Soul Train

We have a very diverse group at UL Chi Alpha. It's great seeing such a wide variety of colors, ages, and backgrounds be a part of one group making a difference on our campus together.

One of the ways that we celebrate this diversity is through having our "Soul Train Awards." The students do an excellent job of putting this production together. There's live music, live performances, presenters, videos...It's a lot.
Lee got to do a lot for this year's "Soul Train Awards." He made the whole video presentation, put together the recordings, the music tracks, and taught the house band the music. He definitely enjoyed himself.

The kids and I enjoyed it too. It also felt great being at the cafe for an event (we've been home a lot because the babies have been sick). You can't have the "Soul Train Awards" without having a dance party afterwards. This group loves to dance!!! Bella had the best time running around and dancing with her friends. On Saturday (the next day) she was even singing some of the songs that she had heard the night before.

I love it that my kids are going to grow up with diversity as a part of their lives.
In this picture, Bella went to get in the picture with some of the performers of the night. :) It's not even going to be an issue for them...the only issue will be with people who are not open to it. They h
ave met students of all kids of colors...and they love these students...and these students love our kids. It's an awesome experience for us and for them.

Help Wanted

One of our international students is looking for a job. He has a master's degree in petroleum engineering. He's really open to working anywhere doing anything right now...just one of those times where any income is needed.

It feels really good to be able to help out an international student in this way. We've known Rasta for 3 years now. He's changed so much since we've met him. He has always been a fun guy to be around, but there is a new sensitivity to him now. We love him, and I know that he trusts us. When I told him that I was praying for him to get a job, and that I had my dad praying for him (because my dad has a supernatural faith for jobs!), he sent me this:

"I really really appreciate it. You do care as well as a nice sister would. Thank you. Let me know about any opportunity. if a real job, I will make an appropriate resume for and if temporary job, I am ready no matter what. Thank you again."

I may not be at every event that UL Chi Alpha does. I may not be at the cafe to hang out with the students very often. But I still love helping the students when I can. Whether it is a student who has grown up in church who is getting connected with our Chi Alpha or another one in the state, or an international student who needs a job and is also searching for the truth, I get to help them in the journey that they are on!

PS. You can contact me if you know of any job openings, and I'll get him in touch with you!

When

A year ago for Christmas, UL Chi Alpha blessed Lee with an awesome Christmas gift...a MacBook Pro. Such an amazing computer!! Our director, Eric Treuil, personally delivered it to our little apartment so that Lee could start playing with it.

It has been a great tool for Lee. He's written and recorded songs using it. Now, his newest thing is making and editing videos. He's really good at it. He made this video, When, for the new speaking series for our Thursday Night Live weekly worship meetings. I have to say that when I saw this, I was moved to tears. It is very compelling.

I'm really glad that Lee is being able to develop this talent and passion. He's done some funny videos, and serious ones too. He's just got a knack for it. I'm thrilled that he's getting to do one more thing that he loves.

Students from Around the World

"Chi Alpha International (XAI) happens every Friday night during the semester @ 7 pm at the yellow house behind Taco Bell." Those words roll off of my tongue so easily now because we've said them so often. I think even Bella knows this phrase. Repetition works, though.

We have had many international students come to the Chi Alpha house (which is different than our Cafe Chi Alpha) on Friday nights representing many different nations. Just this school year - 2010/2011, we've had students from: Nepal, Haiti, Cameroon, Columbia, Cuba, Panama, several Muslim countries in the Middle East, India, Honduras, China, Vietnam, Nigeria...and many more!

It's been amazing to meet these students and develop relationships with them. I think that international students are the bravest students in the world. I cannot imagine going to another country where my first language is not spoken - and learn in that language!! I can barely speak another language...I don't know how I would learn in another one!!

To make this a little easier on them, we hope to provide these students with a comfortable environment to make new friends, learn about America, Louisiana, Lafayette. We also want them to feel free to share their culture with us because we truly want to celebrate their cultures with them.

We also have the opportunity to share what the Christian Bible has to say...discover the teachings of Jesus Christ together. A lot of these students are open to learning about Christianity. It's one thing to hear about it, but to study it is a different thing. These international students are actually excited about it because they want to see it for themselves.

I cannot imagine going to another country, or anywhere really, and have someone tell me that everything I learned about my faith is wrong...that my parents were wrong. And for some of these students, it would be like I was telling them that every one of their ancestors was wrong for not following Christianity. So, we don't do that. We hold the discussions. They are free to ask questions. We are there to answer questions. Honestly, there have been some tense moments over the past year when these discussions were held. But there has never been anyone who has felt unwanted on a Friday night.

Celebrating Leadership

Monday was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A day of celebrating diversity. What a great way to celebrate it - holding a leadership training day for our UL Chi Alpha leaders. The spring semester is starting, and these students are ready to continue the work they started in the fall.

Sometimes it is hard to start again. The momentum has to be restarted. For some, this is harder than for others. No one knows what each student faced as they were home for the past few weeks. Some went home to very difficult situations. Others went home and got comfortable there and may not be ready to face the discomfort of sharing their lives with others again. It can take a lot to get back into the mindset of school, too.

But, Chi Alpha is off and running again. Lee is getting to encourage and speak life into his guys. He loves them so much. And we know that they love him, too. It's a special relationship - a brotherhood...a bromance. He definitely celebrates these guys and what they are doing on the campus of UL. They are out to change the world, one student at a time.

Deon

Lee's at SALT this week. It's the Southwest Regional Chi Alpha retreat/conference. It's actually the largest one ever. There's 1,100 Chi Alpha students and staff gathered together to worship God and learn more about Him. Lee's has the honor of getting to lead worship for this conference. It's so exciting. It's also a great way for Lee to share his passion for worship and discipleship with some of his guy leaders. This is what one of the guys on the team had to say about it. His name is Deon.

"I've seen God do so much in my life since the first time I met Lee and we talked about me wanting to be apart of Chi Alpha and the worship team. I am really excited about working with Lee for SALT this year. This is an opportunity for me to experience Christ in a whole new way and learn from this Great Man of God. I love to worship God in song, and ever since I've been apart of Chi Alpha Lee and Darrin [our student worship team leader] have pushed me to be not only a better worship leader but a strong M.O.G (Man Of God).

In December I get to be apart of the SALT worship team, which has been a desire of my heart since I was in high school. It's times like this were I can not doubt there is a God who loves me and has a purpose for my life. I am willing to say that I don't deserve to be a part of any of this, but the grace of God in my life has been unbelievable and I am grateful. I thank Lee for allowing me to be a part of this awesome experience. I truly love him for the example he has been in my life. When I look at Lee, he is a physical example of what I am desiring to be as a Man and Worship Leader and I know God has put him in my life for this season."

We don't always get to see the impact we make on others. But, because our faithful support team members are empowering us to do what we do, you can see a small glimpse of what is happening at the University of Louisiana Lafayette.

Missionary = "Sent One"

The word missionary means "sent one." They are sent to a group of people who cannot afford to pay them financially for the work that they are doing. Just like missionaries are sent to people in Africa, Asia, or Latin America, we have been sent to a group of people who cannot afford to pay us financially...the college students of UL!!

So, part of the process of being a missionary is raising funds from family, friends, businesses, and churches, to help us be able to minister to these college students full-time. To do this, it takes a lot of time and effort. Phone calls have to be made, letters are mailed, personal meetings are held, and miles are put on our car. We schedule as many meetings inside and outside of churches that we can.

Being at a church is fun. Getting there isn't always the easiest with 2 little ones, but we're making it happen. Bella gets to make new friends in the nursery. We get to meet new people and tell them stories about what we do as Chi Alpha missionaries...and how lives are changed.

Last Sunday, we had the opportunity to be "adopted" by a church for Christmas. We made a wish list of things we'd like for Christmas. We were completely humbled as we opened gift after gift given to us by our new church family at First Assembly of God Des Allemands. Bella squealed with excitement as she opened the gifts that the kids of the church handed to her. I found out after service that the parents were encouraged to let the kids pick out the toys...which gives them so much ownership in the giving process. They are learning the importance of generosity, and I know that they will learn the blessing of receiving too.
It was such a special day.