Written by Nicole Sullenger
As the spring semester winds down and finals are just around the corner, Harding students are beginning to look forward to packing up and going back home. But for eight students, instead of heading home they will be heading to Mozambique.
The team, organized by Global Outreach, is comprised of Caroline Damron, Kaitlyn Schaefer, Kaitlin Petty, Kim Ledford, Mark Baur, Jon Waddell, Zach Cantrell and Ted Wheetley. They will leave June 2 on a seven-week trip to the southeast African country of Mozambique, where they will live with a missionary team comprised of three families.
“We will be living and working in a semi-urban area, meaning there is a small town but there are also villages we will be going to,” Damron said. “Because it was once a colony, the people speak Portuguese and also different tribal languages.”
Damron, who is graduating from Harding this month, signed up to go to Mozambique in the fall and has since been preparing herself for the trip.
“I have taken an African missions seminar Bible class, which is required of all interns if our schedule permits,” Damron said. “We have learned about African culture, customs, missions techniques and have also had hands-on experience at HUT (Harding University at Tahkodah). “
For the trip itself, the students are allowed to bring one suitcase and one carry on. They will most likely bring a second suitcase for the missionaries as well. The families of the missionaries will contact the students and mail them a piece of luggage filled with items for the missionary families.
Throughout the seven weeks, the team will shadow the missionaries, learning about their lifestyle and how they minister to the locals. Although this is Damron’s first time to do mission work outside of the United States, she said she is already excited despite her nervousness.
“I am nervous about experiencing a new culture,” Damron said. “I know it will be awesome, but I also know it will be very different and challenging. Those challenges, while beneficial in the long run, really intimidate me now.”
The team going to Mozambique will return to the U.S. July 19, and they are only one of the many Harding student teams participating in mission work around the world this summer. Some of the other locations include Italy, New Zealand and Peru. No matter where the students are headed, there is a common sense of excitement to grow both relationally and spiritually while serving others.”I’m most looking forward to two things,” Damron said. “The relationships I am going to form with the missionary families, my student team and the Mozambique people and how God is going to grow me and expand my view of the world and His kingdom.”
