"Walking where Jesus walked made me realize in a deeper sense how real He is." - Lorie Baker HUG and HUE give students ... A Taste of Culture Athens, Greece. London, England. Two cities whose peoples have markedly influenced American life, yet whose cultures remain distinctly individual. Harding students lived and studied in each of these cities, but much of the real learning began on their return to America and the ensuing comparison of cultures. When students in the Harding University in Greece (HUG) group left, they knew they were headed to a different place. The surprise came when the Harding University in England (HUE) students settled at the New Atlantic Hotel, and then realized that they were also in a "different place. " Junior Blane Covert remarked with a laugh, "The New Atlantic Hotel was like a foreign embassy. We were the only Englishspeaking people there. The receptionist was German, the security guard was Arabian, and the maid was Burmese. Until I saw Big Ben, I wasn 't even sure I was in London! " In Athens, students cruised from one city of ruins to another, seeing many biblical sights. "This experience has literallly brought the Bible to life for me," Anastasia Yecke said. Lorie Baker agreed, adding, "Walking where Jesus walked made me realize in a deeper sense how real He is ." While the HUG group did see four wonders of the ancient world, travels were only part of the excitement. The friendships with Dr. and Mrs. Carl Mitchell and Dr. and Mrs. Ken Davis, faculty sponsors, and the International Church of Christ in Athens intensified the experience. By taking students through two continents, two cultures and 10,000 years of history, HUG allowed students to seewhat Jesus, the apostles, Paul and the first churches saw. It allowed them to be where they were, standing where they stood. "HUG has definitely been one of the best opportunities for spiritual growth that I've ever experienced," Sara Hardin said. As the HUG group experienced a time warp, HUE students peered into the more-recent past. Awhirlwind tour of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland forced acquaintances to become friends and educated them about youth hostels and foreign currency. Back in London, each day held a new adventure. From a journey on the "Tube" to looking right instead of left when crossing the street, students stockpiled memories to share with their roommates. Dr. and Mrs. Paul Haynie accompanied the students to England. His specialty is church history, and he complemented the weekly trips to the British Museum for a study of biblical backgrounds. Senior Tricia McCullum said, "Seeing something as important as the Rosetta Stone helped me realize just how fundamental that artifact is for our Christian background. " Who could live in London without experiencing its array of fine arts performances? Many evenings were occupied by attending a musical, a concert or a play. "The opportunity to spontaneously see any major production was incredible," senior Wendy Case said. In September, students left their homes, friends and lifestyles for two foreign countries. Bringing along many souvenirs, they returned with new perspectives on life, history and scripture. Regardless of each one 's motive for going, no one remained unchanged. - Andrea Stark & Chris Kelley HUG students drink from the spring ofHarod where Gideon chose his 300 men. The tour ofIsrael created an awareness ofevents ofboth the Old and the New Testaments. Photo by Carl Mitchell.
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