First impressions of Kona, Hawaii

First of all I have to tell you about my problems of getting into the States. When we landed at LAX (Los Angeles) we had to go through the US homeland border control, and of course I lacked a paper. A quite essential paper to be precise, the I-20 form that proved that I am a student of University of the Nations this quarter. I honestly didn't think of that scheme when I left home, so when the officer in the desk asked my: ''Sir, do you have your I-20 form?'', I thought to myself: ooops! So I was taken away from the main desks, and to another room where there was a whole bunch of people sitting and waiting for the officers to call them up. A lot of thoughts went through my mind at this moment: firstly my plane to Kona, Hawaii was leaving just 2,5 hours later on that day, and I did not know how long time this would take me, secondly I did not know whether I was allowed to enter the US at all. So, I desperately tried to get in touch with the school, but I were not allowed to use my cellphone either. Anyway, I sneaked my phone out of my pouch and sent a text message to a girl from Finland that I had been traveling with since London whom was also attending the same school. I asked her to get in touch with the school. The clock was ticking and nothing happened, the process with the other people seemed to go really slow. I was fearing the worst, that I had to leave America and go back to Norway. Then I remembered that I had previously been connected with the wireless at the airport, so I tried to get online because I had a copy of the I-20 form in my email. I got hold of the document and downloaded it to my iPhone, then I prayed for a while. I came to realize that I really wanted to go to this school. After 45 minutes my name was been spoken aloud in the speakers, and I went to see the officer. She was asking me a whole bunch of questions, why I had forgotten my I-20 form, if I knew I was supposed to bring one, if the school had sent me the form and so on. In the end she was telling me that normally they would not let me in, but since this was the first time I came as a student to America, she would let me in - I think this was also due to the fact that I could show proof of my I-20 form at my iPhone. 

So, she stamped my passport several times, then she let me go with the passport and all documents sorted out. Glory to GOD!!

WHAT A RELIEF! 2 hours later it was a great feeling when our plane left LAX and flew out from the Californian coastline towards the sunset. I had never been this far from home before! So, when the plane landed at Kona International airport, I took a deep breath of Hawaiian air. The climate was really humid and hot - even in the night. But oh boy how good it was to finally be there.

The first days of my stay here went into being showed around at the campus, we had some meetings and there was this evening with hawaiian aloha culture thing, island breeze they called it. Traditional dancing and flame show. 

It was really exciting to watch, and really touching when all the flags of the nationalities that are represented at campus were being taken around at the meeting hall. It is so good and also a bit strange to be here. I've been thinking of this for over a year, and suddenly I am here. There are 600 students from above 40 nations, in addition to around 400 staff and other people working at the base. Everyone are really friendly, they greet you even if you don't know them, and people are really keen on getting to know each other. I say hi to new people every day, from all over the world. It is truly exciting. We have been to the beach and have been swimming with sea turtles, we have had bonfire at the beach in the night, and there has been some drama here as well because there was a bushfire just 10 meters from our campus, so a big firefighter helicopter have been flying above us a whole afternoon to put the fire out. 

My class has just began as well, and so far have we had introduction to using iMacs and also teaching about Hawaiian culture and prayer for all the students in the class - which was really encouraging.

This night we watched a movie in the campus movie theatre, it was about trafficking in Cambodia. It really teared my heart aport to watch these young girls, as young as 4 years old, being taken to prostitution. The film was made by people on this base. And there is so much hope around here, people that really care about other peoples and other nations. It is so inspiring to meet these guys, talking to them and just hear about their stories from all over the world, and how the Lord is really providing in the various ministries. He is amazing, the Lord of all Lords! I am truly blessed to be here!

To be continued...