The Road to the Missions Field: Island International Fellowship

Showing posts with label Island International Fellowship. Show all posts

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Island International Fellowship - From Vision to Reality

As the warm air rustles the blooming flowers and the sun goes to sleep later and later, I am reminded that time has taken its natural course and what seemed a blink ago to be January will soon be summer. Likewise, I am reminded that it is high time for a much overdue update on Island International Fellowship (IIF). If you are unfamiliar with IIF, I encourage you to read my "introductory" post for the full rundown of its beginning, vision, and plans beyond the following breif overview.

IFF Brief Overview

Island International Fellowship is a program for international university students who have come to Chincoteague Island to work for the summer as part of their work and travel program (or other reasons). IIF was officially started by Christine Elliott - a college student with a heart for relationships, the gospel, and the nations - in hopes of involving the community in building relationships and helping students "experience America" on a larger scale then she has been able to do the past two summers mostly by herself with the help of a few friends.

Purpose Statement

The primary goal of IIF is to involve the community in helping international students experience a growthful, fun, and memorable time in America by providing opportunities to explore on and beyond the Island, fellowship with American's and other students alike, and experience a taste of American culture.

The Gospel and IIF

It is the hope of IIF that by the relational witness of volunteers young and old—in word and action—that students will be drawn to question our beliefs, thus opening the door for mature religious discussion (on differences between their beliefs and ours) and ultimately gospel presentations. From this, it is our greatest desire that seeds will be planted, and if He wills, that God would open the eyes of even just one student to their need for Him and that they may take their newfound faith back to their home country. Above all, it is our prayer that no student will leave at the end of the summer without hearing the gospel message spoken and having at least a New Testament in their native language to take home, for how will they believe in a God of whom they have not heard (Romans 10:14)?

The Current Reality

As I ponder upon the best way to frame the current state of IIF's development in light of its ensuing "launch" in late May-early June (depending upon when students begin to arrive), I fear both on the side of sounding too positive and neglecting honesty, as well as in sounding too negative - as though I'm pleading for help amidst uncertainty. Thus, it is with the utmost effort that I shall try and capture both sides of this in an attempt to provide an accurate update on the amazing provision, remaining gaps, and current - although perhaps different - game plan of IIF. All of this, of course, is with the understanding that complete glory belongs to God and full surrender is given to His sovereign plan.

Amazing Provisions

I have been beyond blessed over the past several months to have had the prayers and moral support of many as I have shared about IIF. It has not only been comforting, but also humbling in a sense, to have so many offering to be in prayer, give ideas, or even a few offers to help this summer however they can. Specifically, I am immensely grateful to report that a few people have already graciously stepped forward to open their homes for a meal to the students and I have a few leads on potential trips/events over the summer.

Perhaps the provision that has bewildered me the most thus far, however, has been that of finding (rather out of nowhere) fairly affordable housing on the Island. Although it was not the utmost item on my radar in making arrangments, it was certainly a great hope and now as a reality shall save much travel time and aid tremendously in the ministry of IIF as a place of which I can have students over to for games, food, or just to hang out and build relationships. Ultimately, God has provided many opportunities to grow both in faith and planning as I have attempted to piece together the puzzle of vision to form the finished reality. For apart from HIm everything that has happened for IIF would have not been so, and everything that shall be would never come to pass.

Remaining Gaps

Although I have been amazed by the pieces of IIF that have been coming together, I would be dishonest if I were to claim that there and not still many gaps that I hope and pray to fill. Perhaps two of the greatest gaps I foresee are that of laking a co-coronation/leader and community partnerships/involvement; for one of my main goals in starting IIF is to involve the community and have IIF live on beyond my time on the Shore, as this summer is more than likely my last there. I have had people offer to help, and am immensely grateful to the few who have committed to some form of help or another, none the less I know I can't spearhead this alone and am still looking for someone to embark directly alongside me through the structuring and execution of IIF who can ideally carry on after me.

Furthermore, although there are currently no official partnerships, I am still hoping to involve the community and local churches in as many ways as possible in hosting/coordinating events, opening homes, building friendly relationships, or near any other creative ideas that are proposed. For although I could very well continue this summer with near the same as I have the past two in regard to IIF, I have little desire in IIF being remembered as Christine's ministry or even her college internship. Rather, I would like IIF remembered as the empowering of the community to seize an opportunity that is largely recognized but not filled by helping lay and build upon the foundations of this summer. Thus, I strongly desire to bridge the gap of community involvement and work alongside rather then spritely from within. None the less, all of my plans and hopes rest in full surrender to God's plan.

Current "Game Plan"

As all the visions and ideas begin to piece together into a rough plan, I very excited to see what lays in store for the summer. As of now, IIF looks to be taking a smaller scale approach then what my ambitious mind originally envisioned, which as many have pointed out is not a bad thing considering the newness of IIF. None the less, it is my hope that IIF may grow over the course of the summer as word spreads. What follows is a rough outline of what I currently foresee being plausible as well as specific ways people can be involved in each. If you desire to help with anything, or have any suggestions on existing plans/proposals for new ones, please do not hesitate to contact me at chrissy.islandif@gmail.com

Post Work Fellowship: 2-3 evenings a week students will be invited to hang out at my summer dwelling (our other's if hosts arise) after work. This would be a time to unwind, meet other students, eat food, hand maybe have a campfire.

Getting Involved: As this is a more casual time, extensive planning/involvement is not nessasarly needed. None the less, I would love to potentially have some college-age students (any age really - but it will be rather late at night) involved to hang out and form relationships. Likewise, as a college student myself, help in supplying food or money for food to feed the students would be most welcomed.

Home Visits: Bi-weekly (or weekly, ideally) students will be invited into someone's home for dinner and a glimpse of American culture and home life (or whatever else the host has planned). Although not set in stone, home visits would likely occur on Thursday or Sunday evening, depending on host/student availability. The goal is to bridge and explore cultural gaps, form relationships, and probably eat food.

Getting Involved: There are still many slots open for hosting home visits (sing up organizer in the works). Likewise, depending upon interest amidst the students, there would be a need for transportation.

Trips/Events: Bi-weekly (opposite home visits), some form of trip or event will be offered. It could be as simple as a trip to the local beach, or as venturous as a trip to Ocean City MD. Ultimately the trips/events will be largely influenced by the interest of students and what opportunities arise. None the less, to get the ball rolling as IIF continues to develop, I currently hope to have (based on past summers) a beach day, trip to Ocean City, a shopping trip to the mall in Salisbury, and hopefully some form of history tour through the iconic towns of the Shore. Although not set in stone, these trips/events will likely be on Tuesday's - or Sunday's if schedules demand.

Getting Involved: I would love to see people from the community step up and help coordinate trips/events - especially if there are people with something unique to offer. Furthermore, I would like to have people who are interested in building relationships with the students along; for trips are perhaps one of the best times to make memories. Lastly, although IIF is not intended to make a charity case out of the students and I would hesitate to offer all trips for free, I would like to be able to cover travel expenses to help keep overall costs down. That being said I would appreciate help in covering that expense and/or potential help in transporting students for some trips; depending on how much interest there is.

Church Visits/Bible Studies: Students will be invited to come to church with myself or any other person of whom they have begun to form relationships with. It would be a good chance to experience "American church" as well as to meet new people. None the less, it is important to remember that Christianity is not Western and our relational witness will likely speak louder than a church service in a language that is secondary to them. I would also like to offer Bible studies for students who are interested in learning more about the Bible and Christian faith - or to question it

Getting Involved: Its as simple as building a relationship and inviting them to church (and maybe lunch). I would also like to have people with a deep knowledge of scripture and healthy debating skills to lead Bible studies.

Grocery Runs: Once a week (more depending on coordination/transportation) students will have an opportunity to get a ride to an off-Island grocery store with normal prices. As simple as this sounds, lack of transportation beyond their bikes is one of the greatest gaps I've observed in past summers.

Getting Involved: Want to drive some students with you when you go to a store? As the pieces continue to fall into place for IIF I will be creating an online sign up to coordinate many things, rides to a store is one of them.

First Aid Kits: Another of the greatest gaps I have observed in the past is lack of first aid supplies (mostly due to students not being able to get to a store due to work schedule). Thus, I would like IIF to be able to offer first aid kits/specific personal supplies that they can obtain if they can't get to a store.

Getting Involved: As the students are not charity cases and I have found most do not want to be given supplies for free, kits and supplies will be sold at far discounted prices with all proceeds going directly back into IIF's budget. None the less, the donation of first aid/personal supplies and kits are greatly appreciated as the "sale" price will not cover the actual cost of supplies. My current goal is to create 30-40 kits and have some more "advanced" supplies on hand.

There is still work to be done in hammering out a final plan and coordinating everything, however, I hope as word gets out to students and the community alike IIF will continue to take form and grow.

I am currently in the prosses of creating a summer schedule and online sign-up to aid in coordination and effective communication. Likewise, I have created a facebook group for students as well as those desiring to help. The group is primarily where I shall be posting updates on events, sign-ups, and ways you can get involved (it is a closed group and upon requesting to join you will be asked why you want to. Simply say something along the lines of "student", "interested in helping", or "want to stay updated"). I will also be posting here throughout the summer.

Ways You Can Pray

I am beyond excited to see what lays in store for the coming weeks and hope and pray everything pulls together. I also greatly appreciate your prayers as they are perhaps one of the greatest forms of support and thus, I ask that you will continue to partner with me in prayer as IIF moves forward. Following are some praises as well as prayer requests for IIF as well as personally as the summer comes upon us.

Praises

Those who have already stepped up to help with IIF, offering guidance, prayers, and future hospitality to students.
Lessons learned over the semester that have helped give direction on making IIF a reality.
Provision of summer housing.
The excitement of some past and some returning students for IIF.
God's amazing grace and sovereignty and the assurance that He shall be glorified through all things.

Requests

Pray for God to be working with the students as they finish their year and prepare to come to America.
For the community to desire to act upon the opportunity before them in regard to the international students, perhaps leading to a partnership with IIF.
For someone to co-coordinate/lead with me who can help form IIF and carry on after I leave.
Peace and guidance as I attempt to pull together more details for IIF and my own future while balancing my job, family, and overall well-being; for I would be lying were I to claim that my life is currently like a calm stream.
Financial provision for IIF (budget available upon request).
Humbleness and surrender for myself and all involved present or future; for we are mere vessels and things may not go us as we planned.

Conclusion

Thank so much for your time and interest in staying updated with IIF. Although there is still work to be done and several pieces I would like to see fall into place, I am excited to see what God has in store for the students, community, and IIF alike as June swans upon the horizon and May fades out.

As always, if you have any questions, suggestions, concerns, or would like to help in any way, please do not hesitate to email me at chrissy.islandif@gmail.com. Likewise, I encourage you to join IIF's Facebook group to stay in the loop on current events/volunteer opportunities.

Contact:

Email: chrissy.islandif@gmail.com

Facebook: Island International Fellowship

Although not a profiting organization, Island International Fellowship is not currently a registered non-profit.

Monday, January 1, 2018

Island International Fellowship - Coming to Chincoteague Summer 2018

A Beautiful Chincoteague Island Sunset

Island International Fellowship (IIF) is a program for international university students who have come to Chincoteague Island to work for the summer as part of their Work and Travel program (or other reasons). IIF was officially started by Christine Elliott - a college student with a heart for relationships, the gospel, and the nations - in hopes of involving the community in building relationships and helping students "experience America" on a larger scale then she has been able to two the past two summers mostly by herself and some friends.

The Vision

It started with a simple introduction to a Russian girl one night in the summer of 2016, an introduction that became the first of many conversations which lead to local adventures and a dear friendship that has lasted thousands of miles. It started when my international student co-workers became one of the main reasons I enjoyed my job so much and through story-filled late nights, bi-lingual jam sessions, and dance/dishwashing parties, we became like a family. Ultimately, it started when I had no idea it did; when in His sovereignty and by His perfect plan God begin to lay out the pieces He would later pull together in my flawed human mind to form IIF - all glory to Him for the entirety of the following (and our existence, salvation, creation in general - you get the picture).

That being said, this past summer (2017) is when the pieces really started to come together in my mind. For in addition to the co-worker "family" bond, throughout the summer I was blessed with many opportunities to build relationships with several students through things like makeshift unofficial English lessons, rides home from work (in rain/bike failure), and conversations about cultural background and religion. I was also able to take a few on some "American adventures" of a larger scale than the summer before and become especially good friends with them as a result. Amidst all these things and many more, my mind put it all together and I realized something:

There's a Glorious Opportunity Before our Very Eye's.

Each summer, there are countless university students from all over the world who come to Chincoteague Island to work. Although they come from different backgrounds and are each seeking a little something different from their experience here, the majority of them come through their university on a Work and Travel Program in hopes of improving their English or fulfilling something in relation to their program of study (kind of like a travel abroad). Many have stories and experiences abounding and are just as interested to learn of our culture and background as we are of theirs. Further, beyond their jobs (they frequently have two to get in their hours), they're seeking to meet new people, experience a new culture, and have fun.

However, most students, especially first-timers, have a hard time accomplishing this due to "gaps" such as lack of connections, transportation, and opportunities. "Gaps", I thought as I was driving my Belarusian and Russian friends home from our last adventure of this past summer, that would not be hard for us to help bridge on a larger scale then what I had been doing the past two summers. After all, although there are many more students then I have been able to reach, there are also many more people in the community that may be willing to help. After much prayer, I brought the idea of starting a program to help students bridge these gaps and "experience America" before my international student friends, as well as some people at church, and they loved it. Likewise, I mentioned it to my college advisor and he not only liked the idea, but said it would count as the required internship for my degree. Thus, with all glory given to God for sovereignly working everything together to inspire IIF, it began the process of becoming a reality.

So, What Exactly is IIF?

Well, I'm glad you asked! The primary goal of IIF is to help students experience a growthful, fun, and memorable time in America by providing opportunities to explore on and beyond the Island, fellowship with American's and other students alike, and experience a taste of American culture. Ideally, my hope for IIF is that through our welcoming interaction and sincere interest, the students will be as open about sharing their culture and background as we are with them; thus, everyone involved will end the summer with friendships that will bridge thousands of miles, unique experiences to tell of for years, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Taking 3 students to Ocean City, MD for
our last adventure of the summer.

Although I do not currently have a set in stone plan for how IIF will accomplish this, and I am open to suggestions, one of the main ways I have been envisioning doing so is though having activities at least once or twice a week (more often if location and volunteers allow) such as:

Coffee houses: A time to meet new people, catch up with friends, eat food, play games from around the world, and unwind.
Movie Nights: stay-in or go out.
Swap Shops: Students can trade clothes among themselves if they are tired of their wardrobe.
International Meals: Students are encouraged to make their favorite dish from back home and bring it to share in a "global feast" (American food provided).
Beach Days: A trip to the beach that - hopefully - they don't have to bike a few miles for.
Grocery Runs: A quick escape from the Island and a chance to pay normal price for groceries.
Home Visits: Paring students up with locals for a chance to see an American home and eat a homecooked meal.
Rollerskating/Bowling/Laser Tag: Not nessasarly all in one event, just three ideas.

In addition, throughout the summer I would love to see some day trips and bigger activities come together, like:

Ocean City, MD day trip: One of the most sought-after exploration destinations of the students - also home to the Tanger Outlets.
Salisbury shopping trip: The closest "city" with a mall.
Grand History Tour: A day spent traveling the Shore and exploring its rich historical towns (surprisingly, this was requested this past summer).
Norfolk/VA Beach Day Trip: the closest "real city", containing many destinations of potential interest.
Amusement Park Day Trip: another requested destination.

As the summer gets closer, I hope to have a better idea of a rough outline for the summer, however, it will greatly depend on many factors that are still in the works (see "Getting Involved"). I would also like to be able to provide bike repair services, basic first aid supplies, and personal care items to students who may not be able to obtain them due to schedule or funds.

The Gospel and IIF

Anyone who knows me knows I have a passion for getting the gospel to the nations, and IIF provides a phenomenal opportunity to do so; as they have literally come right to us through these students. Over the past two summers, I have found that most students are far more willing - and actually quite interested - to discuss religious beliefs after a relational foundation of trust, respect, and intentional curiosity is established, rather than taking a "street evangelism" approach (ask me about the "Russian Bible's" sometime). That being said, my hope is that by the relational witness of volunteers young and old - in word and action - the students will be drawn to question our beliefs, thus voluntarily opening the door for mature religious discussion (on differences between their beliefs and ours) and above all, gospel presentations. From this, it is my greatest desire that seeds will be planted, and if He wills, that God will open the eyes of even just one student to their need for Him, and that they may take their newfound hope back to their home country.

Post-church visit snow cones

Above all, regardless of their initial receptiveness, it is my prayer that no student will leave at the end of summer without hearing the gospel message spoken and having a New Testament in their own language to take home. For, "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Romans 10:14).

Getting Involved

There is much that needs to be done in the coming months in order for the vision of IIF to successfully become a reality, and I greatly appreciate your interest and prayers in helping make it so. What follows are some of the current most pressing needs.

If you can fulfill, aid in the fulfillment, or know someone else who can, it would be a huge help and I encourage you to contact me at chrissy.islandif@gmail.com

I also encourage you to request to join the "Island International Fellowship" Facebook group which will serve as the hub for events, sign-ups, and connections as summer draws closer (you will receive a message after requesting from me asking why you want to join. You can just put "Interested in helping" or "following for ways to pray"). I likewise encourage you to contact me if you have any ideas or ways you can serve that are not listed. None the less, regardless of your physical abilities, prayer is always greatly appreciated and I welcome all to get involved in that way (see "Way's You Can Pray" for futher specific requests).

Pressing Needs of IIF:

Volunteers: I can't do this alone. Thus, I'm looking for people who are genuinely interested in investing in the lives of the students to help; and no, you don't have to be college age to help (although I would certainly appreciate a good number in that age range). I'm looking for relational people willing to help with things from cooking American foods for events, to building relationships with the students through the events or opening of your home, to teaching ESL (unofficially or officially), fixing bikes, sharing the spoken gospel and answering questions, and almost anything in between. Basically, if you love God, meeting new people, and learning about new cultures, there's something you can do.
Co-Leader: IIF is far more than just my college internship, and I have no plans of it just being a one summer-long program. None the less, my passion and call is currently overseas, and I won't be able to head IIF forever. Thus, I am prayerfully seeking someone willing to embark along with me from the "start" as we relentlessly pressure Christ and His plan for IIF, in the hopes that they will be able to lead in my future absence.
Location: Someplace on the Island, that can be used frequently for cheap or free, and likely at night (after work). I currently have no leads, and this is one of the greatest stressors.
Church Partners: I would absolutely love to partner with local churches on this, for it is indeed a remarkable missions opportunity. Church's could partner in prayer, financially, by providing volunteers or a space, by giving/renting use of vans & drivers for events, or some unique way.
Finances: I cannot offer a figure at the current moment, but I have no doubt that between potentially having to rent a location, buying food for events, offering personal care and first aid items for students, transportation, Bibles, and other miscellaneous expenses, IIF will need substantial funding.
Nearby Lodging (for myself): This is not so much a necessity, but would be a huge blessing. In addition to IIF, I am planning on returning to my job on Chincoteague to work full time (because college isn't cheap) and between the two, I will be on the Island 6-7 days a week -likely until rather late at night. I currently live a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Island and drive a car older than myself, thus, being able to stay at least part of the week on or near the Island would be a much-appreciated miracle.

Ways You Can Pray

Your prayers are perhaps one of the most valued forms of support through every venture, and I thank you once again for supporting me and now IIF with them. In addition to the needs listed above, below are some more personal requests as well as praises.

Visiting my Russian friend
in NYC last semester