Missio n field in Paradis e

On theislands ofMaui and Molkai, Hawaii, an exciting venture forthe Lord is taking place Each summer, a dozen college students and their sponsors,Bob and Brenda Bonheim, spend two months as missionaries totheHawaiians.

Because the Bonheims believe that missions are the same everywhere, they believethe summer program is greattraining for themission field The Hawaiians basically adopt the American lifestyle;however, the Hawaiians are prejudiced against the whites Lisa Sumner,a participantduring the summer of 1980,said, "It's funny to be on theother side of theprejudice. There is no great culture shock and no language barrier; however, the children speak pigeon which is hard to understand."

A high percentage ofstudents whohave participated inthe program are onthemission field during the summer months

Since the summer work is a continuing one,thestudentsgaingreater insightsthan they do on an exposure trip, which only introduces people to the needs of world missions

Mrs. Bonheim, then Miss Aldefer,first started going to Hawaii 20years ago while she was still incollege. As a family, the Bonheims have been going for 14years. According to Mrs Bonheim, "Oneof the greatest blessings has been the experience of being in mission work every dayduring the summer." "It is like a second home," adds her husband

The mission, Faith Missionary Fellowship, was founded in 1954 The goalsofthe summer missionary program aretoevangelize,todisciple andto serve the mission in any way possible.Children's programs, sports,rally days, Vacation Bible Schools, youth meetings, five-day Good News Clubs, visitation, discipleship, and maintenance are some of the many activities of the summer workers They work with peo- pie ofall ages.

According to Sumner, "Thechildren's work was the best It was great tomake an impact on their young lives."

"There isnever a dull moment,"Mrs. Bonheim said."We're constantly planning for something."

One oftheactivitiestheteam is involved inis camping with theyouth.Sumnerrelated how she felt she was on Gilligan's Island

Brenda Bonheim, a Phys. Ed. instructor, consults with some oftheother coaches. Mrs. Bonheim teachesseveral Physical Education courses.

"We lived inwooden huts with holescut out for the door andwindows There were no screens Except forrunning water,we were truly roughing it,"Sumner said "The youth at camp thought this experience was oneofthe best they hadeverparticipated in It was adifferentexperience to us because we are used to better facilities for church camp When we went hiking with the Bonheims, we made ourowntrails."

Learning to live with a large group of students isa challenge to the entire team; however,the Bonheims enjoy their double role as team directors and parents to the students

Sumner said,"Six guys andsix girls go each summer We allliveinone bighouse We are divided into six teams of guysand girls Some ofthe guys have never beenin a kitchen.

"Each team is responsible forplanning and cooking the meals for an entire week. Sometimes things don't turn out, butwe learn from experience. A good sense of family unity develops.Each morning after breakfast, we allget together and share truths from theBible This is the foundation for the day."

Sumner also remembers painting a fence the summer she was there.She said that, when they finished painting, they looked like the FTD florist man clad in silver from head to toe

"Everyone works hard," said Mrs.Bonheim, "but the reward of seeing people come to know Christ makes up for the hard work."

Each summer an average of45-50 people make a profession ofsalvation. Working inHawaii doesn't always yield highresults because the people aren't always open to the Gospel In the mid-1800's many people professed Christ as Savior Now itisa melting pot of nationalities and religions It has been said,"Hawaii is either thegateway totheOrient fortheGospel, or the gateway totheMainland for idol worship."

One ofthe greatest disappointmentsof their work has been when children accept the Lord and donotcontinue tofollow Him because there are notenough yearly workers todisciple thechildren.When the summer team comes,thechildren come out of the woodwork. Sumner says that the summer team is likeacelebrity tothe children

The blessings, however, far outweigh the disappointments. Speaking with the

Bonheims about Hawaii, a smile quickly comes across both oftheir faces as they gladly relate their experiences

Even though there is plenty of hard work,there issome time setaside for pleasure. Because visiting Hawaii isusually a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the Bonheims take the group on a tour of the Island ofMaui. They see waterfalls,black sand beaches, rain forests,andtheSeven Sacred Pools The ocean looks asclearas a swimming pool

"Because of thedifferent fruits,foods, and climate,I didn't feel likeI was really in America," said Sumner "Itwas a relaxing time I'm glad I could see all I did."

Someone once said,"IfHawaii isaparadise,it isa paradise with gigantic spiritual problems."

The Bonheims have adesiretoreach the Hawaiian Islands with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and seeHis power transform lives

Story by MichelePrince

A display of brightly colored paintings and drawings decked the walls of the Dillard Gallery at the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center This collection of 20 paintings,25 drawings, and one architectural model is the culmination ofseven years ofthoughtful and deliberate artistry

The artist is Del Ray Loven, assistant professor ofartat Liberty Baptist College

His goal is to record and interpret, in a fresh way, the contemporary human experience by means of metaphor He has chosen totakea modern and abstract form in his art in order to "make a significant contribution to the history of painting."

"I would like 100 years from now to have the most renowned historians finally peeling back thedeeper levelsofmy work. I'm staking my life on it This is what 1 want to do with my life."

Loven's exhibit was displayed at the Fine Arts Center through January and part of February.

If someone does not understand his work, he feels itisbecause they have not spent enough time studyingit

"No artist wants to be understood too