Meeting the Grinch

October 15 may seem to early for a Christmas party, but not when you are ministering amongst international students. Over this past semester we have hosted News_Watch here in Palmerston North.

It is an English conversation programme that helps second language students learn Kiwi culture, English and increase their vocabulary and listening skills. They watch two pre-recorded NZ national news stories (two times), writing down what they understood from the story. Then we split into small groups or one-to-one and have them tell us when they understood, then define the words, phrases, talk about culture, etc. It is a wonderful programme founded by ISM staff, Rey & Liza Enriquez, in Wellington.

One of the stories early this semester was about the NZ dollar exchange rate, and they said, "don't let the Grinch steal your Christmas joy". That led to discussion about the famous (in America and the west) children's story and we decided early on to have a Grinch Christmas party as the last gathering before exams.

Yes, my Christmas tree is up! It is beautiful! And the students LOVE it. A great time was had by all. 7 mainland Chinese students, an Iranian PhD couple, and two firey Brazilians along with our helpers had a great time. One of the Massey University International Student Office members came (Olive) and her hubby (and previous ISM intern) Denis. What a blessing. It was fun to talk of our Christmas customs, as well as explain more of what Christmas means to the follower of Christ.

They particularly enjoyed a look at some of the lines in the song from the Grinch. Whether Dr. Suess wrote the song, or someone else - whoever wrote it had a pretty strong grasp on the condition of man's heart!

You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch. You're the king of sinful sots.

Your heart's a dead tomato splot with mouldy purple spots, Mr. Grinch.

Your soul is an appalling dump heap overflowing with

the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable,

mangled up in tangled up knots.

Just as the Grinch's heart must have been two sizes two small (and the heart of man is really just a stone), so understanding the Way, the Truth and the Life that Jesus brought into the world in His birth, life, death and resurrection - changes the heart and definitely makes it grow three sizes on the day when faith enters the new heart of flesh.

They are all looking forward to attending News_Watch next year. Please pray for this special ministry, and for our relationships to grow, that they may come to know the love of Jesus personally - not just through us.