Seeing students graduate is always bittersweet, especially in our ministry. We often wonder how deeply they understood the gospel and pray the seeds planted in their lives will one day lead them to fully embrace Christ. Many students also move across the country after graduation, making goodbyes especially difficult. Each year, we make it a priority to honor our graduating seniors. 

           At our final Friday large group meeting, we invited them forward to receive certificates and, this year, trophies as well. We also asked them to share their next steps and words of wisdom with the younger students. It was a meaningful moment, especially for the seniors, who felt seen and encouraged.

          We also attended commencement on May 20th to cheer our students on and show them how much we care. While some students had family, others did not, so simply being there was a meaningful way to support them during such an important milestone. Afterward, we hosted a celebration dinner filled with good food, laughter, music, games, and heartfelt goodbyes. See all pics and videos here!

           Please pray for our students as they enter this new season of life. Some already have jobs lined up, while others are still searching. Most importantly, pray that the gospel seeds planted during their time with us would continue to grow.

             As we transition into summer ministry, seven Christian students are continuing in discipleship groups, several non-Christian students are in discovery Bible discussions, and our Mandarin group will keep gathering for Friday dinners throughout the summer. We also plan to continue hosting monthly field trips, meeting weekly for staff prayer, visiting supporting churches, and raising additional missionary support.

On May 23rd, we took our first summer field trip to American Dream Mall! We had outdoor plans but the rain caused us to pivot. With over a dozen students and volunteers present, it was still a great opportunity to deepen relationships and enjoy time together.

We are also excited that our whole family will be traveling to Japan from June 19th–25th for the International Students Inc. staff conference, followed by some personal sightseeing through July 3rd. Please pray for safe travels and a meaningful time overseas. The conference is designed to equip and encourage ISI missionaries while also helping us experience the kind of cultural immersion many international students face every day. Praise God that our December support appeal covered all conference costs and most of the airfare. If you would like to contribute toward the trip, you can give here: https://www.sforzagrams.com/give.

More information about the conference can be found here: ISI Japan Conference Website

Thank you so much for your partnership in the gospel!