What a week last week was! In one week I learned new ideas on ministering to Hindu’s, heard from a Nobel Peace Prize winner, met international students advisors from around the world, shared about the importance of getting involved with Web 2.0 for ministry to international students, communed with international student ministers from all over the world. Wow!  All these things happened within the beautiful setting of Southern California!

NAFSA Conference and Muhammad Yunus

Right after I got off the airplane from Texas, I go into a car and drove to the Los Angeles Convention Convention Center to join a conference  for university international student advisors from around the country put on by NAFSA the trade organization. It was an incredible opportunity to network and learn about trends related to interntional students in America. The keynote speaker was 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus. It was truly and honor to hear him speak about his experience with Grameen Bank, a microbanking concept that has swept the less developed world. His vision was huge and it was an inspiring talk from a former international student who is making a different back in his home country and around the world (including in the US now). In addition, I was able to share a great day with longtime ministry partner Debra Basler who is the assistant director of the ELI (English Language Institute) at UTA.

Learning About our Hindu Friends

After spending a delightful evening with my parents and observing them as they hosted a Church planter leadership training meeting at their house using video curriculum from the International School of Ministry, I went to another part of LA for a three day conference on a novel way to encourage Hindu’s to become followers of Jesus as their Deva, thus becoming Yeshu Bhakta (Jesus Devotees). This allows them to stay within their culture while remaining followers of Jesus. It helped to rekindle my love for Indian people. We heard some wonderful Bhajan music(with one of the leaders of Aradhna (Listen Here), a band we will host in the DFW area in September, leading us), sat on the floor (I felt at home with that with my Japanese background), learned more about the Hindu worldview, etc. It was a lot of fun and challenging and I hope it will help us to minister to the needs of our hindu friends better. Right after, 4 of 9 staff from Texas who came to the conference as a Baptist Student Ministry ministers went to India to experience the culture first hand.

ACMI Conference

After that intense time, we moved on to Azusa, CA for the ACMI conference for people who minister to international students around the US, this year hosted by our colleague, Andy Pearce and the other ministries in Los Angeles to international students. This was the first time that I had the privilege of going to this special conference. Walking around, it was so special to see the many legends of ISM (International Student Ministry). It was really fun. I had the special opportunity to bring the first plenary session. I spoke to attendees about how important it is for them to use Web 2.0 tools for what they do in reaching students of today. I focused on Facebook as my primary example. I think it was effective because throughout the conference people were coming up to me telling me that they have not been involved with Web 2.0 up to this point but felt compelled to learn more. Later in the conference three of us led 5 workshops on getting started with Web 2.0 and it was fun watching people getting to a point where they were getting it… The networking was incredible too as was the opportunity to hear research from several of our colleagues about the latest trends in international student ministry. One of the special things about this type of conference is seeing old friends including our original mentors in ISM, the Gonzagas and our former UTA team member Frank Ho who now lives in CA.

Spending time with the Family
It seems this year that I have been in California almost as much as I have been in Texas. I don’t know what it is. The last couple of years I had only been there less than once a year but this year it’s been four times so far. I am so thankful that God has allowed me this opportunity to be involved with the ministries I have been a part of there but also time with my family was good. After the conference, I had the chance to catch up with my parents and even paint my sister’s new house. It was a real blessing.