Student Leaders: SPRINT
SPRINT Summmer 2008
Stepping Outside Their Comfort Zone
When teams of our students left for their SPRINT trips this summer, they stepped out of their comfort zones for the personal engagement of otherness.
The idea of a SPRINT trip to a faraway place, spending weeks with a people of a different culture may sound like an appealing summer trip at first. After a few days or weeks, as the realities of language and culture differences begin to set in, it is natural for students to begin to feel uncomfortable, challenged or even culturally disoriented. This is what SPRINT trips hope to accomplish through their exposure to and encounter with what God is doing in another culture across the seas. This is a great eye-opening opportunity for our students, as they wrestle with their assumptions about the world, their Christian faith, and missions.
Trips such as these will challenge students’ perspectives as they encounter the global realities of increasing insecurities, the widening income gap, and the changing face of global Christianity beyond what they learn in the classroom, watch on cable TV, or discover on the internet. These encounters will trigger life-change that we hope to build on and sustain when the students return from their trips. Let’s hear what some of the teams have to say about their trips.
Rebecca Miles, India SPRINT Team
“I am now just beginning to understand my schedule even though I have been here for a while. India is not as task oriented as America, and I am learning to take everything as it comes and to not worry about tomorrow. For the first three weeks we are teaching in three schools within the Hyderabad area. All of the children are amazing and precious and I would like to gather them all up and take them all back with me. It is amazing to be a part of educating these Dalit children so they will be the first ones to break away from the castes. I feel so privileged to be a part of this movement to help them cry for freedom. It is so hard to see how they are living daily and see how others treat them. The majority of the students in the Good Shepherd Schools are Dalit. OM (Operation Mobilization India) has received permission from the government to go to the caste population within the city where the school is located. So OM builds these schools in areas that are mostly Dalit.
I will continue to need prayer for God to open my eyes so I will be able to take in everything He wants to teach me so I will be changed and be able to share everything with all of you.”
Dominican Republic SPRINT Team
"Other than being sick, we have been having an interesting time here. Paso Bajito has been quite the culture shock for a lot of us. From the tiny tin roof houses with holes in the roof (we are not living together in the church like we thought, we are in pairs rotating between host homes), absolutely no running water (I never knew that would be such a big deal!!), sponge bathing once a week, speaking only Spanish all the time and not being able to go anywhere without escorts, it has been quite an ordeal getting adjusted to all this. However, as tough as it has been, we are all growing tremendously because we have been relying on the LORD to comfort us. I feel like I have grown and changed so much already and it has only been two weeks. We are working at a church teaching Vacation Bible School to a bunch of kids in the morning, then after lunch we teach English and preschool. It has been VERY exhausting for all of us, especially those of us who are having trouble communicating with our limited Spanish. This was our first week of actually teaching the classes; the week prior we were just adjusting and preparing for it.
The place we are staying is very beautiful. It is totally rural, located in the mountains on a ridge. We are surrounded by fields of varying crops and beautiful tropical plants. We have been experiencing the most insanely insane thunder and lightning storms of my life!! I remember one night when I was up all night praying that our stick house wouldn’t be blown away! The tin roofs just amplify the rain noise, especially when it is coming down in monsoon style! The bugs are pretty bad and we are having fun counting everyone’s bites...I think the max one person has had so far is 40. The bug spray doesn’t work! This is definitely roughing it to the max! As i had thought, the food is pretty much all bananas in some form or another. I never knew you could do so much with bananas! Fried, fried everything!!
Please continue to pray for us. The team at this point is feeling a little downhearted with the intense culture shock that we are dealing with. I think we are all feeling a little anxious by the fact that we still have four more weeks in Paso Bajito. Pray that the Lord would change our hearts and attitudes and that He would help us to adjust quickly to this place. Pray that he would keep the other kids healthy as well."
Indonesia SPRINT Team
Selamat Pagi! (Good morning!)
First off, we want to thank you for your support. Your prayers mean much more to us than you can imagine. During our first week abroad, the weather has been warm, the people have been welcoming, and the language has been difficult.
First off, the weather has been very hot and extremely humid. Imagine living in a sauna and you'll be pretty close to the mark. However, we are adjusting and after our brief time here, we can say that it is moderately pleasant weather.
Secondly, the people have been very welcoming. Whether we are asking for directions or talking with our hosts, the people of this country have received us with a smile and demonstrated hospitality. Although we are usually laughed at when we try to speak the language, the people are very patient and do their best to communicate with us.
This communication has been difficult at times as we have struggled to understand a language in less than a week. Our daily routine revolves around language acquisition as we spend four hours in the morning learning and two to three hours practicing in the streets, malls, and taxis. It has been difficult to say the least, but we have made great strides and have hope for success.
As we strive for this goal of learning a language, our original purpose remains on the forefront of our minds. Our initial phase of the journey is over, and we are about to embark upon our second phase to visit smaller communities in order to learn from and live with the people as we share the good news. During this phase, here are some specific areas where we would appreciate support.
1. Language- we are still novices, and want to become conversational in order to talk with the people here.
2. Unity- Thus far, we have acted as one big happy family. We know that the more difficult aspect of our trip lies ahead, and want to demonstrate a loving community to those who will observe how we act and compare it to what we believe.
3. Faith- We believe that we are here for a reason, and we do not want to put any limitations on the one who sent us. Thus, please ask in faith that we might plant the seeds of the kingdom as we grow in our faith.
Thank you so much for your support, and know that we truly appreciate knowing that we are not on this journey alone.
Selamat Tinggal!
Cameroon SPRINT Team
Hello from Cameroon!
We are all safe and well and have been unable to communicate by email thus far due to the frequent power outages, but T.I.A. (This Is Africa).
We arrived in Douala a week ago after 3 very long plain rides and then rode in a van for 9 more hours through the night until we reached the village of Fundong in the Northwest Province of Cameroon. The van ride was quite exciting as we drove through several thunder storms and countless villages with people selling everything imaginable on the side of the road in the middle of the night. We also had to stop at checkpoints about every 30 minutes.
We arrived in Fundong and separated into pairs to stay with our homestay families. We stayed in Fundong for 5 days and currently we are now staying with a different homestay in a different village called Njinikom. On Wednesday we will move to the Rest House in another village called Belo. There, we will be living together and will begin working on our projects for the duration of our trip.
We are greatly enjoying our time here, learning a little of the Kom tribal language, trying all the different foods--which mostly consists of lots of fufu corn (something like grits or cream of wheat) and jama jama (a local plant/vegetable which they cook with palm tree oil). We are especially enjoying getting to know the kind and generous people. Relationships are so important here with one's family and friends and also with the Lord. We have been especially struck by the importance of prayer before meals, before activities, and before traveling/journeys.
Where Did Students "SPRINT" this Summer 2008?
Six SPRINT teams traveled and served this summer. Find out where in the world they went.
Perkins Perspective
Read up and sign up for the Perkins Perspective and get the latest news from the Perkins Center at SPU. 
