Getting on Campus and Mapping Out Ministry  

Posted by Jeff ("Jefe") Oleson


We found out that same night that we were getting split up into two teams of 5 to each take on two campuses. One team is going to Evangelica and Matias Delgado Universities, and that includes Brandon, Trevor, Bean, Lauren and Brenna. The other team is going to Technologica (UTEC) and Francisco Gavidia (UFG) campuses and that team includes Kristen, Jenna, Marijke, Joe and me. The former two schools are made up of full time students who go to class the normal 9 to 6 on average. They are typically wealthier, younger, more likely to speak English and have cars. The latter two campuses have students who typically are working while going to school, thus going to class only in the morning or evening. They are typically more middle-class,  older, don't have cars, and speak less English. And that just is what it is.


We were kinda bummed to find out we'd be splitting up. Then our team of 5 was kinda shell-shocked when we heard we would not be on the Evangelica and Matias campuses like we originally thought,  because it meant ministry was going to be significantly different for us. But we've quickly accustomed to the new plan and are excited about what God wants to do with us on our two campuses. 

We as the UTEC/UFG team have had the pleasure of going on both campuses and meeting some student leaders, participating in a Bible study with them and learning how the ministries on both campuses are operating right now. On UTEC, we'll be using an English club to meet students and test their interest in the gospel or in being discipled. We're excited about this already clear opportunity to outreach, AND speak English. Yes! We just went to a leaders' meeting last night at a student's apartment and learned about the Renuevo (discipleship) and seekers' groups that are meeting every week, and which ones we will be attending to help lead. The way the Renuevo groups work is that one week they will focus on growth and the next, doing evangelism. We loved the energy and (appropriate) playfulness of the student leaders, though they were all older than us. The meeting ended with a birthday celebration for one of the students, David, during which he face planted into his cake. We had to be patient during the meeting as everything was being translated (by David), but it was a lot of fun, and pumped us up. 




 

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at Saturday, September 06, 2008 . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

2 comments

Hey Jeff! Thanks for the updates and the picture - so good to see all your faces! Praying for God will to be done in each and every situation! Check out my blog when you get a chance. . .I'm about to update it with a very "Berkeley" experience. :) Adios!

September 7, 2008 at 7:52 PM

hola jeff! i found your blog! wasn't that hard... i'm so encouraged to read what is going on with you there. you know that our team went to uees/umd, so i don't really know the campuses your on now... but i know that God will be moving down there and you'll get to experience it firsthand. work hard, and don't get used to your posh life with a maid! jk, i love you man, i'll be praying for you. adios!

September 11, 2008 at 12:18 PM

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