Following final exams at the end of the fall semester, when many were looking forward to some rest and relaxation, 76 students, faculty and staff members set out to make a difference in the world through mission trips to four different destinations – New Orleans, Italy, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. The mission trips were sponsored by Anderson University campus ministries, with the exception of the Costa Rica trip, which was sponsored by Mt. Airy Baptist Church, Easley.
A team of 10 students, supported by Anderson University, traveled to Costa Rica with Mt. Airy Baptist to continue the church’s prior mission work there. The nine-day trip took the students from the commercial capital of San Jose to the small mountain towns of Boqueron and Tierra Blanca. For most of the trip, the students were involved with helping pastor Oscar and his church, La Iglesia de Boca de Dios – or the Church of the Mouth of God – develop strong bonds with the children and share the gospel through endless amounts of futbol and bubbles, backyard Bible clubs, and sometimes just simply hanging out. For two days, the team taught English within Boqueron Elementary School as well.
New Orleans
For the third year in a row, a group of 23 students and staff traveled to New Orleans to aid those who are struggling to put life back together following the most devastating and costly disaster in American history. This year’s focus was on rebuilding, as Anderson University partnered with NOAH Rebuild (New Orleans Area Housing Rebuild)- a ministry of the North American Mission Board – to work with three churches in their recovery after the storm. The congregations had been devastated, not only by strong winds and high water, but also by the reality that the members of their congregation were dispersed all across the country. “As we made repairs on the facilities and put on a fresh coat of paint, church staff and neighboring residents were given hope that there will be life again within and without those church walls,” according to Bob Cline, vice president for Christian Life, who participated in the effort. Andy Daniels, one of the students on the trip, captured the essence of missions work with this observation: “There’s just something about meeting somebody at the point of their need that opens up their life to Christ.” A team of approximately 30 students and staff members plan to return to New Orleans over spring break (March 15-21) to continue rebuilding and sharing Christ with the people there.
Guatemala
Also for the third year, a team of 17 students and faculty members traveled to Guatemala City to continue construction projects, along with Global Soccer Ministries, on a local soccer stadium in one of the cities’ poorest neighborhoods. The projects involved expanding and improving the existing stadium to provide the children of Guatemala City with a safe place to play. In addition to working on the stadium, the team sought to reach out and minister to the children of the community through playing with them, involving them in the work on the project, and passing out gifts of clothes and toys. “This was my first trip to Guatemala. It was such a powerful time to see the hand of God at work. We were able to minister in real and significant ways. There are so many needs in the community where we ministered, but God allowed us to see one man come to know him – and because of that, a family of six children now have a godly father and a wife has a godly husband. The change that we witnessed in just one week was remarkable. How do you change the world? One life at a time!” commented Greg Allgood, director of campus ministries.
Italy
For the first time, 26 students and staff from Anderson University spent nine days in Naples, Italy, the 10th largest city in the world, to aid the missionaries there in their efforts to share the gospel. One project involved work on a technologically advanced method of mapping a prayer walk: The students and staff took photographs of a specific area of Naples; the missionaries plan to upload these photographs onto Google Earth to provide a visual reminder as they pray for the people of this area. A second project involved refurbishing an apartment for a missionary couple who would be arriving soon. Becky Walker, campus minister for women’s outreach and events, commented, “God had a plan for me as I went to Italy. I never imagined it would be so easy to share and highlight the thinking of Jesus in the minds of the people there.” Tanya West, a student from North Augusta, reflected on the life-changing effects the mission trip had on her life: “It’s opened my eyes to how important it is to be involved in missions. The Lord instructed us to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth, and while I don’t think that he has called me to be a full-time missionary in a foreign field, I know that I can be faithful to his calling here at home and wherever he sends me.” Even though this was the first trip to Naples for Anderson University, the students and staff members plan to return there next year to continue their efforts to aid the missionaries there.
For more information on any of these mission trips, contact campus ministries at Anderson University at (864) 231-2077.