Between Times

It is hard to make day to day life sound exciting.  The chores of a regular work day are necessary, regular, build faithfulness & perseverence, but are rarely exciting.  Morning quiet times are the foundation of our days here, and allways a precious time spent with a loved one.  The telephone (er, cell phone) and computer are the tools of the trade here.  A co-worker/friend from Japan is looking for a referal for a student coming to Vermont; a retiring missionary is looking for a connection to students in Pennsylvania; a new volunteer wants to know what/how to share in his church; are examples of some of the daily work that comes into our office.  We write notes, newsletters, prayer letters, and blog.  We talk to pastors, volunteers, students and sometimes professors and college administrators.  We have a team of awesome co-laborers in the staff of ISI, who give admin support, prayer and encouragement.  The payoff is when we hear the testimonies of the student who comes to the USA, makes a friend with a lover of Jesus and meets Jesus Himself!  We are so blessed to be a part of God's plan to reach the world through international students.

This is why we do what we do!

From a student who recently returned home after graduation:

The time has come to pen down my appreciation and gratitude for the kindness, support and love that was shown to me throughout the past four years!

  Upon setting off to the US four years back it was not in the slightest corner of my imagination that I would ever find friends / family who would genuinely care to truly make me feel like home in this land so far away from home. However for some previous luck of mine, from the start of my journey to the present moment I was blessed with amazingly kind and sincere people that made me who I am today; and it is thanks to all of you that I can take pride for having gotten through college without a huge commotion.
All of you took me into your lives without any hesitation at all. I made up my own little world, found myself a home (homes) away from HOME. These little gestures seemed so minor but they truly made me feel special and important that life has truly been GOOD and my days in the US will be treasured evermore and every lesson and experience will be cherished while the failures and mishaps will be added to my personal learning curve for future reference.

 From a student that attended an ISI Conference:

Thank you so much that I had an unforgettable weekend with you. Not only that I had a good time with you, but also I learned more about Jesus during the past weekend. I am very grateful to you, the organizers of the conf, the host family and all the international students and staffs. I feel that this experience has changed my view of life for the better and I am now more eager to learn more about Jesus and the Bible.

These are the jewels in the crown of our Lord!  Thank you for the opportunity to serve.