Go. Serve. Transform.

Takoma Park, MD (June 8, 2018) Washington Adventist University is committed to transforming lives in our local community and around the world. On May 11, a group consisting of students, faculty, and staff traveled to the Philippines to assist the municipality of Murcia in the city of Bacolod.

The agenda began with meeting local officials to obtain the necessary permissions. Once obtained, the group of nine spent two weeks, providing health screenings which included checking the blood pressure, body mass index, glucose levels and vision of 988 individuals while offering CPR training and teaching proper hand and oral hygiene to over 200 participants. A total of 343 toothbrushes along with toothpaste and soft pics were handed out.  In addition 440 reading glasses and an additional 184 eye care supplies were distributed.

A typical day during this mission trip began with mornings dedicated to campus projects.  Thanks to 100 gallons of paint and the ingenuity of local volunteers who prepared scaffolding made of bamboo, the missionary group painted the Central Philippines Adventist University School of Business and then started on the men’s dorm.  The afternoons were dedicated to community projects such as worship services and Vacation Bible School (VBS) where, for five days, they hosted 315 children who received gifts of various toys and jump ropes upon completion of the program.

Chaplain Sigue shared this devotional thought from St. Teresa of Calcutta with his team: “Once we take our eyes away from ourselves, from our own interests, from our own rights, privileges, ambitions – then they will become clear to see Jesus around us.”

Our next mission group leaves on Monday, June 11. A team of students will be heading south to Honduras for two weeks as missionaries. 

Washington Adventist University is Montgomery County’s only four-year private college. Part of the Seventh-day Adventist system of higher education, Washington Adventist University has been educating college students since 1904 on a 19-acre campus in suburban Takoma Park, close to the nation’s capital. Approximately 1,100 students of all faiths participate in the university’s nine graduate and 42 undergraduate programs. The 2017 edition of U.S. News & World Report ranked Washington Adventist University among the best regional colleges in the north.

 

Media Contacts

Emeraude Victorin, 301-576-0193, news@wau.edu