May
01
2011
Roy
The next two weeks are finals for most of our students and then for many graduation or at least a break. These are some of the more intense times for students. On of our friends was sharing that he was really worried about selling his car, turning off the electricity, turning off the telephone, planning for his job back home AND finishing finals and graduating. With the clock ticking for them, it is a huge time of stress. Pray, as we say goodbye to many, that God would open up opportunities to talk about Jesus.
- Oral surgery for Roy went very smoothly so far. The doctor was able to both take out the old roots and put in the implant in one procedure. Praise the Lord.
- The situation in Ivory Coast seems to be getting better. Continue to pray for the students from there.
- Several students who are from China are taking it upon themselves ot make sure the China part of the Asia trip goes well. Some are taking time off, letting us stay with them, driving us around.
- Pray for our city mobilizer, Jeff who is struggling with his mother’s health. She just found out that her cancer will probably take her life in the next 6 months or so. Pray for wisdom, grace and peace for him and his family.
- Pray for staff member Laurie who is going to have a cortisone shot in her back to receive back pain. Pray that it goes smoothly.
- Pray as we have end of the year parties, etc. Pray for good final connections, sending off and “commissioning” of believers, etc.
- Pray for someone to help pick up furniture during the summer in preparation for the Big howdy welcome events.
- Pray for the Asia trip. We have only 5 weeks before we get on the plane. We have many details to take care of and we are still short financially in terms of paying for the whole trip. Still we know God will provide and he will take care of the details. Still, there are a lot of moving pieces in this trip because we are not taking tours but meeting many friends, visiting a country winding down from a period of uncertainty, etc. Pray also that we can make a schedule that will work so we can meet the many students we know. Pray for people to stay in our house to care for the pets, etc. Pray for the team to step up in ministry while we are gone.
- Pray for the kids as they prepare to finish the school year and prepare for our BIG TRIP. Pray for peace as they hear all kind of stuff about Japan, etc. Pray also that this will be a significant growing experience for them.
Tags: Asia, China, Ron
Apr
22
2011
Roy
As we celebrate the incredible time of our Savior’s death, burial and resurrection. I just wanted to thank you for helping us to take that gift the the Father gave us in Jesus to the world by means of international students through your prayers. As I share later, even as we pray, (and do other things) we need your prayers so that all that we do are energized and made significant through God’s grace. Nothing we do is of any use without the Father… On the other hand, every thing we do, from the most innocuous-seeming to the most direct, is a Spiritual event if God is in it and through your prayers… that becomes even more ensured. We love and appreciate you all! Some big prayer things this week and more details on some illnesses and fairly immediate prayer needs.
- We met a really cool couple this week who volunteered with ISI in Colorado and just moved nearby to join the Seed company in Arlington. They wanted to volunteer to help. We are very happy to talk with them with the possibility of helping us out there.
- We had the ICF Easter Party at TCU. C-8 and I were able to celebrate with TCU student our Savior’s resurrection day(See pictures). The students enjoyed playing and taking pictures in the wildflowers (blue bonnets), painting egg, decorating cookies but most important hearing the story of Jesus death and resurrection and the effects of that had on our hosts, the Dodges. God was there and touched us in our relationships.
- This week we hosted the ISI National Basic training and most of our team had the opportunity to be a big part of the one week training of our new staff from around the country. This year we had a fairly experienced crew, mostly former missionaries who will be serving in places like Phoenix, Kansas City, New Jersey and Dallas. It was a real blessing to be a part of it. Our own Derrah Jackson led the whole time and each of our team had some role in the actual training process. The students seemed very open to what we were sharing.
- More information on the illness. Ron Bunyard, our staff partner at UTA and a very dear friend of mine was diagnosed with stage 2 prostate cancer. The biopsy revealed that it is a fast growing 8 graded form. The plan right now is to perform surgery in early June (He need to heal from the biopsy before they can go in). Of course we are all concerned and in prayer. God has been working through this in Ron and his family but it has been hard. His daughter, Sarah is also in the process of graduating from UTA. Pray for God’s grace in the medical, emotional/faith and family area of their lives.
- Roy has oral surgery today. No big deal. Just implants for a lost tooth but pray as he goes under for this.
- Pray for our students as it is the end of the semester and the stress of classes starts to get to them. Pray for God’s peace and grace during this time.
- The saga in Japan continues especially in the area where Roy’s relatives are. Pray for a quick resolution to the nuclear crisis. Pray for wisdom on going to the quake/tsunami/nuclear stricken part of the country to visit family and student friends this summer on our Asia mission trip.
- Pray for the student from the Ivory Coast who have been struggling for a while now as their country is in civil war. The banks have been closed and many of them have had to withdraw from school in the middle of the semester because they don’t have any money to pay tuition and more importantly to live. Pray for patience and mercy on the part of the schools and the Immigration service (ICE). Pray for provision of basic needs. Pray for them as many of their families are leaders in their war and could be affected by what is happening there.
Tags: Cancer, Easter, Ron
Apr
09
2011
Roy
This was a difficult week on many fronts for us. There have been many challenges for us and many of those around us: family, friends, co-workers, etc. I have been told that often when one undertakes a spiritual challenge like a prayer emphasis on a campus or trying to spark a spiritual movement in a little reached group, there will be difficulties and challenges. But God placed the passage where Jesus calmed the storm after being sacked out in the back of the boat to remind us that He is in control of all of that and we can be safe even in the midst of storms. I was also challenged by John 15 about the importance of abiding in Christ.
. Chinese class is going well with Wilson.
. It looks like we will be able to visit Charis’ orphanage while in China.
. John was accepted on the Academic Decathlon team and Tim started Boy Scouts last week.
. For those of you who have been praying for Micah Ahern, it was looking bleak last week but this week was very interesting. The test results have been inconclusive which is not at all what was expected. They have decided to monitor him for the time being. You can keep on what is going on at their new blog, ht http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/micahahern/journal http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/micahahern.
. Roy was able to meet with Vritant who is a good friend that he has been able to get to know since the Houston trip. We watched the World Cricket cup championship and hung out at his lab.
. Huge need here. Pray for one of our colleagues as he faces a very significant health challenge. More details to come. Still it was difficult for our team and several of us will need to step up to help take up the slack to help him to focus on healing. Pray for him and his family. Pray also for our team to come around the situation and really be the family that it is.
. There was another earthquake in the area around where my family is. All are well but pray for continued safety and provision for their needs. Pray also that things will clear up by the summer so that we can go and visit them and hopefully minister to them. Pray also for wisdom on if we should go (we a sensing a calling to do so right now as part of our Asia trip and we already have tickets) and pray for how we should go and where in Japan.
. Pray for continued preparation for the Asia trip. HUGE amount of work.
Tags: Earthquake, email, Prayer, Ron, Vritant
Sep
10
2008
yboogie
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….
The highlight of the past two months of student ministry was Big Howdy welcome events that I led in cooperation with 8 other campus ministries and 15 churches. The Big Howdy is a combination of 5 events and services that these ministries and churches come together to serve and welcome new students. Airport pickup served over 100 students; Volunteers took more than 200 students to Wal-Mart; Approximately 115 students received furniture and apartment needs; 350 students attended the welcome party; and 56 students were given a tour of Arlington and Ft. Worth. These events give us a great opportunity to meet new students and make a very positive first impression.
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
Jul
13
2007
yboogie
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
Jul
13
2007
yboogie
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
Apr
13
2007
yboogie
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
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