Ann Graber Hershberger, professor of nursing at 91短视频, and her husband, Jim Hershberger, led 22 students in experiencing the world of Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras. They spent a sizable block of time with CASAS (Central American Study and Service), a cross-cultural study program in Guatemala. Read the blogs and see photos from their journey.

Lindsey Grosh (with cap) and Andrew Derstine lead an original rap song that hits the high notes of the group’s experiences in the Guatemala cross-cultural program.

The first two months, group members lived with families in Guatemala City while learning Spanish and studying the culture, history and current issues including immigration, trade and economics. Special focus was given to relating to and understanding the Guatemalan Anabaptist churches.

Students began their presentation on a creative note by performing an original rap music number that summarized the sights and sounds of Central America. Several read journal entries reflecting seminar highlights and observations, noting the “importance of relationship-building across language and cultural barriers.” Listen to their chapel presentation!

Several participants demonstrated the versatile uses of the corte, a fabric used for everything from decoration to dress. They performed another song, “Swift as a Tuk-Tuk,” a common form of transportation used for their travels throughout Central America. The refrain: “Wherever we go, we’re always late.”

91短视频 junior Michael Showalter from Clarkston, Mich., reported on a “significant” visit to a fair trade coffee farm and “the sense of hope” he felt the project provided to local communities. He noted, however, that “most small farmers must supplement that income by growing organic fruit and vegetable crops to sell at market.”

A highlight for 91短视频 sophomore Anna Rogers from Richmond, Va., was participating in the Semana Santa, a Good Friday processional and worship service that included a time of confession and footwashing.

91短视频 sophomore Jonathan Lamb, Luray, Va., welcomes people to the India cross-cultural chapel Apr. 23.

Kim Gingerich Brenneman, professor of psychology at 91短视频, and her husband, Bob Brenneman, led 24 students on a semester-long program in India, where they explored the country’s history, government and culture, studied and interacted with differing religions and learned fundamentals of the Hindi language. They lived with host families and kept daily journals. Read their blogs and see photos from their journey.

Seminar members applied a red dot to each person’s forehead as they entered Lehman Auditorium for the chapel service, a traditional Indian decoration. Listen to the chapel presentation!

Through music, sketches and reading journal entries, the students presented “ten unbelievable things” from their study experience in India:

– The “variety of ways” students traveled around towns, cities and rural areas of the country – from walking or riding rickshaws, elephants and camels to riverboats and jeeps.

– The organizations visited: Mennonite Central Committee programs, Mother Teresa’s orphanage, a polio hospital and SIDH (Society for Integrated Develop of Himalayas), an educational and development program.

– Recurring sickness, treated by a host of colorful pills.

– The nature excursions, from the snow-capped Himalayan mountains to river rafting to a desert safari.

– The food, not always certain what was being eaten, but included catching the featured fowl (chickens) that became the next meal.

– Bathroom adventures; learning to use the ubiquitous “squat pot.”

– The “amazing sites” seen throughout the group’s journey.

– Animals everywhere, and the elephant and camel rides.

– The South of India that included working in rice paddies and a CNN India news team wondering what a group of American students was doing in such an unlikely place; taking Hindi classes and a 24-hour houseboat ride.

– The “diversity of people” from all walks of life in India: upper class students, rickshaw drivers and beggars. Students presented a monologue, asking what is the most helpful, appropriate response in these encounters.

Both chapel presentations closed with striking slide shows with indigenous music summing up a host of indelible impressions of these “life-changing” experiences” from the ever-shrinking global village.

91短视频 President Loren Swarzendruber and his wife, Pat, (pictured second row, at right) paid a whirlwind visit Feb. 6-10 to the 22-member 91短视频 student group that is spending spring semester in a cross-cultural seminar in Guatemala, Central America. Read student blogs and see photos

Dr. Swartzendruber took seminar leaders Jim and Ann Graber Hershberger (second row, at left) up on their invitation to come, noting that he and Pat wanted to visit a cross-cultural group on site ever since becoming president.

During their brief stay, Loren and Pat visited 91短视频 alumni Jared and Tracey Stoltzfus and Jeff Eschelman and his Honduran wife, Soila, who are doing volunteer work in the country. They heard a missionary family talk about their Bible translation work, toured a large Catholic church, worshiped with and took a two-hour boat ride with the 91短视频 group, heard presentations from the leaders of SEMILLA and CASAS where the students study Spanish and had meals with local host families.

“It was great to see the students ‘on location’ and to talk with them about their cross-cultural experience part way through the semester,” said Swartzendruber. “We were reminded again of the life-changing nature of these opportunities, a part of the college experience that is unique within higher education.

A personal delight for Loren and Pat was to reconnect with a young woman whom they had hosted in their family more than 10 years ago while she was a student at Hesston (Kan.) College. “She met Christ at Hesston, returned to Guatemala and a good job in the government in a planning office, and then entered seminary,” Swartzendruber noted. “She is now a few months from completing her masters degree and will seek a pastorate in the city.

“Many institutions provide international experiences for a small percentage of students,” the president added. “But few universities provide their own faculty members to accompany the group as teachers and mentors as 91短视频 does.”

Another group of 24 students, led by Bob and Kim Gingerich Brenneman, is spending spring semester in a cross-cultural seminar in India.