Day 8

... and it feels like we have lived together for months. Friendships build up easily, everybody has found their favorite spot in our outside dining area and almost everybody has started to show the beautiful island tan :)

However, it is very clear that this is no vacation: we are all leaving our rooms at 6:15am for breakfast and often don't get home from class and work duty until 9pm (with a 1-hour lunch break and 1-hour dinner break). I love it though! I am learning so much and I have already been challenged in many ways. For example, this week we have heard lectures on "Hearing God's Voice" and I realized that up until now, it seems like I have mostly had a one-way conversation with the Lord. I have to admit that most of the time I prayed to God, I was quite impatient and didn't take much time to listen to God's response. Taking my quiet time seriously, learning to listen deep inside myself and taking time to unwind (instead of rushing around all day, trying to keep busy) will be a challenge for me over the next couple of months.

Our piggies!

My work duty has started three days ago and while my roommates are working within Natural Farming (we have our own little farm on campus with pigs that eat our leftover foods!) or clean the buildings, I am working with the video department on campus! That means, we are recording the live-stream of the worship services on campus and help out with video projects. Even though the work is intense, I love the fact that I can bring my video skills to work!

And today we've found out that we will be doing community outreach as well as of next week. Once a week, our group will be working at the Hope Shelter and we'll work with the homeless of Kailua-Kona, offering classes like cooking, photography or hair braiding. I am sooooo excited for it :)

Our room, some of my lovely roommates, and one of our campus cats :)

But now it's the weekend and two of my roommates and I went downtown after dinner to explore the area. On our walk along the ocean, we got the chance to make leis and learn some hula dancing, buy fresh fruit at the farmers market and watch a beautiful sunset on our way home. I've already fallen deeply in love with the beauty of this precious island called Hawaii...