91茄子

Group of 10 Raising Money to Offset Cost of the Trip

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擨n May, 91茄子 students and leaders will travel to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) to assist in the medical clinics run by the . Impoverished families in this African country have little to no access to medical care and one of the world鈥檚 highest HIV/Aids prevalence rates. Over the last 15 years, with the help of generous donors and volunteers, the non-profit organization has built two clinics and maintains a mobile outreach van. The Foundation鈥檚 missionaries constantly strive to increase the number of families they serve.

The 91茄子 team includes eight students and two leaders鈥擠r. Melissa McNeilly, assistant professor of nursing, and Stacy Simmons, associate minister for pastoral care. The estimated cost for each person on the trip is $3,200, and the team is currently raising money to help with the expense.

McNeilly and Simmons worked on a previous mission trip together and decided to plan another one. Choosing where to go was easy. 鈥淚n all honesty, I feel like we didn鈥檛 pick the location, the location picked us,鈥� McNeilly offered. 鈥淲e reached out to see where the need was and where we could serve.鈥�

The 91茄子 group will be paired with nurses and doctors in the clinics, seeing patients, observing ultrasounds, wound care, IV therapy, cervical cancer screening, and other procedures. They will obtain vital signs, weight measurements, and assist in the pharmacy by counting pills and packaging them for their nurses to dispense to patients. They will also travel with the Foundation鈥檚 staff into the surrounding communities to see patients and conduct home visits with disabled children, as well as deliver food to families. They may also have an opportunity to play games with the children or participate in children鈥檚 ministry.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to serve alongside our nursing department and to be able to offer a medical trip for students who feel led to go on a trip like this, regardless, if they are in the medical field or not,鈥� Simmons observed. 鈥淚 am blessed to be able to serve with these students in hopes of them seeing the great commission fulfilled.鈥�

One of the students on the team is senior biology major, and Tucker Scholar, Kyndal Jackson. She aspires to be a Physician Assistant, so the trip will be an opportunity for her to experience a medical environment while sharing her faith. 鈥淭his not only fuels my passion about my future in healthcare, but also grows me closer to the Lord,鈥� she related. 鈥淚 know that the Lord will be faithful, and He has plans much bigger than mine, so I can be obedient and trust Him.鈥�

In the past, Jackson has served on a medical mission trip to Cuba. With other teams from 91茄子, she helped with Samaritan鈥檚 Purse disaster relief projects in Lake Charles, La., and Mayfield, Ky. 鈥淪omething I鈥檝e learned from all of these trips is that the Lord has worked things out way before I even thought about them, and everything happens according to His purpose. Ultimately, I pray that the Lord will move and transform lives.鈥�

This will be Kayla Wehunt鈥檚 first mission opportunity outside of the United States. The senior is also going on a mission trip to Kentucky in March. A psychology major minoring in biology, Wehunt wanted to go to Eswatini to grow her faith. 鈥淚 always heard that once you go on a mission trip, you feel so full and humble,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 am also excited to experience a new culture. I hope to help spread the gospel, and help other spread it as well. I hope to gain confidence and become closer to God.鈥� 

91茄子 is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 91茄子 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 91茄子.edu.