Yabuki Breeze Blog

April, 2007 – Norm Sonju, founder of the Dallas Mavericks NBA team, headlined a banquet (see pictures and video) that ISI and several other organizations in Arlington hosted for the thirty Executive MBA students who are at UTA from China.

There are 30 Chinese executives from the top companies in China who who are studying at UTA for one year to receive their MBA. The “Your Texas Friends” Team which includes ISI hosted a banquet for them at the end of April to welcome them. The featured speaker was Norm Sonju, founder and former general manager of the Dallas Mavericks. He shared his story about how he started the team, etc.

The students also were treated to a video with highlights of their first semester . and they were able to hear some christian music by a local church and wonderful chinese opera by one of the EMBA students. Finally, the team leader of the EMBA program shared a message of thanks to the “Your Texas Friends” Team. (see video) Food was provided by David’s Barbeque and China Chef.

Norm Sonju and all the other 130 american businessmen and families were obviously connecting well with the 30 students. It was incredible to see. One lawyer shared that it was incredible how God put him next to a Chinese Lawyer and how it make it wonderful to connect. Praise the Lord for all that God did in this special time. Pray also for the relationships formed to blossom and for God to work through all that happened this weekend.

Tags: EMBA, Norm Sonju, UTA

In western business golf has played an important part in developing relationships and sealing deals. The executive MBA student/executives from China who are studying at UTA got a sense of this and asked ISI volunteer/partner, Steve Schimer if he knew how to play golf. They wanted to learn. He arranged for ISI staff, and golf lover, Ron Bunyard to give them lessons.

Roy was able to join the second practice session several weeks ago in Arlington and he was told that several of the Chinese executives who were in the EMBA program were given country club memberships in their home land as a perk for reaching their high position in their companies back home and to facilitate communication. One problem. They didn’t know how to play golf.

Steve arranged for a couple of these men to learn from Ron at a local driving range and by the next time over 10 people came. The students loved it and really practiced between classes. One student commented to Ron, “I always want to play with you when I play golf.”

The long term goal of this endeavor is to develop deeper relationships with these special students and to introduce them to other Christians to whom they can get close to also. According to Ron, the next step is to get them to a par 3 course to learn the ettiquete of golf, get them on a regular course in foursomes with American Christians including pastors available during the week who have an interest in building relationships. Finally, perhaps there can be an opportunity to allow them to hear from a PGA pro about his faith.

It is amazing to see how God made all this happen from just a single comment!!!!

Tags: EMBA, Golf, Ron

There are over 900 international students each at two of the community colleges in the area. At one campus over half are from the little reached country of Nepal. We don’t have anyone working there? Why? Without the manpower and the difficulty in reaching community colleges because of their commuter nature, we have not been able to plant a team in the community colleges. Yet we have continued to pray.

With much prayer, God moves in special ways. Just recently, there has been movement in several colleges and churches nearby. One notable example is at Northlake College. They have over 900 international students. The international student office recently approached ISI to help start a program for international students, to help them to adjust and learn about our culture. At the same time, Irving Bible Church, just around the corner from Northlake indicated interest in ministering to international students with ISI as the go between and coach. It seems like a match made in heaven… literally. This ministry opportunity is still in its infant stages, but there is great potential. Please pray that God may work out the details to make all this happen.

Tags: DCCCD, Irving Bible Church, Northlake

April 2007 -

T-6’s season started up again after many rain cancellations and he went out and scored a run!! Good job T-6. (Check out Pics) The same weekend, J-10 went on his second camping trip with his scout troop, this time with dad. They went canoeing. It was windy but really fun!!! (Check out pics)

Tags: Baseball, camping, scouts

Apr 2007 – Late Saturday night the phone rang. I(Roy) didnt’t recognize the number on the caller ID. A young lady identified herself as the president of the Fine Arts Society of India(FSI) at UTA. They were having a special cultural performance, Sangam with the India Musical Arts and Culture Society(IMACS) and they wanted to personally invite me as their guest as a gesture of thanks for help in the past… I asked when it was going to be… “On Sunday night at 5:30 PM.” After clearing with Lisa, I said yes and thus began a wonderful adventure. (See Pictures)

Sangam refers to Tamil academies, which according to Tamil legends, enabled poets and authors to gather periodically to publish their work. At UTA it figuratively presents the idea of many types of poeple getting together to share a little bit of their culture. For a country with over 2000 people groups(more numbers on India) and numerous lanugages, this idea of unity in the midst of diversity is very important.

As I arrived at the event at UTA after a busy day of ministry, I wasn’t sure who I was supposed to meet. I was told they were going to waive the entry fee and after meeting the president herselve, they did. At first, the only person I recognized was an Iranian student (of all places) who went on the Tejas Spring Break retreat. By the time the night was over the Rosebud Theater was filled beyond its 460 person capacity – standing room only.

There was a delightful mix of traditional and modern Indian acts put on by the students. There was dancing and music from several of the major Indian cultures. There was even a presenation by some of the Christian Indians.

There was a surprise half way through the four hour event when they asked me to come up and receive a gift from the two organizations and their advisor as a token of thanks for all the help we have given them over the last few years. What an honor.

One of the things we have been trying to do is to develop a relationship of trust within the 1500 strong Indian community and I think this shows that we are moving toward that end. More important, God placed in my heart a greater appreciation for the Indian cultures and the diversity and beauty of them. I was touched by this gesture… Praise the Lord.

Tags: Indian, Sangam, UTA