Scnio,· I,;,ai Bishop pla11s u ith children 1L'ho u•cn• purt uf the teum's m1ssw11 ejforts <iuriny u sprinq hrcok tnp tu ltluntu in .\lurch :.2<115. fhc yl'(1up worked in partnership iL ith C'1•111< rs Oulr,'Clt h. a , u111,1·of1t uryu11i/.atio11 focused on outn·och to com111w1ity chi/clr<'n. Photo ( r',ll"le~,, of '-.w•1.1111u [)iStejcuw HELPING GOES NEAR FAR By lfonnuh Perry In 2015, Harding sent 313 students on 18 different spring break mission trips, nine of which were in the U.S. Students met, mentored and preached to thousands of people in places like Ecuador, Texas, St. Lucia and Arizona. Spring break missions director Emily Hudkins said the number of students leading and volunteering in spring break missions had grown the past three years since she became director. "I am astounded by our student body every year," Hudkins said. "Seeing anywhere from 250 to 300 people willing to go on spring break missions is a very selfless act, and I'm just incredibly grateful." Sophomore Kendall Wallace traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee, and worked with an organization called Hope Central. The goal of Hope Central was to create a refuge for children of broken families. The mission team built relationships with the children by helping with homework, playing games and creating an herb garden. "Kids are very impressionable," Wallace said. "They want love, and it was cool to see how easily they clung to you. I spent a week with them, and by the end they told me they loved me. They were genuine about it." Senior Manuel Barrantes led a spring break mission trip to Jamaica. The 21-member team led vacation Bible school activities for children in the community and worked on a landscaping project for the church. Barrantes emphasized that even though spring break missions lasted a short period of time, God was still glorified. "Some people think this isn't important because it's a short time," Barrantes said. "I know it's short, but you can do a lot of things to bless people." Wallace and Barrantes encouraged every student to go on a spring break mission trip during their time at Harding. Hudkins said participating in a spring break mission campaign provided invaluable leadership experience a student could use in any setting. "A student once told me, 'To run your fastest, you have to run with those who are faster,"' Hudkins said. "He was talking about how he needed to surround himself with people who are measuring up to that higher calling. Not just in your day-to-day life here on campus but to take every moment you have free and push yourself to be better. That encompasses spring break missions. If I want to better myself, I have to serve. I have to pour out myself and surround myself with those that are doing the same thing." SP HI ~ (i B HE.\ I( C .\ .\IP.\ I(;~ S I :J
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