the Recorder

NorthEast Reg'l Directors Meeting

2012-01-09T14:28:00.008-05:00

Every year our Regional Field Director, Natasha Hope, gathers the men & women who are key leaders in our region for a short retreat.

This year we used the book The Enemies of Excellency by G. Salciccioli as a jumping off place for discussion and prayer. We each prepared an assigned chapter in advance to share. Powerful and thought provoking, the book was a catalyst as our sharing times advanced in practicality and depth.

We also got an inside look into M28; a new style of student outreach that ISI is developing using a model from D.Watson & P.Watson, and adapting it to reach international students.

We are excited about the potential this has for expanding outreach locally and internationally as students take what they learn back to their native lands.

What a blessing to have this time together, away! Thank you, Natasha!

Joyous Christmas and Blessed New Year!

2012-01-07T15:42:00.004-05:00

We were so blessed to have these wonderful family members home for the holidays! Thank you for coming! It really does make the season bright to be surrounded by family!

Thanksgiving!

2011-12-11T20:25:00.004-05:00

We were an intimate group this year but still managed to represent 4 continents!

We all had lots to be thankful for in all areas of our lives. It was really fun to be together and enjoy one anothers company.

Heading North

2011-11-29T16:10:00.006-05:00

Over the last two years we have made several trips and have had lots of conversations about reaching out to international students at Fulton Montgomery Community College. This progressive school is courting international students and even building dormitories to house them. The current projection is to have 300 full time international students inside of two years.
Local professional and business people are starting mentoring relationships and now God's people are getting involved too.
Some of the trainees from our class have already contacted their new international friend.

They loved the training that took them to a new comfort level with a different culture.

They had alot of fun too in the dramas and the luncheon discussion afterwards!

Between Trips

2011-11-10T14:40:00.007-05:00

Preparing for yet another trip, I ponder where the time went. The calendar reveals a missions conference at Calvary Church in Canterbury;

a quick trip to help Carol's parents on Cape Cod;

and an eventful visit from Alfred Snoctober!

Glad to have power back after 8 days! thank you, Jesus!

Marathon Trip

2011-11-08T19:21:00.011-05:00

It is good to pace yourself, if you can. However sometimes, in spite of everything, you just have to depend on God's grace alone to get you through what He is calling you to do.

October 7 we drove to Rockville, MD and did a Friendship Partner training there. Three churches were represented and we are excited to see groundwork laid to reach out to Montgomery College.

The next day we were blessed to connect with people at Tapestry Vineyard before heading over to spend the afternoon and evening with former international student friends and their beautiful children.

Moving on to VA, we were blessed again to see Abby and Nick briefly amidst several days of appointments with key players for Washington D.C. area ministries.

Then we drove up to Lewisburg, PA to teach another F/P training. This time four churches were represented, with two of them anchors for reaching Bucknell University.

After 2 weeks on the road we reached home tired but happy to see God calling people into the harvest fields with such good response!

New Friends

2011-10-01T16:09:00.005-04:00

We had the pleasure of spending several days in Annandale, VA to do some I/S training. These are always great times of meeting new family members who share our passion for reaching the world with God's love by serving international students.

We enjoy the training, roleplaying, interaction and questions.

It is surely a blessing to serve alongside these saints! and help their ministry called International Friends.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

2011-09-09T14:26:00.004-04:00

We started on our journey knowing that tropical storm Lee was making a mess of things. We cross many rivers on our trip to VA where Richard is teaching tonight and tomorrow. We prayed "Father, you called us to go ...". And He is faithful who calls you!

We traveled by interstate in the pleasure of dry weather,and beautiful sunlight.
Scenes like these were all around us, but never touched us. Above,left is a roller coaster in Hershey, PA. Above right is Wilkes-Barre, PA where interstate rt 81 was closed. The top picture is the Susquehannah River in Harrisburg, PA not far from where we crossed the river . We were high and dry! Thank you, Jesus! The only heavy rain occured while we were eating dinner in Gettysburg. After that we had light scattered showers until we arrive in VA. We were very tired from 8 hours on the road, and feeling VERY BLESSED having lived Proverbs 3: 5&6! (I do not know where the last picture is from )

Riding in an Airplane

2011-08-24T12:17:00.006-04:00

Our trip to China gave us many hours of opportunities in airplanes to have conversations with strangers. What is amazing to me is how difficult it was to achieve! Ipods, Ipads and earbuds help people keep the "riff-raff" out of their personal space.

Add on eye masks and the wall becomes more effective still. Even on a 15 & 1/2 hour flight! My gentle questions yielded only wordless noise and one word answers. It was refreshingly different on our departure flight from Hong Kong. I(Carol) sat next to a lovely young woman who was open to conversation.

She personified for me what I had been reading about in "The Meeting of the Waters: 7 Global Currents" by Fritz Kling. She was HongKong Chinese, attended college in Australia where she met her Korean boyfriend. She was flying to Cian to visit him. He was there studying mandarin to enhance his International Business degree. (multi cultural experiences) We had wonderful conversation about world values versus Christian values (not American values) and how they affect personal life, family, business and government. It blessed me that after collecting luggage at the baggage claim she thought enough of how we connected to come and say good bye again and show me to her boyfriend. I am glad Father knows them by name because I intend to keep them in prayer and hope to meet them again when I get home.

Keeping In Touch

2011-08-08T16:57:00.005-04:00

In this day, keeping in touch with people should not be difficult. We have emailing, snail mailing, texting, tweeting, phoning, skyping, and on and on it goes. One of the lessons from our trip was keeping in touch matters ... ALOT!

One way we have accomplished this in our ISI Northeast region is our monthly prayer call. Each month, at the appointed time we, as many as can, dial in to a conference call and Richard co-ordinates and leads us.

We praise God for who He is, share answers to prayer and thank Father, share requests and pray for one another. It has help us grow in comraderie and affection. We are no longer strangers when we meet at conferences or when we travel. Although awkward when we first started 10 years ago we have pressed through.

There are many good lessons for me as we seek to keep in touch with our student friends around the globe --- just do it; press through the awkwardness; praise God; share answers to prayer; share what God is doing as well as our requests; do it routinely. Excuse me, a - skyping - i - must - go !

China: it is the people

2011-07-15T16:21:00.011-04:00

How does one start to share a two week trip that has been overwhelming since before it began? where does one begin? There are so many God sightings (seeing God at work using you in others' lives, or others in your life); so many experiences;so many "ahah!"'s.

In wrestling this through with my Father, the one theme that kept recurring was the people, His people. People that He cares about that are trapped and need to be set free ... one at a time.

We saw the en-masse, and we experienced them as individuals.

One co-worker that was able to visit many students who had returned home came to the conclusion that we need to do more to reach and teach them while they are here. We need to go extra miles and invest all we can.

The challenges as they return home are huge, especially if their culture is, not nurturing for their new faith.

We saw alot, experienced alot and are left with alot of God's heart for His people, the ones who do not yet know His amazing love.

In many ways, for all the differences, they are just like us.

Countdown to China

2011-06-14T20:11:00.008-04:00

God is going ahead of us!

We are in the final phases of preparations for our trip to China. The list of many details is diminishing. Richard is working to settle issues for Fall ministry start-ups and training events we will hopefully hold when we return. In the midst of this my Asian friend, personal English partner (PEP), has been helping/teaching us about one of the cities we will visit as it is her husband's home city. This has been great fun until she gently/politely informed me that the hotel we would be using is, well, not very good. And it is not in a very good part of the city. When I told her we were not able to make a change because we are traveling in a group she suggested, "Perhaps you should bring your own towels at least." I told her not to worry because God would take care of us ... fast forward ... I call our group leader for some information and he tells me "Oh, by the way, I had to up grade your hotel in ___." (heh, heh, heh!) THANK YOU FATHER!!! Now to tell my friend!

The new place!

2011-05-18T15:45:00.006-04:00

When God has His eye on an area we see Him attract a cluster of churches . Sometimes this happens in "prominent", "important" areas like Baltimore, MD, Washington D.C., or NewYork City. Other times we are called to remote places like Northville, NY or Lewisburg, PA. Areas like these small towns have community colleges and small private colleges. One might never suspect a future world leader coming out of a school like this - but they do! Kofi Annan from Ghana, former Secretary General of the United Nations, is one example. He began his college education

in a small community college in PA.

Because our Father knows all things we are happy to go where-ever He leads and encourage His people to reach out in His love to the future world leaders among us.

We are blessed to serve with others who catch the vision for the potential in the international students here.

on RETURN

2011-04-25T15:12:00.006-04:00

We are always blessed when Daniel returns home. We enjoy his company and are challenged by God's work in and through him. Assisting Dan's desire to have a concert is a pleasure. But this time God and Dan really overwhelmed us!

Many of you know that our ISI National Staff Conference will be in Hong Kong this summer. This is challenging from many perspectives. We have never been to Asia, the cost is, well, very expensive .... Because we are required to attend we are counting on Our Father's resources to make it happen for us. By Faith we made plans, bought tickets and applied for visas.

The stage was set; our travels kept us distracted so we missed some clues; and halfway through this wonderful evening concert a "special video presentation" highlighted our upcoming 40th wedding anniversary and trip to HongKong for ISI. We were totally surprised by what came next. Daniel announced that the performers and technicians had all donated their time and talents so that 100% of the evenings proceeds could be donated to us for the China trip! WOW!

Even now I am overwhelmed and blessed and speechless at this outpouring of love and grace! Praise God! We are one/third there!

Another Rockville!

2011-04-11T14:47:00.003-04:00

A blessed and fruitful time in Rockville, Maryland!

We left Ithica, New York and drove to Rockville, Maryland. There we enjoyed the hospitality of a wonderful couple that reaches out to international students through ESL classes held in their home! Richard shared in 2 services in their church on Sunday, and Carol shared in their ESL Sunday class. Richard told "Gau's" story of his first time in a church. Gau heard a message by a departing intern sharing God's leading and saying goodbye to the church family. Gau shared, " When I heard of the faithfulness and love of God it seemed altogether reasonable to me to open my heart to Him." Such a sweet story, for this man had yet much to learn about our wonderfull Savior ... but he was ready to receive. Richard encouraged us to be a faithful and loveful witness as we reach out to international students and love them into the kingdom.

We met some former international students who told us that Richard was telling their story and as a result, they now want to be involved in reaching out to others ... I love it when God turns on the light! We are so blessed to see this ministry warmly received by pastors and laity alike. Many signed up to do whatever they could to help.

NE Reg'l Staff Conference: Ithica, NY

2011-04-04T15:42:00.006-04:00

dateline: March 11, 2011 We traveled to Ithica, NewYork; location of Cornell University for our annual regional staff conference. Dr. Koshi was our main speaker. He came to Syracuse, NY as an international student and stayed to answer God's call to be able to address the despair and lonliness international students feel with Christian love and hospitality. He determined to come and share with us despite illness and was visibly strengthened after prayer. He challenged us to love lavishly and sacrificially, like Jesus loves us.

Our prayer times strengthened us all and help us get acquainted with folks who are new or visiting.

We had 5 guests as a result of our contacts. One husband was so excited that he decided to become an active partner with his wife in this ministry and could see his giftings fitting in to extend the kingdom! Another young man left encouraged, considering becoming staff.

On Saturday we prayer walked the local campus, Cornell. It is exciting to see that the local staff are already experiencing breakthroughs with students as a result of the prayer that weekend! God is good! One student of Hindu background prayed to renounce all influence of hindu gods. A muslim student sought to begin an intensive Bible study. We are blessed to be a part of this family of believers and excited to see God moving in student lives in this new outreach area.

Strangers, Foreigners, Aliens ...Lev 19:33

2011-03-09T15:31:00.008-05:00

In conversations recently with international students, Richard and I separately had the same experience. God is confirming something here. Each student mentioned the kindness and friendliness of their experience with believers was drawing them to know Jesus.

One student wants to be like these people so much he is calling himself a believer even though he does not yet know the whole story of what that means. How powerful, how simple ... a cup of water in Jesus name:

a dish of food prepared, a ride to the grocery store, helping hands, a song sung, a listening ear...a word in season, and a sound simple teaching when Holy Spirit prompts us.

Americans have a reputation world wide for making poor friends. Students tell us "People say 'how are you?' but don't even stop to listen. They don't really care."
Let us raise the weapon of kindness and friendship, and watch strongholds come tumbling down ... so the King of Glory can come in! 2 Cor 10: 3-5

"I see the King"

2011-02-27T15:36:00.006-05:00

Sometimes it is easy to see God at work, like at ICF 2/11/11! The worship focused on His love. At the end of worship time a gift was offered; a new winter scarf given freely, in love, to whomever would receive it. " This is how God's love is given, freely to anyone who will reach out

and take it." Overcoming skepticism and fear, 3 students finally braved the way forward and shyly received the winter scarves. What a great picture for us all. Then Richard's teaching on God's forgiveness put words with the picture. Starting with Science News articles and moving from Genesis 1 to Luke 15 the Holy Spirit captured the ears, minds and hearts of many students. One student later shared " I thought the Bible was just another book and like any book but your teaching made it come alive!" Thank you Holy Spirit, for moving in hearts and minds this night.

"and your neighbor as yourself."

2011-02-03T17:01:00.010-05:00

We have been experiencing alot of winter this month! As hearty New Englanders we have been challenged, but for international students this may bring culture shock to a crisis.

One of my international student friends wrote on F/B " Freezing cold & snowing...Hate it!!!" and "Man vs Nature: at this hour Nature won! Tons of snow have me trapped at home."

Our first international student/friendship partner arrived in January (not unlike this winter) from Indonesia! Because his Dad had been a diplomat, Suri arrived with one winter coat. He was fortunate to have it. However, until we were able to take him shopping it was also his blanket! A Nigerian friend wouldn't leave her dorm if it was snowing or icy. For students from warm climates our winters add to the cultural difficulties and academic challenges.

Breaking the grip of winter
the ICF volunteers reach out to students and help them get warm winter gear, or transportation. On Friday nights the warm dinner and family atmosphere draws students out of dorms and labs! Volunteers are heros as they overcome winters' obstacles to be on campus to feed and welcome the alien in our land (Lev.19:33;Luke 10:27). This is just one more way we love our friends into His Kingdom!

a Visiting we Go!

2011-01-17T14:52:00.009-05:00

It is January, and winter, so we knew to plan our travels locally. What we didn't know is that it would snow the night before early morning church visits. Ouch! We made it , though!

There are many blessings in church visits: the joy of renewing friendships, making new friends, being able to say "thanks" in person, and seeing people receive the vision that is international students. When students and volunteers from ICF at UConn join us the joy is exponentially multiplied!

the Christmas Kaleidoscope Concert

2011-01-05T16:54:00.008-05:00

A Kaleidoscope is a beautiful form to view; anything that constantly changes,
as in color and pattern.

As a concert it was also a delight to listen to it. On December 3, 2010 and sponsored by ICF, 8 campus ministries came together to reach out to the community and campus. Talented musicians, singers and dancers from all the groups provided the music to tell the real story of Christmas. Of the 150 attenders about half were international students. Besides refreshments, Jesus dvd's were offered to all. Another good gift given by Jesus was to a young man facing brain surgery. One of the ICF student leaders approached Richard and asked him to come and pray. Two weeks later in the pre-surgery exam, the doctors found the problem dramatically shrunk and ended up doing a minimal procedure!!! The next day this young man was strolling in his garden with his dog and telling our ICF leader he was safe and fine! Thank you Jesus!!! A beautiful thing indeed.

Mid November

2010-12-03T14:30:00.007-05:00

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.

Rejoice with those who Rejoice!!!

2010-11-29T17:47:00.005-05:00

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!

New Opportunity!

2010-11-10T16:45:00.006-05:00

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.

We have been blessed!

2010-10-20T16:29:00.012-04:00

"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!

There and Back Again

2010-09-10T11:48:00.006-04:00

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!

Finding the Faithful

2010-08-24T14:51:00.004-04:00

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.

ISI National Staff Conference Denver, CO

2010-07-20T18:34:00.003-04:00

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.

Friendship Partner Training

2010-07-08T20:03:00.006-04:00

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.

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving!

2010-06-23T12:12:00.003-04:00

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!

Bumps in the Road

2010-06-02T16:38:00.007-04:00

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!

The Engagement!

2010-05-12T17:13:00.003-04:00

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!

in My Defense...

2010-04-28T19:55:00.003-04:00

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.

Good News

2010-04-08T15:31:00.003-04:00

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.

ISI Northeast Regional Staff Conference

2010-03-22T16:54:00.003-04:00

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!

Go get'um Tiger!

2010-03-10T16:12:00.006-05:00

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!

The BIG Picture

2010-03-02T21:12:00.008-05:00

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.

Challenges Ahead

2010-02-11T20:24:00.006-05:00

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!!!!!

Looking Back to Look Forward!

2010-01-17T15:59:00.015-05:00

"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.!

News you won't see in National Media

2010-01-13T14:11:00.002-05:00

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?

December Life

2009-12-28T12:51:00.006-05:00

Returning home after weeks of traveling required a season of re-adjusting and catching up on many different fronts. Household chores, winter snow, bill paying, fighting the computer, and writing/printing/mailing newsletter updates don't make for exciting stories but are the "as you go" stuff of life.

In the midst of this God blessed us by including us in some holiday activities with international students. Richard joined the Indian Christmas Celebration held in West Hartford at the Univerisity of Hartford. This outreach to Indian and other international students by a group of Indian families allowed Richard to share words of life and encouragement in unexpected and fun ways. Carol drove to Willimantic to join a key volunteer's family in Christmas caroling in their neighborhood. Some internationals joined us for the cultural experience and got to learn our carols that tell all about Jesus. It was exciting to see neighbors receive with joy and students put good seed in their hearts. All around us God was networking and connecting people!

Faces and Places

2009-11-25T17:09:00.007-05:00

Northeast, Maryland

Pastors in Dundalk, MD and Mechanicsburg, PA

Ambler, PA and Northville, NY

Traveling to share and encourage the Vision

2009-11-19T16:55:00.007-05:00

In C.S.Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" after the children arrived in Narnia they saw the snow melting, Father Christmas appear in the wood, and early spring flowers appear because Aslan was on the move. Like the children, as we go we are seeing signs everywhere that God is on the move.

Someone who really caught the vision we have at ISI funded a mailing to get this word out to the churches. In our north-east region we have already had about 50 churches respond where there is no staff. Our Regional Field Director asked us to visit these churches. So we have begun traveling from here in CT to Wash D.C., VA, MD, PA, NY, NJ, DE and other New England states. It is a blessing to meet brothers and sisters in Christ, see God drawing churches together to reach communities, encourage the weary. We get to share, pray, and plan together.

Pray for me that whenever I open my mouth the words will be given to me to be bold in making known the secret of the Good News. Eph 6:19 (The Jewish Bible)

Include prayer for us, too, that God may open a door for us to proclaim the message about the secret of the Messiah ... and that I may speak as I should, in a way that makes the message clear. Col 4: 3,4 (The Jewish Bible)

ISI exists to share Christ's love with international students and to equip them for effective service in cooperation with the local church and others.

"Look at all the Lord has done through you already__Look at my life!

2009-10-15T14:46:00.005-04:00

Saturday was a beautiful day for the visit to Buell's Apple Orchard with UConn's ICF. The predicted rain never materialized but many international students did! We piled into cars and enjoyed good fellowship during our scenic half hour drive to Eastford. Then we dispersed to enjoy cider and donuts; hayrides and applepicking; watching candyapple making and listening to great music. It was fun to rub elbows with international students again.

Our travels these days bring us into many new churches. It is exciting to find fellowship in so many places in the northeast with like minds and hearts. These family members are catching the vision to reach out to international students and impact the world for the kingdom.

We are leaving again soon to meet with churches in New Jersey; Delaware; Philadelphia and Harrisburg, PA; and Baltimore, MD. to encourage and make disciples. We will be blessed to visit with former students as well, and get caught up on lives. These friends serve as reminders to us that this ministry is valuable and effective in saving lives and reaching the world. As one former student recently reminded me "Look at all that has been done through you already__Look at my life!"

Please keep us in your prayers as we seek to follow God to the connections He has for us.

Welcoming New Students

2009-09-01T21:06:00.009-04:00

Picture perfect day for welcoming the world to Connecticut!

The Welcome Picnic

2009-09-01T20:42:00.007-04:00

"I am the luckiest of men" Chen smiled.

"No, you are truly blessed by Jesus Christ who loves you" Sarah replied.

Chen had just arrived in the USA two days ago. While he was walking on campus Saturday morning Sarah spied him and invited him to join the gathering of international students heading out for a picnic. Chen said yes and thoroughly enjoyed being enfolded into an international family for a day of fun.

We praise God for a beautiful day for ICF's Seventh Annual Welcome Picnic in Eastford. There were more that 75 of us enjoying fellowship courtesy of the Barlow family and Eastford Baptist Church

Joan was excited as she shared that she and her husband were still in touch with the 2 Iranian men they met at last years picnic. This year she connected with a Chinese woman hungry to read the Bible in her own language and understand it. They both left smiling.

A visitor from France was so blessed by "the beauty and peace of God in this place."

The new students who picnicked with us are facing many adjustments to life here. Please pray that they will come to ICF and find Jesus!

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!

2009-08-09T16:36:00.000-04:00

We began our travels knowing we had people to see but no definate agenda. We have been blessed to visit several churches in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area meeting so many new (to us) family members. As we shared in one meeting the pastor said "this is perfect timing for us as we are looking for ways for plugging our members in as they discover their gifts." They are just down the street from a college with many international students. In another church, a late arrival to our meeting provided key information to link us to students at another university. It has been encouraging to see the connections God has prepared in advance for us to walk in.