On Wednesday, the first women-led Bible talk, Mana’o’i’o, translated to “She Believes,” was held on the Zuberano lawn on the Chaminade campus. Madison Directo, a junior double majoring in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies, founded the bible talk as a safe space for women to discuss their faith.

“I’ve always been to the ones where it’s like men and women, and they’re super awesome. And it gives people a chance to hear their scriptures, but I’m learning that the all women’s, they’re a lot more intimate,” Directo said. “So it, I feel like it creates a very safe and open space.”

Directo has been involved in her church, the Honolulu International Christian Church, since she was baptized in 2018. She moved to Oʻahu from Hilo, Hawaiʻi, in 2019 and has been involved with the campus ministry at Chaminade for two years.

The topic of the bible study was about a woman who was ill and ostracized from society. She was bleeding from hemorrhages for 12 years and sought medical advice, but no one could cure her. Since she was chronically ill, she was an outcast for her impurities. However, when Jesus came to speak in a large crowd, she thought if she could touch his clothes, she’d be healed. Jesus felt some of his power leave him when she touched him, and he asked the crowd who touched his clothes. The woman came forward, and instead of turning away from her as others did, he healed her and referred to her endearingly as “daughter.”

Maraia Lastra, the Campus Women’s Ministry Leader at UH Mānoa and Kapiʻolani Community College, attended Mana’o’i’o as a way to reach out to students from Chaminade interested in learning about the Bible and help faithful women find their fulfillment in God.

“Sometimes we can seek our value in the career that we have or in a relationship and, and pour all of our energy and hope into thinking those things are gonna fulfill us,” Lastra said. “I’m not saying those aren’t important to have in our lives, but it’s really exciting to see when we put God first, those things come in time, and God just wants to add all those things to our life when we put Him first and that those other things won’t complete us, but God can.”

She shared that reading and implementing the Bible into her life significantly changed her. Before reading the Bible, her values prioritized fulfillment in relationships with others and it caused her to people-please. However, after implementing the lessons she learned from her readings, she found a new purpose to help people by teaching them about the Bible. This switch gave her peace of mind, and she hopes by discussing the Bible’s lessons with college-aged students, they can also find fulfillment in God.

Although both Lastra and Directo are Christian, the bible talk is open to everyone from any religious background. For students who are not religious, there are also discussions about the historical and scientific aspects of the Bible available.

For those interested in attending, Mana’o’i’o is held every Wednesday at 3 p.m. on the Zuberano lawn.