While most students go home or on vacation over spring break, four teams of students from Biola University’s Student Missionary Union (SMU) devoted their time to serve local communities. The four different teams shared their reflections and stories about the trips during a “Cookies and Conversation” event hosted in late March.

Team Sacramento

Team Sacramento was co-led by senior Elizabeth Canales-Rathbun and sophomore Joe Lee. The team focused on working with City of Refuge and the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services where they worked with inner city youth and served behind the scenes to provide necessities for impoverished families. The team also served at an event for a women’s continuation school where they helped students complete their GED. Through this event, they were able to foster relationships and demonstrate love to these students.

“In recapping my experience, I would say that the trip was a time of humbling myself to understand what the Gospel means to local missions,” said Canales-Rathbun. “It was eye opening to understand that there is no mold for mission trips and it magnifies the great glory that God has in accomplishing His will in His way.”

Team North San Francisco

Team North San Francisco was co-led by senior Thomas Madain and sophomore Lauren McLeod. For this trip, the team worked with the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) homeless ministry and also shared the gospel message at University of California Berkeley. Part of their trip involved serving at the YWAM Ellis room where free haircuts and necessities are provided for the community. The team had the opportunity to talk with a diverse group of people, hear their stories and share the gospel.

McLeod shares one key takeaway from the experience.

“The more we sit with people, the more they unveil their shame and their self,” said McLeod.

Team West San Francisco

Team West San Francisco was co-led by senior Emily Pearce and sophomore Erick De la Pena. The team worked closely with the San Francisco City Impact where they went door-to-door to deliver necessities to impoverished homes and served in food kitchens. Pearce talked about the responses received as a result of this act of service. She was thankful for the opportunities to hear people’s stories and engage in enriching conversations with this community.

“We simply showed the love of Jesus to the people in San Francisco and showed them the tangible love of God,” said Pearce.

Team San Diego

Team San Diego was co-led by junior Ellie Gundlach and sophomore Meagan Chung. The team worked with Steps of Justice, Bridge of Hope and Father Joe's Villages during this week. Another part of the trip focused on serving at Chicano park where they engaged with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students.

Team leader Gundlach summarizes their experience.

“There are people all around us who have never heard the Good News of Jesus,” said Gundlach. “In San Diego we met many refugees from various countries — Syria, Pakistan, Ethiopia, etc. We see now that God has such a strong call for refugee ministry.”

The Biola Student Missionary Union (SMU) is the largest student-led missions organization in the United States. Since 1923, SMU has grown from a small group of students passionate about missions to an organization that aims to be a resource for Biola undergraduate students to participate in the Great Commission.

Visit Student Missionary Union for more information.

Written by Alisa Ohara, media relations intern. For more information, contact Media Relations at media.relations@biola.edu.