Hi friends! My name is Evangeline from W495. I am here to share of how God has given me faith to live out the calling that He has placed in my life.

I was saved at the age of 16, and during the time; I have received a vision for missions but as I was young, I did not know what to do and how to go about doing it. In Dec 2004, Tsunami hit various countries. I was touched by the video that showed the humanitarian works done by our church and I cried in the service, asking God why things happened and so many died and this left a deep impression in my heart.

2 weeks ago, my vision came to pass. I went for Morning Prayer meeting, praying for breakthroughs and for God to work in my life. For many days I had prayed and on Thurs of the week, Pastor Kenneth called me. He needed a nurse urgently for a mission at Sri Lanka and asked me whether I can join him for the mission trip which is on the 17^th of Jun.

This trip was unlike the normal mission trip. The whole team consisted of Pastor Kenneth, a CGL and another SOT student who was our translator and myself. I was the only medically trained personnel. The purpose of this trip was to visit refugees from the War Zones and to give out rations and medical support to them.

The whole journey was an unforgettable one. We were rushing in the night by 2 vans for about 8 hours, from Colombo to Batticaloa, and in the journey faced many army checkpoints. We arrived safely on Thurs and visited 1 Tsunami campsite, 6 refugees’ camps, to distribute free rations and medications. Our heart was deeply touched. Some lost their chance to pursue education due to the war. Some lost their property and possession and businesses to the war. Many of them smiled for the 1^st time since the tragedies.

I really want to thank God for this opportunity that was given to me. It was my first time travelling by plane to overseas on my own. You might be surprised, but I have never taken a plane before. As I stepped out of my comfort zone, I entered into a world of unknown. And as I went to the places that I can only see on news, I started to feel that even if I have no talents, what I can give them is a heart of compassion and a heart of willingness. At the last camp, I visited one of the make-shift houses.

And as I came out of the house, an old lady came to me, smiling at me with her toothless mouth and patting my back, I thought she was just saying ‘hi’ in her own way but she followed me and pat me a couple of times. I then realised, it was her way of saying ‘thank you’ to me. I was deeply touched and realised what a difference I have made.

In 1 Cor 13:1, Apostle Paul said, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” It is one thing to say it and it is another thing to show it. Through the journey, I discovered that many of them choose to put aside their comfort zone and came to Sri Lanka because they wanted to help the people. Beyond races, and skin colours, it is love that compelled me to make a difference.

I really want to thank Yi Lun for the opportunity that she has given to me and her faith in me make me believed that even if I am not very experienced, I can bring faith, hope and love to the people outside of the 4 walls of the church. I really want to challenge everyone here to step out of your comfort zone and live out your vision and dream like how I choose to live out mine!