Saba Spring Break 2025 - Day to Day Reflections
March 26, 2025
Friday March 7th
2:30 AM came early, but not one of us complained! Today was the day we had looked forward to and planned for months. We were pumped and beyond excited for the week ahead of us! At BNA, we checked in and had a little snack to prepare our bodies for the long day ahead. The day was easy and just like any other travel day—until our arrival in St. Maarten. Upon landing, we were informed that our flights had been messed up. However, the people of Saba showed us incredible kindness, helping us make arrangements for the night on SXM and securing a boat to Saba the next day. In the midst of what seemed like a worst-case scenario, the people of Saba helped us make the best of it, and our team remained optimistic! After spending hours at the airport, we finally arrived at our hotel, enjoyed a much-needed meal, and pillowed our heads for a night of rest.
- Ella Wolfenbarger, Friend of Lipscomb
Saturday March 8th
After our crazy day on Friday, we woke up in St. Maarten and took a boat to Saba! The trip was smooth and filled with fun music and laughter with the team. As we arrived in Saba, we were greeted by some of the locals. We were so excited to finally be here and eager to get started with the week. After setting up camp at our accommodations, we got ready for the first event. Our pickin’ party was a success—lots of dancing, face painting, and good times with the Sabans! We ended the day with a devotional and our family meeting, then got some much-needed rest in preparation for Sunday.
- Jackson Thomas, Friend of Lipscomb
Sunday March 9th
Sunday was our first whole day on the island! It was incredible to wake up in the Bottom surrounded by the green mountains of Saba. We had breakfast as a team at Sunny Valley. Our meal consisted of food inspired by the meal Jesus and his disciples would have shared during Passover. Nuts, berries, meats, cheeses, pita bread, toast (with nutella of course), and dates filled the table. Laughter and smiles filled the room. Ms. Aletha and Mikey T then led us in a time of communion as a team, and it was a very sweet experience.
Then we had the option to either attend Mass at a church right up the road or participate in quiet time with the Lord somewhere on the island. Jill, Sophia, Elena, and I settled down at the gazebo right up the road. I spent a lot of time in prayer and read Psalm 107, which starts “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” It was incredible to spend time with God surrounded by his beautiful creation.
Next was my first ever hike on the island, and we started off with a bang – The Ladder. This hike consists of a bunch of stairs going down to the water where they originally brought things onto the island, including goats and even a baby grand piano. It was a really fun hike, filled with beautiful views of Saba’s mountains and the sea. Once we hit the rocky beach, we spent a long time there. Jill found the jawbone of a mysterious animal, and I found some coral. The hike back up was tough – very sweaty, calves burning. But it was such a sense of accomplishment when I reached the top!
Mrs. Shelly and Mr. Mark were very kind to invite us over to their house for lunch! Their house overlooks the airport and has beautiful views of the ocean and neighboring islands. We had chicken, fried rice, plantains, mac and cheese, and johnny cakes. It was delicious. I also tried my first ever Ting! Honest review: excellent. We also got to try Mrs Shelly’s cookies (very good) and watched some of the Lipscomb basketball game (we won!).
After dinner, we hung out as a team on the sports field, practiced our Singarama dances, and just spent time in community until devo. We sang hymns, some I knew and some I didn’t, and worshipped the Lord together. Maeve shared about her faith journey and how the parable of the mustard seed has impacted her life. After devo, we sang Get Right Church (as always) and laughed and rejoiced in the presence of the Lord’s people. Family meeting was sweet and filled with laughter and joy. A fantastic first full day on the island!
- Tess Magar, Psychology and English (2027)
Monday March 10th
On day three in Saba, we woke up to the sound of birds and the sun shining in the sky! Today was our first day at Sacred Heart and Saba Comprehensive Schools, and the hard work was just about to begin. We started the morning bright and early to make it to the school assemblies, where we saw many familiar faces. The day was filled with bright smiles and joyful laughter. Later, we headed to the Cruyff Field for our own version of Survivor games, where the kids gave their all, competing against each other and the Lipscomb team members. We ended the day with our daily devotional in the gazebo as Harper and Elena led by sharing Bible stories along with their personal testimonies. Day three was a success, and everyone went to bed excited to return to the schools in the morning!
- Abby McKell, Social Work (2026)
Tuesday
This morning, we all arrived at the school, and I immediately started playing with the kids. After their recess, we taught our Sacred Heart classes. I went to the K1 class, and the kids were so happy to see us. We completed our lesson and activities and then practiced for our skit. Next, we had lunch together. When our classes resumed, I helped with Form 2. For the first time in this class, I sat with the boys and started getting to know them. Finally, it was time for field games. Harper, Lily, and I were in charge, and we had to modify a couple of the games. Once we were ready for the event to begin, the kids arrived, and we got started. The event went very well, and the tug-of-war at the end really brought everyone together. Afterward, we all had dinner and attended NBA night. I had an absolute blast, especially because we won the game against the Sabans. To end the day, we had a devotional where we praised God and reflected on what He has done in our lives.
- Hayes Lewis, Finance (2028)
Wednesday
We had a slower morning, with everyone waking up around 8:30 AM—except for the paint crew, who got an early start on the school mural! Once we arrived at the school, we enjoyed some pastries before heading outside for recess with the kids. After that, we spent time teaching at Sacred Heart. Next, we had an amazing lunch prepared by the school before breaking into our Comprehensive School groups. Later, we quickly drove back to Sunny Valley, changed into our swimsuits, and headed to Wells Bay! After the beach, we got ready for dinner at Mrs. Lynn’s house, where we enjoyed great fellowship along with broccoli cheddar shrimp soup and, of course, plenty of Johnny cakes. We wrapped up the day with our family meeting, and then a few of us went back to the school to watch a volleyball game before heading to bed. ❤️
- Olivia Smith, Marketing (2027)
Thursday
On Thursday morning, we went to the elementary school to teach about fear—our first graders had a lot to say about their fear of dogs! By this point in the week, I had grown so close to those sweet kids. In the afternoon, Emma Joy and I taught Form 4 about comparison and jealousy. They were so receptive, and we had great discussions! At 3 PM, we hosted a Kickin’ Slide event, which the kids absolutely loved! We even got to play with the high schoolers, which was a lot of fun. For our nighttime event, we had guys’ and girls’ night—my favorite event of the week! I loved connecting with the girls on a deeper level and forming such sweet friendships. We ended the night with a devotional alongside many of the Sabans. It was so special to praise the Lord with the incredible people of Saba!
- Kelsea Cline, Family Science (2026)
Friday
We started the day by finishing the mural for the school, while the counseling team wrapped up their final lesson on Cultivating Kindness at Sacred Heart. In between classes, we spent time playing with the Sacred Heart students. Then, we completed our last Bible lesson in the classroom and took our class pictures! Our activity for the day was The Amazing Race—a scavenger hunt all over The Bottom. Afterward, Jeff and Maricelly Johnson reserved a house in Upper Hell’s Gate, where the whole team enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by Maricelly. After dinner, Mr. David (Jeff’s father) played the guitar, and Jeff joined in on the bongo as we all sang along. We ended the night with our devotion and wrapped up with our family meeting. :)
- Maggie Randlett, Graduate of School Counseling (2025)
Saturday
Saturday was our last full day on the island. Waking up with that knowledge felt heavy, but it also pushed the team to savor our final hours together on Saba. After a slow morning, we spent several hours exploring and revisiting our favorite parts of the island. Activities included visiting the tide pools, hiking Mt. Scenery, shopping around Windwardside, trying a local coffee shop, making glass beads, and jumping off a pier in the harbor. By late afternoon, it was time to start setting up for our final event—the Finale. We shared a potluck-style dinner with the Sabans, enjoyed each other’s fellowship, and watched a talent show featuring both Sabans and Lipscomb crew members. After our last devotional, heartfelt goodbyes were exchanged. To close out the night, our Lipscomb team gathered for a family meeting to debrief the week and reflect on where we saw Jesus. As a returning team member, I can confidently say that the Lord is at work—not only in the teams that volunteer their time each spring break but also in the Sabans, who sustain the heart of the island year after year.
- Jill Longoria, Biology (2025)
Not a Trip
Category: Student Life