September 24, 2001
Columbian Connection makes Texas a training ground
___By Kayla Dobbins
___Highland Lakes Conference Center
___A "Colombian connection" linked 21 Central American university students with seven Texas Baptist camps this summer, providing opportunities both for scholarships and cross-cultural Christian service.
___The students from Christian University of San Andres helped work their way through school by serving at Alto Frio Baptist Camp, Chaparral Baptist Assembly, Circle Six Ranch Baptist Camp, Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment, Highland Lakes Camp and Conference Center, Latham Springs Baptist Camp and Riverbend Retreat Center.
ERNESTO, a Columbian student, works in a camp kitchen.
___Seven of these students served in similar roles last summer as well. The Texas Baptist Camp Manager Association launched the "Colombian Connection" program in 2000. Participating camps provide $3,000 for each student. This money funds airfare, living expenses for the summer and scholarships at the university.
___"The Highland Lakes summer missions program has for two years proven to be a life-changing experience for college students," said Highland Lakes Camp and Conference Center Executive Director Danny Dawdy.
___Woman's Missionary Union of Texas has joined in the project, and even more Colombian students are expected to come and serve next year.
___Christian University of San Andres has a strong Texas connection. The university was founded by former Texas Baptist pastor George May, a native of San Andres Island. May attended Wayland Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as pastor of churches in Ohio and Texas before returning to San Andres Island.
___Along with the rewards of their service, the Colombian students also encountered complications and hardships. Cultural differences, travel distance, worship music styles and food were among the biggest adjustments.
___Since it would only require one hour to travel all the way around the island of San Andres, the distances between places in Texas came as a surprise to the students.
___They also were homesick and had to adjust to different foods and cooking styles.
___"We don't just put (food) into the microwave and heat it," explained Rachael Hawkins, who served at Alto Frio. "It's always fresh."
___The students faced minor difficulties in communication, usually arising from American slang and local usage of words. Also, American fashion caught the attention of the Colombian students.
___However, in the eyes of the Colombian students, opportunities in America are abundant, from the opportunity for most Americans to attend a university to opportunities for Christian ministry in summer camps.
___In San Andres, there is only one small summer camp that would provide an opportunity for ministry. The staff is small, and the campers are required to do many things for themselves, including their own cooking and cleaning.
___"They are not able to focus only on God," explained Dianny Kirchmen, who also worked at Alto Frio.
___Despite the abundance of opportunities and ministries witnessed in Texas, the Colombians remained puzzled about several American ways.
___One of those is the wastefulness they saw everywhere. Food is not as plentiful in Columbia as it is in America. "It pains our hearts to see all of the food you throw away," said Erica Quejada.
___The students were amused, however, by the young age at which many Americans get married. "They marry too quickly," said Layla Word, who served at Latham Springs. "The boys are not mature enough yet."
___
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