One of the ways that International Student Ministry (ISM) at Gracepoint serves incoming graduate students is through free airport pickup service. For this upcoming school year, I was given the privilege of serving as the coordinator who would link these students to ISM volunteer drivers. With big dreams and goals, the international students (both Masters and PhD candidates) arrived into the Bay area. A total of 16 individuals requested our services and collectively, they were able to claim nearly every continent as their own. There were an amazing 12 nations represented and each of their “ambassadors” aspired to be the future leaders of their respective academic fields through the rich learning environment found at Cal.
As Christians, each believer is also called to be an “ambassador” of Christ. At ISM, and through the course of a month or so, many of us took advantage of the opportunity to uphold this calling. Joy filled my heart as I got to make contact with these students and I considered each of our interactions to be very precious. These individuals entrusted themselves into the care of strangers and also left it to us to lift at least one burden off their shoulders. The volunteers graciously went about putting the finishing touches to their airport pickup details regardless of whether the student requested to be picked up way in advance or sought our services just a few days before. Some of our travelers came alone while others came with family members but nevertheless, just for a short while during the pick up time, drive over the bay, potential sharing of a meal and then eventual drop off, they were in good company of someone who had waited in eager anticipation of their arrival. Many of the volunteers took time out of their busy schedules or even went as far as to take some time off from work to make this happen. And their efforts paid off. Many of these students expressed a desire to find out more about ISM and through subsequent interactions at either Friday Forum, English class, sports events, Labor Day picnic, Graduate Student Welcome Night, or even informal gatherings, they were able to witness firsthand a community that genuinely cares for each other, strives to become closer and ultimately, grow together. From start to finish, this is also our hope for those who are able to make contact with our community.