Campus Lifeline

What's Happening At Western
Carolina University - Cullowhee!

A Campus Mission Message to Presbyterians
In Western North Carolina Presbytery

On May 10th, twelve of us including eight students and four Elders (2 on the Session) traveled to the home of one of our students who lives southwest of Atlanta, where we spent a short evening, and began stirring at 3:30 AM to catch our 6 AM flight to Miami and then on to Managua, Nicaragua. While a little hectic, it was a good trip and we arrived in good spirits glad to see some old Nicaraguan friends who were assigned to meet us. We rested a short time, and then went on a tour of Managua.

The next morning we piled into the Vida Joven (Young Life) bus and bounced our way to Matagalpa in the mountains north of Managua. There we were paired up and spent the next 48 hours (two nights) with Christian Nicaraguan families. This was fun for some and quite a culture shock for others. Some who thought they knew Spanish forgot everything and others who knew some found what they had learned coming back to them. It was the one activity everyone agreed was the must do activity as it immersed us quickly into the life and flow of the people there. We toured the city on foot, visited businesses, sat with families trying to figure a way to communicate, used outhouses, figured out how to wash hair—well most of us, laughed a lot and cried some. It was very encouraging to the people themselves for us to spend time with them in this way.

Then it was up into the high mountains where the Vida Joven Conference Center/Coffee plantation and farm is. The air was cooler, and we spent the next several days doing physical development and maintenance of the facilities. Nicaraguan Vida Joven leaders and the club kids were there to work with us too as we tried to communicate with one another about our families, homes, work, and interests. We visited a club meeting in Jinotega one evening (We had visited a club in Matagalpa, too).

Finally, all too soon, it was time to head down the mountain and to Managua and the return trip—while taking time to do some touring by going to Granada. All concluded the trip was well worth, and that if possible it should be longer next time.

With student work at WCU, the time from May to August (the time I write this) is something of a lull time. It is a time of re-focusing, planning, laying out the calendar for the school year, lining up programs, and other leadership responsibilities. Students arrive for a new season on the third weekend of August. During this time we also get out a mailing or two to incoming freshmen who have indicated some interest in our campus ministry.

The last week in August as students arrive, the leadership team, returning members of By The Gate (Our Presbyterian Student Fellowship) will be seeking to meet new students especially the freshmen. We will have cookouts, pizza nights, probably go on a tubing trip plus a few other more spontaneous activities. Through the semester we will serve in the community, play and especially focus upon our Tuesday Night meetings when we meet for dinner, recreation, worship and program. Cullowhee Presbyterian, our base, enjoys including the students in on all of its activities including worship, choir, Sunday School, Family Night Suppers. Please pray that we be able to meet the spiritual needs of the students as they adjust to university life.

Sam Hale
Presbyterian Campus Minister
Presby@wcu.edu
828 293 5523