Change Day, a campus-wide community service event, took place on Sept. 10, opening up opportunities for the students to help the community around them in various ways, such as weeding gardens or preparing care packages. During this event, students demonstrated the spirit of God by lending their aid to others in need across 51 service sites in the communities surrounding Berrien Springs.
Eliora Bade (senior, speech-language pathology) volunteered with Advent Health to make care packages for mothers who had recently experienced miscarriages. Bade spoke with fondness of the experience. “I really enjoyed that we were all able to work together to make something meaningful for the mothers,” she said. “I believe [they] will appreciate the care packages because they show them that someone is thinking about them and cares about what they are going through. Even though it may seem like a small gesture, I think it can mean a lot to someone during a difficult time.”
Thelma Rateiwa (senior, speech-language pathology), who also volunteered with Advent Health, initially participated in Change Day to spend time with friends. “ I actually wanted to do something more outside and active,” she said, “But as soon as I started, I had no regrets and all those doubts disappeared. I felt as though I made a more heartfelt impact here.” She spoke about how the service project helped her to reflect on how unpredictable and uncertain miscarriages are, letting her see the blessing it is to be able to bear a child.
She believed that the impact her group left on that day was allowing the mothers and their families to be seen, saying, “Yes, they are going through this, but God is still there and will help them go through their loss.” Bade added, “It reminded me of the importance of showing people compassion and letting them know that they are not alone.” Showing how important this day is through the empathy and understanding of others.
For Rateiwa, Change Day is important because it allows students to serve through mission.“As a Christian institution, we follow Christ’s example, and His main mission was to serve. As world changers, we are to make an impact in people’s lives daily and even dedicate a whole day to that.”
Aldrich Mongkau (graduate student, speech-language pathology) who volunteered at the Sarett Nature Center cutting down invasive plants such as the honeysuckle, said that he “felt like it was really nice to help the community.” He said the caretakers at the Sarett Nature Center did not have many volunteers for the work that had to be done. Which is why, to him, it felt good to help them with such a heavy task. Mongkau also felt that the event didn’t only help the community, but the campus itself, stating that Change Day, “brings people together and connects people.”
Many students feel that Change Day is an important aspect of the campus community, and an opportunity to show the spirit of God to others and have His spirit revealed to you. By fostering empathy, it highlights applications that can be applied to any situation across any career and in any lifetime. Yet by helping the physical needs of others in the community, it is also what fulfills the spiritual needs of faith and your relationship with God.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 星空无限传媒. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 星空无限传媒 or the Seventh-day Adventist church.