And, we're off! The school year has begun and I am excited for what God has in store for us. We have a very strong student leadership team in place, new friendship partners and volunteers, a new charter, an adequate budget... and a lot of enthusiasm :)
Highlights.
- We kicked off the new year with an all-hands prayer meeting the first week of August. I have been a Christian for 40 years and I still don't fully understand all the aspects of prayer but I know it works, I know it is critical, I know it blesses the Lord and I know it sure blesses us. This was no exception and it was great to be united with everyone as we prayed for all the schools from a shared heart.
- The next week we met to assemble all the Welcome Packets with the student leaders and the following week we gave them out to all the students at Student Orientation. I must say I was sure energized by seeing all the students back and the great turnout at our table. We had 45 new students sign-up :)
- At Student Orientation I re-introduced myself to the school International Adviser and she remembered me and when I offered her our assistance she responded favorably that she had plans to email me with ways we could help her. I also met the University official for student clubs and went over our club charter situation from last year and she explained why it had been revoked and how we could easily get it reinstated by the end of this week. She was very supportive and engaging. Both of these great interactions with the university were a result of all the prayer, I believe.
- Leadership appreciation dinner at my house was just great. 9 of the leaders from our Friday night Fellowship outreach and Bible study came. We just ate and then laughed a lot and hung out. One of the students brought his guitar, and it turns out I am learning as well, and we ended up in a spontaneous praise and worship session that lasted an hour. Such a blessing to me.
- As I mentioned we have new friendship partners and volunteers this year. At least 6 that I am aware of. One Indian couple wanted to work with the Indian students. Well, if you recall, that was a focus of mine last year and I did a lot of the groundwork tilling the soil to meet and connect with about 40 Indian students. I had saved all of their contact info and my notes and was able to turn that list over to the new volunteer and 8 of them came to his house for dinner before the first day of class :) Little did I know last year the work I was doing was going to be fruitful for someone coming on this year. The Lord did.
- It appears that one of our leaders at Folsom Lake College is going to take some time off to care for her aging mother. She asked if I would take her place. I said I would pray about it but I think my face told her - definitely yes! They have a smaller population of international students there but I think I could do a lot with the little there since I am so close. I have done youth groups for years sometimes when I had only 1-2 students. I am convinced that I should never 'despise the day of small things.' (Zech 4:10) God does huge things from the 'day of small things.'
- I am so happy with the 4 student officers we elected from last Spring. They are hitting the ground running and it is obvious they are excited for this year and the role they will play. At the leadership meeting last Friday, everyone was going around sharing personal prayer request and Nataliya (our club president) said- I just have a praise! We met with the head of student clubs and she told us how our club will be reinstated and that we should plan on being at her Nuts and Bolts workshop for new club members and officers. She was beaming :)
Lowlights.
- We found out a month ago that our club president from last year had sort of dropped the ball in getting the Student Clubs and Leadership office all the necessary documentation to get our club charter approved and our club reinstated. Strict non-discrimination policies had been rolled out last year at all California colleges and Christian clubs took the brunt of it because of being perceived as not LGBT friendly. However, God quickly turned this lowlight into a highlight when I met the university representative and she received me favorably and gently explained the verbiage and commitments she was looking for, which I provided her immediately.
Story 1 - University Officials
This is the first month that I am not sharing a story about a student. As you can tell from above, I am more excited, and surprised, by the interaction I had with the university at Student Orientation. Things were a tad bleak in my mind about our charter still being revoked prior to the school year starting. That evaporated quickly when I met the university officials for both the Club and International advising. Maybe that was just a blessing for me but it really lifted my spirit and got me off on the right foot and I can't wait to start our Talk Time this Thursday knowing everything appears to be falling into place. Thank you for your prayers!
Metrics
http://isiervthomas.weebly.com/metrics
http://www.ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Document/2015/by-the-numbers.pdf
http://sites.google.com/site/csusweave/
Pics
Prayer Requests
- For the student in Bethany's group that is getting closer to the Lord. That God would open her eyes and heart so she can understand fully His open arms to her and run into them... soon.<<Not yet, but she is still moving in the Lords direction>>
- For our leadership teams, at all our schools, to get ready and excited for the coming year. That God would 'show us the way should go,' and we walk in it. Our entire team kickoff meeting is Aug 7. <<Yes! Answered>>
- Reinstatement of our club charter so we can meet in a classroom once again. <<We took a big step back when we found out our club president hadnt done all we thought but God quickly made 'beauty from ashes' as the university official received me favorably and helped me fix everything. We should have the final answer this week>>
- International student orientation occurs in 3 more weeks. This is one of our regular pivotal events to meet all the new students, introduce ourselves and our ministry and present them with giveaways that will bless them and help them to remember us. Pray that our charter is reinstated so that we can actually have our booth in front of the orientation room and not outside. Pray the students would be attracted to us and see the light for them in our eyes <<Yes! Gave out 75+ Welcome Packets. Obtained 45 club registrations. Easily talked to well over 100 students with great rapport and interaction. New charter is completed and is in review with the Club office>>
- Our new charter to be approved this week
- A strong turnout at all our events as we start the year
- The success of a new ministry we are introducing called Write Time. We have found that there is a large group of students, primarily Indian, who speak English very well but still need lots of help writing English. Not just resumes and cover letters and emails. This is an area where we can definitely meet another need.
Admonition
“When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, ' Do you wish to get well?' " - John 5:6