For thousands of college students, the new school year means cramming your life into the back of your car and returning to the world of tests, papers, and dorm life.
And for those of us who do campus ministry (or are married to those who are), it means prayerfully flinging ourselves headlong into the busiest season of the year.
It means opening our hearts once again to befriend and love students.
It means pretending we don't have work at eight am for the sake of a deep conversation.
It means choosing to create community for young men and women who may carry scars from community gone wrong.
This year, it also meant the collision of two worlds: Italy and Texas.
On the Italy mission trip two years ago, we met a young man with a big personality. Michele (pronounced "Mih-KE-leh") was not a believer in Jesus, but he had a lot of questions, and he seemed to have a really good time with our team and the Italian believers.
Several months after we returned to TX, that young man decided to follow Jesus and was baptized in an Italian mountain lake.
When we returned to Italy this past May, Michele was like a different person! He was full of joy, constantly laughing and joking around. It was as if knowing Jesus amped up his already gregarious personality. More than anything, he was excited to talk about Jesus and the Bible with anyone he met.
Two weeks ago, (smack in the middle of the busy semester kickoff) Michele arrived in the US for his very first visit! One of the permanent missionary couples in Milan traveled with him to Texas when they came back for their son's wedding. Hubby and I had the privilege of hosting him for two of the nights he was in town.
He promptly bought a cowboy hat that he wore with more Texan pride than most Texans.
He also dove right into our busy preparations for welcoming the new students, helping the hubby pass out flyers for the Freshmen Connect event and even helping him set up the sound equipment for the student-led worship band.
But more than the Blue Bell Ice Cream, BBQ, steaks and stetsons, we were thrilled that we could share ministry with our Italian brother. While the church in Milan does some similar things--we are both doing campus ministry after all--is is larger and more established here.
Here too, the campus does not censor religious speech.
We were also pumped to receive the encouragement of having Michele with us!
There is nothing quite like being around a newer believer to remind you of how crazy and amazing it is to know the God of the Universe.
Or how precious it is to pray openly, publicly, without repercussions.
Or the fact that it really is incredible, this chance to do college ministry. This chance to stand witness to God changing the lives of young adults, one by one.
And for those of us who do campus ministry (or are married to those who are), it means prayerfully flinging ourselves headlong into the busiest season of the year.
It means opening our hearts once again to befriend and love students.
It means pretending we don't have work at eight am for the sake of a deep conversation.
It means choosing to create community for young men and women who may carry scars from community gone wrong.
This year, it also meant the collision of two worlds: Italy and Texas.
On the Italy mission trip two years ago, we met a young man with a big personality. Michele (pronounced "Mih-KE-leh") was not a believer in Jesus, but he had a lot of questions, and he seemed to have a really good time with our team and the Italian believers.
Several months after we returned to TX, that young man decided to follow Jesus and was baptized in an Italian mountain lake.
When we returned to Italy this past May, Michele was like a different person! He was full of joy, constantly laughing and joking around. It was as if knowing Jesus amped up his already gregarious personality. More than anything, he was excited to talk about Jesus and the Bible with anyone he met.
 |
| Check out these joyful guys! (Michele on left, with our friend, Ottavio, who is also a believer in Jesus.) |
Two weeks ago, (smack in the middle of the busy semester kickoff) Michele arrived in the US for his very first visit! One of the permanent missionary couples in Milan traveled with him to Texas when they came back for their son's wedding. Hubby and I had the privilege of hosting him for two of the nights he was in town.
He promptly bought a cowboy hat that he wore with more Texan pride than most Texans.
 |
| This pic was snapped in Milan after he returned from his American adventure. Can you tell which one is Michele? |
He also dove right into our busy preparations for welcoming the new students, helping the hubby pass out flyers for the Freshmen Connect event and even helping him set up the sound equipment for the student-led worship band.
But more than the Blue Bell Ice Cream, BBQ, steaks and stetsons, we were thrilled that we could share ministry with our Italian brother. While the church in Milan does some similar things--we are both doing campus ministry after all--is is larger and more established here.
Here too, the campus does not censor religious speech.
 |
| We went ice skating too! (from left: me, Michele, and two of the awesome students who went with us on the Italy mission trip last May) |
We were also pumped to receive the encouragement of having Michele with us!
There is nothing quite like being around a newer believer to remind you of how crazy and amazing it is to know the God of the Universe.
Or how precious it is to pray openly, publicly, without repercussions.
Or the fact that it really is incredible, this chance to do college ministry. This chance to stand witness to God changing the lives of young adults, one by one.
 |
| Our homegroup plus new students on the night of the Kickoff Rally! Right there in Rudder Fountain, we baptized two of the girls who joined our group last year. An awesome night! |
