AUGUST 2007 – site, video– pics – “Hip, Hip Hooray! Hip, Hip Hooray!” so the students who were at the UTA Big Howdy party shouted in response to the previous month of “being loved on” that they felt from Big Howdy Volunteers.

Every year, over 20 organizations and churches through hundreds of volunteers, minister to new international students as they arrive on the UTA campus from all over the world during the month of August in the Big Howdy. Among other things, the churches help new students out with Airport Pickups, Rides to the Market with the CareAVan, a Welcome Table at Orientation, A Used Item (Garage Sale) to fill students’ apartments, a Tour of Arlington and the surrounding area and through he Big Howdy welcome party.

It is hard settling into a new city, school with little more than three suitcases, knowing no one else in the area. For over 200 students this was made easier through airport pickups and the CareAVan rides. An addition 100+ students came to the used item sale of donated items from local churches and were able to fill their apartments with furniture. The American volunteers really were able to pour into the students and really get to know them. It was really fun watching them work. At the Big howdy party over 500 students were introduced to good ole potluck dinner and Western Line Dancing for one last chance to let loose before school started. We capped it off with guided tours of the busless city of Arlington and Dallas and Fort Worth. They loved it all.

“Lu, Are you serving food this year?!?” I asked our Chinese friend Lu who was manning on of the food tables at the party. Quite a few student who were touched last year by Big Howdy made it a point to expose their new friends to it this year and volunteer in various ways.

Much thanks must be given to the many churches and ministries who were involved with this work. ISI’s own Ron Bunyard was the director and the BSM, Fielder Road Baptist Church, Lutheran Student Center, Chi Alpha, the Faculty Staff Christian Fellowship, Bridges International, Arlington Chinese Bible Church, Mosaic Fellowship Arlington Park Baptist church and many otherswere involved intimately with this special effort to share Christ’s love with international students.