We just finished Joyland Christmas Celebration and what an amazing experience it's been! What's made this year different from previous years was the welcome addition of ImpACT, which added nearly 50 more children on the stage than last year. One blessing from this is that our Joyland kids and ImpACT kids became such good friends after hours and hours of practicing together. What a thrill to see kids from all backgrounds laughing, dancing, and having a wonderful time all to prepare a presentation on the real story behind Christmas. Not only that, but so many families of the ImpACT children came to watch too; it was a packed house! It was so heartwarming to see everybody come together and watch the Christmas story being told by our kids in such a fun and touching way.

Personally for me, I was really grateful for this experience to help make JCC possible. For the Joyland teachers, Impact team leads and many other volunteers, we experienced much more fruit from this night than we had initially expected. As I saw each and every child give their all that night, as I saw Willard auditorium completely packed with family and friends, many of the parents' faces filled with awe at what they were experiencing that night, some of them even moved to tears, I saw how God indeed used us to engage the world lovingly, and I was so thankful that I was able to share in this great joy.

As the semester winds down, the amount of stress and pressure winds up for the graduate students in International Student Ministry. Projects, papers, presentations and final examinations pile up like an insurmountable wall of hostility. The helplessness and loneliness become even more intense for the international students among us as they face this difficult time thousands of miles away from home.

To express our support and love for the students in ISM, we rolled up our sleeves and cooked up a large pot of chicken curry. We made more than 70 care packages stuffed with chips, candies, fruits, juice and a hot bowl of chicken curry over rice. Moving as fast as we could, we were able to deliver many of these care packages to the students when the food was still warm.

The students were very grateful for the food. I received a “thank you” email from one of the students who received the care package from us. Here is part of the message: “I had to stay [in the lab] until 10pm to finish it, so that curry chicken was really something special!! When my study-mates asked me where I got the food from, I joked that God sent it down for me :D” Reading his note made me thank God because through God’s “manna and quail” (chicken curry over rice), the students were able to experience concretely a glimpse of God’s love in this otherwise loveless time.

I was especially encouraged and uplifted by a recent visit to the Golden Gate Healthcare Center. It's been almost half a year since a group of us from Praxis 4 started visiting the residents of this convalescent home in San Francisco, where we hold monthly worship service for the residents.

During our last visit visit, we all met an elderly gentleman who seemed crabby and unapproachable. Many of us had never met him before, so we left him alone. Surprisingly enough, he was unusually quiet during our singing time. During the message, he seemed to be listening even more intently. Afterwards, one of us engaged him in conversation and found out that he was a retired preacher. Sadly, he had lost his eyesight just a couple weeks earlier and was having a hard time adjusting to this. But, with resolve in his voice and a smile on his face, he said, "I know God can restore my sight and I will praise him if he does, but even if he doesn't I will still praise him. In fact, as long as I still have a voice I will praise the Lord!"

Amen. I went away encouraged and challenged to live each day with the same resolve. I thought to myself: Here is a man who knows how to finish the race!

This is my second year as an English teacher for the ISM Free English Class. On the first day of class, I was nervous and a bit worried. How many people will show up? Will they be interested in ISM? Will they be nice? I’m not credentialed, nor have the slightest experience teaching English. Most of the students we teach have obtained higher degrees and are sometimes twice my age, and here I am as their English teacher! All I have is my American accent and “native” background. Yet, to my surprise, the students keep coming back - every week! I thank God each time I see the students come into Willard, and I waste no time to get to know them.

Time is short since most of them go back to their country after their schooling ends here in the States. As I get to know them, my heart starts to go out to them - especially when they say how they are having a hard time fitting into the university, making friends, or getting their opinions across. They are happy knowing that someone is patient and interested enough to listen to them. They are open to many things, including religion. For example, despite coming from communist society, many Chinese students are open to learning more about Christianity. Some have been faithfully attending Friday Forums since the semester started!

I also see English class as a training field for future mission work abroad. As I am trained to teach English enunciation, stress, rhythm, and conversation skills, I hope I can use this vital tool in future mission work. I am praying God will continue to use us to share the Gospel with many people.

CSUEB Koinonia meets weekly for “The Alpha Series,” a 5-week series on different topics in Christianity. We had our usual small group discussion time, but this time I got to share my testimony of how God led me from “rock bottom” to repentance and redemption. Due to a language barrier, one international student in our group was confused after I had spoken, so I decided to share my testimony in Mandarin. This was definitely exciting because (1) my Mandarin proficiency barely exceeds that of an eight–year-old (2) I had never given my testimony in Mandarin before (3) and she responded by asking some weighty questions such as “Is Buddhism compatible with Christianity?” and “Why is it important to have Jesus forgive our sin?” This student became even more curious about Christianity and wants to return this Thursday to Alpha for more conversation about this topic! God is good and uses ordinary people like me to spread the good news of God’s love to others. Through this experience, I learned I really need to brush up on my Mandarin and, more importantly, I also need to keep praying for seekers like this student to come to know Jesus' heart for them.