Service, Missions, Leadership

4. What was the most profound learning experience for you?

Summer: Every session was eye-opening.  There are so many different voices and this trip taught me about respect and just having an open mind.

Amber: My favorite sessions were the ones that incorporated women who told their stories. The most important thing I learned was to keep an open mind when listening to others. You won't learn everything if you sit down prepared to accept nothing another person says. Many of the sessions encouraged me to think about the things that I'm doing or should be doing and how they would help other women. My favorite sessions were on the use of rape in conflict situations and the effects of pornography in our culture. They were pretty much amazing.

5. Do you plan on using what you learned to change the world? If so, what did you learn and how?

Summer: I know what I learned has already changed my world.  My eyes and mind have been opened by this experience, and it continues to influence choices I am making. 

Amber: The group that coordinated one of the sessions that I attended stressed the importance of education to further women's rights and I've got to agree. I think the most important thing I can do with what I learned is to teach the women around me about what is going on in the world. Awareness of the issues facing women today is the first step to action that will change situations - whether that is by informing women of their rights or telling others about injustices around the globe.

I think it is safe to say that this experience was life changing for all of the students involved. So much time, preparation, and prayer went into this experience. It's awesome to know that for these two students their hard work paid off. I believe that this trip will benefit these students for years to come. They have taken a step toward broadening their minds towards helping others and making an impact on the world. Like Amber said, "Awareness...is the first step to action that will change situations." I am glad that Judson provides a way for us to see and react to the change that needs to be made in the world.

WELL, if you visit http://www.un.org/ and click on the Commission on the Status of Women link you will read about the awesome conference that four Judson girls will attend next week.

Every year Susan Jones with Faith Based Service Learning takes Judson students to New York City to visit the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women. They sit it on conferences about the suppression or advancement of women's equality and rights in different countries for five days at the United Nations Headquarters! How exciting! To go, Susan sends out applications in early fall with questions about why you want to go and what do you know about the status of women? Judson students submit their applications.  After they are reviewed, the attendees are chosen. It's usually seniority rules on this process. With this said, I hope I get to go next year. :) The students that are going this year are: Summer Jones, Tonya Morgan, Cat Popp, and Ashley Wigley. 

I asked Summer Jones and Tonya Morgan some questions about how they feel about the trip, how they raised money for the trip, and what they expect out of the trip:

 1. What is your motivation for going to the UN?

Tonya: My trip last year was amazing. I learned about things I had never heard of, and had the opportunity to meet real people in real situations - those situations I had only seen on the tv before. Because that experience was so fantastic, I knew I have to go again this year.

Summer: Well, every year this trip is available and as a freshman I first became interested.  When my big sister, Tonya, went last year and came back she told me all about it.  My interest and motivation to apply for this year grew.  The rights of women have always interested me.  In choosing Judson, the female college was one of the greatest aspects.  I feel as a woman it is our duty to know what women are going through around the world.  I am hoping by going to the UN to gain a better understanding, awareness, and a network of how I can begin helping other women of the world.

2. What are you doing to help you financially for this trip?

Tonya: For the Judson-sponsored section, we are doing fundraising. To cover the cost of my part of the trip, I am using the money from my job to pay for it, as well as a little help from my family.

Summer: For me, I am saving my money.  I was also lucky to have a birthday in January, so I have birthday money that will help cushion the cost, but the majority of the money will come from my parents.  They believe in what I am doing and support it.

Tonya: We've had all sorts of fundraisers! Lollipop sales, a silent auction, pie-in-the-face competition (Catt Popp and her little, Amanda Nolander are helping with this fundraiser in the picture), spaghetti dinner, Pizza Hut discount cards, a bake sale, concessions at basketball games, and we still have a couple more coming up. We've had several donations from Judson faculty, as well.

Continued in next blog...

3. How do you feel about leaving in a couple of days?

Tonya: Well, we're leaving in two days - and I'm excited, yet anxious. I'm excited because I know how well I enjoyed it last year, and this year, the topic is supposed to be even better. I'm nervous because I know how overwhelming and emotional the discussions were last year, and I'm not one to show this side of me. It's well worth it though!

Summer: Excited does not even begin to explain how I feel.  I am anxious, nervous, and even fearful of things to come.  Learning of these issues will be intense, and I know I am not ready to hear some things going on with women in the world. 

4. What do you expect to learn from the trip?

Tonya: I expect to learn more about the women around the world and the adversaries they face, as well as some good news. Also, I will have the chance to meet women from every corner of the globe - that's amazing! This IS Women in Society in its most realistic form.

Summer: I simply want to be educated.  I want to know what is going on and what is being done to fix it.  There are things that each woman can do to help others out and through this trip I will be educated of ways I can help. "

As a Judson girl, I am so fortunate to be at a school where the faculty and staff try to broaden our minds about the perceptions and realities of the world. Susan Jones has taken the initiative to do so through our Faith Based Service Learning department. Trips like these are the reason why Judson's mantra is "WOMEN. FAITH. KNOWLEDGE." I thank God for such a mantra. At Judson, we have a chance to get outside of ourselves and see the world for what it is and find out what God wants us to do with this new knowledge. We become women of knowledge and faith. I thank God for what can be found at Judson.

I pray that we pray for safety and enlightenment for the students going.

With Love from Christ alone,

This was the theme for the 3^rd D-Now I got to be a small group leader for on February 5-7. My former youth pastor asked me to lead a small group in December and I thought it would be awesome to help. I love being around youth and helping them grow closer to God. It was a weekend of just that-youth growing closer to God.

We started the weekend with a trip to Cobb Theatres in Tuscaloosa. The youth pastor in charge of the trip rented out a theatre to watch To Save A Life. This movie was the cornerstone for the weekend-it was the basis for the material we used. The movie is about a teen who said yes to all of the stereotypical things a high schooler "should" do, like, drinking, partying, sex, bullying; the typical description of being popular in school. The main character, Jake, was the popular kid. He had to make a decision to follow the ways of the world or stand up for what was right after his childhood friend committed suicide.

The youth LOVED the movie and it was a great segue into our first group session. It taught the youth that we had to love ourselves before we love others, the greatest love we will ever know is God's love, and we are told to love others no matter their differences. From the first not on the 7 girls that were in my group were trying to grasp what was being taught. They got to show their love the next morning at a walk-a-thon in Hueytown.

 This marathon was presented by Sav-a-Life, a pro-life organization. All 60 plus students walked a mile to raise money for the organization. In all, the walkathon raised $40,000+ to provide support for an organization that values life and wants to show love through helping women with their pregnancies by giving them an option other than abortion.

Ephesians 1:3-8