The C.U. Wesley Fellowship strives to offer our students a truly Alternative way to spend their annual Spring Breaks - we roll up our sleeves and participate in mission and work trips!
Our new pattern is to alternate between national and international locations.During Spring Break 2006 we journeyed to the Mississippi Coast to repair buildings damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Read on to learn what we did!
In March 2006
CU Students Put Faith into Action!
2006 Alternative Spring Break helping with Post-Katrina Repairs
Getting ready to board the bus in Boulder Students removing old shingles
Instead of partying on the beaches of Florida, Texas or Mexico as many of todays college students seem to do over their spring breaks, seven students who are active with the Wesley Fellowship campus ministry at CU in Boulder joined forces with Pastor Roger Wolsey and 25 adults from the BUMMP (Boulder United Methodist Ministry Partners) organization theaded down to Moss Point, MS to help repair homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
Historically, Wesley has hosted alternative spring break opportunities for students in lands outside of the U.S. But, when the students learned of the massive destruction on our own nation's shores wrought by last summers hurricane season, they decided to deviate from the norm and do this years break here in the U.S. Through contacts with the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission organization, we learned of the community of Moss Point, MS. Numerous groups have gone to New Orleans but Moss Point was far closer to where the eye of the storm actually hit; i.e. where the wind damage was greatest along with ocean surges.
This trip proved to be quite an experience for the students who found it physically and emotionally challenging. Aside from enduring the 28 hour bus ride down to Moss Point, the physical challenge was in all of the hard work involved in roofing 5 homes (including replacing rotted wood plywood panels) and in doing drywall and other construction work. Several students developed blisters on their hands from doing this kind of physical labor which is quite different from what they normally do in their college careers. Many also received bites from the pesky "no-see-um" bugs they have in the south and a few cases of sunburn were noticed.
The emotional challenge was three-fold. Firstly, from witnessing all of the sheer and utter destruction over so many miles of this nations shores. It was truly like walking through a bombed-out war-zone in many places. The second part was due to the fact that a fellow volunteer, a pastor from an Alaskan UM contingent who worked with us on the job sites, fell off of a ladder, suffered a brain injury, and died on our second day on the job.
One of 98,00 fully destroyed homes Students working on a livable home
Rev. Tom Dahl was a prominent person in the Alaska Missionary Conference as well as with UMCOR. We had two memorial services for him, the second of which was hosted by the all black congregation of St. Paul UMC in Moss Point, which hosted us. Their service was a rousing Dixieland style send-off that any pastor would hope for themselves. Needless to say, there was a bit of shock and grief work that the students had to go through but it all proved to be a formative part of their education as part of this work trip experience.
Remains of a house that washed away Students tired after the first day!
And the third emotionally challenging factor that the students had to face the fact that there are parts of our nation where racial segregation is still prevalent (e.g. an all white United Methodist Church is next door to an all black one). One of the residents there told the students that they "are todays Freedom Riders reminding the people of that community of what the Kingdom of God can be like with blacks and whites and men and women working side by side with one another!"
All told the students had lots of fun, learned much, and really felt like they made a difference in a community that matters. We helped the people of Moss Point know that they are remembered and loved by folks from across this great country.
Students nailing down new shingles Students at morning devotions
We at Wesley would like to say thank you the people of BUMMP (Boulder United Methodist Missionary Partners), the UM VIM program, and all of you who support our campus ministry to help make this transformative Spring Break 2006 Work Trip possible!
The Work Trip for Spring Break 2007
took us to Guatemala!
See the 2007 photos under "Mission Trips" at the CU Wesley Website
* * * * * * * * *
Mexico Work Trip Webpage
Mexico 2003 photos
* * * * * * * * *
Rev. Roger Wolsey, Director/Pastor
Wesley Foundation-CU Boulder: www.wesleyf.org
Copyright © 2006 Welcome to Wesley Fellowship at C.U. Boulder!. All Rights Reserved.