Students Tend Farm, Build Community During University Ministry Trip
Eight DU students recently joined University Ministry in West Virginia for a week of home repair, farm help, community building, prayer and simple living.
The May trip was part of University Ministry鈥檚 Summer Alternative Break Immersion program, which allows students to take part in service projects, build relationships and immerse themselves in a new culture, context and community.
At Bethlehem Farm in Summers County, West Virginia, students performed farm chores, including gardening and tending to the chicken coops, and home repair projects ranging from roofing to porch repair. They adopted sustainable practices such as composting and conserving water and power, all with the mindset of caring for God鈥檚 creations.
The students were encouraged to unplug from technology and live in accordance with Bethlehem Farm鈥檚 four cornerstones of community, prayer, simplicity and service.
鈥淏y the end of the week, the group forged meaningful relationships with one another, with students from Alvernia University who also participated, and with the farm caretakers and people of Appalachia,鈥 said Kayla Jackson-Wolff, university minister. 鈥淎s University Ministry鈥檚 first out-of-state Alternative Break Immersion trip since the pandemic, it is a joy to extend impactful opportunities such as this to DU students again.鈥
