Summer Opportunity
It is the time of the year when summer fast approaches and the focus becomes, “What on earth will I do for the next few months of my life?” In talking to more than a few of my friends, I hear about the anticipation that comes with preparing for an International Service Project and am reminded once again that this is one of the greatest opportunities offered to CBU students.
ISP with the Office of Mobilization involve sending a team of students, staff and faculty to a set location. This year, teams are going to 18 countries. Team projects range from volunteering with orphanages, providing health care, building new structures with field workers, and creating new relationships with those in local communities. The overall goal is to provide students with the opportunity to see a new culture and show the love of Christ that we claim in a tangible way.
Through these experiences, students form close relationships with their assigned teams through training with MOB and raise the funds to send each member on their way. The largest campus-wide fundraiser recently occurred with the hosting of our annual Night of Nations. It is always a thrill to see teams put their training into practice and raise awareness of each project through skits, music and merchandise booths.
These projects, I’m convinced, offer opportunities for CBU students to fill their summers with some of the most impactful experiences possible. I am taken back to last summer when I finally embarked on my first ISP and had some of the best, most challenging weeks of my life. This trip taught me so much about myself and my place in a world that is much bigger than the one I know. I gained a love for people I wouldn’t have otherwise met, and I still think of them often.
While approaching the end of the year, I’m reminded to encourage and keep track of those who are about to embark on a truly life-changing experience. The chance to see another part of our huge and wonderful world is indispensable, and is a part of my university experience that I will forever be thankful for.
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