Iola is 8,000 miles from Christchurch, New Zealand, the site of a pair attacks Friday that killed 50 and left another 50 injured.
The incident hit agonizingly close to home for Thandinkosi Mnqathu, who has lived in New Zealand for the past 10 years, and is now a freshman at Allen Community College.
Mngathu spoke Tuesday about the attacks, along with his classmate Joelle Natividad, who is from Australia.
Among the injured were two of Mnqathus friends, both of whom are expected to make full recoveries.
One of his friends suffered a gunshot wound. The other was wounded in the frantic melee during the attack.
Other details remain sketchy.
I havent been able to talk to them yet, the soft-spoken Mnqathu said. I have been able to communicate with their families.
The incident was carried out by a white supremacist targeting Muslims at a pair of mosques during Friday Prayers.
Mnqathu, who is not Muslim, hails from Auckland, New Zealands largest city, about 470 miles northeast of Christchurch on the Island nation.
Mnqathus passion for soccer has taken him to Christchurch on several occasions.
In the aftermath, authorities in Auckland evacuated a train station after a pair of suspicious backpacks were found. The bags were not believed to be related to the attacks.
But it was enough to rattle the citizens there as well. Mnqathu counts himself among those shocked at what has transpired.
Some people are racist, tell us things like we shouldnt be in this country, Mnqathu said. But there are only a few. Most of the people are nice and friendly.
Mnqathu will return to New Zealand in May, once he finishes his spring semester at Allen. He hopes to journey to Christchurch at some point to see his friends.
Like his occasional encounters with racism, Mnqathu is well aware of the dangers facing minorities.
