It’s time…

…to let you know something. I’m a very cell group/bible study kind of person. I’ve attended such groups ever since I was teeny up till now. So I’m very happy that I found a bible study group here in Townsville too.

To let you guys know about what I’m up to on Monday nights – it’s International Student Bible Study night!

Ok well, officially, I don’t qualify as an international student. But I can’t call Australia home either. I’m stuck in between, but I reckon I look the part. So let me tell you about my bible study/fellowship group.

Basically, International Student Bible Study (ISBS) is a new thing in JCU Christian Union. It was started this year by a few Australian students (and a not very Australian student) intially targeted at international students who were having difficulties with English, and were interested in studying/learning about the bible as well as to improve their English and learn more about Australian culture. It’s led by a married couple – Craig and Teagen (in 5th year med!), and assisted by a lovely Aussie girl, Michelle, and Vernon from el Salvador who has been studying here for 3 years now.

Guess what? I was the first to join the bible study. I didn’t know that till I turned up though. So in their words, I was ‘very brave’ that first week, because I had only met Michelle once before where she told me about ISBS, and the following Monday there I was. Heh. I don’t regret it though.

Structure of ISBS goes like this – we start off at 6.30pm with dinner, so generously prepared by Craig and Teagen, which goes till around 7.30pm where we start the actual bible study. We’re usually done in an hour and we have dessert and a chat after. Right now we’re studying the book of Luke, and though it’s not anything heavy, I find it helpful to me as I get to really ponder upon seemingly simple, everyday issues, and I’ve even got to see parts of the Bible I had previously just never paid much attention to. In a nutshell – it’s simple, wholesome stuff ;)

I think ISBS is a good thing. I find it beneficial, and I’m quite sure most people will too. And it’s been quite encouraging to see that people are actually interested to come along too! So far I’ve invited 5 people to come for ISBS, and 4 of them have come for a few weeks now. The other is still interested (I hope + pray). Of the 5 there were 2 Malaysians, and one from Korea, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong. This is one of the good things about joining a squeaky new bible study group I guess – that growth is more often seen than in any other group – we have on average 1 or 2 new people coming along every week. I’m really excited to see this happen, honestly.

Well, this isin’t an advertorial of any kind -  the reason I’m sharing this is because I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately.

I’ve suddenly been seeing an increasing number of Chinese students on campus, for some reason. Like China-Chinese. Well, I’ve been hanging around the library quite a bit, and I’ve seen a number of them there. I get the feeling they’re really lonely. Like, honestly, I don’t think many people will just randomly walk up to a complete stranger based on the fact that they have the same colouring as you do. That’s happened to me a few times now, where a Chinese student will come up to me and say something like this:

“Excuse me, are you Chinese?”
“I…”
“I think you are Chinese. (switches to Mandarin) You’re from China aren’t you? You look like it. What are you studying?”

It’s not hard to detect a change in fluency (and speed of speech) when they switch languages, but that’s not the point. Things like that happen to me, and probably in my state of denial of Chinese nationality, and my slow brains – the conversation never goes too far beyond that. I then go back and think of all the possibilities that could have been if I had just opened my mouth and invited them for ISBS. Knowing Mandarin gives me a significant advantage too, in many, many ways. So why didn’t I just ask them. Wasn’t so hard to do. 1. They’re lonely – they would enjoy having a group to fellowship/get to know people from (usually). 2. They probably don’t know much about the Bible. 3. They (or all of us for the matter) have room for improvement in English.

They’re perfect for ISBS!!

I hate to make it sound like I’m just waiting for ‘fish’ to ‘catch in my net’ and lug them along to bible study just for the sake of getting them converted – but it’s more like this regretful feeling in my heart like an opportunity missed. An opportunity to let someone know of something that may well change their lives big time.

It’s been bothering me a fair bit these days, I think I might pray about it myself, and talk to others about it at bible study. And maybe, I could also try to be a little brave – keep a lookout for such students and go up to talk to them. But I scared…

I’ve got to learn that some things are worth looking dumb for. And practise what I learn.