Happy new year 2021 to all of you! Before talking about the new year, I would like to share a reflection on our journey from 2020 to 2021.
Was 2020 really a bad year?
For the whole world, it was obviously a difficult year: health, political, social, economic and even technological crises. For students in Quebec, online courses were tedious. Many teachers, “startled” by the situation, had to improvise. I contributed to a course at Polytechnique. During the sessions, the anxiety was evident. With other teachers, we agreed that this anxiety could even be read, more than ever before, through the student reports. The students at GBUC were under the same type of anxiety. Yet, as a community, our understanding of this situation was far from negative. In fact, I think that we have grown in maturity, even more so than in previous years. Like Paul said, speaking from a prison, I would say as well : “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to…” us “…has actually served to advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12).
Yes, 2020 was difficult, but God also did something special. I would like to share with you the experience of a student at Polytechnique.
Murielle, student at Polytechnique
I wanted to do an internship for the summer of 2020. But, I had a particularly difficult semester before that and I was asking myself a lot of questions. I was wondering if I should continue the program; if I could find an internship. So I prayed my concern to God. I decided to stay and I prayed that He would give me an internship by His grace. The school often organized visits from companies. One day I decided to go to one of them. I spoke with a few employers. It was for me the first time, I was anxious. At the beginning of 2020, a company contacted me. I did an interview and received by the grace of God an offer for an internship as production supervisor.
Then COVID-19 happened… I was wondering if my internship was going to be maintained or cancelled. By the grace of God, the company kept my internship. I learned later on that it was the only internship that had been maintained in the factory. I was really grateful to the Lord. For four months, I was challenged by the expectations they had of me. I had to replace production supervisors on vacation. It was the first time they had opened this type of internship. Quite an experience! At first, I was scared when I realized all the work ahead. And, I heard comments from my colleagues: “You can’t learn in a few weeks what I’ve learned in 30 years”… “You’re going to sink your internship, we kept you the hardest tasks for the end”… “Poor you, it’s too difficult”… I rejected all these negative words in the name of Jesus. We prayed with my friends from the GBU and I continued to give my best. By the grace of God, the end of my internship went very well and my boss told me how proud he was of me. He acknowledged that the challenge was big, but was very happy with my work. He even looked for ways for me to stay after my internship.
By this testimony, I want to share that God is the one who directs our steps. It took me only one visit, one application to get my internship, when I thought I couldn’t find one. God is active even in times of crisis; His favor opens doors and preserves us. I had an internship in the midst of this crisis, even though many internships had been cancelled. We must never let ourselves be discouraged by the negative words of others. With God, we can do the impossible and His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. All we have to do is trust in Him and keep on working.
Be blessed
A faithful God in 2020
At GBUC UdeM/Polytechnique, I saw with a grateful heart the students during the past semester getting involved in the Bible studies, the times of prayer and getting organized to take care of people who might be isolated because of the confinement. I also took care of GBUC’s online communication and was pleasantly surprised. The students, through their involvement and testimonies, greatly enriched the content viewed by thousands of people, including their friends, in Quebec. If you have some time, check out the Facebook, Instagram or twitter pages of our organization.
Will 2021 change everything?
For those who expect that our journey from midnight to midnight and a second changed everything, I have good news and bad news. The bad news: no. it will not change everything in this world. Time passes as it always has. There will always be hard times and peaceful times. The good news: no, it doesn’t change the nature of our God. He is that God who renews His mercies to us every morning. He was able to surprise us in 2020 in spite of everything, and He will do it again, for the GBUC students and all His children. So we must continue the work and invest even more in serving our Lord. As a matter of facts, the more difficult the circumstances become, the more the need for the gospel will be evident; the greater our investment should then be. Let us therefore remain courageous!
Finally, pray with me…
Pray with me for the students:
- Many live alone during these times of curfews and restrictive measures in Quebec.
- Students at GBUC want to serve and share their faith on their campuses and need God to inspire them and make them creative in the face of such circumstances.
- The economic situation is deteriorating. May students have peace of mind about their professional future and especially think about it by giving priority to the One who can open all doors.
Pray for me personally because I need wisdom in this work. I would like to start a series of online videos: student testimonies on how they came to Christ and the daily impact of the Divine Word in these difficult times.
Thanks to all of you
I started my commitment to GBUC in 2020 and received support even before I asked for it. And when I asked for it, my family, friends, church, and the Church in general blessed me. For this, I am infinitely grateful and pray that everyone in 2021 may keep this image of our God who does not change, is faithful, powerful, full of grace towards us. Even the painful moments we are living or have lived will be used to make our lives bear wonderful fruit. He will bless you. Thank you with all my heart for supporting me or considering to do it again so that I can reach my goals (How to help?). A big THANK YOU to Murielle for her wonderful testimony and to our GOD who makes it all possible.