From around the globe, Seventh-day Adventist University students take a year off from school to travel abroad, to beautiful parts of the world--where they teach island kids. Here are the testimonies of students, of former student missionaries.
From around the globe, Seventh-day Adventist University students take a year off from school to travel abroad, to beautiful parts of the world--where they teach island kids to read and write but most importantly, to love.
The impact these volunteer student missionaries have on the young kids, surpasses understanding. Here are the testimonies of students, of former student missionaries, who are now attending Walla Walla University.
Ryan Johnson - Young Male Voice
“They had a lot to do with guidance, you know, they were all counselors to me.”
Maxine Iehsi - Young Female Voice
“All of the missionaries impacted my life in a really, really big way.”
Ryan Johnson
“You just make a lot of friends, a lot of friends for life. I’m still in touch with my first grade teacher.”
Maxine Iehsi
“Most people who I have talked to, they think, oh I’m going to be a student missionary--I’m just going to go teach a kid English. But it’s a lot more than that. A student missionary was the one who taught me to tie my shoe.”
Judelle Johnson - Young Female Voice
“I had 2 or 3 teachers in High School, my senior year from Walla Walla. And they all help me apply to study at Walla Walla. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I would be here.”
Josh Remoket - Young Male Voice
“It all affected me in a real positive way. When I was in High School, I wasn’t the best kid around the block but I did try hard in school. Through my church I got scholarships that gave me the opportunity to be the person that I am today.”
Maxine Iehsi
“I was counting today and 17 out of my 25 teachers were from Walla Walla.”
Leighton Edward - Young Male Voice
“I have been taught by a total of 31 student missionaries. And about 50 percent of them were from Walla Walla University.”
Judelle Johnson
“The school probably wouldn’t function if we didn’t have SMs in the islands.”
Ryan Johnson
“If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have a school.”
LeaAnnie Edward - Young Female Voice
“Back home, I was taught by SMs my whole life.”
Judelle Johnson
“The teachers that came and taught me my sciences classes, were also science majors here at Walla Walla. And you could tell that their teaching style was adapted from professors here.”
Leighton Edward
“I was leaning towards architecture but then an SM who is from here--he is a civil engineering student and he kind of influenced me to go the civil engineering direction. And I am glad I chose that.”
Judelle Johnson
“They taught me my subjects of course, but then they also taught me life lessons, they inspired me to come here and they had a huge impact on our lives there. All the little kids running around campus.”
Maxine Iehsi
“I learned a lot about God from them too, taking a year off from school to come and devote yourself to serving. Wow, that just touches me.”
LeaAnnie Edward
“They are not just their teachers but they are also their friends, their siblings and they could even be parents for some who don’t even have parents.”
Leighton Edward
“Some of them I got really close to, they’re just like brothers and sisters to me.”
Maxine Iehsi
“One day I hope to be a Student Missionary too.”
The list of opportunities changes every year, you can volunteer your time and energy--around the world, there are people who need you.
To become an Adventist Volunteer Services Missionary, visit AdventistVolunteers.org. There are many different types of opportunities to serve in many areas and places. Are you hearing God’s call to serve, will you go?
[graphic of job list from AV website]
