DALLAS—During spring break, 18 Dallas Baptist University students joined the long list of DBU volunteers who have served with Habitat for Humanity over the last 23 years.
Dallas Baptist University students (left to right) Samuel Park, Caitlin King, Daniel
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Dallas Baptist University student Naoko Hashimoto, from Japan, and trip leader Dan Gibson, DBU assistant director of spiritual life, nail together pieces of the Habitat for Humanity house. (PHOTOS/Caitlin Ramey)
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The 2011 DBU spring break team served in Pensacola, Fla., working from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day on a home construction project.
“Most of the group had never been given the chance to use a hammer, much less build any type of structure,” explained trip leader Dan Gibson, assistant director of spiritual life at DBU. “Watching them learn, try and succeed was very rewarding.
“I know I personally learned that regardless of age, background or circumstances, we are never too old to try new things, get out of our comfort zone and let God’s love and grace lead us.”
DBU senior Hayden Moore had heard friends talk about their experiences on university-sponsored mission trips, but he had never been on one until spring break. And the experience exceeded his expectations.
“I’m constantly learning what it means and looks like to be a servant,” Hayden said. “Jesus, in his life, displayed for us the perfect example of that, and as believers, it is our calling to follow the life he led.
“Going into spring break, I doubt that the top of anyone’s wish list is to be working all week. But the time spent with Habitat in Pensacola provided me the opportunity to really learn Philippians 4:2, ‘Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.’”
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Before returning to Texas, the DBU team met the woman who will receive the Habitat house—a young, single mother with sole responsibility for her preschool son.
“My favorite moment of the week was getting to meet the homeowner of the Habitat house,” said Tiffany Stotts, Spiritual Life’s coordinator of worship ministries. “Being able to hear her story and see how our efforts were going to improve the quality of life for her and her 3-year-old son made a huge impact on me, and our entire team as well.”
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