------------------------------------------- people---------------------------------- The beauty of Athens, Greece, shines in the sunlight. Fall Harding University Greece students raised $3,100 for Harding graduate Marcella Fenske, who suffered third-degree burns from a grease fire Sept. 13. (Photo by Jeffrey Hunter) 126 II people Distance could not beat the generosity of students at Harding's Athens, Greece, campus. Around 40 students raised $3,100 in the fall for Marcella Fenske, one of their classmate's friends whose Omaha, Neb., home rests far from the shores of Porto Rafti. Fenske, a 1999 Harding graduate, suffered third-degree bums on more than 25 percent of her body and face when a grease fire broke out while she was cooking dinner Sept. 13. Family members said Fenske's extensive burn treatments, including surgeries involving staples and skin grafts, could total $1 million. Fenske and her husband, Dale, did not have insurance. Junior Trevor Goertzen, a student at HUG, grew up withFenske. Upset by the news of Fenske's injuries and troubled by her need for money, Goertzen told her story and asked for prayers during chapel on the HUG campus. At the suggestions of Dr. Dale Manor, professor of Bible and faculty sponsor at HUG in the fall, the HUG students decided to raise money to help with Fenske's medical expenses. "I wasn't thinking we would raise more than $400or $500," Goertzen said. The group not only met Goertzen's expectations, but they exceeded them by a few thousand dollars. "The majority of the $3,100came from personal contributions," Goertzen said. "It was much more than I would have dreamed." Goertzen attributed part of the overwhelming response and large contribution to the students' unique situation. "It was just incredible," Goertzen said. "When you are a student overseas you just don't have a whole lot of money. But after seeing the quantity [of contributions] I was just amazed. Back on campus [inSearcy] it would "Back on campus [in Searcy] it would be incredible to get this much from 40 students, much less get so much from traveling students," -- junior Trevor Goertzen be incredible to get this much from 40 students, much less get so much from traveling students." While the total amount surprised Goertzen, he said the serving attitude and generosity of his fellow HUG students did not. "You kind of learn to love each other over here," Goertzen said. "When one person hurts, everyone rallies around you. They take up the reins and help you go on." Goertzen said the ordeal taught himmuch about the generosity of Christian friends and even more about himself. "It makes you look good at your own life really close," Goertzen aid. "You look to see if you are at the right place to be able to accept something like that in your life." This story originally appeared in the Nov. 14,2003, issue ofthe Bison.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==