Lipscomb students write back home during Guatemalan mission trip

 | 05/09/2006

The first is the site where the old bridge was. You can see where the abutment was on the far side.

Even though summer break has begun, Lipscomb students continue to serve all around the world. This summer, a groups of Raymond B. Jones School of Engineering students are spending their time on a mission trip to Mazatenango, Guatemala.

A team of 18 Lipscomb engineering students, faculty, alumni, and friends left for Clinica Ezell in Guatemala at 4:30 a.m. Monday, May 8 for a 10 day engineering mission trip. Their objective is to replace a bridge that was washed away in the flooding caused by Hurricane Stan last October. This will be a suspended pedestrian bridge spanning 120 feet of river. The bridge connects a nearby village with the main highway. Without the bridge, the local residents are forced to travel three miles upstream to cross the river.

One feature of this trip that is different from previous engineering mission trips is that a significant portion of the work involves the residents of the village. Prior to the team's arrival, the local people re-built one of the concrete abutments that was washed away. This was crucial, because it takes concrete three to four weeks to attain a significant percentage of its strength and it had to be ready before the team got there.

But it's not all just hard work and sweat. The team will also set aside time to work with the local missionaries sharing the gospel of Christ. There will also be groups of engineering students going into the local public schools presenting science lessons designed to teach truths about God's creation.

Keep up with team members Rebecca and Rachel Swfit by reading their blog.

For more information about Lipscomb Engineering missions visit http://engineering.lipscomb.edu/page.asp?SID=37&Page=1690