I just returned from the airport after picking up a student arriving for the first time from Saudi Arabia. He is a masters student here to complete his Masters degree in Computer Science after finishing a course in English. We had a delightful conversation but he was tired after traveling for many hours through Dubai.

This simple trip was a good representation of things going in our lives right now. It has been really interesting. Our Friday night fellowship that we have been a part of hosting has had many Saudi students of late. It has been very much a blessing being around them. Last week several of them shared true hospitality by bringing Arabic coffee to our Friday gathering. In many cultures friendship doesn’t happen until food and drink are shared, and in many that drink is special tea or coffee. We have learned that when offered tea by a student, it is critical that we say “yes” even if we don’t like it or aren’t thirsty. (I like it and was thirsty) I was up late as a result but it was worth it. Our student intern shared on Friday that during the discussion group that one of the young Arabic students shared that he wants so badly to talk about Islam but he is had been told by their religious leaders to be careful not to because we will try to talk to him about Christianity. Yet, he would very much like to talk about both with us. It showed our intern that “mere” discussion groups were great environments to find people who want to talk about God.

The trip to the airport also reminded me how much we will be going there and have been traveling in general of late. On Thursday, I took Jonathan to DFW airport to go to El Paso to represent his high school at the state Academic Decathlon contest. I picked up the student on Friday. I was traveling to El Paso for one night to join Jon at the tournament. Last week, Lisa and I were in Athens, TX for the North Texas staff retreat featuring Clyde Hodson that I helped organize. Two weeks ago i was in St. Louis as I shared already and then this whole week I was working on planning a trip to Asia where I would be training people in M:28 ministry and then to visit students in Taiwan. Wow. It can be so overwhelming. God is good and He obvioiusly is working and using us during each of these flights. Like Peter walking on the water, I sometimes see the waves rather than Jesus and so I sink. Praise God the Jesus is there to take our hand and lift us back up.

Some quick hits:

• The staff retreat with Clyde Hodson who taught us about “The World, the Flesh and the Devil” was very well received by our team. It is clear that we are very much in a time of great spiritual warfare and knowing what type and how to deal with each type was refreshing and much needed. Praise God for the time. As we plan for the Tejas Spring Break Retreat in early March and it comes closer, we are feeling confident that a lot of what is needed is in place but keep in touch on the prayer needs.
• I was very much encouraged by my time with Ruthe Ann, a key volunteer in our Starbucks team in her 70’s who has been ministering to international students for over 20 years as I helped her install a computer we made for her. She is such an encouragement. I was also encouraged by how the Starbucks group is rallying around her and her needs. Team member Debby bought her a printer after hearing of her need in the M:28 Bible study group and she and her roommate Ann went over to help Ruthe Ann get ready for hosting Friday night. Praise the Lord for His Body.