OCU students serve near, far during Spring Break
Wesley Center helps inner-city mission Dallas was the destination in March for the annual Spring Break mission trip sponsored by the Wesley Center, the United Methodist campus ministry at Oklahoma City University. OCU students joined with Connect to the Kingdom (C2K), an inner-city mission and retreat center based at Tyler Street UMC in a transitional neighborhood in Dallas. The team helped paint a woman’s house, cleaned out a storage area at an HIV/AIDS hospice, worked in a community garden, organized books for Dallas’ Project Transformation, and helped Tyler Street Church prepare its Easter celebrations for children. While in Dallas, they toured the campus of Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. During their devotional times, many voiced how they noticed every seemingly small act was valued. Eight people spent two hours sorting books, freeing the Project Transformation staff for direct ministry with children. The group was treated to a dinner by Dennis and Cheree Jeter. Dennis (OCU Class of 1957) and Cheree are longtime university supporters and host every OCU group, from athletic teams to mission teams, that travels to Dallas. A few weeks after the dinner, the Jeters were on campus for a dedication at the nursing school. Since it was Thursday, the couple also attended OCU’s weekly chapel service and reunited with members of the March mission team. School of Nursing team meets needs in Honduras A team of 25 people from OCU’s Kramer School of Nursing traveled to Honduras during Spring Break for a medical mission. The team helped examine and treat 530 patients, ages 3 months to 92 years. Health issues included parasite infestation, malnutrition, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, and dementia. In the clinics, student nurses were paired with registered nurses, providing primary care and health counseling. The team included Hispanic nurses and translators. Clint Keller, a senior in OCU’s Wimberly School of Religion, led inspirational devotionals throughout the week. The team visited the Pan American Health orphanage and preschools for marginalized children, and the volunteers helped build a retaining wall for a church. Students also learned about conservation and political advocacy efforts initiated by local citizens, and they attended worship at a church. |
