March 31, 2003

ETBU students build and serve in Laredo
___LAREDO--A group of East Texas Baptist University students found plenty of sand and sun on spring break, but not in the same places most often associated with the college holiday.

ETBU student David Rodrigez works on the inside of a dormitory that will house 85 students who will continue to do ministry in the Laredo area. ETBU students performed a variety of service projects over spring break.

___Twenty-five ETBU students, working through the Baptist Student Ministry, traveled to Laredo, where they worked with Habitat for Humanity to build a park in the Riverhill subdivision and renovate homes of low-income residents.
___The park, designed by students in the Texas A&M architectural program, sits on a half-acre site owned by Habitat for Humanity and offers a sweeping view of Northern Mexico.
___"I don't think I have ever worked as hard as I did in Laredo," said ETBU student Lindsey Youzva. "It was so neat to see God provide and to see that the people who are working to reach the people of Laredo and in Mexico have such awesome faith. It was definitely one of the most rewarding times of my life."
___Explained BSM Director Allan Thompson: "We want to do something that lasts beyond us. I want my students to be affected as much as the people we help."
___This was the fifth consecutive year for ETBU to work with Habitat for Humanity during spring break. Students previously have traveled to Alabama, Chicago, Florida and Mississippi.
___After the volunteers fought through strenuous labor and burning sunshine, they worked in a medical clinic and distributed evangelistic pamphlets.
___"We were greeted by everyone as if we were a famous group; that's the appreciation we experienced," said senior Daisy Burmea. "Perhaps everyone can agree with me by saying that our preconceived notions of Laredo and Mexico were constantly being refined and redefined as God chiseled our stereotypical human approach toward the trip."
___

The Baptist Standard



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