to have been blessed by a month of joy–a joy where serving God each day made me realize the unique privilege and fulfillment of spreading His love. So despite the sins I continue to struggle with in my human flesh, my greatest hope and prayer is to pursue a missional life every day, sharing and reflecting His everlasting love.