Oct 31 2008
Praise and Prayer
We are grateful for everyone who lifts up this ministry before the Lord and contributes their resources so students can be impacted. Recently we have seen the power of prayer in some key areas. Our colleague Ron was able to lead Alex, a newly arrived student from South Korea, to Christ within weeks of his arrival. Their relationship started with an early morning airport pickup and coffee that led to their first spiritual conversation. Also, Lisa has been able to minister to Grace, an older student experiencing some adjustment difficulties. After a week of intense prayer for her, it seemed that some of her depression had lifted and we saw joy in her expression. Praise the Lord! You also might remember Ting, a student from Taiwan who came to Christ earlier this year. We have learned that he is now studying in Australia, and our friends the Phillips’ have been able to connect him to a church in that country.
Continue to pray as we juggle ever-increasing family responsibilities with daily ministry realities. Now that Roy is helping a lot with the TCU ministry, we sometimes feel our time is divided between 2 campuses. On October 31, we were able to combine the two groups and help with a fall festival at a church in Fort Worth. Regarding TCU, praise God for bringing Cassie on staff as an ISI intern there now that the Willis’ are leaving. She is also getting married in January, so has a lot of transitions to look forward to.
Please pray for Lisa as she ministers to Grace and also to Carol, a new believer and young mother from Taiwan, married to a UTA professor. Also keep Charlotte in your prayers. She and husband Canon have returned to Taiwan for an extended visit and for Charlotte to get some medical testing. Though she isn’t yet a believer, she is trusting God for answers to some perplexing problems. Pray that He reveals Himself mightily in her situation. We are also excited about a young student couple from Iran who have been coming to Bible study. Pray that God would soften their hearts to the gospel.
Lastly we covet your prayers for our family. We are adjusting to teaching J-12 (7th grade) at home this year through a virtual academy. Though we have had some struggles, it seems that things are starting to smooth out. Pray that we’ll have patience with him and that he’ll have a good attitude. He has also transitioned into the youth ministry at our church. T-8 (3rd grade) finished a season of kid-pitch baseball this fall that was challenging for him, but we’re proud of him for sticking with it and seeing his skills improve. He also got baptized in October. It was a special day because Roy got to baptize him. Pray for him as he learns to live out his faith, especially with difficult kids at school. C-5 is doing well in kindergarten and has made some new friends. It’s exciting to see her learning how to read and write. Sometimes she struggles with thinking we love her less than her brothers. Pray that she will know that we love all of our children equally, and especially that she will know she is loved by God.
One thing we have learned about international student ministry over the years is that it really is a team effort. We have some wonderful volunteers who contribute to our Friday night dinners and Bible studies. RutheAnn Aldridge, for example, is indispensible. She comes to all the planning meetings and prepares the meal for about 30 students and volunteers once a month. She helps with rides from the university to our house every Friday, and is involved with leading discussion groups and Bible studies on a regular basis.
We have an incredible team with deep passions and incredible abilities. Each of our team members shared things that were most on their hearts as we followed the ministry values we identified as essential in international student ministry (see picture on left). Here is a sampling of the topics: “Prayer and Trusting God: Who’s Ministry is it Anyway?” – Ron Bunyard & Derrah Jackson, ” The Power of Loving People Well” – Jeff Anthony & Roy, “Passing it On: Discipleship and passing on the the Vision” – Ray Cotton, “Innovation in Touching Lives: The Product of Grace Enabled Spirit Powered Teamwork” – Roy. As you you can see, the focus was on fundamentals of international student ministry but we also made an emphasis on innovation but around the core. Our long term vision it to see every international student have the opportunity to taste the love of Christ in some way through interaction with the Body in some way.
Last weekend was a full and exciting weekend as Lisa’s mom and aunt came and visited us. They were on their way to a weekend vacation together in Branson, Missouri. It was a wonderful time seeing them as we had many deep and insightful discussions about education, family, etc. It was really nice having family here to talk with 
share with, be together. In addition, Roy had the privledge of baptizing T-8 at our church. That was really a wonderful and intimate honor to help my son as he publically declared his status as also my brother in Christ.
The week of October 4-12 was truly a weekend for family around here. Roy’s parents arrived on the 3rd and came to visit us until the 12th. The had not been out here in over two years and so it was a real treat to have them around. The kids had a blast. Playing with grandpa & grandma. They were eating things they normally don’t and doing things that we were amazed to see.
The week started on Saturday with Family Weekend at TCU. This is the weekend at TCU where parents are encouraged to visit in a sort of “open house.” There are dinners, etc. capped off with the football game with the San Diego State Aztecs. Because most of the international students are not able to have their parents come, we annually host a tailgate party and trip to the football game for our international friends. What an auspicious thing that my parents were here too. We all went and enjoyed food and fun. My parents were even able to connect with several new Japanese students who might visit them some time in California. In addition, Dad, T-8 and I went to the Horned Frog football game where we watched them annihilate the 
Aztecs. It was fun watching T-8 & Dad at the game enjoying football, for T-8 the first time… we sat next to the players tunnel and next to the “Frog Horn.” Every time there was a Frog score, this loud horn blew right next to us. T-8 also got to high five the players on their way out and we got to together enjoy the fireworks demonstration after the game. I think it was a joy for both me and my dad to watch the wonder in Tim’s (and the students’) eyes.
One of the blessings of my parents coming over is that my garage and house are always better than before they came. This was no exception. My dad and I compiled a list of things that needed to be done and we accomplished a lot. Here are just some of the things we did: the gate next to our house was rebuit, the patio ceiling was fixed, the toilet seats were replaced, the soap dish in the tile of our bath was put back up, our back yard was cleared of extra vegetation, the hedges of our front yard were shaped into bonsai, our hot pot was decalcified AND my garage was cleaned. Mostly done by my 72 year old father though I did help a little.l It was just incredible… What a blessing my parents are in so many ways.
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