REENA TILLMAN

April 19, 2006

Six student teams that traveled throughout the world to conduct service projects returned safely to campus in early April bearing stories of sacrifice, hope and inspiration.

Members of the largest group – 23 students who spent spring break in Peru – said they found their work at an orphanage so meaningful that they didn’t want to leave. Led by seniors Jessica Redding and Apryl Pense, the team led a mini Vacation Bible School and played with children at El Hogar de Esperanza, “The House of Hope” orphanage in the town of Trujillo.

“We had an impacting experience and were able to connect with the kids at the orphanage,” said senior Jonathon Hall.

“God definitely met all our financial needs. He kept us safe the whole time. We were able to interact with the people, and we were able to leave the people with gifts of money and supplies because we had a surplus,” said sophomore Elisa Schwarze.

One of the team’s other volunteer jobs during the week was to plant of an alfalfa field in Trujillo. The planting required hours of manual labor under the sun, but students were happy to do the work because the crop is expected to provide much-needed extra income for the orphanage.

“Our group was resilient, worked well and hard together and got the job done,” Hall said.

Like so many other Corban students who completed service projects over spring break, the Peru team returned to America with words of praise for their South American hosts’ warm welcome. During their stay, they mingled with Peruvian Christians and were befriended by children at the orphanage.

“I saw the Lord working in the hearts of our team. We were all so overwhelmed by the kindness and love that the people showed us, and that is something that all of us wanted to bring back and work on in our personal relationship with the Lord,” said Schwarze.

Including the Peru team, six student groups representing more than 130 Corban students left campus at the beginning of spring break to volunteer in Los Angeles, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, Mexico and Thailand. Together, those students made up nearly 20 percent of the college’s student body. Still others, who weren’t counted, traveled on independent service trips.