Longwood's BCM Visits Belize over Break

By Shannon Rosedale
Rotunda ReporterBefore you continue reading this there are three things I'd like you to do. Stop whatever you are doing and take a look around. Now breathe in the pure, clean air surrounding you and think for a second about all the positive things in your life. Reflect and find at least one thing you have to be thankful and happy about. It makes you feel pretty decent, right? I know it puts things in perspective for me. Doing something like this daily is one of the ways you could start realizing the good things in your life, something that with the recent Haiti catastrophe sometimes makes us think more and more about the simple things we might take for granted.

It's sad, though, that it has to come down to a devastating earthquake to make some of us think twice before complaining about the same old food in the Dorrill Dining Hall. One thing that has caught my attention, though, is the desire to help people like those affected by the earthquake that has caught on like a fire here at Longwood. This burning within students, however, isn't only for the Haitians, but can be found among many students that take their time and spend it helping and serving people.

One group in particular is Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) that is heavily involved with students here in Farmville. During the holiday break, a group of about 20 students went to Belize in Central America. On Dec. 27, the group packed up and headed down there ready to serve and help the Belizeans by doing whatever it was the felt they were called to do. The team, led and planned by student Emily Caviness, focused on ministry through sports such as soccer - the group even had a mini USA vs. Belize world cup! They also did arts and crafts with the children in orphanages.

One of the biggest trials and challenges, according to team member and Longwood junior Tara Kimmey, was when the group got to go down into the Belize City, which is known for prostitution, abductions and sex trafficking. The team led a prayer walk down the city streets and sang praises and prayers for the people of the city. The most nerve-wracking thing about it was the fact that the team was only allowed to stay for 20 minutes due to the amount of chaos they were/would be causing. Kimmey said, "We were told before we did the prayer walk in Belize City that we were going at our own risk. Twenty-five grenades were stolen from a military base and two had already gone off due to gang warfare. So we were walking at our own risk with the threat of 23 other grenades loose in the city." Knowing that their safety was put at risk didn't stop them, though, and they continued to reach out and make the most of the journey.

One of the other members on the trip, junior Jake Luginbuhl, said, "It was without a doubt one of the most phenomenal experiences of my life. I know I can speak for all of us in saying, if given the chance, we would all without hesitation leap at the opportunity to return!"

Both Kimmey and Luginbuhl shared their favorite memories from the trip and both talked about very touching things. Luginbuhl talked about one time when five of the members got baptized together and a local actually came over and joined them after witnessing the team. Kimmey shared a more personal experience. She explained how she learned humility through the trip as a whole, but also with her connection with one of the children at the Liberty Orphanage named Amelia. Amelia, a toddler at the orphanage, clung on to Kimmey and taught her a lot about herself and the things to be grateful for. She talked about how she was "emotionally touched and changed by all of the people. Giving a child a small toy made them smile from ear to ear. So little to us meant the world to them"

I personally think that a mission trip or out of comfort zone experience is something that all of us should be privileged to feel. I also believe that recognition for those that do give their free time to spend it helping others is not always done properly. As a representative of the student body here at Longwood, I would like to say "thank you" to all of those that do give their lives and time to help and serve others. If anyone would like to learn more about the trip, please contact the BCM or Emily Caviness. Also, there are many other opportunities like this out there. I challenge all of you Lancers to find something to fill your passion and use it to help; you never know how life changing a small gift like your service can be to someone who is desperately in need.