Blessed to be a blessing

A couple of months ago I heard about an organisation called Bristol International Student Centre (BISC). They were looking for volunteers to welcome new international students to the city and to take them to their new accommodation.

My pointy little ears pricked up. After spending a good chunk of my gap year in Italy, I knew how it felt to arrive in a new country not knowing anyone. I've also spent most of my life relying on lifts as I didn't own a car until earlier this year.

This was the perfect opportunity to ‘pay it forward’. I turned up for my first collection assignment to find three people eagerly waiting, each boasting several large suitcases. Now me and Ulrika (my trusty Ford KA) were a little unprepared for this.

In the end I took two slightly squished Malaysian lads. Baggage was jammed into every crevice, with large cases resting on laps and all manner of things obstructing my gear stick and handbrake.

Fortunately, I've always had something of a cavalier attitude to driving and we managed to find both sets of accommodation (yes, doubters, my sense of direction is better than you think).

I ended up doing several trips, mainly with students from Asia. I even did a couple of house viewings with two Chinese girls who had turned up without booking any accommodation. BISC had kindly put them up with a family for a week, but they desperately needed to find somewhere proper to live.

I'm pleased to report that everyone survived my kamikaze driving, and it was such as blessing to get to know some of these students, who were getting their first taste of English life. Suffice to say my tour guide skills need a bit of work, but I did know where a large Chinese supermarket was, so that earned me a few brownie points!

I was a little sad dropping the last two students to their digs, but fortunately the adventure wasn't over. Another part of BISC’s work is providing meals for internationals at the beginning of term. The first meal is free, and every subsequent meal is just £2, which doesn't even cover costs.

Despite working full time, the guy who ran the kitchen, Charl, had worked every night for ten nights by the time my meal assignment came round. I was really moved by his and his wife’s (BISC coordinator Jacqueline’s) amazing dedication and enthusiasm, which was also displayed beautifully by Jacqueline’s second-in-command, Ruth. They really did work tirelessly to meet the students’ every need.

A team of volunteers had assembled by the time I’d moved Ulrika from her slightly illegal parking spot. Everyone had a dish to make and mine was veggie pasta. It was hard not to compare my progress to everyone else’s (very slow, apparently) and I suddenly wished hadn't relinquished the household’s cooking duties over to my brother in favour of washing up when I moved in with him and his wife earlier this year.

But the dish finally came together, and I think we served about 50 students in all. The food seemed to go down well and it was lovely to see the students getting to know each other over steaming apple pie and custard.

And my washing up skills weren't wasted! Catering for 50 people creates a fair few dishes, so we cracked on with that.

I was even pleasantly surprised to find that one of my fellow washer uppers was a boy who had been in my year at school. I had the privilege of meeting his wife and catching up on what he’d been up to in the (too many to mention) years since we left.

What BISC is doing reminds me of what Christ did during his earthly ministry. He spent time with people, he fed people and he met their needs. He didn't discriminate or turn people away – and his capacity for love was contagious.

I'm sure there is an organisation like BISC where you live. I would encourage you to find out and get involved! It’ll bless you just as much as it blesses the people you are serving.

Read more from Joy in the new issue of Liberti - out now!