This retreat proves every year to be a highlight time for MKs who attend. It is a time of renewing old friendships and building new ones. It is a time of relaxation and a time of remembering God's faithfulness and gaining a new awareness of His love. Words can't describe the environment of 200 MKs from all over the world getting together for one weekend. For those who have never attended before, consider this your personal invitation. The First Baptist Church is pleased to be able to provide this event for you. They plan to do all they can to make this a great weekend of encouragement for each MK who attends.

The speaker this year will be Harry Bollback from World of Life Fellowship. There will be various winter activities offered this year, plus an international skit night, inside games and plenty of time to talk with friends.

If you are a college age MK you are welcome. Space is limited so you'll want to register as soon as possible. The cost is only $32.00. If you want to register you need to call Dwight Peterson at the First Baptist Church, 219-295-4475 .

First he suggested that we all have "windows of opportunity" that present themselves to us on a daily basis. I know when I was in college it seemed like opportunities were laid out before me all the time. You see we all have opportunities in life and we need to determine which opportunities to let fly by and which ones we should embrace.

Secondly he suggested that opportunities are affected by time and condition. When I was growing up I played little league baseball. In fact I played baseball into high school, I loved it and I was pretty good. I considered going to a college to play baseball and even thought about becoming a professional. I decided against it! The point is this, even though I still love baseball, I'll never have that opportunity again to consider playing pro-ball, no matter how much I love the game, that window of opportunity has changed because of time and my own physical condition.

Thirdly he suggested that opportunities are either missed or taken. He used the illustration in Luke 2 where the innkeeper "missed" an opportunity to offer a room for the Son of God to be born. Instead, Christ was born in a humble stable. While in Matthew 2 you see the wise men took full advantage of an opportunity to worship the newborn Christ. Pretty much the same event, but very different ways of responding.

I know the Lord has some exciting opportunities for all of us in the year 2001. Maybe we need to take a closer look at what those might be and take full advantage of the "windows of opportunity" that God will give us.

During the retreat I met with the student leadership of the Mu Kappa chapter from Southwestern AG University. Was I ever impressed? The SAGU chapter started last year and since becoming a formal chapter they have organized themselves into an active and caring MK community.

One of the key components in the success of this chapter has been the support of their faculty advisor, Ruth Collins. Ruth has been an advocate on behalf of the MKs and she has set the stage for student ownership. Along with Ruth there has been a core group of MKs that have pulled together and worked hard at building a program.

The chapter offers social activities through out the year, which provides a solid support base for incoming freshman. They work hard at aiding MKs with their cultural adjustments by helping them to successfully embrace and integrate their past with their present as they build toward the future.

Another vital part of this chapter is their Area Representatives. These reps provide key social links to MKs from their region of the world. The reps also serve as advisors to the Mu Kappa Executive officers.

I suppose the thing that impressed me the most was their "proactive approach" to their MK ministry on campus. As they would say, "We're coming right at YA!"

Plans are currently underway between Mu Kappa Int'l and Southwestern to plan a Regional Mu Kappa Retreat for all the Mu Kappa chapters in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Potential dates and venue are being investigated.

Keep up the good work down there in Waxahachie!!!

Jon's book "Dealer" is a contemporary, first person account of what really happens in the "glamorous" world of easy money and hard-hitting drugs. Against a backdrop of self-destruction and hopelessness emerges and inspiring, challenging account of the faithfulness, forgiveness, and love of a divine Savior and the rewards of living under His Lordship.

Jon is a former professional soccer star and in his book he shares his life's journey from missionary kid to teammate with international soccer superstar Pelé of the New York Cosmos to prison inmate. When no hope seemed possible, Jesus Christ opened the doors of both his spiritual and physical prison.

Jon now travels extensively in both the U.S. and Latin America, ministering to students and parents about the dangers of drugs and the importance of God-centered values and commitment to Jesus Christ.

I would highly recommend this book to you. It will bring you face to face with some crucial realities in our world, while at the same time pointing you in the direction of a living Christ. A great book to give a friend!

To obtain a copy of his book, you can write, Jon Kregel Ministries, P.O. Box 131480, Tyler, Texas 75713

Flags of the World: This is a white short-sleeved shirt with approximately 250 flags from around the world on the back of the shirt. There is also a front Mu Kappa emblem. Sizes available are XL, L, & M. (Cost is $12.00 plus S/H)

Old World Map: This is a short sleeved cream colored shirt with an Old World Map across the font and a script that says, "Been There Done That." No printing on the back. Very nice colors on the m ap. Sizes available are XL, L, & M. (Cost is $12.00 plus S/H)

IMNMK NPROUDOFIT: (I am an MK and proud of it!) This is a white short-sleeved shirt with the IMNMK NPROUDOFIT emblem on the front. On the back is printed phrases from "You know you're an MK when..." Only XL is available. (Cost is $12.00 plus S/H.)

Mu Kapp Int'l with Hands Logo: This is a red long-sleeved shirt with black and white lettering on teh front. No printing on the back. Sixes available are XL, L, & M. (Cost is $14.00 plus S/H.)

If you would like to place an order for any of these shirts, please email the Mu Kappa Int'l office and we'll send you an order form. In the near future these shirts will be available to order off the Mu Kappa website.

Who is an MK? I am a combination of two cultures. I am neither and I am both. I am the brat who throws a temper tantrum and refuses to dress native for the American church. I am the six-year-old who cries herself to sleep the first two weeks away from home. I am the one who complained about eating oatmeal everyday of my life, yet I am the one who orders oatmeal at the restaurant just for old times' sake.

I am the one who desperately worries about fitting in, but I am the one who wears my native wrap around the college dorm and doesn't care what anyone thinks. I am the one who has lived under strict school rules, and I am the one who returns to America and questions what my real values are. I am the one the churches make a saint out of, and the one some people pity and laugh at. I am the one who traveled halfway around the world before I was four, and I am the one who has no home. I am the one who promises to write, but never does because it's too difficult to deal with the reality of separation. I am the one who has seen the devil dancers, and I am the one who has seen the rock concerts.

I am the one who knows and understands world missions, life and death, heaven and hell. I am the one who has seen God work miracles. I am the one who knows prayer works, but I am the one who sometimes finds it difficult to pray.

I am the one who has learned to live with a politically unstable government, and I am the one who waits impatiently by the phone for news that everything is safe. I am the one who has spent only three months a year at home. Yet I know, beyond question, that my parents are the best in the whole world. I am the one who speaks two languages, but can't spell either. I am the one who has devotions from a French Bible.

I am the one who wears a thousand masks, one for each day and time. I am the one who learned to be all I'm expected to be, but is still not sure of who I really am. I am the one who chooses my college by where my friends are because nobody understands an MK like another MK. I am the one who laughs and cries, sings and prays, gets angry and doubts, fears and questions, expects and receives, hopes and dreams. And I am one who cares.

I am an MK, and I am proud of it!

--Anonymous MK

(Lois Hart wrote this poem when she was 21 years of age. She is a second generation MK, currently living in South Africa.) (Used by Permission.)