Masland Library Blog

Did you know that it’s almost PBU’s Global Mission Week? Ever since I was a little kid I loved hearing missionaries speak about their various missions and what it is like to serve God in that particular field. I always found it so exciting to hear all the different stories from the Amazon, Africa, China, urban cities, and the rest of the country and world. There are so many great people who have given their lives to serve God in all of these fields and they have such interesting stories about how God called them and how he is using them. Reading their stories can be such a great reminder and encouragement that God uses us just as we are to do great things for his wonderful purposes.

Recently I just returned on the PBU trip to Kenya over JTerm. What a great experience! It was my first time in Africa and it was nothing like I expected it to be. Funny how God always blows our expectations out of the water, right? It shows just how powerful he is! Have you ever considered taking a mission trip? Maybe it’s something that God is calling you to step out in faith and obedience to do. Need some encouragement? Come to the library and check out our great resources on this topic! There is a small section set up on the magazine stand and more in the stacks in the BV section. Prepare your heart to be challenged this Global Missions Week!

~Christa Joy Ciotta

We had a mission’s week, and I think many students heard His calling to the mission field. Some may go for a short-term mission, and some may go for a long-time.

I’ve been here for almost 3 years since I came from Japan in 2007. So, I can say that traveling overseas and living in a foreign country are totally different things! I had traveled the US more than 10 times before, but once I started living here…I was shocked by so many things. I felt myself as a little girl and so many times I thought “why did I come here? Why did God send me to the US?”

I still think that Japan and the US have many commonalities like the way of living, but I also experienced many differences (yes, it is called “culture shock”)…and of course, language barrier is very big (still for me, so many struggles…). Therefore, I really recommend you to read good books before going to your mission field! The Library has many books which were written by the missionaries who served Christ and the people in foreign countries. These testimonies are so powerful that you can prepare for your mission. I read some of them, written by the missionaries who were working in Japan, and their insights were really interesting. “Hyakubun-wa-ikkenni-shikazu” …this is a Japanese proverb which means “Seeing it gives you stronger impact than hearing it 100 times.” (Maybe “Seeing is Believing” is similar proverb in English.) But, still to know from the books and the testimonies helps you a lot. Plus, I recommend you to have some good books with you when you go to your mission field; especially if you go to non-English speaking country…you should have any books written in English! These must comfort you a lot.

Someone told me that people will be depressed and homesick 3 days, 3weeks, and 3 months after moving to a foreign country. I don’t know why, but these really happened to me! 3 years after…I haven’t experienced yet…but, hope I will be alright then.

CI