Spring Internship Update by Jon Chung

I’m about halfway through my CLDI internship. I’ve spent most of my time with Youth Works building relationships with students. Besides the youth, it has been a great joy to meet and develop relationships with neighbors and community members. The stories I’ve heard are both heart-wrenching and encouraging, painful and full of hope. In November, we had the pleasure of hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for a couple of the single mothers we know. Vera* is a grandmother raising seven kids by herself. She and five of the kids were in attendance, and after digging into the main course, a few of us stood up to share about our role with CLDI. I shared how I had been wrapped up in addiction, but God delivered me and eventually led me to where I am now. Later, Vera found me and said she had a very similar story. We then spent the rest of the evening swapping expanded testimonies. In one evening, God reinforced that it’s His grace that ties us all together. Vera and her boys are perpetually on my heart. I cannot imagine being in
her position, but I am grateful for the opportunity to help temporarily lighten her load and to disciple a couple of her boys. Just this one interaction has affirmed my role with Youth Works. This is exactly what God has called me to in this season of life.