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While most college students relax or vacation over Easter break, 58 Biola students chose to devote their breaks to serving others. Two teams of students had goals of sharing the gospel and spreading Christ’s love through helping the people of Honduras and Utah.

Utah

The Evangelical and Mormon Interaction campus ministry took its annual 10-day trip to Utah, co-led by Biola senior Eric Gulley and junior Taylor Durden. The two led 16 students to Utah, where the team set up dialogues at different universities in Utah, including Brigham Young University. Biola students had discussions with LDS students, attended the LDS General Conference, served at Rocky Ridge polygamist community and encouraged Christians that live in Utah.

Durden reflected on her involvement with the ministry — her first trip to Utah in January 2012.

“Since I went on that trip, the Lord has been breaking my heart for the state of Utah in many ways,” said Durden.

It started with a need, which Durden saw clearly in the state of Utah.

“[Utah] is ranked the number one most depressed state in the U.S. and seventh in suicide rates in the U.S.,” Durden explained. “The overall rate for suicides in Utah has been consistently higher than the U.S. rate for the last decade. These statistics alone show me that there is a big need in Utah. Not just for people to preach the gospel ... but to love on these people.”

“I think what we do in Utah causes LDS people to think about what they accept to be true, and they see something in us that they don’t have,” said junior psychology major Katie Chaves. This was her first EMI trip.

“It challenges us too,” she said. “We have to look at what we believe in order to defend it and share it.”

As a student leader, Durden sacrificed the rest most people expect during Spring Break.

“It was hard to give up that rest, but it was so worth it,” she said.

Honduras

The Honduras Water Project is Biola’s longest running ministry. For more than 25 years, Biola students have backpacked out to semi-secluded villages providing them with clean water, love and service. The team of 40 students nearly doubled the population of Vallecito, Honduras, the small village of about 50 people, where the students served for a week.

“Even though you can't speak the same language, [you are] instantly bonded like family because of Christ,” said team director and junior nursing major Isis Eskander.

Some of the students spent nights sleeping in a church, while others stayed in a school. During the day, the team split into women, children and men’s ministries, holding church services and interacting with the Hondurans there, and of course, digging a trench for a water system to be installed.

This year, it was freshman nursing major Savanna Rempel’s first experience with the Honduras Water Project. Rempel said a highlight for her was when the team finished digging the water line and connected the pipes from a water source to the cistern in the village.

“We got to see the clean water flow and begin to fill the tank, and we knew that life in the village of Vallecito would be forever changed because of it,” said Rempel.  

Eskander said that the trip is a twofold ministry for the ones they serve and the students serving.

“We go and minister to the Hondurans during spring break, but it’s also a ministry for the students,” she said. “They change so much and grow so much spiritually.”

Though the trip took a lot of time and preparation, Rempel is grateful she decided to take the plunge and spend Spring Break serving in Honduras.

“I cannot think of a more rewarding way to spend my time,” she said. “By God's grace and provision we were able to further His Kingdom in the country of Honduras and grow personally in many ways, and that makes everything completely worthwhile.”

 

Written by Rachel Snyder, Media Relations Intern. For more information, contact Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Specialist, at 562.777.4061 or at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.