I loved driving the students back from Bible study at our house a couple of weeks ago. The students were full of energy. One sat next to me in the front, talking with me about life on campus. Another was in the back, wedged between two others, talking about how her roommate was waiting for her to get home so they could watch a movie together. The 2 girls on either side of her talked about schoolwork. There was little to nothing in common with three countries being represented. Yet, it was wonderful to feel the energy, love, and excitement in the car. Even more wonderful to know is that three of them are believers, growing in their faith. One of them doesn't know if she'll be here next year. It's been hard for her parents to find the funding for her to stay. Her father is a pastor, her mother a nurse, and they work hard. Yet in her country, girls marry at a young age. Most people cling to traditional beliefs even after becoming Christians. She is such a strong believer, and would be such a gift to us if she could stay. I pray she can.
I loved driving the students back from Bible study at our house a couple of weeks ago. The students were full of energy. One sat next to me in the front, talking with me about life on campus. Another was in the back, wedged between two others, talking about how her roommate was waiting for her to get home so they could watch a movie together. The 2 girls on either side of her talked about schoolwork. There was little to nothing in common with three countries being represented. Yet, it was wonderful to feel the energy, love, and excitement in the car. Even more wonderful to know is that three of them are believers, growing in their faith. One of them doesn't know if she'll be here next year. It's been hard for her parents to find the funding for her to stay. Her father is a pastor, her mother a nurse, and they work hard. Yet in her country, girls marry at a young age. Most people cling to traditional beliefs even after becoming Christians. She is such a strong believer, and would be such a gift to us if she could stay. I pray she can.
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My housemate is from China. She's been here 5 months. Today I introduced her to a breakfast burrito. She likes it, and asked me where she could buy the ..."what is this?" "Tortilla." I think my burrito beat out the apple, banana, ranch dressing concoction she fed me this morning, but I won't tell her that.
Today I took one of the visiting professors to get his phone card. He asked me when I became a "Christ" I told him I was four. I asked him if he knew what a Christian was. He said no but he can feel it. I asked him what he felt. He said, "The students are very loyal ... Love, kindness." I asked him if he'd like the words, and then tried to explain slowly. Before we entered the store he told me he thought that his country needed more belief in Jesus.
We met with student A over dinner last night. She was so excited to see us and presented us with three very expensive and beautiful gifts.
She shared about how her summer went and then the conversation moved to deeper things. We talked about a book A hopes to write for teenagers some day that will focus on some of the parental child relationships in her society back home. A's father beat her when she was little. She said that that is normal in the country she comes from, that many children are treated like the parents property. She said that it is often in the family line. She hopes to change this. #1 One of my best friend from college called me from overseas today. She told me she and another one of our friends want to start an English training school and have me teach in their country. I don't think too seriously about those requests. I have heard so many over the years. However, I did appreciate it and know I'd love the experience if it were the right timing, someday, simply since the request comes from her. She used to groan when I mentioned God's name. I begged God she'd be stable spiritually after she had become a believer several years after college. Today she was saying, "I wish I'd become a Christian while I was in the states. I feel so much happier now. I feel that the more I know God, the better I am. I tried to convince my Dad to become a Christian. He isn't there yet, but it takes a long time." I wanted to remind her that it isn't all roses so I told her there would be hard times, but God would walk through them with her. "That's life," she said, "Life goes up and down." I was surprised in hearing all this that I wasn't jumping for joy. I think I'm still in shock. She and my other college international friends have been in my prayers for years. I just thank the Lord for His deliverance and the deepening of their relationships with Him. #2 One of the visiting scholars asked me this afternoon, "What's this?" She was pointing to her newly arrived checks that her bank had sent her. I explained what a check was and then wrote up a mock one she could use to write her own. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for teaching me how to do that when I was a teenager! #3 I asked the visiting scholars to bring a dish for a potluck tonight. My co-worker had warned me that they might not know what a potluck was, but I ignored her comment thinking that if the few that had replied knew, they all know. I walked into the building tonight and one of them looked at me and said, "I'm sorry...I misunderstood. I brought a dish, an empty dish." And later three others arrived and pulled out three empty bowls and chopsticks out of a bag. One of them went over to the sink to wash them. I was annoyed for a split second before having to laugh at myself and remember whose fault that was! Luckily we had more than enough food already. #4 International chapel was today. Afterwards, I suggested several of us go out for lunch. Our company consisted of our speaker, Dianna McIntyr, whose position I am currently in at school (she retired this spring), my good friend Maria (formerly from HK), one of the visiting scholars, one of the students and me. The student is someone with whom I have been longing and praying for an opportunity to spend time. It just so happened she came to chapel today! She has a personable and sweet, inviting way about her. After breaking into small groups during one point in the chapel service, she told her small group that she always thought that God was watching her every move and she was quite concerned about that. Now her perspective had changed. We didn't speak of God during lunch, but I did get to learn more about her family and culture. Perfect timing! This is the second God coincidence I had this week. Earlier in the week I was walking into our school cafeteria and, at the same moment I was paying, who did I see but Rich, the same student who, last Saturday after Bible study, asked if I ever ate lunch on campus. I had told him I did, yet I wondered in my mind when I'd have time. Surprise! He, another one of his classmates and I had a wonderful conversation over lunch about life here and in their home town. God answered my prayer that, during a busy time in my life, these two particular connections would be made. I guess I'm never too busy for God to make room for the right people.
#5 One of our believing girls here is really struggling in her faith again. I think I heard her say in my ear "I'm trying to decide if I should be a Christian." We've talked with her a lot about her spiritual struggles and doubts, so many, many times. She's a dear, dear friend and sister, so my heart aches. I love her. Yet I trust God will sustain her and help her to overcome this part of her journey, as He helped me. |
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