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Members of the Campion Church, Academy and community traveled to the Dominican Republic for a mission trip. 31 Campion students, accompanied by an additional 20 students from Thunderbird Adventist Academy, reached the Barahona community with sermon series, Vacation Bible Schools (VBS), and construction on the boy’s dormitory from March 7 to 18.
During the mornings, students leading VBS, preaching, and translating began preparing for the evening programs while the construction team mixed concrete and carried bricks to create an addition to the boy’s dormitory. Unfortunately, the construction work was unable to be completed due to funding. Moises Hernandez, senior, reflected, “I really enjoyed doing construction and I learned the importance of productivity. We would work hard, and I enjoyed working with my friends. I was sad when the construction ended, but for the remainder of the trip, I helped Claire translate for VBS which was a blessing.” Each evening, the student missionaries spread out to nine different area churches and put on evangelistic sermon series and VBS programs. The student preachers personalized ready-made sermon outlines to share our uniquely Adventist Biblical truths with the attendees, while other students worked with children in the well-attended VBS programs. Pastor Leandro Bizama, the main coordinator of the trip expressed, “I was proud of how our students grew and bonded and shared the gospel. They traveled many miles on crammed vehicles, and ministered to hundreds of people every single night.” Alexandra Cordoba, junior, shared, “There were two things I learned while preaching and translating. First, the church was on fire for God. I would ask who loved Jesus and everyone raised their hand. Second, I learned that we should be grateful for the stuff we have here in America because they don't have the basic necessities.” In addition to the work, students and sponsors from both schools were able to form a closer bond by sharing meals, going to the beach, hiking in the mountains, exploring the town, and worshiping God together. Keon Paez reflected, “I had a great time experiencing the country and it’s culture. It was so beautiful, especially the sunsets.” After seven nights of sermons and VBS programs, 24 local community members and three of the Campion students chose to get baptized on Sabbath. Sergio Enriquez, sophomore, shared why he decided to get baptized during the trip, “During the mission trip I was a translator, and I had to translate the verse Acts 22:16, ‘And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’” Sergio explained that this verse hit home saying, “I decided I should be baptized now.” Bizama furthered, “The biggest blessing of the trip was to see all the baptisms, and also how the Spirit kindled the fire of evangelism and service in our students’ hearts. A fire I believe will never be put out until Jesus returns.” Eva Resz, Student News Team
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 Going to Peru was everything and more I wished to have on a mission trip. On my previous two mission trips I never felt like I really truly helped anyone, but going to Peru changed that. We did construction, deconstruction, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and dental work. On previous mission trips all we did was construction. The whole experience was amazing, but it was the dental and VBS that really opened my eyes to the compassion and kindness possible through the little things. When I signed up for VBS I thought I was just signing up for arts and crafts. When I got to Peru though I was told I was doing drama. I hate being up front, whether I have to speak or not. Thankfully in drama I was merely an actor portraying the narrator’s story. I was pretty nervous my first day but it got so easy once I saw the kids. They were so excited and attentive to watch us act. They didn't care whether I messed up or not; they were ready to be entertained. Watching the kids’ faces light up as we acted out Bible stories was a blessing all in itself. My favorite moment of VBS though was during arts and crafts, when we would all sit on the ground and help the kids color. I was helping a little girl and her brother Cade glue cotton balls onto a cut-out cloud. He didn't speak any English and I had already used up all the Spanish I knew. We stared at each other somewhat lost and I could tell he was becoming bored. I grabbed a fluffy cotton ball and tossed it at the little boy. We literally sat there the next 10-15 minutes just throwing cotton balls back and forth between each other. I was amazed we were able to laugh so much and connect over something so simple. We couldn't talk to each other but I was able to create a memory that will forever be in my heart. Cadence Wright is a senior at Campion Academy. 
   photo: Robert Francis, Inca masonry, Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Cusco, Peru  Mr. Kast, seven students and I recently returned from 3 weeks in Zambia as part of Give Back to Humanity. Our trip went way faster than I had hoped. The first few days were spent praying hard and trying to get our whole group together due to travel complications. God was leading us the whole time and once we all finally arrived in Lusaka safely we were then able to head out to our final destination in Mansa, Zambia. We went to Campion's sister school, Fordina Pandeli Secondary School, where we got to stay with the students for a week, sleeping in the dorms, doing construction on their campus and ending each night with a week of prayer meeting. We now have many lifelong friends from across the globe. I can't wait for Jesus to come back and we'll be reunited. The next week was spent in Livingstone where we got the full African experience--walking with lions and tigers, visiting water falls, going on safaris and getting little glimpses of heaven wherever we went. To top off our mission trip we had a 20 hour layover in Dubai where we saw a whole new side of this world we live in. Going up the Burj Kalifa and walking around in the biggest mall in the world was insane, something I still can't wrap my mind around. We saw two completely different extremes going from Zambia to Dubai. There was never a dull moment, always something to look forward to and always a new way for us to share Jesus' love. Rayna Williams is a senior at Campion Academy photos by Kent Kast, science teacher at Campion Academy See more photos and trip updates on the Zambia Mission Trip Facebook page.
 photo: Calvin Gane By Gabrielle Williams and Jennifer Sigler Over spring break, 37 volunteers from Campion Academy and Wichita Adventist Christian Academy flew to Belize to serve the campus of Belize Adventist Junior College (BAJC) in Calcutta, where they’ve been visiting annually for over ten years. Mission groups to BAJC usually focus on a construction project and Vacation Bible School meetings. This year, led by Jim Lynch, the group made immense progress on the library, a project begun several years ago, and on week nights they hosted games, crafts, story time, and singing for kids of all ages. On the last weekend, they passed out shoes and clothes to a local village. “When we give of ourselves, we end up receiving more than we could have ever imagined. We experience pure joy and peace. Helping others is one of the greatest callings that Jesus gives us,” said Campion senior Gabrielle Williams, who went to Belize for the second time. “It is more blessed to give than to receive; however, what you do receive when you give is an unexplainable joy that only Jesus can give,” she added. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Slideshow by Leslie Bergmann  photo: Calvin Gane |
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