Our fifth annual InterVarsity Hawai`i Spring Break Project gathered over 50 students and staff to immerse ourselves in the Big Island community to learn, bless, and grow as an `ohana.
This retreat is always one of the highlights of my year, and this year took our group deeper in Christ and sharing his aloha with others. Discipleship that might normally take a whole semester happened in just five days.
Students from three IV chapters (Hilo, UH-Manoa’s Dorm and Commuter Fellowship, and Hui Poly) came together to listen, learn, and serve as we stepped out in faith as a community and in the community. We had some very special times of growing as a family as we learned about Hilo, shared vulnerably about our experiences, worshiped, and studied the Bible. One highlight was when we met for “gender dialogues.” Men and women split into separate groups to talk about the challenges and blessings of being of our respective genders. Walls fell down as students shared authentically about their experiences. When we came back together, the Lord opened the door for students to disclose painful incidents in their lives, and what followed was a powerful time of confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation. God is healing and raising up women and men as his mighty warriors to stand for truth, righteousness, and integrity in the fullness of who he has made us to be.
As we reached out in the community, students took risks to step outside their comfort zones to demonstrate the love of Jesus. We made bowls of food to share with the houseless community in downtown Hilo, and students came back beaming with joy and telling of the testimonies Jesus gave. A UH-Hilo sophomore named Micah shared about how she previously tried to stay away from downtown Hilo, but on that day she let her inhibitions come down as she talked story and played music with uncles in the park. God opened her heart and mind to allow her prejudices to be challenged and shaped by the Holy Spirit instead.
I could tell of so many other stories of working in the taro patch in Waipi`o Valley, late night worship sessions, hearing from kupuna (elder) Aunty Mary, students taking risks at Under His Wings Ministry, or many other things. Let’s just say that God was powerfully at work. Students’ lives were being healed and transformed. Risks were taken, and Jesus empowered young people to step outside their comfort zones. We grew as a community of love and went deeper together as we sought to bless others. Please pray that students would take what was learned at our Spring Break Project back to campus and apply God’s lessons to their lives.
Brennan Takayama is on staff with InterVarsity at University of Hawai`i at Hilo and Hawai`i Community College. This blog entry was originally posted on his ministry blog, btakayama.wordpress.com.
