New Year, New Semester, New Students

The potential is quite amazing as we meet the new incoming international students. So many are very curious about American culture and I have been astonished to learn that quite a few know that the Bible has influenced our way of life and are interested in understanding how it all fits together. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in and does his work with divine appointments. Monica Commick is a volunteer who helps organize area churches with events for the internationals that attend Thunderbird University. With her help, we were able to host a welcome party at a local church where about 45 new students arrived to share in a meal and fellowship. It was an opportunity for us to get to know their stories, find out why they are here and where they have come from and for us to share further opportunities for them to stay involved. There are English Bible studies for the wives of students. There are one on one studies. There are discussion groups. And we have a Thursday evening Bible study group. Even though three of the students have only been here one semester, they have agreed to be leaders and encourage others to come to this study while only one of them, Owen, is the only Christian. Please pray for Owen, Coco and Yu Shr as they reach out on campus.
     We met a new couple from Keelung, Taiwan, Peter and Bettina. Peter is a Christian already so we hope to provide help in encouraging Bettina to learn what Jesus has done for her. We have such a short time with these students, from one semester, one year or at the most two years. It is the most frustrating aspect of our current ministry. That is why your prayers are more important than ever. Planting seeds that grow quickly are not for us to control. We plant and water but it is God who makes it grow (I Cor. 3:6). We know that God wants all people to be saved. Pray we all can do our part in the time we have with those we divinely run into.