2008 Simpson Student Mission Teams

Spring Break:

New York City 

Leader: Tiffany Roberts

Did you know that each night some 36,200 homeless men, women, and children sleep in the New York City shelter system? While the city may seem like a mecca of entertainment, fashion, and wealth, there are broken and needy people who long everyday for a hot meal and for someone simply to listen to their story and extend a friendly smile. Our team is going to the city with a desire to serve the broken and needy. This may manifest itself through serving hot meals to the homeless, playing with children, and even working with the AIDS population. 

Dominican Republic

Leader: Sarah Wampler

We will be meeting up with various people from different colleges at a base camp in the city of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic and work with Students International.  Students International has ongoing ministries at sites that include medical, dental, education, agricultural, special education, and art. We will be there to help with spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the poor.  We hope to serve and allow the Holy Spirit to use us to transform lives.

Jamaica

Leaders: Alycia Gallegos & Laura Rainsberry

Staff Sponsor : Aaron Beadner

Jamaica is full of opportunities to help those in need, especially the children. There are so many Jamaican children in orphanages and in the deaf schools that need love and someone to care for them. Sadly, there just aren’t enough caregivers to give them the kind of attention that each one of the children needs. We will partnering with Jamaica Link Ministries and will be helping out in Fair Haven Orphanage and at a Deaf School. Our team will be caring for the children, playing with them, completing work projects that have been started there, and sharing the gospel with them. We will also be performing skits that present the gospel in public schools. 

Utah

Leaders: Megan Ovens and Jeremy Ashbee

 The Utah team’s heart is to share the truth of Jesus Christ with many who do not really know Him. To prepare for our trip, we will have weekly meetings in which we study and discuss Mormon theology. In Utah, we will team up with Utah Partnerships for Christ (http://www.upfc.org/), an organization that specializes in ministry to Mormons, where we will primarily be speaking with young, college-age Mormons to show them the freedom which Jesus Christ offers. We intend on building authentic relationships with the people we meet during our ministry. We look forward to speaking with university students on campuses, at a nearby Institute of Religion, and at the local church wards.

Summer:.

India

Leader: Blong Thao

The India team will have the opportunity to take part in the ministries at a village school called Great Commission Kid’s Academy, abbreviated GCKA. We will be working alongside teachers, faculty, and staff. There is a chance for us to teach the children during school hours. At times we will be a teacher’s aide to the teachers there. We will also have the opportunity to lead the children in daily devotions and extra curricular activities. Throughout our time there, we will be living on the school grounds with the students. This is our most important ministry opportunity; to be a role model to the students.

Cambodia 

Leaders: Jenna Barney and Cassie Fariss

The issues of human trafficking and forced prostitution are becoming more and more pervasive with every passing day. The women and children of Cambodia are among the most victimized in the world. From the smallest villages to the bustling streets of Phnom Penh, the entire country is affected. The life of a Cambodian prostitute is a life without choices. Our team is passionate about the freedom of our sisters in Asia. We will partner with Daughters, a Non Government organization reaching out to victims of human trafficking within Cambodia. Daughters aim is to help restore dignity and self-worth, and to help girls find viable alternatives for their lives.

Uganda

Leader: Micah Buczek

The Uganda team will partner with Father’s Divine Love Ministry and Ugandan pastors David Zijjan and Charles Kunya. Building upon the ministry already happening and the amazing things God has done on past teams, we are expecting that this trip will be an increase of the Lords work in Uganda. We will be working with churches, speaking at youth groups, sharing in schools and serving in orphanages. We will also be involved in arts and crafts, music and drama ministry and even teaching/preaching the good news of Jesus!!

Chile

Leaders: Yuliana Bogarin & Rachel Wellsfry

The Chile team will partner with Vision for Chile, and work in a girls’ home in Linares, Chile. The girls’ home is a place where abused girls ages 3-19 find refuge. Our desire is to teach them skills through English, Computer and Art classes, which would enable them to make a decent living. We also would like to have a soccer camp. More importantly, we would like to teach them about Christ and give them a hope that no one can take from them.

Jordan

Leader: Jackson Cha

Staff Sponsors: Kim and Michael Huster

The Jordan team will primarily provide an English as a Second Language (ESL) program at a school in Amman. In the school, there is also a coffee shop where we will engage in ministry. We believe that this team can play a part in showing the Jordanians Christ in us by our interactions with them and the actions we take. We are looking forward to building relationships with the people there at the school and in the streets. There is a local women's clinic where we will have the opportunity to help serve. This clinic provides medication and support to the women who are in residence. We will have the opportunities to pray over some of the patients there as well. As servant leaders, we will be partnering with long term workers who will help us to determine the best ways to reach the community.

Hmong Emerging Leaders

Leaders: Rebekah Yang, Jason Voong and Laura Lee

We will be working with the emerging leaders in Hmong CMA churches in the Midwest We believe that today’s youth are in need of leaders to participate in transforming this lost generation into a generation of courage and boldness. We believe that God is calling His sons and daughters to step out of their comfort zones and to be these leaders.
While visiting each church. we plan to have activities, hold workshops, fellowship, and get to know them on a personal level. Our passion is to serve, challenge, and encourage the growth of this generation, which we feel are the emerging leaders. In doing this, we hope to build deeper relationships with Christ and to bridge the gap between the 1st and 2nd generations.

Haiti

Leader: Katie Agudo

We will be traveling to Loscahobos, Haiti for six weeks this summer. While there, we will be assisting Pastor Jean Westerne and his church in whatever ways needed. The type of ministry we will doing will allow us to reach children and youth. Out team truly believes we have been called to serve and bless Pastor Westerne and the people of Haiti. It is such an incredible opportunity to be able to carry out and further Christ’s mission of sharing the Gospel to all the nations! Please pray that while we are there, we can be Christ’s hands and feet to people that desperately need love.

Wheels for Wells

Leader: Emelia Christie-Robinson

Did you know that millions of Africans lack access to clean drinking water and that clean water is necessary for those infected with HIV to survive? We that are blessed to live in the United States only need to walk fifteen steps to access water where the average African walks many miles. Clean water is even more difficult for them to find. Consequently, infection derived from contaminated water ravages the continent. The solution to this problem does not require our presence but our support. Blood:Water Mission, an established charity organization, is seeking support to place 1000 fresh-water wells in 1000 African villages. The equation is simple: $1 provides fresh water for one African for one year.  From June to July our team will travel from the coastal town of Florence, Oregon to Nashville, Tennessee, Blood:Water Mission’s home-base, raising awareness and funds for this cause. It is our intention to accomplish this through conversations, presentations, and the sheer audacity of riding our bikes over 3000 miles.

 

Read the 2006 Spring Break Blogs and Summer Blogs

Contact Emily Johnston at ejohnston@simpsonuniversity.edu in Spiritual Formation for more information.