Thanksgiving Camp Success

Hello Everyone,
   It's midway through our first semester of International Student Ministry here in Vancouver and I have lots to report about. We are getting to know students better and our group feels like it is drawing them into good community.
   From October 7th to 10th, we took up the monumental task of hosting a Thanksgiving camp at IVCF's Pioneer Pacific camp on Thetis Island. Simply getting there was heroic. Its the last fall long weekend in BC where thousands of locals flock to the gulf islands. This meant that we had to make bus and ferry reservations with the uncertainty of whether we'd actually arrive in the end. But 80 students, staff, and volunteers did arrive, which was helped along by a ferry running late so we could catch it - an answer to our prayers!

Looking out at the 7am kayaking group

Kleanza, Treah, and dolly enjoying the water

Our fantastic group

Waiting for the ferry

   The premise of the weekend was to invite students into the feel of a family holiday where deeper conversation and friendship could flourish. We called it an "International Thanksgiving" and expected that we could get people to share their cultures together. Both of these things happened well.
   Students were grouped into "family groups" for meals. This gave them a chance to discuss questions like what they were thankful for, or regrets from the past year. The evening programs went extremely well. The first night was dances of the world. We had students demonstrate and involve the whole group in dances from Iran, South Africa, Tibet, even western line dancing. The second night was a talent show. We learned to sing in Chinese, we saw Sumo Wrestling, juggling and more. The grand finale was a jazz trio which I would have paid to see - fantastic!
   The weather was absolutely stunning, again an area where God was good and helped me as the director to emphasize thankfulness during the program. Day time activities included art, boating, archery, and lots of soccer. People really enjoyed each other and the out doors.

Bible Study
    We had the weekend of bonding and friendship that we had prayed and planned for. Coming home our attention turned to how to follow up with these new friends in pointing them to seeking Jesus with us. There are a couple of ways that is happening.
   We continue to offer friday night dinners and discussions. When the discussion portion of the evening begins I offer an optional bible discussion on the same topic down in the basement. I'm hoping that this provides an intriguing onramp for students to want more.
   Some of these students have been invited to consider joining a midweek bible study. One way this looks for me is inviting 2 japanese guys to improve their english over lunch by looking at the Bible as part of English literature (English literature is their major in university). In our first conversation they shared about values they have from their culture and admitted that they know almost nothing about world religions and would really like to learn about Christianity with me.

   On a family level it feels like we are adjusting well. During Halloween we had a chance to meet more of our neighbours. Did you know that its legal to shoot off fireworks on Halloween in Vancouver? We are talking huge fireworks being blasted off in back yards and on streets! It was quite exciting and memorable for us - even if we were a little scared of the fire hazard of it all.

We are attending a great church called Granville Chapel. Our kids are enjoying the programs, meeting friends and we are meeting some families. We've even begun attending a Sunday evening home group. Life is beginning to take root for us here.

Fundraising
   I'm continually thankful for the way many of you support us financially. Some of you have even increased support during this time!
  We are still needing to raise an additional $20,000 annually so that we return to a fully funded ministry budget. We are serving many more students with dinners and activities, along with the higher price of operating in Vancouver. My goal is to close this gap by January.
  As I get to know many of you in Vancouver I welcome conversations you may want to have about how you can participate financially in this ministry. I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Thursday, November 10th is the IVCF Vancouver fundraiser. Its from 7-9pm at the new St. John's Vancouver location at 5350 Baillie St. I look forward to meeting you there if you can come.

Prayer
1. Thank God with us for the successful Thanksgiving camp. Pray for people to go deeper with friends they me there.
2. Pray for the beginning of weekly bible studies. Pray for interest, pray for my leaders and I to have the skills to cross cultures with the gospel of Jesus.
3. Pray for the financial and program support that I'll need to reach widely among international students at UBC.

Thank you for your prayers and love for us and for the students.

Mike, Kleanza, Kiara, Jalena, Callen, Treah