Valentine’s Day with the Flamingos

Posted on February 25, 2015 by karenrudolph

By Marisela Martin

To be honest, Valentine’s Day in college can definitely leave you feeling lonely if you don’t have that special someone or someones to spend it with. So this year I decided to take a proactive stance! I decided that I wanted to do something for someone else, instead of just focus on how lonely Valentine’s Day can be.

The co-ed service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega hosted a service project at the Cameron Park Zoo here in Waco. I had visited the zoo once before as part of an Environmental Class Lab, but nothing would have prepared me for what this service project would have entailed.

When we arrived, the coordinators told us that our options would include “dirty, dirtier or dirtiest,” work. That was definitely true. I volunteered to go with a group that would work with flamingos. Little did I know that I would be volunteering to clean out the flamingo habitat! From sweeping up leaves and mud to standing in muddy water to clean the drain. Leaving with soaked shoes and muddy clothes, my Valentine’s morning was one to remember!

But all the sweat and mess was worth it! The flamingos got to enjoy a clean area and I even was able to pet one – they are very soft birds. Needless to say, there is newfound respect for zoo caretakers; they are real heroes in ensuring that everyone can successfully enjoy the zoo! So next time you find yourself in Waco, definitely visit Cameron Park Zoo!

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to take photos but here’s a link so you can check out more: http://www.cameronparkzoo.com/

Until next time, Sic’ Em!

La República Dominicana

Posted on January 26, 2015 by hank_dehay

By Emily Martin

Over this past Christmas break I had the most amazing experience of my life… I was able to join my college group from my hometown (Round Rock) on an incredible mission trip with Makarios, a Christian organization in the Dominican Republic. While this trip was a great spiritual boost after a long and hard semester at Baylor, Missions2 it also opened my eyes. Going into my fall semester of sophomore year, I had my mindset on going into health care administration after college. However, when I came back from this trip I suddenly realized that I had so many other options for my life after graduation.

I think this mission trip also re-opened my eyes to what the world has to offer. Growing up in Singapore allowed my family to visit many third-world countries, and to volunteer with many great organizations overseas. My family always went on “service” trips where we would bring medical and school supplies, or we would help to build houses or schools. I had never been on a “mission” trip before, but experiencing that in the DR was such an awesome experience! Seeing how different cultures worshiped the same God left me awestruck and in amazement of how great our God is! I always knew that other cultures had Christianity, but I had never really grasped the idea that they worshiped with some of the same songs that we do, or that their faith looked pretty much the same way mine did. Heck, they probably loved God even more than we do just because their lives lead them to lean on the Lord in ways we would never need to!

I tell you this to encourage you to go on a mission trip, or even just to travel or study abroad as much as you can while at Baylor. Seeing other countries and cultures can help you to better appreciate people that are different from you. It may even strengthen your faith to see how other cultures worship the same God as you!

I had my heart set on the only thing I really knew about; but after going out of the country it made me realize there are so many other options at Baylor that I hadn’t even considered before! If you know what you want to do with your life that’s awesome, go for it! But, if you are like me and are still unsure of what the future holds for you try to seek guidance from your advisors or even from older Baylor students. You should try and explore everything this amazing school has to offer and take advantage of trying out different courses to see what you like!

If you would like to know more about Baylor Missions check them out here!

Sic ’em missions! Missions1

Finding a Place to Serve

Posted on November 7, 2014 by alicroom

By Derek Byrne

Without a doubt, Baylor holds itself to high academic standards. Courses here are challenging and offer students outstanding educational opportunities. However, some of the best chances to learn can be found outside the classroom. I’m continually learning what it means to serve people and communities during my time at Baylor.

Meeting community needs and serving effectively can be complex issues, and educating yourself on what it means to serve is an ongoing process. Even so, there are a few concepts I’ve learned during my time in college that are now foundational to my perspective on service.

Serving is a powerful learning tool. The university and its various departments offer numerous opportunities to combine your studies in the classroom and the greater needs of the community in a practical way. It could be on a discipline-specific mission trip, a class project that utilizes a partnership with a local nonprofit or a discussion on service and learning hosted on campus. During your time here, you’ll have plenty of chances to discover how your field of study can contribute to the greater good of society.

There’s a place for each of us to serve. Service can be motivated by other interests and passions. At Baylor and in Waco, there are chances to serve in nearly any field imaginable. If you love working with kids, you can tutor children after school. Have a green thumb? There’s a community garden for you. For me, working with people who have special needs is a huge source of joy. Since freshman year, I’ve had the chance to work with Baylor Urban Missions’ special needs ministry. I get to do what I love with people I love, and that’s what service can be. Finding passion in what you’re doing is so valuable, and there are plenty of chances to do that at Baylor. Below is a video of Urban Missions’ Fall Ball Masquerade from last October. This was a great way to give back to the special needs community while also having a lot of fun!

Service is bigger than me. Easily the most valuable thing I’ve learned through my time serving at Baylor is that service is not about me. In fact, it’s not about any one person. Serving is about moving communities forward and improving lives. Service organizations and events on campus offer chances for reflection and discussion. They create places where students can consider the work they are doing and how it fits into the bigger picture of benefitting communities.

20131001_163353

Baylor is a university that is uniquely committed to service and located in a city that offers unparalleled opportunities for service-oriented partnerships. Don’t miss the chance to study the world around you by finding a place to serve during your college years.

Proverbs in Action

Posted on October 27, 2014 by alicroom

By Jaziah Masters

Around this time of year, many in our Baylor student body make their way south to go to the legendary Austin City Limits Music Festival. I’m told it is a wonderful experience for all. But this weekend, I found myself in Austin for a very different reason.

Because I serve as a Peer Leader with the Office of Community Engagement & Service, I was given the opportunity to travel to Austin to participate in the No Need Among You Conference (NNYC). I had no idea that I was about to have an experience unlike any other in my collegiate career. Unlike every other conference I’ve attended, the NNYC revolved around the idea of service. During the weekend, we were shown how to become better service leaders, we became aware of the issues facing America and the world and we met some wonderfully inspiring people, all while being surrounded by a warm and nurturing Christian community.

This year, the Conference was held in East Austin at Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church. East Austin itself is a very beautiful and unique neighborhood (In fact, it reminds me a lot of Waco). When we arrived at the Conference, we all were presented with various workshops to go to. In the main room, there stood a big banner to remind us all why we were here. It read, “’Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.’ Proverbs 31:9.” Some of the workshops I got to attend were: “To Serve This Present Age,” “The Church’s Active Response to the Growing Phenomena of the Sex Industry” and “How to Dialogue to Bring About Racial Reconciliation.” All of the sessions were led by passionate and informed leaders in regards to their issues. We were shown ways that we could assist in their endeavors and given information we could take back with us.

Overall, the Conference was a wonderful opportunity to grow in so many ways: my faith, my local, national and global awareness, my leadership capabilities and myself as a person. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity. It is something so special about being able to sit with likeminded people from all walks of life and work toward a higher, yet common purpose. I would strongly encourage everyone to go next year, so please mark your calendars – October 14-16, 2015!

From Baylor, to Peru and Back!

Posted on April 15, 2014 by alicroom

By Avery Jackson

I just got back from spending a little more than a week in Peru (Yes, the country in South America!). I can honestly say that it was one of the most meaningful things I have ever gotten to do! I went with the organization Kids Alive International to see what they have been doing to help the people in Peru, specifically the children and the mothers. While there, I spent time in several different types of climates and atmospheres, including Lima (the coast), Pulcallpa (the jungle), Cuzco and Machu Picchu (the mountains) and Manchay (the dessert).

I was able to see several of the projects there, including the Oasis Care Center, the Juniper Tree Children’s Home and The Pulcallpa Care Center. I did not need to raise money to go to Peru, but I was asked to bring items for classrooms and homes like sleeping bags, colored pencils, etc. I decided to put my public relations major to good use and ask companies here in Waco for donations! In less than five days, I had donations of school supplies and sports equipment from OfficeMax, Crop-Paper-Scissors, Wal-Mart and Baylor too!

I ended up taking two crammed packed suitcases and a backpack filled to the brim with all of the supplies including: 9 sports balls, more than 1,000 pencils, 87 boxes of crayons, 150 glue sticks and much more!

I am following up with my donors by writing them a thank you letter and photos from my trip! I even got the kids to hold up thank you signs to give to each of my donors as well!

I loved being able to use my major to do impactful things for others.What a great experience!

SB2014. No Regrets.

Posted on March 25, 2014 by alicroom

By Patara Williams

YEEESSSS!! SB2014. #NOREGRETS.

Does this sound familiar? If not to you, it definitely does to me. It seems like everyone had the biggest and baddest events planned for their 2014 Spring Break.

In this facet…I’m just like everyone else.

In my mind, I had the greatest plan of all. It topped everyone else’s. While they were sailing on cruises, walking the beaches and flying from country to country, I was planning on being in Waco, Texas…in my bed.

What? Ten weeks of class is exhausting. What’s wrong with a little sleep…seven consecutive days worth of sleep?

Zzzzzz. Period.

But, at the last minute, I decided to maximize my week to its greatest capacity. I realized that I was looking out for my own interests and in the end the only person who could possibly benefit from 168 hours of sleep was Patara. So, I decided to call up my College Pastor and dedicate time to an awesome event called Catalyst.

In this facet…I was quite a bit different from everyone else.

What is Catalyst?

An annual Spring Break outreach/missions opportunity targeted at one of the oldest and most impoverished housing units in the city of Waco
An opportunity for children to experience the love of Jesus and partake in fun daily activities for an entire week
A wonderful blessing – every day kids were provided free meals (more than 60 percent of Waco children are on free/reduced lunch programs and rarely have food when they arrive home…could you imagine being out of school for an entire week?)

So…in essence, it’s very similar to what we know as VBS…on steroids.

What did this mean for me?

Surrendering myself in lieu of the interests of others
Bonding with children…not my forte…AT ALL
Giving up my 168 hours of sleep
Running around in the hot sun for 5+ hours a day
Getting injured anytime I tried to put together a gazebo

What did it mean for the Kingdom?

Sowing into the lives of children
Anointing homes with the love of the Lord
Bringing hope to the hopeless
Bringing joy to the broken
Pleasing my Father

The Lesson

Maximize the time that you’re given on this earth. Use any and every opportunity you can to love on your neighbor. In the end, your reward will be the greatest.

SB2K14. No Regrets.

Chasing Children

Chocolate Milk + Face Paint = Cuteness!

Being Christian at Baylor

Posted on March 10, 2014 by alicroom

By Shannon Sandridge

Baylor is a great place to be a Christian. Though certainly not everyone here is a Baptist or a Christian, the university has done a great job creating an environment which fosters spiritual growth.

With chapel and all the events put on by the Spiritual Life Center, there are plenty of avenues to ensure that you keep God in your life, even though you’re away from your home church. We’ve had a variety of worship bands come play during chapel, including one from Cuba, a gospel choir of professors and, my personal favorite, a more modern band called All Sons and Daughters.

Every week, my friends and I eat at Penland after church.

There are also plenty of opportunities for service through the university. I have friends who read to kids, eat breakfast with the homeless and teach “English as a Second Language” classes on a weekly basis. You are also given opportunities to serve abroad. For example, there are mission trips with professors that provide medical care and teach English in third world countries.

I love that I go to a university which provides so many chances to serve my community and the globe, but even more than that, I love that I am surrounded by so many students who are eager to serve. Many of my friends who are pre-med plan to do missionary work part-time, if not for their whole career. I also have friends who want to teach in underprivileged schools and who want to go into ministry.

Thousands of young people chose to spend Valentine’s Day weekend growing closer to God at the Passion conference, including many Baylor students!

Being surrounded by such people is really enriching. It isn’t uncommon or awkward to talk about faith; even those who aren’t Christian are open to discussion. I’ve learned a lot about my faith and been challenged by my peers in the best way possible. During particularly difficult weeks, some friends and I have worship nights in the chapel in our dorm to relieve some stress.

It’s typical small talk to ask what churches someone has visited. I ran into so many fellow Baylor students over Valentine’s weekend at the Passion conference; Baylor actually had the second most students there (we beat UT)! With so many incredible peers and such great opportunities to express my faith, I love being a Christian at Baylor.

Gone Fishin’

Posted on February 12, 2014 by alicroom

By Emily Woodby

As I’ve said before, Baylor is awesome for many reasons, including its commitment to service. As students, we are told to make a difference in our new community and give back to our surroundings. This is a big factor in all clubs on campus and definitely a big part of Greek life.

This past weekend was Kappa Omega Tau’s Fishery event. They rent out the fair grounds and host a carnival of sorts for the special needs community of Waco. Members of all of the sororities and other clubs come to help with booths and hang out with all of the visitors.

My friend’s name was Laura, and she was an absolute joy to be around. It was so great to be reminded of the difference we can make in people’s lives, even if it’s just hanging out with them for a day. I especially enjoyed the day because it was a chance to get to know my new member class on a deeper level – something about community service naturally brings people together. Overall, Fishery was a great success and an amazing thing to be a part of!

Answering the Call…or putting it on Silent.

Posted on February 12, 2014 by alicroom

By Patara Williams

A wise man once told me, “If you ever have the opportunity to serve on a committee….run!”

Welp…I didn’t heed his advice, and I turned out fine…I think.

He was indeed wise, for a man filled with fear.

Another wise man once said, “True nobility is exempt from fear.” This, my friends is truth if I’ve ever heard it; and, it’s Cicero.

What if Moses ran, what if Martin Luther King Jr. ran, what if Jonah ran?!…well, he was a special case.

I’m not here to tell you to disobey the wise. I’m merely here to say ponder the advice you’re given.

You are entering the most critical phase of your life. Your perceptions are about to be shaped by your experiences and your own personal outlook.

Not Mom’s
Not Dad’s
Not Bob’s
Not Memaw’s
And Not Professor X’s

So, how does this help you thrive in college?

It challenges you to think about your circumstances and problems intentionally and thoroughly.

Realize this:

You may be part of a team
You may be the leader of said team

Either way, your voice is necessary.

Don’t silence yourself.

Silence is deadly
Save an idea

By silencing yourself, you kill the potentially pivotal input that lives within you.

It is also highly likely that someone is thinking something similar

Be courageous.

Be prepared to risk your own comfort in lieu of the greater good
What if we laid ourselves down and stepped into the unknown on Faith…alone

My charge to you in your upcoming journey as a college student:

Sacrifice your comfort zones. It’ll take you far, maybe even to the highest ranks…like the head of a committee.

Student Foundation Steering Committee 2014

Make A Difference

Posted on November 15, 2013 by alicroom

By Valonia Walker

When I was five years old my father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a chronic and disabling disease that affects the central nervous system. The symptoms can vary from person to person, and the disease is unpredictable. Multiple Sclerosis affects not only my dad but my mother and I as well. Our lives were forever changed.

Even though I have known about MS my whole life, many people have no idea what it is. When I was a freshman here, one of my favorite teachers from high school was diagnosed with MS. This is when I thought that I needed to make a difference and get involved with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I researched ways that I could get involved and found out that Waco has a MS Walk every year in downtown Waco.

2012 MS WALK with Gabby Rojas, Alexis Cubit, Me, Kiley Davis and Lexus Bibl

My sophomore year, I made the decision to get out of my comfort zone and make a difference. I signed up as a team leader for the MS Walk and recruited my roommates and friends at Baylor to walk with me. My team (the T’s Walkers) and I raised more than $1,000 in about three weeks for MS research and awareness. The next year, my team and I walked again and raised about $2,000. This year, friends from different organizations like African Student Association, Baylor ABS and Baylor Impact reached out to me so that they could also get involved. Since I was the only person from Baylor involved in the walk each year, it was important to me to get other Baylor students involved.

2013 MS WALK with Alexis Cubit, Holly Tucker, Me and Kimbrea Bruno

This year was my last time doing the MS Walk here in Waco, and it was so great to walk with my team for one last time. Doing this with my friends each year was so much fun, and I am so blessed to have their support. Even though I was nervous to get out of my comfort zone and do something like this, I am so glad I did. I have learned so much and have become an advocate for MS awareness.

T’s Walkers with Baylor Impact members

Multiple Sclerosis awareness is something that I am very passionate about. Doing the walk each year and fundraising for research is important because I feel like I am helping families around the world like mine. If there is something you are passionate about, chase it and see how you can get others involved. Don’t be afraid to step out of the Baylor bubble because there is so much more out there.

Baylor Admissions

Who you will become, begins here.

Tag Archives: Service