RUF at UT April 2017
Nothing is Always Something
There are days like last Friday when my appointment with my international friend feels "ho hum"...like I've tried so hard just to find a time that works for us to actually sit down together for lunch or coffee...and we talk about "nothing." "Nothing" to me - at least at times, and especially when I'm tired or discouraged - feels like asking him once again about his "research progress" or "family news back home" or "upcoming weekend plans" (assuming he actually leaves his lab at some point!). But, the grace of God convicts me and reminds me that there's never "nothing" with God. Because people matter to Him, every interaction with my international friends is "something" - a chance to love him as a fascinating image-bearer of the Creator, and a chance to be available to speak words of hope to him because he, like me, is fallen and in need of redemption.
There are also days like last Thursday when God, in his wisdom and kindness, clearly has a purpose for RUF International being at UT. There was the opportunity for Kelsey and I to spend most of the day advocating for and tending to a student in crisis who has no one else here to seek her welfare. And then there was the farewell words of a PhD student from Pakistan last night at our Dinner & Discovery event who's returning home in 2 weeks. He said: “I want to sincerely thank you from my heart for all you and RUF have done for me. I want you to know that I have made so many good friends and have learned so much about Christianity from your organization and others like this. Know for sure that it’s a positive image I’ll be giving to my family and friends back home.” Yesterday's "somethings" help me keep today's "nothings" in perspective.
With the Yates family hosting and 35 other volunteers, we were able to welcome all 3 of these students and about 60 others on Easter Sunday for the RUFI Easter Celebration.
RUFI Easter Celebration at the Yates'
Jesus Still in the Miracle Business
I try to not write about the same student in 2 consecutive updates. I'm breaking that "rule" right now! Last time I wrote about our dear Chinese friend "Luna". I shared about the joy of spending the last 3 years getting to know her and talking about everything under the sun. Being a devout Buddhist, "Luna" was about the least likely person I knew to become a Christian. She strove for perfection in everything and talked about her need to be able to accept anything that life threw her way by "detaching" herself from all desires. BUT the God of grace - who STILL performs miracles - brought to a climax her 3-year journey out of Buddhism and into the arms of Jesus her Savior! She now knows that Jesus was perfect for her, and that only He can truly satisfy the deep needs and desires of her heart. "Luna" moved back home to China last week!
I think God used many factors and people in her life to lead her to Jesus (including RUFI), but it seems that the main "tool" He used was her 7 month-old baby "Leo." Leo refused to sleep from the day Luna and her husband brought him home. And this woman who was as patient, gentle, and thoughtful as anyone I've ever met grew increasingly exhausted, desperate, and even angry at "Leo". In truth, "Luna" was angry at her situation and at her own failure to love her baby. She realized she was powerless to do the one thing a "good" mother must do. She describes the experience this way: "I almost cannot close my eyes continuously for weeks. I was desperate and started trying to call to God for help, 'I can do anything if you heal my baby and let him sleep well. Can you help me love my son?'” Beautifully and miraculously, "Luna" found a new unconditional love of God for her pouring into her heart and, at the same time, found a new love for baby "Leo" welling up from within. Words can't describe my joy at having "Luna" as my new sister in Christ!
"Luna" in top right, holding baby "Leo"
Prayer & Praise
▪ Praise for "Luna" coming to faith 1 week before she returned home to China, and after a 3 year journey out of Buddhism!
▪ Pray for a critical situation involving 2 international students we're in relationship with, that God would have mercy on them and also equip us to shepherd them well with wisdom and grace.
▪ Praise for a wonderful RUFI Easter Celebration with 100+ international friends and American volunteers!
▪ Praise for a great turnout and vibrant small group discussions at our final Dinner & Discovery of the semester. Pray the Gospel “seed” would penetrate hearts and bear fruit unto eternal life.
▪ Praise God that 2 new RUFI interns have been approved for next school year at UT! Drew Farlett (one of our current UT student leaders) and Jennifer Ott (currently a short term missionary serving in Bulgaria).
▪ Pray for RUFI's financial support. We’re so grateful to YOU for generously giving so that RUFI finished very healthy in 2016! Yet, as April closes, we are $15,000 behind budget for 2017 and $25,000 behind where we were at this time last year.
The Leadbetters - Neissa, Annie, Philip, Jen, Daniel & Lee