Making sacrifices
Some students choose helping others over fun during Spring Break

Bethany McCormack
Staff Reporter

While some students are skiing in Colorado and others are partying in South Padre Island, Mari Reynolds will be spending this Spring Break with drug addicts and the homeless on the streets of inner city Los Angeles.

Reynolds, a senior theater major, will be participating in a week-long mission trip with almost 50 other students through Chi Alpha, a campus Christian organization affiliated with the Assemblies of God.

Reynolds, the president of Chi Alpha, said this trip is an opportunity to step outside of herself and help others.

Special to the Skiff Students from different Chi Alpha organizations around the country train at the Harvest of Hope Church in downtown Los Angeles during January. The TCU Chi Alpha will be serving at this same church over Spring Break.

“We are so locked up in our TCU upper middle class existence that we don’t realize the privilege that we have, so, if even for a week, I want to go serve,” Reynolds said.

James Stalnaker, Chi Alpha pastor, said the students will be working with Harvest of Hope Church in downtown Los Angeles.

talnaker said it is the only church located in an area of Los Angeles largely populated by drug addicts and the homeless.“I really expect students’ lives to change,” Stalnaker said. “Once they get out of the TCU bubble, they gain an appreciation of what is going on in the world.”

He said students will work on the church building, preach on the street, perform dramas and assist the church in any way needed.
While the students from Chi Alpha are serving in Los Angeles, about 40 students from Christ Chapel Bible Church and Young Life, an outreach to high school students, will be working at a Young Life camp in Costa Rica.

Jeremy Weart, the college director at Christ Chapel, said the students will assist wherever the camp needs help, whether it be doing construction work or evangelism.

Weart said the experience will take students outside of their comfort zones and broaden their view of the world.

“Once you get to see third world circumstances, it shows how good we have it,” he said. “It helps one become universal in thinking.”

Weart said in addition to working at the camp, students will have time for recreational activities such as going to the beach, hiking and shopping.

Laura Gauer, a sophomore social work major, went with Christ Chapel to Costa Rica last year and said she enjoyed it so much she is going again.

“Last year was the first time I got to see the ocean, which was amazing,” she said. “It is a beautiful place.”

Vicki Lobel, a freshman premajor, said she is going with Chi Alpha on her first mission trip.

“I thought this would be a great experience to work with homeless,” she said. “God’s put the desire in my heart to work with those less fortunate than I am.”

Reynolds, who plans to do missionary work full-time after graduation, said the trip to Los Angeles won’t be glamorous, but it will be rewarding.

“These people are so hungry,” Reynolds said. “They need someone just to listen to them, love on them and show them the love of Christ.”

Reynolds said that while Chi Alpha can’t solve the people’s problems in a week, by building relationships and talking with the people, the students can give them hope.

Bethany McCormack
b.s.mccormack@student.tcu.edu