TESTIMONY OF AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GRADUATE

Enid, me and Mai at Yvette's wedding
22 November 2008

Hellothere. There are so many reasons that I LOVE being called to this ministry to international students, and more particularly - being able to serve so many young women who are seeking to know Christ and grow in their relationship with God. One of the main focuses of the ISM vision is the emphasis on "helping international students become life-long followers of Jesus... (thereby) reaching their home nations for Him".

To give you a glimpse of one such "returnee" who is making a difference, I'd like to share a testimony with you that was received from on of my daughters and disciples, Enid. "Enido" as we referred to her on the mission trip to Japan in 2006, went through a lot to get her Aviation Management degree here in New Zealand. Without too much detail, due to some serious circumstances with family back home in 2005, she nearly failed out of the degree programme. But, several ISM staff and family got behind her and met with the academic board to support her committment to education, and her heart for aviation. This resulted in a one year leave of absence to care for family in Samoa, and the approval to return to complete her degree. Well, she came back and earlier this year completed her degree, and has started a strong career in Aviation Management. Enid is a blessing, who changes the character of a room by entering in. She's got a missionary gift and makes people from every culture feel like they are important. Here is a praise story from her. By way of introduction, she is a creative writer too, and has some poems published in a book:

Hello academics and friends,

This is an update on what's happening to our 'Raw Edges' book in Samoa. Last week at work (airport), I managed to secure a place to serve the Deputy Prime Minister (Misa.Telefoni.Retzlaff), politician, businessman, writer and family man, since he was the VIP of the day. I served him coffee and managed to sneak him a copy of our book, since he has a reputation for loving literature/any writing.

Mainly, I wanted him to endorse a scholarship to do a Postgraduate diploma with the Singapore Aviation Academy early next year, but remembered to bring a Raw edges copy along. Anyway, he told me he would get back to me about the scholarhsip. Friday of the same week, his secretary called for a meeting with him 2 days ago (monday).

I went along and we spent about an hour discussing poetry! which i don't read a lot of. He asked me if I had given a copy of the book to thier highnesses (Head of State , King Tupua Tamasese and his wife). It all gets interesting because I was a former English student of the Queen while i was in highschool. i told him I intended to see them but have been waiting for thier secretary to get back to me. DPM immediatly had his secretary call the king's secretary if it's possible for me to see the king straight away. God allowed it and so i went to see the king.

we chatted for a few hours and he was proud to have a youngster(me) come to see him about such matters. he encouraged me to continue writing and they (DPM) and King would be happy to endorse the book when it comes out. DPM then told me to go and visit the Prime minister since he is the chairman of the scholarship committe. Evening of the same day, I saw him and was told that his secretary will schedule a meeting for a scholarship interview, so am waiting.

But all things considered, our book has gone the furthest and highest it can go over here. So thank you for all your support and prayers, for God has shown such favours for me to stand in front of kings and leaders all in one day and with open doors.This is evident that coffee serving leads to Kings.

God Bless
Enid

Thankful, Grateful, Humbled, Blessed

As I pause to make this latest post, I imagine families in the USA travelling near and far to gather for Thanksgiving soon. I can almost smell the turkey and feel the after dinner bloating and snoozing during college football.

Despite all the craziness of this past year... losing loved ones, saying goodbye, new leaders in several nations, a national and global economic melt down, wars and rumours of wars - I am still beyond thankful for life and love.

As you read this... stop for a moment and think about what you can thank God for! Sure, there are circumstances and fears and tragedies in our lives that cause us to often be angry at God, or in extreme cases deny that He is loving or even exists. But put that aside for a moment and reflect on your life. Did you wake up today with breath in your lungs? Do you have food in your stomach? Do you have cloths for your back? Do you have indoor plumming? A refridgerator? iPod? Cell phone? Computer? TV?

I could go on, but over the past year I have been reminded that rather than being thankful, I am a whiner! Even though I've learned to make due on very little and my home is falling apart a bit like an old car that needs maintenance, I still hear my own voice saying, "I want a better house. I want a husband. I want a Lexus. I, Me, My..."

I am thankful that God has called me to this life. Every day I wake up in a beautiful place, in the comfort of my own home, with the sounds of the Tui bird haunting me. I am greeted everyday by the love and smiles of people from many nations. I am sorry that I am such a whiner!

So in keeping with the season, I encourage you to reflect on all that you have been given. And, if things have been taken away (and this year that has included 401K$, money, loved ones, jobs, etc.) stop for a moment and realise - you are still alive! Thank God for the strength He has given you to survive the hardships. I want to encourage you with this passage from the Bible (James 1:2-12):

Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do. 9 Christians who are poor should be glad, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should be glad, for God has humbled them. They will fade away like a flower in the field. The hot sun rises and dries up the grass; the flower withers, and its beauty fades away. So also, wealthy people will fade away with all of their achievements. God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.