Newsletter   I   SEPTEMBER 2002

Let Us Introduce, International Student Fellowship

Who Is It For?

International Student Fellowship is a university-related Christian organization designed to befriend and assist Internationals. We want to be helpful and extend friendship to all nationalities. Over the last 42 years ISF has made friends with people from over 120 countries. Our name pretty well identifies who we are:

INTERNATIONAL

Our supportive efforts are toward all Internationals regardless of which country they come from.

STUDENT

Our main focus is toward students, researchers, and doctors who have come to pursue their work in our educational and cultural centers. Our welcome is also extended to Internationals who have come to either visit or live in the Greater Pittsburgh Area.

FELLOWSHIP

Through our meetings and the cordiality of our homes, we wish to provide a friendliness, which enables Internationals to feel they have a "home away from home."

When Did It Start?

Since 1960 until this date, we have functioned as an International organization, primarily within the community of Pittsburgh colleges and universities.

What Does It Offer?

There are three basic areas that ISF offers help in:

ASSISTANCE IN ADJUSTING

When Internationals come to America, they immediately encounter cultural differences, which sometimes require drastic adjustments. There are dietary differences, language diversities, classroom challenges, and climate changes. With these personal encounters before them, Internationals appreciate every assistance we give them. Therefore, Internationals are encouraged to never hesitate to ask for help. We desire to help them adapt in any way we can. from.

SOCIAL and CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

We provide monthly meetings, including delicious American and nationality dinners. National holidays are accented and recognition is given to various countries represented in our gatherings. We have an annual picnic in Schenley Park and also sponsor a large Christmas Banquet in the third floor ballroom of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. The Banquet includes choral and musical participation by a number of nationality groups, and every child receives a gift. Surely the Christmas Banquet is one of the highlights of our ISF cultural activities.

BIBLE STUDIES and CHURCH INFORMATION

We offer wholesome study discussions that will provide both intellectual and spiritual challenge to those Internationals so inclined. All participating can feel assured of a spirit of mutual respect and warm friendship.

 

 

LETTER FROM THE ISF ASSISTANT Dear International Friend, It was so wonderful to have many of you at our recent ISF gathering on August 9th. We had between 180 and 200 present from at least 15 countries. For at least 20 people, this was their first time to attend an ISF activity. Please forgive us if we did not list your country as being present. In the excitement of the evening, we forgot to take a count of countries present. We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did. It is such an amazing feeling to be part of a big International family! Speaking of family, at our September gathering we will be having 5 generations of the Blair family speak to us. Well, maybe not all, for some of these will be too young to speak. Julie Gurnee, one of our ISF workers, is part of this Blair family. So we will have her great grandmother, her grandfather and grandmother, her parents, and her two children, Kenton (age 2) and Vincent (presently age 3 months). It's interesting to note that Julie's great grandfather was a pastor (Rev. Clyde Blair), her grandfather, who will be at the gathering, is a retired pastor (Rev. William Blair), and her uncle is a pastor (Rev. William Blair II). Julie's mother (Kathy Wallace) is the daughter of Rev. William Blair. Actually Julie was raised on a farm. Her parents (Tom and Kathy Wallace) have a dairy farm in Indiana, PA. We are sure you will find this to be a fascinating and interesting time as this 5-generation Christian family shares some of the secrets and struggles of keeping in love with Jesus and passing that love down to each succeeding generation. We hope you can come and please invite your friends. Our September ISF gathering will be on Friday, September 6th, 7:30 PM in the beautiful Ballroom of the William Pitt Union. The William Pitt Union is located in Oakland on the corner of Bigelow and 5th. Avenue. To get to the Ballroom, use the entrance on 5th. Avenue and then follow the signs. In addition to hearing the Blair family speak to us, there will also be a full course dinner, good music, special children's activities in the Kurtzman Room, but especially good International fellowship. It's all free, so do plan to come and invite your friends. Hope to see you on September 6th!                                                                                                  --Terry Tiberio, ISF Assistant

AUGUST ISF PICNIC (Aug 9, 2002)