UPIKE prepares for Haiti mission trip
0While most are planning for the Christmas holiday and a needed break, others on campus are preparing to share the true spirit of the season. Rob Musick, university chaplain, will be joined with 25 others in January and travel to Haiti for the second UPIKE mission trip.
Some of those include students Cheyenne Adkins, Alexandria Allen, Gabrielle Bailey, Emily Castle, Kara Crowe, Caitlyn Dixon, Michelle Fowler, Brandi Jo Howard, Sierra Kiser, Maleena Little, Collan McCoy, Stephanie McKinney, Leanna Mullins, Morganne Robinson, Amanda Sawyers, Sally Smith, Sarah Smith, Harold Taul, and Professor Linda Taylor.
“We will be working with our Haitian brothers and sisters to work in their community, planting fruit trees, leading a vacation bible school, sharing in a sports ministry, playing with children at an orphanage and possibly doing some construction work,” said Musick.
In anticipation of their departure, they have been running the peanut butter and flip flop campaigns here on campus. They collected over $60, three tubes full of peanut butter, and about 50 pairs of flip-flops at the University.
Jars of peanut butter were collected to ease malnutrition in Haiti. Peanut butter has 30 essential vitamins and nutrients. Flip- flops are encouraged because it is very hot there, and the people do not have shoes.
Anna Kowalok, daughter of art professor Pat Kowalok, brought the campaign to the attention of the National Honor Society chapter at Pikeville High School. The students collected 177 pairs of flip-flops.
Each traveler will take two suitcases, one for personal belongings and one filled with supplies to give away.
“There is always room for more donations,” said Musick.
If you’re interested in helping the group, donations may be left at Rob Musick’s office in Record Memorial.
By: Christin Haney