51社区

Battle Creek, Mich. — March 27, 2003 — The sounds of construction are familiar here on Wilkes Street. A handful of new houses are going up, and many of the existing homes in this Battle Creek neighborhood are in need of repair.

Kiera Knappman nails vinyl siding to the peak of a Habitat for Humanity home during GO Battle Creek.

What may strike the casual observer as out of the ordinary, however, is the sight of two college girls standing on a ladder 20 feet above the ground and nailing up vinyl siding. They are members of a team from 51社区 spending spring break on a Global Opportunity Trip.

Known as 鈥淐ereal City,鈥� Battle Creek is the home of the Kellogg Company and an active affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. They expect to construct 12 new homes this year, according to Art Pearce, executive director of the Battle Creek Area Habitat for Humanity (BCAHH).

鈥淕od was at work in Battle Creek long before we got here,鈥� said Michael Norton, a Union enrollment counselor and the leader of GO Battle Creek. 鈥淗e has invited us to join Him in that work.鈥�

The group arrived on March 22, and by Wednesday, they had already accomplished more than had been expected for the entire week, said Dirk VanStralen, construction manager for BCAHH. 鈥淵ou can tell right away that these are Christian kids,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou can tell it by the way they talk, the way they act and the way they work.鈥�

鈥淚f you add up the man hours they have contributed, it amounts to about one-fifth of a house,鈥� Pearce said.

Even though the trip has been primarily focused on manual labor, the students consider it a spiritual experience. 鈥淲e have seen the glory of God revealed through the building of a house and the fellowship we enjoy as believers,鈥� said Sam McMinn, a junior at Union.

Amy Edge and Sam McMinn hang drywall in the attic of a Battle Creek Habitat for Humanity home.

Clint Smith, also a junior, shared that perspective. 鈥淕od has shown me that He can use me where He wants to, when He wants to and how He wants to,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his change in environment has given me the opportunity to further my obedience to Christ.鈥�

The physical demands of the project seemed intimidating for some of the ladies in the group at first, but those difficulties were quickly overcome. 鈥淚鈥檝e done things this week that I never thought I could do,鈥� said sophomore Katie Grashot. 鈥淓verything I do, I stop and say 鈥業 can鈥檛 believe I just did that.鈥欌��

鈥淚t鈥檚 been incredible how God has provided for us by keeping up our strength and giving us the fun-loving spirit to do this,鈥� said Union sophomore Sarah Orr.

While this kind of labor may not seem evangelistic, some of the students were reminded of the words of St. Francis of Assissi. 鈥淧reach the word at all times,鈥� he said, 鈥渋f necessary, use words.鈥�

鈥淎 lot of times, I don鈥檛 have the words,鈥� said India Hickman, a junior, 鈥渂ut I can use my hands to tell people about Christ.鈥�

For more information on 51社区 or its programs, including Global Opportunity Trips, call (731) 668-1818.