Spring break mission teams go across country, around world
Lipscomb Missions |
Nearly 400 students, faculty, staff and friends of the university participated in 21 mission teams that went throughout Nashville, across the country and around the world during spring break 2015, March 16-20. Below is a profile of student Rebecca Burris, a senior elementary education major from Mitchell, Ind., who was part of a mission team that went to Cozumel, Mexico, to serve at Ciudad de Angeles, a local Christian children’s home. Below is her story.
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by Erin Gupton, event planner & trip coordinator
There are few environments where discovery is encouraged like it is on a college campus. The pursuit of higher education can challenge your established ways of thinking, open your eyes to different perspectives, and force you to question your convictions. Throw in experiences with new and different cultures, and that process of rediscovery and enlightenment is bound to take place, much like it did for Rebecca Burris, a senior Elementary Education major from Mitchell, Ind.
Since her freshman year, Rebecca has been a vital part of the Cozumel spring break team that serves the Ciudad de Angeles, a local Christian children’s home. Mark Jent, Director of Missions Outreach and Cozumel Team Leader, agrees, saying, “I think Rebecca epitomizes the Fruit of the Spirit that Paul writes about in Galatians. Rebecca exudes joy as you rarely see her without a smile on her face. She has definitive leadership skills that are respected by all. And in Cozumel with the kids, she has this gentle spirit and unique way of interacting with them that lets you know she is full of the love of Christ.”
“Cozumel has become a special place for me,” shares Rebecca enthusiastically. “And to me, the trip isn't just the week down there. The team becomes friends months before the trip, our friendships become even stronger the week we are there, and they still continue after.”
This year, Rebecca will be returning to Cozumel for a fourth time – third time as student leader. “The kids there want us and expect us to come back,” says Rebecca, “When you go on that trip, it’s not usually a one-time commitment; R Burris 2they expect those relationships to grow. We talk about that as a team, but it’s different knowing that they also want us to come back year after year.”
For Rebecca, however, this commitment is the result of lots of hard questions and long conversations. While studying abroad in Costa Rica during the fall semester of her sophomore year, Rebecca began to question her beliefs about the effectiveness of short term missions. “The people in Costa Rica really challenged our beliefs in mission work, showing us a whole new perspective. We did a lot of reading and discussing, which planted a lot of new ideas in our heads. Then, if we wanted to continue searching for answers on our own we could...and I have been!”
Fresh from study abroad, Rebecca decided to go back to Cozumel, spring of her sophomore year. “When I went back to Cozumel sophomore year after studying in Costa Rica, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go back,” shares Rebecca. “The reason I decided to return, though, was because I promised kids the year before that I would be back the next spring. I thought that even if I’m not sure where I’m at, I made that promise to the kids, and maybe going even when I’m unsure will help me figure things out.”
While there, Rebecca got the chance to talk to Gary Gardner, the founder and president of Ciudad de Angeles. She asked him questions about why he started the home in Cozumel and why he thinks receiving short term mission teams is beneficial for the kids. Through those conversations and many similar ones with Mark, Rebecca started to work through all the challenging and new perspectives she had encountered in Costa Rica.
“I really enjoyed having those in-depth conversations with her as she wrestled with some very hard questions,” says Mark. “I love how she wants to make sure that the energy and resources R Burris 3that she is pouring into the trip are effective and worthwhile. I think all students could benefit from asking themselves those same questions.”
Through reaching out to trusted mentors and those experienced with mission work, Rebecca came to form confident opinions. She shares, “There are definitely ways to do short term missions well. If you go with a humble attitude, it becomes so that you have friends in another part of the world, instead of having people that you help in that part of the world. I still don’t know all the answers, but I know I’ve grown from where I was two years ago.”
Thankfully, Rebecca has continued to pour into the work in Cozumel. Her impact is felt not only on the team and with the team leaders, but on campus with her friends, and in Cozumel at Ciudad de Angeles. “I really do love going back,” gushes Rebecca. “I love building on the relationships with the kids, being in such a beautiful place, walking everywhere with the team, and everything leading up to the trip, too.”
Whatever side of the spectrum you align with, fully invested in short term mission work or unsure about the benefits, part of the discovery process should be experience. “It’s better to go, even when you’re unsure about it, and let that help you figure things out. Just go, and discover your opinion.” Lipscomb Missions couldn’t agree more!
To learn more about where Rebecca will be serving spring break, visit ciudaddeangeles.org.