“The theme this summer truly was, “My weakness, His strength” as our students faced incredible heat, heartual, physical, and mental challenges, and saw Him provide in ways that often took their breath away.

We could not be more proud of the way each student stepped out of their comfort zones and entrusted their days to Him. They have impacted our lives and our little part of the world in ways we won’t fully know until eternity!”

“These months have brought about many of the purposes intended—to be immersed in different unreached people groups, to identify some challenges that can occur, and to gain confidence that those challenges can be overcome. My eyes have been opened more than ever before to the reality that there are still so many who have yet to hear the gospel. It has only increased my desire to be used by God in whatever way He sees fit.”

“The base city is a bustling area. Many of these people immigrated over or fled persecution and are refugees seeking a new life in Europe. The long-term staff here have gotten involved in community and refugee centers in their neighborhood in order to encourage and engage with hurting and searching people. From a spiritual perspective, it is a very dark and lost area, but with so much potential! Diaspora ministry offers a unique opportunity to influence and share the gospel with peoples from all over the world. These people are outside their homelands, away from persecution and pain, which opens them up to spiritual conversations as they seek something new, a new hope to hold onto. It was beautiful to see the staff and students engage with the people and culture in their neighborhood.”

“Before Cafe 1040, I knew God had called me to do full-time overseas work, but I was scared. Was I really cutout for the job? Now being in North Africa, I am becoming more and more confident in the gifts God has given me and the ways He is going to use these gifts for His name’s sake. Life in North Africa has been sweet and living life constantly out of my comfort zone has allowed me to experience the faithfulness of our Father and the grace He delights to show us. I can now say without a shadow of a doubt that I am called to the 1040 Window.”

“Never before have I so desperately seen my need for the Father, and the need for others to know him. In the States, it is incredibly easy to be complacent in sharing the Gospel, dozing off to the enemy’s lullaby that shows up in the form of distraction and comfort. Here, all of that is stripped away. We are left with an ugly heaviness that keeps us up til the wee hours of the morning praying to the Father with cries for revival. It breaks my heart that to think that when we say goodbye to our local friends at the end of the summer, it might be the last time we see them on this side of eternity. [I will continue to pray for others to] act offensively against this darkness!”

“I stood in that circle, to the left of a metro entrance, and something happened deep in my heart—in my very soul. I decided that what we were doing was the singular, best thing to do in this life. It was the most amazing and purposeful job that ever existed…
And I was all in.
In that moment, the Father lit a burning fire in my soul; I felt a commitment to the Great Commission beyond what I had ever felt before. TobyMac’s song “Til the Day I Die” came to mind, and never before had I felt every lyric with every fiber of my being.
My life trajectory changed in that moment. I concretely decided that the main goal and thrust of the rest of my life, no matter where I go or what I do, will always be joining the Father in spreading His glory by sharing the Gospel.”

“There in the middle of the desert, I listened to His silent voice. He assured my heart that He’s heard my pleas. He brought to mind all the faces & names that I’ve met here that used to only be statistics to me. He reminded me where my heart was prior to my arrival here & where it rests now. He confirmed that I cannot claim ignorance to the vast need in order for His Name to be spread across the globe & that I have a part to play in that. He showed me how big He was in that wide-open sky. He wowed me with His humbling ability to hold all things together.”

“One practical way that I am I feel that I am changing is my perspective of calling to the mission field. I have lived my life willing to go to the mission field if I felt like that would be best with my strengths, or in other words if I felt called. Although the missionary lifestyle does not seem that easy or even enjoyable, my perspective is switching. When I think of the need for the Gospel where I am at and then think [of the statistics of] less than 12,000 missionaries who are trying to reach the 3 billion unreached; I am burdened with the understanding that I must go unless I am confident I must stay. In other words I have always thought I will go if I am confident I should now I know I must go to the work field unless I am confident I should stay.”

“It’s hard to summarize all the things I learned at Cafe1040. Rather than becoming immobilized by culture stress, unfamiliar customs, or adventure, I’ve felt freed to share Jesus in all sorts of contexts. Cafe1040 taught me what living on a team means. I’ve avoided unhealthy teams and managed conflict in healthy ways on the teams I’ve joined. I would encourage all young adults thinking about missions to consider Cafe1040. The experience-rich training set me on a journey to the field with a strong sense of calling, courage, and vision.”

“I have been able to learn so much from my mentors. They have helped me to understand the cost and blessing of life overseas in a deeper way. I am learning so much through this program, whether it’s practical life tips, skills to apply to learning the Gospel and sharing it with others, even how I can function well on a team, and what questions or values to consider when joining a missionary organization.

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