For Northland’s
spring 2012 Global Opportunities Study Abroad students, this first week of
classes will also be their last week of classes on campus this semester. When
they return from various corners of the world in a few months, finals will be
the last academic requirement they encounter. However, the thirteen weeks
between now and finals will be filled with more than just academic pursuits.
Northland is sending out eight
students to study abroad this semester, including Daniel Caughill (Central
Asia), Melanie Uy (Central Asia), Jennifer Sullivan (Guam), Lauren McCoy
(Spain),
Matthew Smith (Northern
Africa), Martha Bladine (Ecuador), Cristina Driskell (Ecuador),
and Cody Adams (Scotland). These students have prepared for cross-cultural ministry
and will spend the next semester living with a missionary, serving in whatever
capacity necessary to help with ministry.
The various ministries allow students to exercise their
gifts and abilities and to experience new situations. Senior Matthew Smith commented, “I will be involved in teaching English as a second language
as well as giving guitar lessons and building relationships wherever possible.”
Junior Lauren McCoy stated, “I will be helping out with the local church. I
will be bringing my violin to play for church. Also, the missionaries have
a daughter who is a high school senior that I am excited about having an
iron-sharpening-iron friendship with. And anything they need help with!”
A formal send-off was held for the group during Wednesday’s
chapel. Each student gave a short prayer request to the student body; the
common theme was that of a desire to learn humility and true service. Junior
Martha Bladine shared, “I want God to stretch me in the areas of humility,
dependence on Him, and teachability. I also hope that I will learn to
communicate with those I come in contact with in a way that gives all the glory
to God.”
The GSA program provides a real-life cross-cultural
ministry experience for students, enabling them to put the skills that they
have learned in the classroom to use. As these students manage academics,
ministry, and cultural differences, they will be pushed out of their comfort
zones and will grow in their relationships with God and with others.