Kaléo Program

(Photo by Mark Jobst)

In the Past Weeks the students have returned from missions trips and went into their Interdisciplinary studies class with Grant Poettcker, Ph.D. Interdisciplinary studies was a heavy class in understanding the ideas and philosophies that have shaped the our world view, however many of the students found it quite beneficial to be forced to think in new ways about their way of how the view the world around them. 

"Interdisciplinary studies was one of our most difficult classes, however Grant was so gracious and intentional in the way he taught that it made a lot of these hard concepts and philosophies very engaging" - Bennet Schulz 

Mexico

(Photo by Joel Cross)

The Mexico missions trip was based out of town called El Papolote which is where a bible school and Church is located, associated with Northern Lights Ministries (the organization which we were partnering with). Our main ministry was building adding the floor to the second story of what is going to be a two story classroom. 

(Photo by Kaitlyn Willems)

This ministry opportunity which was supposed to take up to seven days to accomplish ended up only taking about 4 days for us to accomplish so we also got the opportunity to drywall the ceiling of a Church in Benito Garcia which is Just down the road from El Papolote. 

(Photo by Joel Cross)

Along with the building project we also put some other ministry events including an evening youth event where we had a fire and hot dogs and played soccer and a message was given by one of the local Pastors. We also put on two children's events with crafts and games and valentines day event where made cake and just had people from the community in. 

(Photo by Kaitlyn Willems)

Another impactful ministry opportunity we had was to bring a bag beans water and rice to those who lived in the garbage dump. It was a pretty incredible experience to see the reality of what some of the people there in Mexico were living in. 

(Photo by Joel Cross)

While in Mexico we also had a couple of opportunities to take in some of the beautiful landscape including hiking a volcano and Chilling at the beach. 

Vancouver

(Photo by Mark Jobst)

Our first stop on the Vancouver missions trip was to New Beginnings church. Right from the get go we were involved in helping out with the ‘Say Yes’ Program, which is an after school-tutoring program, aimed at helping at risk youth succeed in school, and to bring them into a Church community. During our stay the students also helped deep clean the church, redo the floors, paint furniture and help with the general upkeep that sometimes gets forgotten in the busy ministry of the church. The students also had the opportunity to share community meals and get to know a lot of the member of the congregation. They also lead worship and helping in children’s church on Sundays. 

(Photo by Mark Jobst)

“It was incredible to be with the staff at new beginnings, and see how deeply passionate they were about their ministry. Seeing that only made me want to invest in them, do something for them. That’s why I loved cleaning the church, it felt like something practical I could do to serve them” - Tyler  Weatherly

(Photo by Mark Jobst)

Then we traveled to Potters Place Mission, located right on the heart of East Hastings.  Potters place is a Mission that holds Church services twice a day each with a meal afterword. The students helped by preparing the meals, leading worship and some of them even got the opportunity to bring a messages. After the service we would all share a meal together and get the opportunity to get to know the people of East Hastings. We were also involved in street ministries such as giving out sandwiches or flowers on Valentine ’s Day. 

 (Photo by Mark Jobst)

Finally we went to Union Gospel Mission. Here we had a tour of their facility and heard the story of one of the alumni of their drug and alcohol recovery program Dave. After that we shared a meal with their other staff and volunteers, then we split off into groups to volunteer in various different areas. Some worked in the kitchen, others in the Cornerstone ministry and a few girls went and worked in the women’s sanctuary program. 

(Photo by Mark Jobst)

Overall the students experienced just a small taste of the many ministries that are committed to working on the Downtown East Side day in and day out. Each of them came back with a changed heart, as they slowly realized that perhaps the real mission field was the work God did on their own hearts.  

- Vancouver write up by Kalie Brown