Autumn is my favorite time of the year! I love the end of hot weather, the beautiful colors of the changing leaves and the brisk morning and evening chill (reminding me that football season is here!). These past few years September has become a month of banquets and celebrations in our mission of Students International. This past month was no exception. We began with our first gathering of all our Country Directors and their spouses for one week of encouragement, fellowship and training. Then we all met with our Board prior to our banquet in California. We had close to 500 guests there for a wonderful evening. It felt more like a reunion than a fundraiser, yet we also raised money designated for the addition of new “national” staff (indigenous staff from each of our 5 different countries). Several weeks later many of us traveled to another part of the US where there is a significant “pocket” of support in Elkhart County, Indiana. We had another banquet (approximately 200 guests in a “sold out” banquet hall). Just like the California Banquet, new support was raised for national staff as we continue to be amazed at God’s blessing and provision.

A huge thanks goes to all of you who helped make those evenings a success. It wouldn’t happen without you!

The rest of the Fall season is well underway with study abroad programs going in the DR and Guatemala, as well as this being the heart of the recruiting emphasis with many teams making their plans for next summer. We are excited to say that presently our calendar is 80% full for next year. With this blessing comes the challenge to accommodate all the requests we get for specific countries and specific dates. If you have been thinking about bringing a team for next year, call us now and let’s see what the options are. Meanwhile, celebrate this great time of year and be sure to pause for a moment to take in the gorgeous beauty that God has surrounded us with!