a Visiting we Go!

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

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

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!!!

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!

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!

"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

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!