One more friend?

I received an email about a resource that I wanted to pass on to people who are heading off to college and university. Check it out at www.onemorefriend.org. It is a website that encourages Christians on campus to reach out to international students. These foreigners are quite possibly more lonely, scared, and disoriented than those of you who are freshmen, at college for the first time.

I camped on this topic quite a bit in my Missions class. Each of us has a mission field where we are. For those of you who are going to college, your mission field can reach into other countries without you having to step off your native soil. Remember that these students could be great evangelists when they return home!

Make a friend with someone from another culture. Many of you have heard it said, “You may be the only Jesus they will ever meet”.

Prayer Request

We have had a lot going on lately. Tom has been extremely busy in August, hosting a mission team, teaching ESL and the book of Mark, settling incoming students, and most recently, shuttling visitors back and forth to the hospital for a student who had his appendix removed! I have been busy (just) being a Mom and helping in the Children’s ministry at church. September should settle down a bit. Phew!

Along with this, we feel that we are facing some big decisions, especially concerning the girls’ schooling. We are happy enough (and so are they) at their current school. They are fluent in Spanish for their age, their teachers say, which is a great accomplishment. Rekha has good friends. Neena has started to write in Spanish, with no teaching from me. But, we wonder if they would be better educated at home. We are excited to try it out, both Tom and I.

We have a lot of homeschooled students come through Portantorchas, and almost unanimously, they have been great! We would love our girls to turn out like them! They are socially mature and caring, diligent, and well-educated. (Kudos to their parents!).

I have been resting in this verse lately, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4) This is my prayer. I don’t want to fear the results of homeschooling, the responsibility, or having my girls with me all day!

Would you please pray for us in this area? We want to do what is best for our girls. Who better to guide us than the ONE who sees the end from the beginning, and everything in between!

Thank you.

P.S. If any of you have any advice or stories, please write to us!

The kindness of strangers

I was at the grocery store yesterday with Jayna. The man in line behind us offered a roll of Lifesavers to Jayna, and she readily accepted it, saying “Gracias”. He told the cashier to put the candies on his bill and told Jayna, “Just don’t eat the whole roll at once!”

I left the store feeling quite overwhelmed. This has never happened before! What was this gentleman’s motive? Just trying to make a little girl happy? We left the store and I saw the man get into his old car and drive off. What am I supposed to learn from this? All I can think of is that these little acts of kindness remind me of the goodness in the world and the generosity of strangers.

The way that we react to situations and people in life speaks of what we value, whether we realize it or not! Why not share something simple, a little kindness? The more you practice, the easier it will get. The chance to be a blessing to someone will no doubt put a smile on their face – and on yours!