It happens every spring – every UWM spring break that is! Students come together as a team to make a difference in people’s lives. This year we headed to Orange, TX to help rebuild homes destroyed by recent hurricanes. Here is what some of the people who traveled there had to say about the trip:
“To sum up the mission trip, I would say it was so rewarding in multiple ways. It was a trip where everyone was included and part of a great group. The best part of the experience was we were able to serve families who were also willing to share their stories of how the flood affected their homes and lives. I learned how important it is not to be selfish with your wants, it’s about putting those aside for the good of other people. Can’t wait to serve others again!”-Amanda
“I felt the mission trip to Texas was a very humbling experience. I learned that I was not here to serve myself, but to serve others. Getting to know the homeowners and hearing their voices was an experience all in itself! I also learned how to use a table saw for the first time! I am so grateful to have gone on the 2010 Mission trip and I am looking forward to the next one!”-Sigrid
“I learned that it is not the self satisfaction that you get, it’s serving the people who need you and it’s about being someone you can’t be when you’re busy hitting the books and doing tasks all week long at school. I learned to accept people who I thought might annoy me and I learned to accept people’s living situations and respect them and know that’s their life and I can’t compare it to mine. I made friends”-Bridget
“I had a ton of fun working on Max and Jeanette’s house! They were so appreciative and wonderful to work with. I am pretty proud of my crown molding abilities after this mission trip!”-Ashley
“The mission trip to me was as time to serve God by serving others. During this time of service, relationships were formed or strengthened between members of our group, the owners of the damaged homes, and the people of the Fuller Center who dedicate so much time working and guiding others to improve the lives of the people affected by such natural disasters as Hurricane Ike. I believe our physical purpose was fulfilled as we worked side by side putting up drywall or doing other sorts of renovations to the homes. I also believe God allowed us to bring more hope into the lives of these home owners, fueling the will to remain optimistic in such a tragic time. The faith these individuals expressed personally opened my heart up more to the blessings we receive every day, and maybe look over. Many times we forget to put our trust in God, but we should not be afraid to. His love is solid, unconditional, never-ending. I pray that I can have the hope that the volunteers, workers, and homeowners of Orange, Texas showed every day. I have never regretted going on a mission trip, as they have always strengthened my ability to take on challenges, allowed me to serve others, and fed my fire of faith.”-Jennifer
“When we first left for Orange, Texas the only thing I knew for sure was that we would be helping others. This year’s mission trip turned out to be so much more than that. I never dreamed that the people I was traveling with would become such close friends or that I would get to know the homeowners so well. The amount of courage and kindness the homeowners showed in the aftermath of terrible flooding inspired me. The trip to Shangri-la Gardens really opened my eyes to the beauty of God’s creation. Overall the trip was an incredibly rewarding experience”-Emily
For information about signing up for the next mission trip, contact Caila Ney at cailaney@uwm.edu
