We have returned from our summer-long sabbatical and have just begun our Cru ministry again this week.  We will share more about our sabbatical next month, but this month we wanted to pass along a story from one of the 90+ summer missions that you helped send out. Jessica Butlig is the oldest daughter of some of our dearest friends, and she went on a Cru High School trip to Fiji and New Zealand this summer. It was pretty epic! We’ll let her share some of the story in her own words.

“On July 1st I arrived in Suva, Fiji. My team and I then met the Cru Fijian Student-Life who helped us immensely during our time in Fiji. I was able to connect with many of them and learn so much about their culture. The schedule throughout my two weeks in Fiji consisted of visiting Gospel High School each day to lead classroom periods throughout the day while sharing the gospel. Our classroom schedule consisted of an introduction, a game, a gospel presentation, a testimony, and small groups where we had many spiritual conversations. I had the opportunity to share the gospel 20+ times in different class periods. The start of sharing the gospel was scary for me but the Lord gave me so much strength and courage that I was able to share with such confidence. My team helped me so much by encouraging me and giving me several tips to improve. Words can’t describe the feeling I felt in front of each class, there would be times I would forget what to say yet God would speak through me. I felt His peace so consistent as I shared and was able to add my style to the gospel presentation with human visuals and explaining more in-depth. My favorite part of sharing the gospel was leading the salvation prayer out loud and hearing voices repeat after me as students prayed to receive Christ right in front of me. It was an unreal and truly beautiful moment to experience.” 

Jessica sharing the gospel in a Fijian classroom.

Here are some statistics from our time on mission in Fiji:

· Spiritual Conversations: 563  · Group Evangelism: 2706

· Group Evangelism Decisions: 470  · Total number of Classrooms: 55

· Total number of schools visited: 7

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Praise & Prayer Requests!

• Praise God with us for the work He did this summer in and through Jessica and her team!  Also for the 90+ other trips that you helped to send out this summer!
• Praise God for a wonderful and necessary sabbatical for us and our family! We are excited to jump back into ministry this fall!
• Please pray for fruit in students’ live who went this summer, and for us as we reengage with our teams.
• Please pray for the selection of next summer’s mission trip team leaders, as that has already begun this month!