With spring break around the corner, some NW students are getting ready to adventure on a Spring Service Partnership (SSP). There is a mix of domestic and international trips. While a good number of participating students are heading south, another small group of eight are traveling a little under half an hour to Hawarden, Iowa. While these students are there, they will be partnering with World Renew to help fix up some homes that were impacted by the flooding last summer.
The list of people going on this trip include Eric Anderson (faculty leader), Kaleigh Metzger (student leader), Allison Hough, Kaylee Thorson, Becca Hoffman, George Livingston, Princess Bola-Lawal and Sarah Lunning.
Director of Missions, Patrick Hummel, stated that he is excited that this local trip is happening. It is sometimes hard to get students to sign up for this kind of location, but the students will be able to help of people that were devastated by the flooding. The benefit of doing something local is that it does not cost as much to go. For a regular domestic SSP, the sticker price for each student to fundraise is $400. Students on the trip to Hawarden only needed to fundraise around $100, because they are only covering food costs while the college covers transportation, and the trip’s partner World Renew covers housing.
Even though it is not that far away, people on this trip will still stay in a church near their site. This way, students are able to create connections with each other, share testimonies, talk about God and make it have the same feel as any other SSP.
One student on the trip, Metzger, is fulfilling two leadership positions. In addition to being the student leader for the group, she is also currently student teaching in Rock Valley. Even though she first signed up for this particular SSP when she thought they were going to Rock Valley, the group was able to adapt to the changing circumstances. For Metzger, this trip is also a first, since she has never been on an SSP and has never been a student leader. The pairing of student teaching and being a student leader go hand-in -hand and she is excited to spend time with the small group as she looks forward to getting to know everyone. Due to the smaller number of people on this trip, one is able to appreciate all the little moments. Metzger also noted that the demo work they will be doing can teach them many life skills that they can use in the future.
One student going on the trip, George Livingston, is very excited to go on this adventure. As a freshman, this is his first SSP, but this is not his first time helping with damage from the floods. He is an Orange City resident and watched the local news of what was happening in Rock Valley and Hawarden when the towns were flooded. Orange City was not hit as badly, but homes and basements were still flooded. Livingston chose to go on this particular SSP for multiple reasons. First of all, he enjoys helping people and thinks it is very important to serve the community, because it is a great way to show Christ’s love. Second, it was more affordable for him and was close to home. He also appreciates how tangible the work is. Even after the trip is done, he will still be able to see how much his help did and how the work impacts people daily. He is also excited about staying at the church, because, even though he already knows some of the people on the trip, he will be able to connect with others and grow a memorable bond with them.
