Garage Sales, Rides to Walmart, Airport Pickups, all signs that the school year is about to begin. When I look at my calendar this last week, it is full of Big Howdy events where we welcomed students to local universities for the first time. Many are still looking for apartments. Many still have many needs that can be met by our volunteer teams of local believers. Keep on praying for this important time.
The Big Howdy (www.utabighowdy.com) garage sale went very smoothly though we were short on volunteers. Still contacts were made. Over 100 students were picked up from the airport. Over 100 students were taken to Walmart. (Arlington is the biggest city in America with no mass transit) More items donated by people form area churches were sold to students for incredible prices ($10 for a couch?) than ever. Two things left… 600+ people Big Howdy Party & the Tour around Arlington. (with 92 people already signed up with space for only 50) Praise the Lord.
Pray for one of our good friends and former team members Maurice & Linda Ahern. Maurice’s father if fighting cancer. Linda is expecting and is due in November. The Aherns had to return to Florida from overseas assignment because their young son (15 months I believer) was diagnosed with cancer in the spinal chord. Things are looking a little better as far as Micah (their son) is concerned but still very serious. So much to pray for for them. including their other kids adjusting to suddenly being back.
I have been a bit behind in my blogging so the next few posts come from our prayer e-mail. This will keep you in touch with what is going on with us and how to pray!
One of the difficult things for me this time of year is that everyone is running on frantic, in a focused manner because we all know this is the most important part of the year. The relationships we make this time of year determine how the rest of the year goes, at least the next semester go. The busyness of it all drive us to become focused on doing… getting the job done. Some times we feel frustration from volunteers, other times we are excited about new students we meet. other times we feel like we just can’t do enough to keep up. For those of us with a base performance frame, it’s exhilirating but and intoxicating at the same time.
I’ve struggled with maintaining a grace orientation, one that rests on God’s work in and through me. Yet, it is especially important to see life that way this time of year. I often miss God’s plan in all the encounters and inconveniences during this time of year. I often miss the people of peace right in front of my face, I miss the life lesson my kids are shogin me right now… My desire is to walk expectantly with job and yet I often find myself expecting God to walk according to my latest plan and organizational strategy.
Hi all. I received this message as a follow up to VBS from one of the associate pastors at Calvary Church who helped us last week . His young daughter was a part of VBS and this is what he shared with us… (names changed)
Roy,
Happy Saturday to you! Our babysitter passed on this e- mail to us a couple of days ago about our daughter Laura telling her about happy eyes. I thought I would pass it on to you guys to let you know what an impact you have had on our Church and my kids! In fact, my daughter Laura spelled out Y-a-b-u-k-i with refrigerator magnets last weekend and it is still up there in your honor, hahaha.
Anyways, check this out:
Hi Y’all, I just had to email you tonight before I went to bed…I want you to know how much I am truly blessed by Laura every time I am around her (yes Peter is a sweetheart as well ) But I sincerely believe God speaks through your little sweet Laura . Its like she always has some words of wisdom for me, and I am always truly encouraged and sometimes convicted by the words she says to me. Tonight at dinner this is what she told me “We had missionaries come to out church and tell us how to talk to people who are different then us. We should have happy eyes with them, and always smile, and say hello, and then learn their language to say hello, then tell them about Jesus.” Now I don’t know how, when or who might have discussed with her these things, but either way, it sunk in with her little sweet spirit and truly made me think. When she used the word “happy eyes” it made me think about how often we don’t look at someone with the right perspective, we don’t know if they know Jesus or not, and to be able to approach them with the right loving perspective is the right way to do it. I wanted to you both to know how encouraging it is to me to see that from her heart, the sincerity and the simple faith of a child, tugs and my heart, and brings joyful tears to my eyes.
Today was a cools day at vbs. The theme was God changes lives and we showed Yoshi Yutani’s testimony and Johnny Jon taught about conversation tennis. It was really fun and the kids were so responsive. Many were doing their homework (meeting people) and they all have this starstruck whenever they see us and especially Johnny Jon in public. FUN!
I heard that kids were also making decisions for Jesus all over the campus. We will probably hear more later today.
After while the kids were in main group, former Rams lineman, NFL Hall of Famer and FOX/ESPN commentator Jackie Slater came up to us to tell us how much he appreciated what we were doing and how well we were connecting with his guys. I was starstuck then. It was cool. Now I need a long nap
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Who are the Yabukis
When Lisa and Roy were married, they shared a common commitment to serving God crossculturally through their family. They currently both serve international students through ISI and live in Arlington, Texas with their three children.
) But I sincerely believe God speaks through your little sweet Laura . Its like she always has some words of wisdom for me, and I am always truly encouraged and sometimes convicted by the words she says to me. Tonight at dinner this is what she told me “We had missionaries come to out church and tell us how to talk to people who are different then us. We should have happy eyes with them, and always smile, and say hello, and then learn their language to say hello, then tell them about Jesus.” Now I don’t know how, when or who might have discussed with her these things, but either way, it sunk in with her little sweet spirit and truly made me think. When she used the word “happy eyes” it made me think about how often we don’t look at someone with the right perspective, we don’t know if they know Jesus or not, and to be able to approach them with the right loving perspective is the right way to do it. I wanted to you both to know how encouraging it is to me to see that from her heart, the sincerity and the simple faith of a child, tugs and my heart, and brings joyful tears to my eyes. 
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