Saturday lunch with Missionary Judy

It was fun to visit with our TEAM missionary nurse friend of many years, Judy Parker. She is on home assignment and is supported by our church (Blackhawk EFCA) We had a great chat. Zimbabwe is such a challenging place to live. The AIDS virus has decreased life expectancy from 70 + to 38. Wow. It is so important to support these folks with our prayers and encouragement. It is a tough assignment. I had her speak as well to my nurses group with the hopes that a few will do a mission trip with her.

Another photo by Claire of our lunch. 

Judy is a missionary nurse in Zimbabwe. They really were having more fun then Claire's photo. 

Bio Med Ethics conference

Last night I meet with a group who would like to see a Bio Medical Ethics conference come to Madison which has a Christian perspective. It is wonderful to be in such a diverse group of Doctors, Pharmacists, Researchers, University Professors along with a number of people in Ministry. We talked about what such a conference would look like in Madison. It is important to realize that the University of Wisconsin in Madison is an R 1 University. This means that we are situated on the top level of such universities.

A conference in our city would have to be one that is well done and can engage the university. This is a tall order and we talked into the night about it. We are in need of God's wisdom and strength.

At our Christian Legal Society Meeting

Last night towards the end of our Christian Legal Society student meeting, I noticed an elderly woman standing in the hall looking as though she wanted to talk with me. I did not know her.

At the end of the meeting, she asked me if she could speak with me. Her heart was burdened with the plight of the Pakistan earth quake victims. Winter is coming she said. We must help. What if each student on campus brought a blanket, a coat or a pair of sox. As we talked, I suggested a few other places on campus where she might share her burden. We prayed together and she left.

It was truly a strange meeting. But I have been spirred into action. I plan on getting a hold of Good Will to ask about shipping if we did a Campus wide collection. It was a blessing in disguise.

New week

On Saturday, Mary Alice and I attended the Larry Burkett, Money Matters workshop. It was really helpful. What was really telling was at a point, the presenter asked us to look at a scale : On one end was peace and the other chaos. He asked us to rate ourselves in terms of how we feel about our money. I am afraid that I was not at the peace end. We have a lot to learn.

Christian Pharmacy group monthly brunch

We had a great turnout today at the Monthly Friday, 10PM brunch. It was such a pleasure to see over 40 students in attendance. This is just one of the activities that the group does. Each grade level has their own weekly Bible study. It is interesting to note that the Pharmacy school is mostly a female profession these days. The student leader has made sure that there is one Bible study for the "boys."

Sylvia shared as a graduating concerning her challenges in being a Pharmacisit with some of the drugs that she is required to dispense. One of the issues is the RU 486 Morning After abortion pill. She mentioned as well that in her studies and meetings that some of the pharmaceuticals have admited the birth control pills have many times an aborting effect. This is serious stuff. She has determined to stand true to her convictions not matter what the costs. - A modern day hero of the faith in my estimation.

Sylvia Thomley, recent grad and one of the founders of Christian Pharmacy Fellowship International student chapter shares with the group. She discussed her challenges in Pharmacy with the Morning After Abortion Pill.  

Pharmacy students at the Monthly Christian Pharmacy Fellowship International meeting. I was really excited to see the large crowd. 

Today

I met with the Interim director of Chaplains at University of Wisconson hospitals. One of the greatest needs for Medical students is to learn how to minister to the whole person. How do I help our students be a warm, understanding Doctor? Steve Wenk was very open to the idea and will be meeting with his other chaplains. I am excited.

Spiritual challenges during the day.

My computer is driving me crazy. It will just lock up and then I have been losing my work. It happened four times yesterday. I did not react well and was very frustrated. I know that our enemy can cause us such problems. For this, I needed to trust God as well. My computer will probably need a 2nd trip to the manufacturer.

I got a call this morning that Claire had hurt herself while roller skating at school and that she wanted to come home from school. My problem was that I had meetings scheduled that could not be changed. I felt bad and actually called Claire at school 3 times to see how she was. It turned out that she returned to class a little later in the afternoon. Something again to trust the Lord.

As I looked at these two things, they both represent things out of my control to a degree. Things that I really needed to see God help. Good lessons. Thought that I would share them.

Chinese International Scholars visit Lena Evangelical Free Church

We had a great weekend. Mary Alice and I along with Claire and Olivia took a group of 14 Chinese International Scholars to Lena Ev. Free Church in Lena, IL for a weekend visit to rural Illinois. The church was a wonderful host. This was our third visit and the scholars are always different.

Our goal is for these scholars to visit a church and see and connect up with rural America, Americans and believers. These scholars come to the University of Wisconsin from 4 months to 2 years or more. They are PhDs and represent some of the brightest of China. For example, one scholar is a Law school professor, another is an Education Professor and other is an Appeals court judge.

Each or several scholars is connected to a host family. All together we visited an apple orchard, a farm and a few other places. On the dairy farm, we show how they milked cows and we got to spend time with the calves. See the 'calf plonge' in my photos. That evening, the church prepared a special Thanksgiving dinner for us. The scholars loved it.

The next day, we all went to church. The first time for many of the scholars. They asked a lot of questions like - what is the head of the church called - pastor. Where does the money come from? Etc. Each student went to a Sunday School class and shared a little about China.

The weekend ended with a Chinese Meal - American style with ordered in Chinese food which is a lot different from the real thing.

All in all it was a great weekend and the scholars got a great taste of a church, rural life and spending time with Christian families.

Here we all are. We had 14 international scholars with us.  

A few others join the calf plunge as we visited a dairy farm.

Pearl takes the calf plonge. Calves are so hungry that they will gladly suck on your finger. I love to get good photos. 

Mary Alice, Olivia and Claire joined us for the weekend. They had a great time. 

Yun Liu, leader of the scholar group along with Marilyn Confer who organized the trip from the Lena end. 

Chinese International Scholar eating a typical American meal of hotdogs at the Lena Free Church.  

Med students visit Christian Docs home

One of the things that we are mosted interested in is to help Medical students fully grasp the connection between their faith and their practice of Medicine. So we like to connect up with Christian Docs and enjoy listening to their stories.

Dr. and Mrs. Knechtle shared with us a very, very difficult story in their lives. Nine years ago, they lost a daughter and had two sons very critically injured in a fatal car wreck. They share with us their feeling and emotions. No small thing.

A question was raised as to how to help our patients in crisis. How should a Physician relate to his suffering patients. Where does faith come in?

All in all a great evening. I am so thankful for the Christian Docs who want to invest in young students.

Dr. Knecklte and his wife as they share with the students. 

Our group of Med students during a home visit at Dr. Stuart and Mary Banks Knecklte's home.  

Med School Retreat Oct 7, 8

We had a great time. Dr. and Mrs. McBride invited us to their cabin and then came and hosted. We had about 18 students in all. We started off Friday night around the camp fire. Dr. McBride shared how his faith and the practice of Medicine connected. He takes his faith very seriously and spoke words of inspiration to the students and then we had a time of sharing around the circle. It was a rich evening.

The next day started with Pancakes and then back to the campfire. First year student Jon Thompson shared about our world and its need for Christ. We broke up and prayed. I then talked about John 15 and the importance to learning to abide in Christ every moment. We ended this time with wondering prayer where each student wandered around the property and prayed.

We finished up the day with fun. Canoeing, kiacking, and the jump in the lake from the sauna. Sean and I wooped Bernie and Paul in horse shoes.

What a great time. The students didn't want to leave.

Here is the group. What a great weekend. We talked about John 15 and abiding in Christ as a Med student. 

Dr. Pat and Kim McBride were our hosts at the cabin. They were great. 

Some brave souls who went from the Sauna directly into the Lake. I chickened out. But said next time I would. 

We took 18 Med students on a retreat Oct 7, 8 near Waupaca. Here some are at the camp fire. 

Visit of David Gill to Business school

We had a great two days with David Gill. He spoke to our group, faculty, first year MBA students and will be doing a retreat for UW Grad students. We put him to work.

During the talk with first year MBA students, the assistant dean stayed and listened. He really enjoyed David's talks and wanted to have further contact.

David in a round table with students talking about the grounds of Ethics. 

John (interested in Business school) and Carol (our faculty advisor) 

Dr. David Gill shares with first year business students. 

Parent's Day at Hannah and Claire's school.

Hannah and Claire go to Abundant Life Christian School. Every year, they have parents day when we are invited to join them in their classes. It was so much fun.

I started out the day with Claire in her class. See her photos. Her teacher is so much fun and mixes faith and good, solid education. We did Math together and the times tables. We had to work as well. And then there was the spelling test. Wow, 25 every week. One big one - miscellaneous. Did I spell that right? We talked about Abreviations and what they are. Do you know the abbreviation for a Monsignor in the Catholic church? And then we ate lunch or should I say that Claire ate my hot lunch. A chilli dog. It was fun to chat with the principal. I had his daughter in my med group when she was a student. It is so wonderful to see his heart to serve God in whatever way that God sees fit.

Then I was off to Hannah's class. First, we were in Bible. What a great teacher! They were doing testamonies of faith. He asked student and parents to share their testimony. Well, like John Wesley said : Always be ready to preach, pray or die. So I jumped up and told them how I came to Christ and go to the missions field. I added that Hannah was born in France.

Next class was speech and the kids were giving speeches or testimonals. A few students gave testimonals of why they appreciated their Mom or Dad who was incidently attending that day. It was great. More than a few tears in the eyes. Hannah gave a speech on her petpeeve. It was little sisters. But I loved the way that she ended saying that she probably is a pain sometimes to her little sister and she really loved her. Wow!!!

All in all, I am so delighted that Claire and Hannah can be in a place where honor for God and good education are stressed.

Hannah giving a speech about my "petpeeve" in speech class. 

Hannah in her class with the 'teen age' Don't take a picture. 

Claire and some of her friends and a Dad. All of the kids wore me out wanting to be pushed at the swing. 

Claire and I at recess. 

Claire and a friend in class. 

Law School retreat last weekend

We had a wonderful time as I took a group of 7 law students for a 24 hour power retreat. Actually, getting away the whole weekend is too big of a thing to ask for students as busy as law student. We relaxed (a lot of that - could not get them out of bed on Sat. morning) played, got to know one another. We looked at John 15 and what it means to 'remain in Christ' as a Law student. And they they wondered the grounds a prayed. On Friday night, we heard the coyotes howling. On Saturday, one student was afraid to walk around fearing a confrontation with a coyote. I told her that God has put a fear of man in the animals and they are more afraid of you and hidden away then you are of them.

It was so good to get away and think about something beside Law. And to connect with nature and look for ways that branch and tree are vitally connected.

Law Retreat - We have several Korean students in our group