Cedars, November 2017

November 2017 6 CAMPUS Students Serve Houston After Harvey by Zach Krauss O ver fall break, 32 Cedarville stu- dents and three staff members min- istered to those affected in Hous- ton, Texas by Hurricane Harvey. The trip was led by staff members Keith Holcomb, assistant director for Global Out- reach; Jim Cato, associate vice president of Christian Ministries; and Deborah Brown, UMS receptionist. The trip began on Oct. 14, before fall break officially started. Students from ev- ery year and multiple majors were excused from classes in to go on the trip. Cedarville’s specific relief target area for the week was the heavily impoverished Fifth Ward. Cedarville students worked alongside an organization known as the Farrington Mission. The mission is based in an im- poverished area still struggling with large amounts of hurricane damage. Many lo- cal Houston churches support Farrington, which allows the center to run a food pan- try, clothing closet, and a holistic wom- en’s healthcare center. A major partner of Farrington is Northeast Houston Baptist Church, whose members provided host homes for the Cedarville students through- out the trip. Ministry during the days of the trip looked different for different members of the team. Much work was done in the Fifth Ward Community in houses that had been damaged by flood waters, as well as in the flooded rooms of Farrington itself. Samie Scanlan, sophomore early childhood edu- cation major, said she mainly assisted in homes that had been partially worked on but still had final jobs to be done. Students working in homes pulled out nails, helped repaint walls, and tore down walls beyond repair. “A lot of times it felt like we were the anchor for the community,” Scanlan said. “We were trying to make the place more up to par and bearable. After this time of trage- dy, it was really cool to be able to help even a little bit.” Other students worked in the Far- rington Mission food pantry. During the trip, the food pantry was open and function- ing, allowing families to come and receive meals. Students working at the mission helped dispense meals and talked with fam- ilies as they packed their food. The students also had the opportunity to evangelize in the community. Scanlan said that they went into the ministry think- ing that it might be easier to evangelize to people because of the tragedy that was go- ing on. However, she said a lot of people were more closed off than expected. “There were a lot of rejections, but the one person that listened was good, and that made it worth it,” Scanlan said. Students said that even while they were at host homes, they were able to minister and grow. Erica Whittenberger, a sopho- more early childhood education major, said that while she stayed in the homes, they were able to play with the host’s children and help them with homework. She also said they spent a substantial portion of their time off praying for the days to come. “Even in the little things, I felt like I mattered as I continued to help,” Whitten- berger said. “No matter where I was, I felt like I was making a difference.” The bus drivers for the trip, Rich Cool- man, Craig Smalley, and Mike Kerlin, were all members of a non-profit ministry known as Light Rider Ministry. The three drivers took turns throughout the night to transport the Cedarville students just as efficiently as on a charter bus, but for a lower price. More surprising to the team was the rest of the ministry that the three men were able to be involved with. Throughout the trip, Coolman, Smalley, and Kerlin were all involved in helping students do the tasks they were doing in the communities. Their service allowed the group to have a broader impact because they could accompany more groups of students. Midway through the trip, Jim Cato was admitted to the hospital due to a brain tu- mor. He had to undergo surgery in Houston and spend some of his recovery time there. Many of the students who went on the trip were afraid for Cato, but were comforted knowing that he was in safe hands. Whit- tenberger heard about Cato’s situation from her host family.   “We knew Grandpa Jim was where he Photo by Micah Gerber Vinny Morrone, a senior international studies major, interacts with a group of students while serving in Houston.