Then, again, this is a Christian university that says it is “like no other.”

The week was intended to encourage both interfaith dialogue and intercultural awareness, said , 91¶ĚĘÓƵ’s director of and .

Events included a lecture on Muslim prayer practices, a µţ˛ąłóá’í devotional, worship services conducted in the Orthodox, Mennonite, and Methodist traditions, a lecture on Jewish faith practices on death and dying, an interactive faith talkback, and an international food festival.

The week opened Friday, Sept. 12, with the Islam-themed talk, sponsored by . “Religions are the most important part of our cultures,” said , at the beginning of his hour-long lecture about the history of Islam, basic Islamic beliefs, and what the ritual Islamic prayer practice (Salat) looks and sounds like.

Lectures, prayers, incense, music

Monday morning, a mostly different group of 91¶ĚĘÓƵ community members gathered into a tight circle in the 91¶ĚĘÓƵ Discipleship Center. The facilitator, senior Julie Huffer, welcomed the group and briefly explained how the µţ˛ąłóá’í devotional would run. Several participants were given yellow strips of paper containing portions of a single scriptural passage. Like Akrami, Huffer took time to explain the basic history and beliefs of µţ˛ąłóá’ís before moving into the main part of her program, which included hearing the words on the yellow strips, experiencing silence and prayer, and listening to music from a µţ˛ąłóá’í artist, before breaking for refreshments.

Rabbi Joe Blair’s explanation of Jewish practices on death and dying was both interesting and educational on Monday afternoon. “I learned that the Jewish tradition has a specific process of honoring the souls that have passed and honoring the family that has lost them,” said Huffer. “It was interesting because I didn’t know that in Judaism they have such a specific process.”

Held in Martin Chapel, both the Mennonite and Methodist worship services – Tuesday and Thursday, respectively – were sponsored by the , which is accredited by both denominations. They both included hymns, a short message on church history, and what a typical service looks like.

The thurible emitted a faint waft of incense as the priest swung it back and forth in front of the makeshift altar he was blessing in Lehman Auditorium on Wednesday. Although he later explained that his church, , was affiliated with a “simple” branch of Orthodox Christianity, the beautiful icons, heavy, ornately embroidered priest-robes, and formal blessing ceremony seemed mysterious and involved to eyes used to “plain” Mennonite worship practices.

Eye-opening for students

“It was eye-opening and refreshing to participate and experience another faith tradition,” said senior Philip Yoder, raised Mennonite. “I never realized they codified their faith tradition in the 10th century, and they have been worshiping the same way ever since. Even though the practices were old, they infused the service with heartfelt prayers for the students and professors at 91¶ĚĘÓƵ, and that was pretty cool.”

On Thursday evening, around 50 people gathered in to view the Faces of 91¶ĚĘÓƵ Exhibit and participate in an “interactive faith talk-back.” The evening included playing get-acquainted games, circulating through the exhibit, chatting, writing impressions on a large sheet of newsprint, and watching a short movie about the two largest minority groups on campus, Hindus and Muslims (from the series on the YouTube channel SoulPancake).

Senior Jordan Luther said “it was neat” to move beyond the Christian majority on campus and have his eyes opened to the religious minorities in the 91¶ĚĘÓƵ community.

Popular food festival

By far, the most-attended event of the week was Friday’s International Food Fest and Games. This is perhaps to be expected since the time of the event did not conflict with classes or most work-study schedules, and the email reminder sent out by Lepley encouraged people to “bring your taste buds” to partake of enticingly described international foods.

Over 30 vendors prepared food that represented cultures in Saudi Arabia, Korea, Nepal, Kenya and Italy, among others. Students, faculty, staff and other community members intermingled together over what could be described as “a diverse fellowship of believers” or “interfaith communion.” With the Food Fest, the organizers of International Education Week showcased the different faith traditions present at 91¶ĚĘÓƵ in a common space where everyone could laugh, break bread and celebrate their diversity.

The week was organized in conjunction with 91¶ĚĘÓƵ’s International Student Organization, led by junior  of Somali origin and senior Sun Ju Lee of South Korea; the , led by Carmen Witmer; the , represented by ; Cross Cultural Programs, represented by , and , led by

Hyeongsoon Kang and her husband, Youngche Ki, are scheduled to fly home today to Anyang, South Korea, after a week in Harrisonburg, an unscheduled trip after the death of Doyeon Ki, their 21-year-old daughter.

Ki was killed Jan. 1 on Va. 42 as she was walking back to the home of Jeongih Han, her host who lived just north of the city.

Since childhood, Ki had dreams of becoming a nurse, sometimes poking toys as if she were injecting them with needles, her mother said. She was set to enroll this week in 91¶ĚĘÓƵ’s before pursuing a degree at the school.

Ki arrived in the United States on Dec. 23.

Thanks to Harrisonburg resident Philip Yoder, her presence will stay.

“I’m from this community. It hurts when a tragedy like this happens. This could have been my sister. It could have been my friend. It breaks my heart,” he said through tears Thursday.

Yoder, 21, is a junior at 91¶ĚĘÓƵ whose family’s home on Sharon Lane is near where Ki was killed. “Deeply moved” by what happened, he said, he built a 4-foot cross with Ki’s name on it and placed it Thursday afternoon at the site — 20 feet off the road and in front of Kreider Four Seasons Equipment Inc. at 1880 Harpine Highway — with about 40 people present, including the woman’s parents.

“It’s just so real,” Yoder said.

Virginia State Police Sgt. F.L. Tyler said he had no new information on the crash Thursday. Last week, police said multiple vehicles, including a Broadway rescue squad unit returning to its station, struck Ki as she was in the right lane of northbound traffic near Hamlet Drive, just north of the city’s Harmony Square shopping center.

The incident occurred around 10 p.m. It’s unclear why Ki was in the roadway — there are no sidewalks in that vicinity — and not immediately known where she was returning home from, but attendees at Thursday’s ceremony attribute her unfamiliarity with the area to the incident.

Yoder said drivers could be more aware, too.

“We can drive slower here. We can do something. We can have [street] lights,” he said. “It’s not right.”

During Thursday’s ceremony, people placed flowers under the cross. Kang spent several minutes on her knees, overcome with emotion.

It was a final release while in the city, but she’s not leaving filled with sadness.

“[At first] I really just complained to God about it happening,” Kang said through an interpreter, James Rhee, the pastor at Park View Korean Church. “When I came here … I thought we might have three people at the funeral service. So many people came over and they really heartfully took care of my family and that’s inspiring. … My anger and discouragement scaled down and down and down.”

Yoder played a major role in that reversal.

“I’m watching my son discover that this community has a huge heart and really does care when there are tragedies,” said Elwood Yoder, the 91¶ĚĘÓƵ student’s father.

And the younger Yoder isn’t the only one to make that observation.

“I really want to express my deep appreciation to the Harrisonburg community and the 91¶ĚĘÓƵ community. Many times, many times,” Kang said.

Article courtesy of the Daily News Record (Harrisonburg, Va.), Jan. 10, 2014