By Darla Martin Tucker

This summer, La Sierra University’s largest group ever of long-term student missionaries will fly to countries around the globe to teach, preach and help others. In all, 24 students will spend next school year in various nations including Malawi and Korea.

The number of students embarking on next year’s adventures is nearly double the 15 students who served overseas last school year. The students’ work will range from teaching elementary school and English language classes to working in orphanages and medical clinics.

Another 14 students will join teams for short-term mission trips ranging from three weeks to two months. The student teams will help clean hospitals in Malawi, volunteer in a Costa Rican orphanage, participate in an evangelistic campaign in Valenzuela and perform medical ministries in Egyptian refugee camps. Additional students are needed to complete the teams of about 10 students each, said Linda Biswas, missions director.

Students embarking on long-term missions will leave at different times throughout the summer and return next May and June.

Long-term missionary and senior Global Studies major, Evelyn Moore, will teach English and Bible for the Seventh-day Adventist Language Institute of Korea headquartered in Seoul. She will not know her exact destination in Korea until she arrives sometime this winter. The institute has schools around the country.

In Korea, Moore will share an apartment with other missionaries and walk to her job from which she will derive a monthly stipend. She will teach English to whoever desires to learn the language. Adults will learn English for conversations or business interactions. Children will learn the language by singing songs and playing games.

Moore has one primary concern pertaining to the months-long Korean experience. “I’m worried only that I will be away from my family for so long,” she said. “That will be difficult. But at the same time, I’m generally a pretty open person and I love to get to know new people so I know God will give me a pseudo family to take those fears away.”

The venture will be Moore’s second consecutive mission trip. She will leave for Korea following a short-term summer mission trip to Costa Rica where she will work in an orphanage. The trip to Korea will cost Moore $3,000 for airfare and the Costa Rica trip totals $2,000.

The university’s Missions office raised money to help offset students’ expenses through Jamba Juice coupon sales on May 22, a car wash on May 23 and during the Festival of Nations held on April 20. The students also wrote fund-raising letters to family members and friends.

Campus Chaplain Sam Leonor said during a May 22 student missionary dedication service that Biswas was largely responsible for the upswing in the number of students interested in year-long missions.

“One of the reasons we are having the largest group of missionaries dedicated is because of the work Linda Biswas has done,” Leonor said during the event, bringing her on stage.

The May 22 university worship and missionary consecration commenced the university’s Missions Dedication Weekend. The worship service began with the recognition of Dr. John Jones, associate professor of New Testament studies and world religions in the School of Religion, and Anita Oliver, chair of the department of curriculum and instruction in the School of Education. Missions staff presented the duo with ‘Missions’ t-shirts to thank them for their help in preparing missionary students to teach others.

During the service, staff and students presented a short skit focused on three missionaries who served others during different periods of earth’s history. They dressed as the apostle Paul, a missionary to the early church, and Mother Teresa, Catholic missionary to the poor, ill and homeless. Stahl Center Director Charles Teel, dressed in safari jacket and broad-brimmed hat depicted Fernando Stahl, Seventh-day Adventist missionary and humanitarian in the Peruvian highlands.

The university’s Missions Friday Night Service on May 23 featured Kendra Haloviak, assistant professor of New Testament studies speaking on the topic “Don’t Forget to Fish.” And during the 10:50 a.m. Sabbath service, a prayer of dedication was held for the student missionaries.

PR Contact: Larry Becker
Executive Director of University Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
951.785.2460 (voice)