Thursday Night International Student Christmas Party

Over 15o international students enjoyed a wonderful meal and Christmas program last night. Your truly was the Maitre d' who made sure that all were seated. The majority of students were mainland Chinese. We had a few Malayan Muslims join us as well. It was great fun. The kids choir sang, and the Christmas story was re enacted by International students. Many of these students were handed a scripted as they entered the room. It was great fun. Many of my International Scholar friends and Law school International friends were there.

Claire (far right) enjoyed signing for the Christmas party. Many languages were song. Claire sang happy birthday to Jesus in Spanish. 

International Student Christmas Party UW Madison. 

Another view of the International Student Christmas Party. 

Hannah's turn for a school Christmas concert

'Tis the season for Christmas concerts. We had a chance to go to the High School concert at Abundant Life Christian School. It was great fun. We really love the Christmas season.

Christmas Blessings to you,

The Sicard

A fun Christmas concert. 

Hannah singing on Tuesday night. 

Lunch with a Med student

Yesterday, I met a 4th year Med student for lunch. A medical education to be a Physician is a minimum of 7 years: 2 years in studies, 2 years in rotations and 3 years as a resident. She is in her fourth year and is planning on doing a two month missions trip. She will be going to Nigeria. I have been to the hospital in Jos, Nigeria and she will enjoy her trip. The needs are great in Africa. Her husband, Frank, will be going with her and then another couple from Med school will join them.

To me this is great. I put a heavy emphasis on getting students on missions trips. A medical education is a great priviledge and each one needs to be a stewart of this great gift. I also met with a first year med student today who wents to do an extented trip. We talked about several options.

Our Medical group also has a short missions trip planned to the Honduras May 20 - 28.

So a good number of students are getting out into the missions field. Hurrah God!!!!

Fun with Internationals - A Christmas Celebration

Mary Alice and I along with Rick and Jill Feldkamp hosted a group of 15 Chinese International Scholars this Saturday night. We started off at the local mall looking at the Christmas tree display. Around 25 different trees according to one scholar - Snow Baby. Many took photos of them all. And then to an outdoor Christmas light display and finishing up at the Feldkamp home with cookies and Christmas carols. It was a great evening. Some many questions about Christmas and the Bible. A very fun evening indeed.

Fun with Internationals - the whole group. 

Fun with Internationals - Amy saying hi to Santa 

Fun with Internationals - another shot. 

Fun with Internationals - everyone gets into the act. 

'Tis the Season for Christmas Programs

We have kicked off a very fun part of Christmas. Last Tuesday, Claire did her Christmas program. It was great fun seeing all the kids sing. One of the many reasons why I love Christmas.

Another photo of Claire at her Christmas program. 

Claire at her school Christmas program. 

URW on UW campus

Rich is involved with a campus group of religious workers called the URW (United Religious Workers.) It is a strange collection of many kinds of religious workers of the UW campus. It has the distinction of being the main religious entity that UW recognizes. We are in a process with the University to elevate the status of this group to be a full partner with the University. Some great things are happening and the University has been surprizingly open to this discussion. I am excited.

Pictured is a monthly meeting. We invite various folks to talk to us mainly campus officials. It is neat to see what these meetings have yielded.

URW meeting 

URW meeting 

Fun in the snow

Snow is falling early in Wisconsin. We are having a 5 to 7 inch snow fall. We have had more than a foot of snow and it is only mid December. The 'White' Christmas is already here.

Hannah having fun as well.  

Claire having fun in the snow. Another 5 inches in Wisconsin. 

University of Wisconsin Christian Faculty Group

Yesterday was the monthly meeting of the Christian Faculty group at UW Madison. We eat a meal together and hear a speaker on an important topic. Many of the faculty that I work with in the Professional Schools attend this meeting: Vet advisor, Business Advisor, Pharm Advisor were among those I saw yesterday.

It is really great to know that God is alive and well and working in the lives of many of those on faculty. These faculty care about their faith and their students.

Jon Dahl, my collegue on staff with InterVarsity works with Grad and PhD students in addition to faculty. He shared from the point of view of his ministry and how grad students can become the 'exhaust' of the motor of a Research 1 University such as UW. They do lots of the research, teaching and hard work and then could end up not graduating due to the great pressures. Unfortunately, higher education is not all that it could be.

Jon concluded his talk by speaking of our vision to reach and reshape the University with the Kingdom message. Instead, he said, the University is shaping us.

Jon is sharing about his ministry with Grad students. 

UW Madison has a monthly Christian faculty meeting. Pictured is my collegue, Jon Dahl who works closely with this ministry.  

Med school group ends for the semester and sledding!!

Last night, our Med group ended for the semester. Finals and the pressure thereof is starting to come down on students so groups usually end the first week of December.

We have been studying Jesus as Healer in our study night. It has been great and very interesting. One of the student leaders has put together the study.

So at the end of the evening, we decided to end the semester with a sledding outing. It was interesting in the car on the way to hill, the students were studying. They were working on the nervous system and all of the nerves.

We got there. No one on the hill. A long climb Zero degrees. It was great fun and I could hardly keep up with the speedy students.

What were you doing last week?

Last week, I along with 30 other IV staff were studying the book of Ephesians. This was all in preparation for the next InterVaristy sponsored Urbana Missions conference in 2006. Urbana needs Bible teachers and I was very interested. We literally spent 4 days in the text, studying, analyizing, discussing, praying through the book of Ephesians. It was great. What a great book Ephesians is. I can say that I now understand and appreciate the book in a whole new way.

Four days in Ephesians with some great teachers. 

Studying Ephesians with 30 other IV staff in Indianopolis, IN