2007-2008 Annual Report

Shipping Out We left Cedarville on a Thursday morning and arrived in Monrovia 36 hours later. The next morning, we enjoyed a walking tour of the ELWA campus, which includes a Christian school and hospital, and then met with the ELWA leadership team. We reported on our year-long study and offered our plan-of-action for the next two weeks of work. Working Hard Our main project centered on upgrading the struggling water system, including the installation of two new pumps we brought with us. Unfortunately, these caused quite a stir with the airport security in Brussels — the stainless steel pumps looked like high-tech laser weapons on the X-ray machine. As their senior design project, my team of five students addressed the low pressure and untreated water problems in the 134-acre water system and proposed a set of upgrades to improve water distribution. We designed and installed new plumbing and electrical wiring in one of the well houses, started the installation of a chlorine injection system that one of our seniors designed, and repaired the main water storage tank. Other projects we worked on included performing routine maintenance on a cooling system and a hospital medical waste incinerator project we installed in 2007, teaching an engineering graphics course, obtaining and installing an academy computer laboratory, and distributing 50 solar- rechargeable reading lights (built by SEAM students) for rural Liberian pastors. Warm Hear ts, Wi l l ing Hands, Clean Water For Cedarville students, academic training and spiritual development are only the first steps in a journey that culminates in hands-on servant leadership. As they recognize this calling, their faith is ignited and their vision honed. They enthusiastically take their influence beyond the boundaries of campus and into the hearts and lives of people around the world. In summer of 2008, a team of engineering students headed to Liberia to work on projects with Eternal Love Winning Africa (ELWA). Dr. Larry Zavodney, professor of mechanical engineering, led the two-week trip. The team, which included Dr. Tom Thompson, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and students from the Society of Engineers Aiding Missions (SEAM), spent all year preparing for this adventure. 24 Serving in Liberia Eng i neer i ng St uden t s Ser v i ng God i n Af r i ca Dr. Larry Zavodney