New Experiences, Hard Work Strengthen Students' Faith

The majority of students are familiar with the saying, "There is a first time for everything."Over fall break, freshman Kali Freels experienced a "first," with the Special Projects Other Than Summer (S.P.O.T.S.) team. She was not the only one with a new first experience; the whole crew went to a new, first time, location. This was the first ever mission experience for Kali Freels since she began her walk with Christ.

Freels, a music major from Clinton, TN, joined eight other C-N students who took part in the fall break mission trip to the Hope Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Freels was excited going into the trip about helping out those who are in need. Proof of the excitement she gained from the trip is in her stronger passion to minister at school and the next trip of which she gets to be apart, she said.

For the team as a whole, the first-time experience may not have been what they all planned to do, because they did not get to interact with many people, but the painting and yard work helped and the worship at the drug rehabilitation center and place for the homeless, DC4, was an eye-opener for everyone.

They led a worship service at the DC4 center for the people who were trying to figure out what to do with their lives. When these adults are placed at the center it is because they had a choice of being locked up in prison or turning their life around.

The Hope Center in Nashville, Tennessee is a run-down church where construction help was and still is crucially needed. There were stains on the walls in the basement where they had previously experienced some major water problems, and the landscaping work on the outside was in great need of care. These were two of the tasks the team was responsible for working on.

"The fellowship and anything not related to the physical labor that we did was better than imagined," said Freels.

Freels believes the trip to the center was still what she hoped for, but longs for more one-on-one time with those looking to follow Christ.

"The expectations that I held overall were met," Freels said, "but I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to do some one-on-one ministering and witnessing to the people at the drug-rehab center and mission work is a lot more spiritual than physical."

These situations allowed the team to learn that personal interaction with people is not the only way to witness to others. The purpose of the mission was to share the love of Christ in a practical way.

"A lot of times, we go on these trips expecting for God to do great works through us and really impact the people in the area. What we fail to realize is that a lot of the time, God sends us on these trips so He can do a great work IN us," said Freels.

Freels said she learned that God uses every opportunity to teach His followers, even when we are, "slightly broken and confused." This is an example of God's power because he uses people in all shapes and forms. God uses his people and followers in any condition.

Freels feels that God impacted her life through this service as she said se returned "with a clearer understanding of myself and some of the things that my freshman year has thrown my way."

Ryan Carter's passion for the homeless made this trip special to him especially by getting to be the student team leader. He says he enjoys using his abilities that God has blessed him with and the opportunity to be in the ministry where God has allowed him to be passionate about was a blessing for him.

When Carter reflected on how he saw God in this trip he said, "It made me realize how much of a servant Jesus was, and He is who I need to be more like, and then to encourage my friends and 'teammates.' Jesus was a servant, and we are to walk in his image.