Mini-Update August 24

The picnic in the quad went very well on Monday—Unite not only had several sign up as interested in small groups, but we were able to provide many students and workers of the event with cold ice water.  It was excellent to be able to bless so many on a hot day—especially since all it took was a few dollars worth of ice and a lot of work refilling an Igloo and lugging it back and forth.  I am thankful that God used us to help a few students make connections (I walked one to the Crusade and Challenge tables and gave her some info on other ministries) and to bless hot, thirsty people.  It was a very excellent afternoon.

Yet to come are the ‘Get Plugged In’ event Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the missionary training Friday night and Saturday morning.  Please keep that all in your prayers as the Spirit has opened up some powerful opportunities to work and make connections.  Pray that college students come to ‘Get Plugged In’ and make good connections with the body this week.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support!
--Brandon

PS  To read about my personal updates and prayer requests, remember to go to http://www.missionaryprayers.blogspot.com

Ministry Update; prayer requests; note about personal prayers

Hello everyone!

It’s been crazy every since we’ve gotten back from Mexico, but very good.

First, to clarify things, this existing blog will be JUST for Unite updates and prayers. If you are someone would like to track what’s going on in my personal missionary journey and pray for me as an individual, then please check out http://missionaryprayers.blogspot.com/. I will post personal updates and prayer requests there.

That said—this is a very busy month for Unite. August 23rd we have Picnic in the Quad, August 26th is the ‘Get Plugged In’ event that we put on for anyone who wants to connect with the body of Christ in Hays. August 27th and 28th will be our cross-cultural and interpersonal training hosted by Doug Schaible of New Tribes Missionary Agency. The training has been opened up to any congregation member or ministry that works with international students especially or to anyone who wants to learn to communicate better with people who have different backgrounds. There will also be an emphasis on maintaining a Biblical perspective if a person does share Christ with explanation about how to do that.

Shortly thereafter the small groups will start up—they will launch bit by bit as more students and congregations members become involved. We will also offer other training sessions for any community members who want to be involved. The coffeehouse game nights geared towards international students will also be starting up shortly.

As you can see, these two months have a lot going on. Thankfully it is not just for us to have to administrate—God will guide and direct us all if we continue to listen. Please pray that all who are supposed to be involved in these opportunities—including those we haven’t met yet—listen to the Spirit and be guided into involvement. Thank you for your continued prayers and support! Please keep praying for all of our leaders to listen to and be united in the Spirit, for all incoming students to interact with a Jesus follower and get connected to Christ’s body in Hays, and for all of those members of the body who may become involved in one of our small groups or other interaction opportunities to listen to the Spirit. Please pray that all of us continue to be transformed by the Spirit and that we be sensitive to His leading. Thank God for this exciting chance to step forth and serve!

Mexico Update

Hello everyone!

The last few days in Mexico were a tremendous blessing-coming back to the States was a whirlwind; I want to let you know what happened, ask for your prayers, and thank you for your support.

Wednesday July 28 was a time I can still remember clearly. We went out into the city center with some of the kids who wanted to powerfully serve God, and we prayed for anyone we felt led to pray for. My group had a particularly long chat with a fellow who didn’t believe in the Bible. It was very interesting to sit back and watch how the oldest, Lucilla, handled the situation. I could see that she definitely wanted to respect the older man but also that she was upset by some of his statements (including some rather rough language). The talk that I had with her afterwards about what she perceived from her encounter was very neat. It was also a blessing to see how some of the kids there prayed for strangers.

Leaving the home to go to the States was hard, as usual. I sincerely wanted to stay with many of the children just to hold them and speak into them—to tell them how valuable and worthwhile and amazing they are. Many have been abandoned by their families and truly believe they are ugly or stupid or somehow wrong… otherwise why would their families give them up? Each one of the children there is precious to me, and I will keep them in my prayers. I would ask you to do the same—especially the oldest ones.

The home is in somewhat of a tough situation in that, due to the news, only 40 people went this summer vs. 800 in summers past. The children need not only money and prayers (and they are somewhat tight for money since the groups bring money with them for the service projects they do), but they desperately need people to see them for the amazing children they are… to engage them, hold them, pray with them, and love them. I strongly urge anyone who has interest to contact me at Brandon.nimz@gmail.com I would be more than happy to work with the home to set up a visit for you. I also plan to return there in December; I am not sure if that will be as an individual, with the Church, or with Unite, the college ministry I lead. However, there will be future options for you if you would like to come. All of us were deeply touched by God and what He is doing there, and I have no doubt that we would all urge you to pray and see if you might have more of a part to play in this than you realize. Thank you sincerely for your prayers and support! The Home was incredibly thankful to have us as a group since they have had so few. Your contributed greatly--Brandon