May 22 2011
Changing of the Guard, Saying goodbye, New opportunities. Getting Ready,
The last couple of weeks have been about helping the students from 2010-2011 school year move forward and beginning the process of welcoming the students from the 2011-2012 school year. Between moving, helping student with airport things, having final coffee’s, lunches, meetings, going to graduations, welcoming new graduate students, etc. its been very interesting and kind of emotionally draining. Add to that the anticipation and big preparations for the Asia trip and some job uncertainty for Lisa and we have been stretched. It is not busyness but the randomness of the time that make it interesting. It has drawn us to depend on God more and more. Thank you all for your regular prayers. It keeps us focused and centered on Christ and His work and the spiritual/tangible effects are clear and definite. Thank you.
We would like to recruit at least 7-14 people who would commit to pray for us on the Asia trip: people who would pray a little each day and who would take one day a week while we prepare and are on the trip (e.g. a Monday).
The TCU Superbowl/Lunar New Year party was a rousing success with probably 30-40 people watching the Superbowl on three large screens at the Moores’ house while we ate from Chinese hot pot. It was especially fun because we also brought some of our UTA student friends and they really connected with their Horned Frog bretheren. A good time was had by all and it built credibility with the students and I think we identified a coupleof people of peace… Oh and we met someone who came from the same small Chinese city that Charis was born.
We were able to take 4 (plus a brother) of my 7 Upward baskeball players to the TCU basketball game. For several, this is their first experience and their eyes were very large. It really built community and trust with the kids. Upwards is a spiritual, outreach oriented basketball league. God is working in the lives of these kids and the team in general teaching them many valuable lessons. There are some very significant personal things happening with these guys and I see my purpose in the team. (even though we haven’t won yet… but that is not the point)
Before and during the meetings, I had to manage the registration and the Dallas side for Houston Space weekend trip that Jeff Newpher, our Houston colleague, hosts for our Dallas team three times a year. I did not personally go, but our TCU, UTD and UT Tyler campuses sent 30+ students with other volunteers on this trip to Space Center Houston and to home stays nearby NASA. They even got to meet a astronaut who shared his story with Jesus as it relates to his space experience. All reports indicate a great experience had by all with terrific conversations about spiritual and heart things. Prayers were important as the weather coming back was bad but everything turned out okay. The difficulty was in the many last minute changes and moving pieces. Praise God for the outcome of it all.
This last week was unusual as my parents arrived on Saturday, the weather took a turn for the worse and so the kids stayed home Tuesday through Friday because of the ice and snow. We had much cabin fever. Still what a blessing for grandparents to have total access for a whole week during what is normally a school week. I love Texas. But the one thing I miss the most of California and the thing that makes me sad is not having my parents near by during this stage of theirs and our kids lives. So this was special. Praise the Lord for His planning. Dad also turned 75 during this time but he insisted on cleaning up and building shelving for my garage during much of this time in the cold. He is awesome and he makes me so proud and appreciative on so many levels.
Had some positive news when I went in for some medical tests recently. I have a hearthy and strong heart. Praise the Lord.
The TCU Christmas party was wonderful with over 35 students hosted at the home of Dick and Dale Dodge. They got a wonderful taste of Christmas hospitality, enjoyed the Christmas story and were graced by Dick’s testimony. I got to know three Chinese students well. Interestingly, one of them, who identified himself as a believer is the son of a former seeker Chinese EMBA student from UTA who was affected by that ministry. What a neat opportunity to see the long term effect of what we do.
Lisa and I attended a party with our EMBA friends from this year. What a blessing it was. We truly felt like family with this group. The students led us as we sang Christ centered Christmas carols. That was incredible. I don’t think I have every felt such a sense of good with with a large group of students like I have with this group. Our daughter Charis even felt like a little sister to every one of them.
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After a wonderful meal, we had everyone share something they are thankful for. It was neat hearing the student’s hearts. We learned about parents, friends here, opportunities. Our Turkish friend just got married in her country just before she came. Then my son took out the Risk board and we played a ruthless game of world domination…:-) One comment hit me. A student commented… “I feel like I am at home… eating dinner… playing games together… Oh I miss this.” (The jist of it…) Wow that was awesome.
The thanksgiving party went very well. We had nearly 100 students (
It’s been a couple of weeks since our last message. A ton has happened in the mean time. I will jump directly to the praise and prayer reports. I hope this message finds all of you well.
The Fall festival at Christ Church Assembly of God was wonderful as 20 of us (Americans and international students) volunteered at this event. The students were truly amazed by it. One Chinese student was amazed that someone other than the government sponsored something like this for the community. He was touched. We have learned that in China volunteerism is in its infant stages and so this was a paradigm shifting activity for them.
Space weekend in Houston was probably our best yet. We took 50+ students and volunteers from UTA & SMU and we were hosted by our ISI team in Houston and Seabrook United Methodist Church. After visiting the space center, we were able to take pictures with an astronaut who spent more than a year up in the space station and then the students stayed with host families. I had the privledge of driving an Indian, two Russian, one Mexican and one Turkish students. They had a wonderful time! By the end of trip, there was sadness to leave their host families and I really felt like the people in our car were like family to us. God clearly spoke to them to show them his love for them.
The T4T discipleship group at TCU has started and we have met three times already (on Fridays). To see what God is going in the hearts of the different members of the group. It has been a real blessing. Further I am learning so much that can be applied to future groups.
Pray for TCU’s Thankgiving event hosted by McKinney Memorial Bible church also on the 20th as the students visit various homes.
Sitting here, thinking about what to put in this prayer update, I realize I could tell you about many events, such as the Big Howdy party that drew more than 500 international students, the annual Stephenville campout, where students got to stay on a real cowboy ranch and get a real Texas experience as well as a chance to hear the gospel, about the awesome Friday night groups in which many students are participating in Discovery Bible Study, as often as not led by a student, about the special training that some of the believing students are getting to develop them into Christian leaders, Roy & Tim’s scout adventure, our sharing at VBS at Calvary Church in California.
But instead I’d like to share about some things that God is teaching me lately. It mostly has to do with the nature of faith, believing God even when I don’t know what He’s up to. Lately some of the most challenging conversations I’ve had about God have been with my own kids. Our oldest is sorting through a lot of ideas right now, forming his world view. He’s being influenced by music and ideologies that dance around the truth (this is a really messed up world), but don’t offer a satisfying solution. He’s skeptical whether the Christian faith really offers that solution either. I’ve had to understand that no one comes to God unless the Father draws him. God doesn’t beckon us with logical arguments. . . he beckons us with authentic relationship.
I’m also being challenged in how to respond to Roy when I’m feeling the strain of our busy schedule. It’s so easy to lash out and be angry at our mates when we’re under stress, but I recently was at a women’s event where the speaker reminded us of the importance of the soft answer. It’s hard to work as a team when we are blaming each other. Instead, we (okay, I) need to be slower to take offense and quicker to affirm that I want to work together, not against each other.
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