California Baptist University

GLOBAL HEARTS

Since 1997, International Service Projects have allowed mission minded students to spend part of their summer in service over seas. However, for students that spent spring 2020 training and fundraising, this was not the case. Amid the cancelled tickets and mailed refunds, students reflect on their ISP experience.

Dilan Ajtun Junior biomedical sciences major

Where were you planning to go for ISP?

OVER HERE Dilan Atjun and Janet Lee point to Zambia and South Asia, their respective ISP locations, on the Kugel.

I was planning to go to Zambia, South Africa.

Do you have any fun memories with your team?

My best memories would have to be all “The Office” and “SpongeBob” references that were thrown out during meetings and group chats. We also had cultural dinners, where we ate cuisine from South Africa to get used to the type of food we were going to be exposed to.

Do you think you’ll apply again next year?

Heck yeah. I’d love to actually go somewhere and do my part in spreading the gospel. Janet Lee Senior history and politcial science double major

Where were you planning to go for ISP?

South Asia.

What was your initial reaction when ISP got cancelled?

I think it was definitely disappointing. It’s rough when something you’ve spent months training for — preparing, praying over and really dedicating time — doesn’t happen. But at the same time, I don’t think any of that training was a waste.

Did you do anything in place of those trips?

I don’t think there were a lot of physical alternatives because of travel restrictions and stuff ... But my team still had weekly Zoom meetings and Bible studies that we kept up with each other until our original departure date.

WORDS Hannah Lapos

PHOTOS Luc Stringer

DESIGN Hannah Lapos

27 ISP