Students prepare for spring break missions

Spring break is finally here — the long anticipated rest between weeks eight and nine of classes; a time for many to go home to relax, catch up on sleep and spend time with family. For many, it is a mission field, among the friends and family back home who don't yet know Jesus, which is often the most difficult spring break destination, though also the easiest to overlook. For scores of other Michigan Tech students, spring break is a time not to go home, but to go out into the world to serve.

Students from Campus Crusade for Christ are traveling to Panama City Beach, Fla. and Querétaro, Mexico, not to take in the notorious spring break party scene, but to minister. In Mexico, they are partnering with Vida Estudiantil to minister to the students on the two local campuses, spending time with them through their English classes, weekly meetings and informal sharing of life with them. Stateside, other students are going to Big Break at Panama City Beach, for a week-long conference and mission trip, where they will be primarily focused on learning to boldly communicate and share their faith, most immediately to the other students on the beach. "I am excited to see God transform lives down in Panama City Beach — not only those who are there to party, but also those on our team," said Mike Nienhaus, who's returning for his second Big Break experience.

In another part of Mexico,students from His House Christian Fellowship are joining almost 100 other Michigan college students in Juarez, Mexico, where they will be building a house with Casas por Cristo. Closer to home, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is sending students down to Chicago, Ill., to participate in the Chicago Urban Project Plunge. There they will serve with various urban ministries and learn about God's heart for reconciliation and justice.

Also in the Midwest, students from St. Albert the Great University Parish will be serving in the Chicago, Ill. and Oshkosh, Wisc. areas. In Wisconsin, they will start at the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse in New Holstein, Wisc., whose mission is to ship superficially defective products to needy villages around the world. They'll later head to Father Carr’s Place 2B in Oshkosh, to help with the men's and women's shelters and food pantry. Speaking of his experience last year on this trip, David Kasl said, "The work was challenging, but our combined efforts made a significant impact — the experience helped me to grow spiritually and fulfill in a tangible way what God asks us to do in Matthew 25." In Chicago, other students will be serving at the St. Martin de Porres "House of Hope", a shelter for women who are homeless or are recovering from substance abuse. "It was an experience that I will never forget," said Emily Brown after returning last year, "we spent much of the time doing things like organizing the linen closet, cleaning the pantry ... [and] spending time with the women and children."

Through the Alternative Spring Break program, many other Tech students will travel to Appalachia, W.Va. to fight poverty;
Panama City Beach, Fla. to clean up the beaches; Bayamon, Puerto Rico to work with Universidad Politecnica to serve the community; and Guatemala to learn about sustainable adobe construction while constructing a building to benefit the local community.

Even closer to home, other students sticking around Houghton feel they also have a mission, even though they aren't participating in any organized mission project. "Since we weren't able to travel for spring break, we really wanted to still take the break as a chance to do God's work in our community," said student Chris Morgan," since there is always a need at the local nursing home, Salvation Army, the Christian School, Little Brothers, etc, we thought it would be an awesome opportunity to do so". If you are also in the Houghton area, contact eehodges@mtu.edu if you are at all interested in participating in one or more of these opportunities.

So, wherever you are finding yourself this spring break, whether it is going home, traveling with friends, or participating in a mission project — you're mission is ultimately the same: serve those around you by meeting their needs, both physical and spiritual. Contact a local mission or church and spend an afternoon volunteering. Spend time with your younger siblings and encourage them to pursue a life honoring to God. Look for opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around you. And whatever you do, "do all to the glory of God." (I Cor 10:31b ESV)