Spring Break 2012

CSFers at recent fundraising bake sale.

We’ve been to New Orleans.

We’ve been to Maytown.

This year, Christian Student Fellowship is going to Joplin, MO for Spring Break 2012. As many of you know, Joplin was hit hard last year by an F-5 tornado that completely leveled the town. Hundreds of people tragically lost their lives, and even more lost their homes, their jobs, and their way of life.

Joplin has a huge need, and CSF is totally pumped to help meet that need. On March 24^th, we are leaving from Morgantown to hook up with a group called Rebuild Joplin to connect with, work with, and love the people of Joplin.

We have about 11 people going with us this year, 4 of which have never been on a mission trip with us.  A couple have never been on a mission trip ever! Not only is this going to be a great opportunity to meet and love new people, but also it will be a week of facing new challenges, exploring our faith, and growing with each other in Christ.

--
Matt Law

Joplin pictures from Josh Walker. Taken with 36 hours of the tornado:

 

Spring Break 2011

It’s that time again; Spring Break is just around the corner! WOO HOO!!! This year we will be taking around 20 CSFers to Paintsville, Kentucky from March 21-26th.  Yes, it is somewhere different this year but we are excited to be trying something new.  We will be helping with home repairs, remodeling, wheelchair ramps, community buildings and churches, as well as helping with an after school program in the area.  We are also doing a supplies drive that we will take down to KY to help with the Appalachia Field Needs.  If you are asking yourself, “What can I do to help this year?”  Number one is to pray.  Pray for Kentucky, pray for the families and communities we are going to be working with, pray for God to work through the CSFers on this trip as we travel.  Number two is to support us financially.  This year it will cost $350 each and for 20 to go it will cost $7000 total.  Each year is an encouragement that God is in control because we always raise enough money to take everyone, including those who sometimes can’t afford it.  Third is to help us is to donate to our supplies drive for the Appalachia Field.  

The website is can be found here, and if you are unsure what we already have then check our Facebook event entitled, “CSF SPRING BREAK 2011!!!!”  We will keep the list up to date as supplies come in.  And lastly, pray.  There is no such thing as too much prayer.  Paul says in Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Here we come Kentucky!!!

• If you would like to make a financial donation please write the check out to Christian Student Fellowship.  If you would like to have it go to a specific CSFer please put a note with your check with the CSFers name on it and NOT on the “Memo” line of the check.

[Written by Katy Riley for the March newsletter]

Spring Break Photos

Photos from our recent Spring Break trip are finally posted on the site now and can be found by clicking this link. The video from the trip is going begin production soon and will be posted later this summer.  Thanks to everyone who supported us to allow this amazing trip to happen!

Spring Break 2010 Recap

We took 20 folks for our 3rd year to Crossroads Missions to assist in New Orleans. We were fired up! Katy Riley and others hung crawfish in CSF and then taped them to the van. JD Evans and Allison Willingham constructed a pot of crawfish to track the support raising and constructed a stained glass ornament in honor of St. Roch Community Church where we worked in the past. Ryan Butler kept track of support and was the catalyst for fasting 24 hours together. Dustin Whitt requested a song from everyone to make a trip CD. Krissy organized a birthday care package for CSF WVU alumni Julie Whiteman who has been working for Crossroads in New Orleans for 2 years. Nick Paden put together a dedicated webpage. Our cast of energizer bunnies consisted of Dustin Whitt driving his truck 2,200 miles with our luggage and Lance Harlan and Nick Paden who also assisted with driving.

While we were there we finished some home improvements, rebuilt fences, worked with the New Orleans Mission, repaired two vehicles and a few items in the Crossroads workshop, and cooked for an outreach picnic for the St. Roch community. We got to see Sandy and Susan Bigelow down there as they visited Julie Whiteman at Crossroads.

Every morning we worship, have group time and individual devotions. We have time with God and the rare experience of living together every day which is very encouraging. This leads to some personal and meaningful conversations. I am forever grateful for folks being real, open, honest, and genuine. Personally, my patience and task oriented nature are put under the fire. I like it!

The trip wasn’t without incident but I am grateful we are safe and folks kept a fantastic attitude given the difficulties. Ryan Butler suffered a broken leg. Others encountered poison, were under the weather when we left or had allergies while we were there. But attitudes and focus remained strong through it all.

The finances worked out beautifully. Some don’t have a church home or many options for support. The alumni and churches that support help make this trip not for those who have the right connections, the most Christians in their family, or who grew up in church – but anyone who wants to serve in the name of Christ. I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to see some of our new faces go on this trip. Thank you for making that possible. The numbers are still being crunched but it looks like roughly $8,000 was provided and that was our goal. Go God!

Ryan Butler had surgery on his broken leg last week. He needs service hours to be accepted into his 5 year teaching program in the next few weeks. That’s looking increasingly difficult in light of his mobility. This is a prayer request!

[from the April 2010 newsletter, which can be downloaded here]