Yabuki Breeze Blog

One of the real blessings in my role as City Director is to hear the reports from our local team about what God is doing and it gives me a chance to see the big picture of the direction God is taking us. Here is a sample from Ron Bunyard’s report from August. I gave you a preliminary version earlier. Here is the full one….

Along with these events, I had the opportunity to speak to over 200 new Indian students and welcome them to our campus. I challenged them to get involve with making American friends and let them know that our Big Howdy team was the way to do that. I also was able to speak to over 100 new ELI (English Language Institute) students and welcome them as we continue to grow our relationship with the this very important group of students.
God has also given me a Korean student, an Indian student and a Nepali student to lead in Bible study and discipleship. Our weekly Friday night dinner, English discussions and Bible discussion are off to a great start.  The first two weeks we have averaged 28 students. More importantly, the spirit of the group is wonderful and real community continues to be developed.
One weakness so far is our ICF ministry with Christian students. We have lost our leadership in this group and God is yet to provide new leadership. We are working to get this group off the ground this school year.

Praise the Lord for what he is doing!!!

Tags: Big Howdy, Report, Ron, UTA

Arlington Park Baptist Church had people who had a heart for international students. Many of them had much experience but they wanted to partner with ISI to more strategically reach students. Thus came the partnership that resulted in a special July 4 party for UTA ELI students.

Ron Bunyard coordinated ISI’s involvment with APBC Missions Pastor Robert Smith, long time international student lay minster Pot Samermit and Roy’s mentor Al Kawamoto and around 20 student and many more church family members interacted, played games, etc. It was a great opportunity to break the ice with several new students. The whole Yabuki family was able to be at this party of students and families.

ISI is always open to partnering with other churches and organization to reach international students because it is our goal to touch EVERY international student and we can’t do it alone.

Tags: 2007, Arlington Park, July 4, Ron, Summer

July 2007 – (pictures) “International Students want to serve the community…” the conversation Ron had with the new UTA ICF president kind of went. Ron took that to heart and was able to set up a situation for them to work with Habitat for Humanity to help build a house for a low income family. Just that week, the small group the Yabukis’ are a part of at Fielder Road Baptist church were looking for volunteers for a Habitat for Humanity missions project. ISI linked the two and the rest is history.

The Habitat for Humanity trip with UTA students was well received by the students and the Americans. Our students were really touched by the experience and said they had a great time. For many of them, this is the first time they did this sort of work (e.g. painting, powertools, siding, etc.) These were believing and unbelieving students and many were touched by the opportunity to serve.

The Christian students saw a different way to serve the Lord. The unbelieving students were able to see Christian faith in action. It was a perfect match. Ron sees this type of ministry as an opportunity for future ministry to disciple Jesus followers and to expose eager non-Jesus followers to genuine Christian worldview in action.

Tags: Fielder, Habitat for Humanity, House, ICF, Ron, 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