Charlie Bradley and Christian Adams feel blessed to have spent the past nine months getting to know one another, sharing about life and faith, and having fun together at Pleasant View Communities.
OneLife is a nine-month Christian gap-year program for high school graduates. Their website explains that “Students earn a year’s worth of college credits through a rigorous curriculum of travel, service, classroom learning, and personal mentorship. The mission is to develop and launch servant leaders who live out their Christian faith in every area of life.” From August 24, 2024 to May 2, 2025, Pleasant View hosted OneLife students for the fourth year. Pleasant View is one of five host sites and the only site located on a retirement community campus.
A history of welcoming international students
At Pleasant View, students are matched with a resident or staff member who serves as a “PV Pal.” Resident Charlie Bradley explains that the names and photos of OneLife students were on a poster, and he selected Christian Adams, who is from Japan.
Charlie and his wife Linda’s involvement with international students began when they were first married and hosted students via an international student organization. The Bradleys lived near Washington, D.C. and enjoyed getting to know students from Africa, Iran, and Poland. As the Bradley family grew, the students appreciated spending time with Charlie, Linda, and their children.
The first year that Pleasant View hosted OneLife was the 20th anniversary of September 11th. Charlie, who was an electrical engineer with a federal government agency, offered to share the experience of his agency losing eight people at their Pentagon office. Christian is the third student that Charlie and Linda have been matched with as PV Pals. In December of 2024, Charlie completed his service on the board of directors of Pleasant View.
From Japan to Manheim
Christian Adams grew up in Tokyo, and Japanese is his first language. Christian’s mother is Japanese. She met his father, who grew up in Maryland, at Azuza Pacific University. Christian’s parents were excited for him to participate in OneLife.
Christian explains that although he went to a Christian school, he felt he had to hide his faith in Jesus in order to belong in Japanese culture. He appreciates the openness in America to talk about faith, including faith struggles. OneLife is the first time that he has had Christian friends his own age.
Christian’s older brother has been in Pennsylvania for three years. His brother’s host mom told Christian about OneLife. It can be tiring to speak in English but think in Japanese, so Christian values being able to call his brother and speak in Japanese. Christian’s brother was able to visit for the OneLife graduation on May 2.
Christian plans to attend Lancaster Bible College for their intercultural studies program. His passion is TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). He believes a teacher can help to guide and impact a student’s life (second only to parents).
Memorable Time Together
One thing that Christian appreciates about Charlie and Linda was spending time with them, including opportunities to discuss the sermon after attending church at Manheim Brethren in Christ. It was also meaningful to Christian to be able to sit with Charlie and Linda and share photos and stories of the OneLife trips to Greece, hiking out west, and serving in Philadelphia.
“If God blesses me with a wife, I want my marriage to be like Charlie and Linda’s marriage,” explains Christian. He is grateful for their example of a long marriage rooted in faith. He appreciates Charlie “holding a lamp” and sharing the footsteps he’s taken in life.
Christian says that early in their relationship, Charlie was vulnerable and shared about his granddaughter who lives with a disability. That helped Christian to feel part of the Bradley family and that Charlie and Linda were like grandparents to him.
Charlie recalls how when his granddaughter was ill, it meant a lot to Charlie and Linda that Christian took initiative to ask the OneLife students to pray for her. Christian invited many of the students to sign a card with personal messages.
Charlie has enjoyed learning about Japan and Japanese culture from Christian. Charlie’s wish for his grandchildren and for Christian is that they will find what God wants them to do and be. Charlie was glad to hear how impactful their time of service in Philadelphia was for the OneLife students as they consider how their calling can help those in need.
Christian and Charlie had fun at the PV Pal events as they decorated a pumpkin to be a samurai warrior and made a gingerbread house. Christian joined residents for a game night. At the Sock Hop in April, Christian and the OneLife students invited and encouraged residents to dance.
The next season of sunrises
Logan Stoner, OneLife Site Director, works with Aubrey Smith, Pleasant View’s Community Engagement Coordinator, to match students with service opportunities. Christian’s weekly service time was with PVFit. Christian loves to work out, so he welcomed the opportunity to clean and to help and meet people (including non-resident PVFit members). Wellness Director, Haley Brumbach, speaks highly of Christian’s work ethic and kindness.
Christian says that living at Pleasant View in Manheim is very different from Tokyo, which is one of the largest cities in the world. In Tokyo, squirrels are only at the zoo, but that is not the case in Manheim. Christian loves how you can see far in Manheim, especially for the beautiful sunrise every morning. The Japanese name for Japan, Nihon or Nippon, is composed of two kanji characters: 日 (sun) and 本 (origin), literally translating to “origin of the sun” or “land of the rising sun.”
Pleasant View is grateful for the OneLife students and staff, for the PV Pals, and for the energy, creativity, connection, and joy they provide. We look forward to hearing what God and the beautiful sunrises bring for Christian and each student in the next season of their life.
