Welcome to the U BBQ
By Kourtney Wiemann
Scene: 11:30 AM on Sunday, August 20th, in St. Paul’s parking lot amidst tables and tents on the perfect summer morning.
The Occasion: “Welcome Back to the U BBQ”
What better way to ring in the new school year as one anxiously awaits the start of classes then to gather among fellow believers for free food and the chance to foster new friendships at St. Paul’s Lutheran Chapel and University Center? Students and adults alike filled their plates with chicken, coleslaw, fruit salad, and cookies for the annual barbeque St. Paul’s puts on each year the Sunday before classes start. Returning students were able to catch up with each other after coming back from the summer and new students had the opportunity to meet many new people as they begin their journey at the UI. You could see how the family atmosphere that is St. Paul’s provided each and every student with the comfort they may not have thought they’d find being it their first time away from home or their first time at Iowa. Permanent members wore smiles on this day because a new school year always means the chapel is that much brighter as the students come through the doors. It wasn’t just students and members that were present on this picturesque Sunday morning, though. But God was there working among the congregation as His love shone through and blessed the new Hawkeyes with a place to call “home.”
ISM Back to School BBQ
By Rachel Elsey
On the Friday night before classes started, we hosted a Welcome Back barbeque for international students. The bad weather forced the event inside for the first time ever. Even so, people had a great time and it was a very successful event. The food was great, thanks to a great group of volunteers.
During dinner the students got to sit and really get to know each other. Returning internationals brought new friends for a big crowd. The barbeque also gave volunteers a chance to greet the new students before the school year really got going. Everyone had a great time meeting and making friends from all over the world.
