FARMVILLE, Va. — Virginia Baptists’ ministry to college age young adults, now called Kairos Initiative, sponsored a statewide mission trip to Haiti this year.
The majority of the cost was provided by Baptist collegiate ministries across the state, with individual team members paying only $200 each. Students went through an application and orientation process and then spent eight days in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, in mid-May.
Moving cinder blocks was a daily task on the house building site in Haiti.
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One goal of the trip was to involve students in meeting the needs of poverty first-hand and return to share their stories. These students are now visiting churches and campuses to tell about their experiences and increase awareness of poverty in the world. They hope to inspire more of their generation to get involved and be part of the solution. Their message—love is powerful!
Students witnessed God’s transforming work during their week in Haiti. They saw physical transformation as they completed a new house for a Haitian woman injured in the earthquake. They also observed spiritual transformation as they saw negative attitudes become open to hear about God’s love. The students did an amazing job of loving the Haitians, with no strings attached. It was that love that brought the barriers down.
The Haiti team will attend The Gathering, a college-age young adult conference, at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center, sponsored by Virginia Baptists Oct. 28-30. There they will describe how the experience changed their lives.
Also to be featured is a hands-on “Walk Through Haiti” exhibit designed to give visitors a chance to experience the culture and write their prayers to be sent to that country.
A follow-up trip to Haiti next summer, led by one of the student team members, will be announced at The Gathering. The young adults will be challenged to give $3,500 during the weekend to build another house in Haiti. Next summer’s team will build the house financed by that offering.
Cheri Wise ([email protected]) is Baptist collegiate minister at Longwood University in Farmville.
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