After small beginnings in 2009 with monthly evening meals for Internationals in a local student’s home,  this year we have moved to having socials on campus and this has given much more opportunity to get to know internationals studying at Royal Holloway!

Great Food at the Easter Social!

Jenny and Shanshan with Daffodils!!!

Our Easter Social  was the first of these and was a success! Ten people came and enjoyed food, hunting for easter eggs and a short message about the meaning of Easter.

In April Mary told a modern version of the Prodigal Son Story, followed by a discussion about the painting by Rembrandt. A small group of students came and some were very moved by the story.

Rembrandt The Prodigal Son

In May we led a Topic on Relationships-”What to look for in a Partner”, which promoted some lively discussion!!

Where we had our picnic!!

We ended the year with a walk and picnic in Windsor Great Park. We actually saw some deer and enjoyed ice creams at the cafe.

We are looking forward to meeting more Internationals as we start this new academic year (2010-2011).Please pray as we get ready for the Fresher’s week.

We want to thank Barbara for her help earlier in the year, Chris for his faithful team contributions throughout, and the continuing encouragement and support from Regenerate Christian Union and local churches.

We have been very encouraged by developments in the work among International students at Stratford.

Bob and Mary with Indian students eating lunch

Over the Spring and Summer terms we continued to put on a Free Lunch on Mondays between 12 noon and 2pm.

Some weeks there have been over 40 students coming and we have built up friendships with several of them.

There has been a growing support from churches in the area, with whom we have shared our vision, and several pastors and leaders have become part of our regular team on Mondays, chatting to the students, sharing in giving a short talk and providing the food for lunch.

Patrick, the Careforce volunteer from Highway Church has continued to be a great help, blessing everyone with his songs and friendly approach to discussions.

We are sad that he has to return to Uganda.

Patrick playing some songs

Bob and Mary have now been officially recognised  as Visiting Chaplains by the Chaplaincy and are able to work more freely on the Campus because of this!!

Highlights this year were the Marriage and Relationships Talk and discussion, the Easter Talk with Pizzas!! and hidden mini eggs!!, an amazing Powerpoint from Patrick, and the frequent opportunities to share God’s love in conversation, discussion and prayer.

There were answered prayers with people finding work, passing exams and experiencing healing; as well as some attending a Church meeting for the first time!!

We are looking forward to the beginning of the new year in September and meeting up again on Monday lunchtime with old friends and new ones!

We would be very happy if anyof you would like to join us and become part of this Welcoming ministry!!

This September we were encouraged to build on what we had done previously at the University of East London (UEL) campus at Stratford. This time with help from Friends International, Simon Clinton at Highway Church and the UEL chaplaincy.. We have formed a group where international students meet socially week by week in a friendly atmosphere and hear abouit God’s love over a lunch.Approximately thirty students come along each week, mostly from India, with others from Sri Lanka and Africa. We give a short talk twice over at different times over the two hour lunch period and our friend and team worker, Patrick Kizito from Uganda provides some live music. He is here as a Careforce missionary to the UK.

Financially the meal is costly for us to undertake but some funding has come from chaplaincy and a local church. We are trusting God will continue to help us as the contacts masde are really precious. We hope to do an alpha type coiurse in small chunks over the next term.

We have also been working with Regenerate Christian Union and local churches at Royal Hiolloway University of London (RHUL) with a programme of International Student events in a local home. Our good friends Barbara Pymm and Chris Coles have helped with food and a venue.  Next term we are continuing the evening programme but also hope to get out with students on some local outings. We have good contact here with five international students.

If you like the idea of helping at any of these events at UEL or RHUL do let us know.