During my two years volunteering with InterVarsity Hawai'i, I helped with "International Friends," our ISM (International Student ministry) chapter.
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| Touring Iolani Palace |
International Friends join the other students for retreats. Check out my posts on Ho'olohe Pono and Spring Break.
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| Joy from China at Holy Spirit Retreat |
Every semester was a little different...
Fall 2017: helper at UH - on campus Bible studies
Spring 2018: planting small Bible study at KCC
Fall 2018: outreach to Korean students at KCC, social events with UH students
Spring 2019: helper at UH - Bible studies at Rachel's house
Rachel planted an International Student Ministry chapter at UH several years before. When I arrived, she was just coming back from a sabbatical trip in Europe, exploring her ethnic roots. The leadership team she had built up were all on the cusp of graduating. The largest ethnic group in the chapter was Japanese.
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| Leaders Junpei and Tutsuzo |
Praying for our campus and other unreached community colleges on our island.
I started a new Bible study at Kapi'olani Community College. David, Joy, and M were our faithful members. David is an American "Third Culture Kid" who has traveled the world with his military family. Joy helped him practice his Chinese. One of my favorite days, we read through the passage in four different languages!
Queen Kapi'olani was the wife of King David Kalākaua. She and her sister-in-law, the future Queen Lili'uokalani, were contemporaries of Queen Victoria of England, and attended her Jubilee.
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| Princess Lili'uokalani and Queen Kapi'olani |
Campus outreach: giving out boba teas, snacks, and playing fun games. Our prime hangout spot was the outdoor porch part of the cafeteria. We met some wonderful local students who helped us connect with International students.
We tried many new (to me!) foods. These students are making Japanese pancakes. Okonomimaki: Japanese "pancakes" are savory, not sweet. It includes cabbage in the batter, meet and cheese below, savory sauce, spicy mayonnaise, and a crunchy topping.
Takoyaki: fried octopus balls. (Tako is Japanese for octopus, but is pronounced just like taco!)
We also had American-style pancakes at my house after the Lanikai Pillbox hike at my house! Students woke up early for a sunrise hike. Then came down to my house for breakfast.
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| Leader Minghui makes pancakes |
My little kitchen was overwhelmed and overjoyed.
Hikes are the other favorite activity. My favorite was Makupu'u Lighthouse Hike- it's the easiest! When Anna Brewer came to visit me, she joined us for a beautiful hike day.
We had weekly Bible studies + dinner at Rachel's house each week.
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| Students with volunteer Natasha |
We loved spending time at volunteer Patty's house for meals and events. Honolulu neighborhoods are divided into hills and valleys. If you live on a hill, you get the view! (photos from Rachel)
I got to do one more encouraging event with InterVarsity, sponsored by Absher Construction. Absher does an outreach in Washington every year where they give out meals to families in need near their construction sites. It wasn't practical to ship meals to Hawai'i, so they offered to just right me a check if I knew a good place to spend it.
Checking in with InterVarsity staff, we prepared a big meal for the 'ohana who live at Waimanalo Beach Park.
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| Angel is cutting up bok choy for soup |
We made a big soup, plus rice, poke, poi, and so much more.
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| serving soup |
We also prepared little gift packages of snacks for the kupuna (elders) living at a native housing community. We walked door to door and sang Christmas carols.
Some lessons I learned working with International students:
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| Aloha, International Friends! |
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