As I read your note, my heart burns within me. How I wish there were one of you on every campus in the U.S. and Canada! Obviously, I don't know what God's will is for your life right now, but as you share your heart I am reminded of Samuel Mills.

In 1806, he and four other students at Williams College (Massachusetts) spent regular time praying for missions. He became the spark which resulted in the first Americans going overseas as cross-cultural missionaries. However, while his friends were going to Burma and India, he was asked to stay home for two reasons:

1) To stimulate further missionary interest among the churches in America.

2) To help explore missionary possibilities in the Western frontier of the U.S.

Before he died at 35, he never had had the opportunity to serve overseas. However, he had:

1) Formed the Society of the Brethren to promote missions.
2) Stimulated the founding of the first foreign missions board from North America.
3) Participated in sending the first American cross-cultural missionaries.
4) Worked toward the betterment of the poverty-stricken in the ghettos of New York.
5) Helped found two Bible societies.
6) Ministered to the Indians of the Mississippi Valley.
7) Given his life in the effort to break the chains of slavery in America and combine this with the evangelization of Africa.

Only the Lord can show you what He is leading you to do this summer between your two options:

1) The ministry you have among international students is awesomely strategic. Quite apart from what you are giving, you are learning so very much about communicating the Gospel to non-Americans. This may be a temporary thing, or it may extend into a life-time ministry, including visits to the countries where these students come from. As you know, their greatest trials will come when they leave "safe" America and re-enter their own context.

2) On the other hand, the Lord may well be leading you to leave the ministry in the hands of whose who have worked with you. Perhaps this is their opportunity to trust the Lord to guide them without your presence. He may be weaning you from this ministry and preparing you to enter another overseas. Far be it from me to dissuade you from pioneer work in an unreached people group!

Keep praying. He loves you, knows your situation, and is fully able to lead you in very creative ways.

Jack

P.S. If you want to learn more about Samuel Mills, I recommend David Howard's little book, Student Power in World Missions. (InterVarsity Press, 1979) As you may know, David directed several Urbanas and was a missionary for many years in South America.