Friday, December 3, 2010

Mid November

In mid-November we traveled to our second annual N.E. Regional Directors meeting. In Broadalbin, New York we met and enjoyed one anothers company in a beautiful retreat setting. It is a good time of sharpening and sharing, punctuated with prayer and worship. We are blessed as God is forging our relationships and honing our ministry skills. God further blessed us by miraculously healing two of our company.
After our meeting we traveled to meet a foreign student advisor of a large community college. It was a good time of sharing and encouraging her to stand firm amidst the battle.
Then we enjoyed dinner with supporters in the Albany area. It was good to get caught up with these longtime friends on life's challenges, work and families. All this and we were still able to return home in time for planning and preparing our Thanksgiving festivities.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Rejoice with those who Rejoice!!!



She came here with a desire for a phd in public health, but there was no such program at UCONN. ChiChi pursued several masters degrees while God prepared the way for the degree to be offered. She was the second student (by one week) to successfully defend and receive this degree from UCONN. We are so proud of her!
Congratulations, ChiChi!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

New Opportunity!


This summer Richard was invited to join the advisory board for ISUSA at Yale. We see this as a good opportunity to help co-laborers be more effective in ministry. As a result, Richard has added making periodic trips to New Haven for their meetings to his scheduale. He will also be connecting with pastors and churches seeking to raise up volunteers to help develop international student ministry in the greater New Haven area.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

We have been blessed!

"They say" a picture is worth a thousand words. Since my words have yet to be able to come together, here are the pictures.
The Olcottage in Falmouth, Ma. 10/10/10.





















Mr and Mrs Nicholas Ryan!





Friday, September 10, 2010

There and Back Again

Richard's interactive style of
teaching encourages "audience participation."





Short dramas help us experience what it is like to be an international student.




We had a fabulous trip, preceded by many attacks, including the death of Richard's work computer. But, our God reigns!
On our trip we met 2 amazing women of faith in MD. They are from different churches in the same region. Each one is desiring to grow international student ministry in their church. Our hope is to encourage these churches to work together in effective ministry.
We also taught a friendship partner training class in Philadelphia (pictured here). There were 31 people attending representing 12 churches. We learned there are 3 new church plants in Philadelphia targeting campuses. God is up to something in the City of Brotherly Love and we are excited to be a part of it!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Finding the Faithful




Matthew 25:34-36 Then the King will say to those on His right, "Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger (international student) and you made me your guest, I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.
One of the blessings of our travels is to meet God's faithful children. So it was as we met Jean. A precious sister in Christ, she stated that her 30 years of teaching elemmentary school prepared her for ministry to international students. She began with one on one tutoring in English for children after retiring. Then her pastor challenged her to begin a class for adults. With amazing perseverence she set up class every week for one year in the library before the first adult student came. Then 1 became 2, and 2 became 4 and "the rest is history". She currently teaches 4 nights of classes in her home; 3 ESL nights & 1 Bible study night. On ESL nights she makes dinner for her class.
Over the years Jean and her husband have loved internationals by helping them learn English, shop, navigate American culture and by being a friend. In her Bible study they have prayed and seen miraculous healing, pregnancies and recovery of lost things. She has led 40 internationals to the Lord.
What a joy for us to witness this humble, faithful ministry of miracles and to be able to come along side to lend a helping hand.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

ISI National Staff Conference Denver, CO

Every year we are blessed to gather together from all over the world for a time of fellowship, refreshment, inspiration and training. Every year our plenary speakers are top notch, and seem selected by God in perfect timing for me. This year was no different.
Dick Foth, a mentor to leaders in Washington,D.C., encouraged us to "take the adventure in trust" and follow Jesus into a relationship together, TOGETHER. David Watson, VP of Global Church Planting at City Team Ministries, challenged our strategies box with creative ideas about the elements of the kingdom tactics and leadership. Al Newell, founder of a volunteer ministry development company, taught us some principles in building effective volunteer teams. Judi Vankevich, the Manners Lady, gave us 3 keys to being good ambassadors: a respectful attitude, respectful words and respectful actions; "which is just good manners!"
This year Richard gave a testimony at a ChurchMobilizationInitiative focused lunch, and later taught in a series of friendship partner training workshops.
We heard many student testimonies that blessed and encouraged us, and saw God setting the stage for some great breakthroughs in Japan.
We returned home tired in body and refreshed in our spirits. We hope to share and implement what God has added to us.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Friendship Partner Training





This spring we had two training
sessions and have another this
summer.



The purpose is to help people interested in reaching out to international students to get comfortable with some of the differences and to cope with some of the difficulties they may encounter in the befriending process. We get to see "lightbulbs turning on" as we share helps in overcoming language issues like idioms; and culture differences that are not bad, just different. Role playing some meeting scenerios is fun and helps people understand things they've never had to think through.
We emphasize love without conditions as we share amazing stories about students who have returned home and what God did then. We help people develope an efficient way to share their own story.
Our hope is to set people up for a successful friendship experience that will lead a student to desire to know our precious Lord Jesus Christ for himself.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving!







Yay! It's payday! We made it through another month, and we are glad and bless God! One of our friends posts a heart felt, exuberant thanks to God that is full of joy every month when she pays the rent. She recognizes and gives honor to God for His provision in all things. Even more so, we recognize His provision and the blessing of many friends who give so we can serve. We are grateful and mindful of sacrifices our friends make so that we can walk in what God has called us to do. Bless you! I am hoping to call all our supporters this summer so that we can catch up and learn some specifics of how to pray for you. I look forward to hearing your voice!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Bumps in the Road

In our travels this winter and spring we have been on alot of roads.

Along the way the weather and road care, or not, has created areas where there are pot holes of varying sizes, widths, depths; and bumps. There are times when too many vehicles enter the road at the same time and place that causes forward movement to slow and/or come to a halt.
Then there are times when, with the wind at your back, you can cruise along smoothly and swiftly.


Ministry has been alot like that. sometimes it has been easy to meet with people; at other times the scheduales just don't co-operate no matter what you do to accomodate. Sometimes people are enthusiastic to begin ministry but the bumps in the road slow them down. Sometimes too much life enters in at the same time and ministry slows to a stop.


Please pray with us and for us as we seek to persevere and be an encouragement to the Body of Christ!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Engagement!




The last few weeks have been event-full! We traveled to New York City to see Daniel in Dance AdDeum. Abby met us there and we had a grand weekend together. The next weekend we collected Abby from the homeschool convention in MA. and enjoyed her visit here. Inbetween, this nice young man, Nick Ryan, proposed to Abby and she accepted. They have know oneanother for several years and graduated together from Patrick Henry College. Last summer they started dating, and their friendship became a serious relationship. We are very happy for them and for us!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

in My Defense...



One of the joys of international
student ministry is friendship. In the many friendships formed with students come important milestones that we get to share in because we are the closest "family" geographically. For the students aiming at a Phd, the oral defense of their thesis is a grueling event at the end of 5-7 years of study. Most times we are able to attend these events and watch with joy and pride to see a wonderful presentation, which we sometimes even understand. It is always a blessing to witness God at work through a process as He refines His beloved and brings him/her successfully to a new level. So it was on Good Friday as our friend Akinyi successfully defended her thesis and won her second doctorate. We are so proud of her, as she worked so hard and kept on in spite of incredible difficulties. She pressed on and won the prize! We are rejoicing with her and challenged to keep on to win the prize. Philippians 3:12, 14.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Good News


At our NorthEast Regional Staff Conference our President Doug Shaw shared many facts and stories to encourage us not to be intimidated by I*lam. We are experiencing unprecedented favor in two Asian nations with an outbound student program which connects students there with ISI here before they leave home. A recent study indicates 70,000 m*slims received Christ in 2009 in the USA. An Im*m in Ir*n recently complained that many 20-30's from their country are receiving Christ when they come to the USA. He complained that "someone" is picking them up at the airport, feeds them meals, invites them to friendship circles and Bible studies and then leads them to Christ. "Who are these people?" he asked. It is a blessing to know the impact of ISI through staff and VOLUNTEERS is being felt /heard around the world. President Shaw shared another student story about a m*slim student who arrived here, in the USA, hoping to hear about Jesus, but no one told him or invited him to church. He drove to a church and parked in the lot but no one invited him to go in. After doing this for 4 weeks in a row, he just went in and sat in the back of the church. At the end of the service, he went forward to receive Christ! That is good news, isn't it! Let's be bold in reaching out in love as followers of Jesus and invite "them" to come in.

Monday, March 22, 2010

ISI Northeast Regional Staff Conference


March 5-7....Every year our regional Field Director, Natasha Hope
calls us together to encourage, support and challenge us. We invite potential staff, volunteers and people interested in international
student ministry to meet with veteran staff, fellowship, pray, and see if God is calling them into full time ministry.
It is amazing to think less than 10 years ago there were so few of us that we held this conference in our living room!
Our theme this year was "Strategically Investing in the Next Generation of World Leaders". Our speakers Bob Osborn and "Dr.Who" encouraged and inspired us and reminded us that students here now are the real leaders home tomorrow! "Dr.Who" is a muslim believer whose testimony and current life's work challenged us to boldness and sacrifice. He was literally grabbed by the arm here by a believer and found Jesus as his Savior. ISI's President Doug Shaw shared stories to encourage us to press on to the prize. We shared in small groups and prayed for oneanother and saw answers and healings! We took the path train into NewYork City and prayed all over the city for holiness, righteousness, international students salvation, and government leaders. It was a beautiful day in the city!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Go get'um Tiger!




A last minute invitation was extended and we grabbed the opportunity to join Chinese friends at UConn who were coming together communally to celebrate their new year.

Although we have been out of touch for a few years, there were still familiar faces amidst the sea of people and it was good to re-connect. The food was delicious Chinese food! Then there was a fashion show, music with traditional Chinese instruments, a game show (like Guestures
in Chinese), more traditional music and singing, and door prizes. It was a fun cross-cultural experience and an easy way to reach out and touch a little of the world.

There are many opportunities to meet international students atUConn at events like this or at the Friendship Coffee every Wed 2-4pm (StuUnion). This is true of the university or college near you as well. There are events sponsored by the college or international clubs. Most are open to the public and listed on college websites. It is a great adventure in which to participate with delicious food, fun and eternal rewards!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The BIG Picture



It is always a joy to visit ICF in Storrs, CT and see what God is up to there. This time Richard had the priviledge to teach. When he asked what he should teach about he was told "The Big Picture". Without thinking he said "ok" -- but when it came to prep. time he thought "what does that mean?"
At ICF we have a great variety of attendees. There are faithful committed volunteers who weekly do whatever is necessary to prepare, feed, clean-up, and minister in music, words, leading and coaching. Then there are visitors who may be culinary missionaries, or just curious friends. Then there are students who are believers, or not; who speak good english, or not; who are interested in christianity, or not. And, of course, there is a garnish of children from various ages. Is there a big picture big enough, and simple enough to be conveyed to all of these?
Richard began that evening by asking a student if he had to prepare to come to the college in CT and was it easy or difficult. Then, there was a series of "what then?" questions until our student friend admitted he didn't want to talk about that final transition....death. In the next half hour people listened, answered questions, and participated in a drama to learn how to prepare for this final step in life. Good conversations and prayer ensued over dessert as the BIG Picture took shape in minds and hearts. Wish you could have been there with us.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Challenges Ahead








In the last 2 months of 2009 Richard became aware that our data base on the computer was malfunctioning. Not all of the email letters sent were received. Not all the snail mail letters were sent because the data base wasn't responding corrrectly to the request for addresses. With XP being abandonned in 3 years; the need for a new data base; and an email sending server required, we are feeling ____overwhelmed____! Please pray for us as we seek to respond the best way possible through this messy situation, while still keeping you all informed.


In the first quarter of 2010 we have " plans" to travel locally to churches interested in international student ministry in CT, MA, NY, VT and NH. Timing, weather, and taxes are issues as we look to "hitting the road." Please pray for safety, and our ability to stay flexible as we go. Like Paul said he learned to be all things to all people, we wear many hats as we meet people from different backgrounds. We are always asking for God's wisdom and discernment.



We will be traveling to PA early in March, after our Northeast Regional Staff Conference in New York City, to teach our Friendship Partner Program. We are excited about this church that is stepping up to reach out to international students in their area. Please join us in praying for good soil for the seed God has given us to sow.
Thank you for your prayers!!!!! They are changing the world!!!!!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Looking Back to Look Forward!




"Blessed be God, who did not reject my prayer or turn His grace away from me." Psalm 66:20


For many years, even as we labored at UCONN, we sought the Lord for the students at ECSU in Willimantic. We prayed: occasionally trying to stir local churches and trying to connect into the student body there. Even with student and professor connections nothing happened. Then one day a UCONN /ICF volunteer Ruth Hartunian-Alumbaugh (an ISI ministry rep.) attended an ECSU international student function. She offered her assistance to do "anything to help" and in a short time of faithful service Ruth befriended the director of Intercultural Affairs. We now have the opportunity to touch 25 or more under-grad students through this amazing open door. If you are in the Willimantic region and are willing to reach out to one of these students please contact us. They are fun to know and you get to impact the world from your own living room.

We have kept on keeping on in Groton/NewLondon. Our small group remains to encourage and support our international student leader. His small group has grown some and continues in Bible study and prayer at/for Avery Point campus. If you live in this southeast region, there are opportunities to befriend international students and international Coast Guard cadets and impact the world for Jesus! Just let us know if you are interested in joining the World Changers!

The door is open at the Univeristy of Bridgeport. Black Rock Congregational Church spear-headed the outreach there and has received favor from the university. They need help from other churches to meet the need/opportunity! They could use your help in reaching out to the many students interested in friends and activities. Calvary E.Free of Trumbull has gotten involved, how about you? If you live in the greater Bridgeport area and are interested please contact us and we'll get you connected.
We are seeing new interest in New Haven and Waterbury among the churches. We will be working in these areas in the coming year to warm and water the good seeds of The Word that have fallen there. The small colleges and university extensions in the Waterbury area have many internationals. There are new open doors at Yale! God willing, we hope to see these seeds prosper and grow into fruitful vines for His Kingdom.

After so many years, it is a blessing to see life growing from the prayer seeds. We thank God for all He is doing here in Ct.!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

News you won't see in National Media


Recently the president of ISI, Doug Shaw, shared some unique happenings with staff. Although shared with designed vagueness to protect lives, a couple of them caught my heart and I wanted to share them with you.

There is a small US city that averages 3 Asian students receiving salvation in Jesus Christ every month!

An international student who has returned home is helping recraft religious freedom laws at home!

One of our partners (not staff) led a terrorist to Jesus!

It takes my breath away to see the enormity of the opportunity that comes from being a friend to an international student! Won't you join us?