Are You Still Shocked?

A while ago on television there was an advert with a soldier asking quite authoritatively: "Are you still watching cable?" Then he would go on to advertise an alternative to cable. The question was meant create a sense of intimidation so that the cable watching tv customer would reconsider: should I still be watching cable? Maybe something is wrong with cable? Well, the title question of this message is meant to encourage you in case you are still shocked! Nothing is wrong with shock in a new culture. So, relax and read on. . .

If you are experiencing difficulty adjusting to life in America as an international student, or dealing with a seminary environment an American student, or you are a student planning to do mission work in a culture other than your own in the future . . . you are invited! The Ministry for Global Community Development has organized a Culture Shock Workshop to be led by Dr. Steve Ybarrola, a celebrated professor of Cultural Anthropology in Asbury Seminary's E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission. Date will be October 29^th, from 2:30pm–4:00pm in the Cordelias at the Seminary Cafeteria.

Come learn more about culture shock and how to better cope with this reality - don't be shy. Additionally, we will have great fellowship with fellow students and spouses experiencing culture shock in different ways. By the way, there will also be some good food. 

Childcare is available if you need it. And the only way this can be arranged is if you make reservations for it before October 21, 2010. Kindly RSVP to gcd.asbury@asburyseminary.edu, or by emailing: stavan.john@asburyseminary.edu.

 

Are you still shocked? You might be surprised. Let's find out on October 21. 

Robert Magoola

In the Near Future

The semester has picked up full speed. It reminds me of flying in an airplane: we are now at cruise speed in the clouds. This is when you can take your safety belt off and walk up and down the airplane aisles, doing evangelism! Just make sure to keep your ears and eyes open for the safety belt sign and the pilot's voice on the intercom, so you can bolt to your seat bracing yourself for turbulence, oh that turbulence! I hope you are doing well in this part of our journey. Rest assured that turbulence is no match to what our Lord can do. Keep on praying and working hard!

Please note a few upcoming events of which you need to be aware.

• This month's African Fellowship will be on Friday, October 15. It will be a prayer meeting. We will drop off our children at the nursery in the Student Center before proceeding to the Richard Allen Chapel in BC 114 (in the basement of the Beeson Center, not McKenna Chapel). Parents: please, as we did last time, let me know how many kids are coming by sending their names and ages so we can plan appropriately for them.
• The week following is the Kingdom Conference. Our music practice will be led by Dr. Okello on Tuesdays (and perhaps one other day) and will first meet in the Student Center lobby this coming Tuesday (October 12). We plan to participate in the Monday night International Potluck dinner, evening of October 17.
• Also, for the Kingdom Conference, you can host a table. It is easy to do this. You can collect a few items from your native country or any other (with which you are very familiar) and are able to represent. People will come to sit at your table during the dinner and you can tell them about the country. Some might ask questions and others will only listen. If more than one person from the same country want to represent their country you can work together.   

These are some of the ways we can bless the others in this community as indeed they too bless us. May God's blessings rest with you today and always.

Robert Magoola