Huntington University students serve in Honduras
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Huntington, Ind.-Thirteen Huntington University students traveled to Honduras for spring break to help in the medical mission field. Laura Bruce, resident director from Hardy Hall, and her husband Matt Bruce led the mission trip. The group worked with the World Gospel Outreach program to provide a medical brigade to some of the impoverished neighborhoods of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
"We assisted dentists with pulling teeth and doing cleanings, doctors in the pharmacy, and we did evangelism where we shared the gospel with people and prayed with them. We also helped optometrists find glasses for people and helped wash lice from the children," Laura said.
"Watching people receive glasses for the first time in their life was a really humbling experience," said Kristi Wieckert, a sophomore youth ministries major from Huntington, Ind. "Many of the people were just glad they could see for the first time."
The students looked to not only help in the medical field, but to gain experience in evangelism and learn about what God has planned for them in their future.
Travis Schamber, a senior pre-med major from Van Buren, Ind., went on the trip to take a break from the hustle and bustle of school. This experience allowed him to refocus on his priorities and motivations in life.
"I was reminded that God has called me to be a physician so that I can share this gift of medicine and abundant life with others who need it most," he said.
Abby Waterbury, a senior elementary education major from Blissfield, Mich., went to Honduras with the hope of knowing for sure if God wanted her to teach down there next year.
"I knew I wanted to see the school firsthand in Honduras and didn't want to pass up that opportunity," said Waterbury. "After spending two days there, I know that this is where God wants me to be."
While in Honduras, the students went to local churches and schools where they were given opportunities to worship and spread the gospel to the native people.
"I loved worshipping and searching alongside people in another culture," Laura said. "Despite our differences, it was a wonderful feeling to know we are all serving the same God."
The World Gospel Outreach is committed to changing at-risk children into independent adults by modeling God's design for a Christian family through using Christian house parents from Honduras, North America and around the world. WGO also serves Tegucigalpa and surrounding mountains by providing medical bridges to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the poorest of the poor. For more information about WGO, check out www.wgoreach.org.
