Note from Marilyn Laszlo, February 2007

To all who have given generously and prayed faithfully, thank you for helping us as we share God's Word with thousands every month. Your commitment and generosity are a special blessing! May God bless you in knowing that you have been used in a central part of our ministry. I am constantly amazed at the many vessels God uses to pour forth His blessings and Spirit to fulfill His great commission.

January was an astonishing month with some very unique opportunities that the Lord laid before me.

It all started in Pasadena, California, at the US World Center for Missions, Dr. Ralph Winters' dream center. All mission organizations are represented there. It is an amazing place. I had the privilege to speak a couple of time to the staff of about 100. Dr. Winters started the perspectives training center, and the book entitled Perspectives, which he wrote is now being taught throughout the country. I have the privilege of being a speaker for this course at several places each year. In fact, this year I will be one of the speakers for the class right here in Valparaiso, Indiana. This is a graduate level course that you can take for credit. It is an amazing book, and the class should be required for every church leader. It is a remarkable book, Perspectives. Check out their website at www.perspectives.org.

The next six days were in Los Angeles, California, at the UCLA University Presbyterian Church located right in the heart of the Hollywood stars' homes in Westwood. Speaking to over 200 young adults, mostly students from UCLA, was very special. The church is 90% Asian. That statistic is true in all the other major universityies in our country. The Asians are the number one work force on the mission field. I like to joke with them about the fact that our pioneer missionaries evangelized them. Korea is the number one sending country for missionaries going to the fields.

Like most students, the pressures are enormous. Most of these students, all Christians, were working on their PhDs...Biochemistry, Law, International Business, Industrial Design, Medicine, Psychology, Asian history, Ancient Mesopotamia, Chinese literature, Chemistry, Research of Pharmaceuticals, English literature, Microbiology, etc. Nearly all of them were working on research of some kind or another. One fellow said he was working on a virus that was in a leaf. I asked, "Can you see a virus?" He took a piece of paper and started to draw circles and lines. It just blew me away with the intelligence of these students. However, they all had problems and concerns - some more serious than others, but problems none the less.

The pastor, Dr. Soon Chung, and I decided to have a sign-up sheet for whoever wanted to talk with me. 26 signed up ... one and a half hour intervals. I counseled from 10 am to 5 pm three days in a row. It has been over 45 years since I have used my counseling degree. This was an experience that was very stiffing and heartwarming as each one came in the room to talk with me.

Some of the concerns:

1. Dealing with the pressures of school
2. Not really giving God His place in their lives
3. Weary from trying to keep up
4. Relationships
5. Where do they go after school?
6. Guilty feelings for not being more involved with the Lord's work
7. Insecure feelings
8. Low self-esteem
9. Concern for parents who are not Christians
10. Sleep deprivation
11. Wasting time
12. Lack of focus on priorities
13. Leaving the Lord out
14. Carrying this load and concerns alone
15. Addiction to things that were not honoring the Lord. I remember those days myself.

Just verablizing it was a big help for them. They just needed someone to listen. Some needed help developing a schedule and being disciplined in sticking to it. It is always easier sometimes to talk with an outsider.

They were so precious. Each one wanted to be sure they were doing what God really wanted them to do. After an hour or more, I prayed with them, putting my hand on their head and my arm around them, and committing them to the Lord. These were very special moments. Each one had tears, as well as myself, as we felt the Lord's presence and touch. This is certainly one of the most vital and essential parts of my ministry. Each one gave me their name, address, phone number, and email. I will pray for these students and stay connected to them as long as they want.

The outreach that this church has with these students is gigantic. They are very much involved in the lives of the students at UCLA. The university is just across the street. Dr. Soon Chung and his wife have such a heart for each and every one, not only the students, but their congregation and neighbors who are mostly movie stars who live there in Westwood. It is all about going out like the first century church.

Also, UCLA is one of the most incredible and beautiful universities that I have ever visited. It was quite a week. Dr. Chung took me to many different ethnic restaurants - Persian, Korean, and French. Bulgarian and Vietnamese were on the list, but we ran out of days. Maybe next year!

The Korean breakfast was a 10-12 course meal, consisting of ribs, a whole fish, sushi, breakfast soup swimming with fish, tofu, and spicy pieces of cabbage. Added to all that was short grained "sticky" rice that arrives in little metal bowls. You are given thin metal chopsticks. All this is traditionally served with bancha side dishes of kim chee, eggs, oysters, mushrooms, jalapeno peppers, small cockles topped with spicky Korean bean paste, a whole mackerel fish deep fried and picked at bite by bite, and of course, tea. This breakfast is the secret to remaining healthy and vibrant. It is required of working folk, who work 14 hour days. I loved it all. The experience was wonderful!

Thank you, my friend, for praying and for you financial support. It gets more exciting each month. May you, too, be blessed as you serve Him.

"He who has begun a good work in you... will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6b.
Marilyn Laszlo