In the midst of stressful papers and looming exams, a team of Guatemala-bound students creatively fundraised for their trip with a Puppy Room. The sold-out event let Trinity Western students reserve time to pet and play with the puppies.
“Everyone loves puppies,” said Naomi Ngo as she and her co-leader, Rachel Voth, organized the dozens of students checking in for their reservation. “We thought this would be a fun alternative to traditional fundraisers, like a bake sale.” On a whim, Ngo and Voth contacted a local breeder through Kijiji Classifieds to ask if they could borrow 7-week-old Golden Doodle puppies. The breeder agreed and the Puppy Room sold out in 45 minutes.
Ngo and Voth organized the event to raise money for the Guatemala Global Projects trip, which will see eight TWU women volunteer in a small community outside of Antigua, Guatemala, from May 4th to 14th. The students will run VBS programs, volunteer in a local school, and assist in construction work.
TWU’s Global Projects equips students to lead and participate in short-term mission trips around the world. It emphasizes transformation in student participants and works to build long-term relationships within communities. In addition to Guatemala, Global Projects is sending teams to Fort Babine, BC; Uganda; Vietnam; Israel and Palestine; and Camp Yukon, Yukon.
“Global Projects focuses on sustainable and helpful short term missions,” Voth said when asked why she decided to co-lead a trip. “I think it’s done in such a cool way.” The women are partnering with Global Shore, a Canadian organization that has built long-term relationships with communities in Guatemala.
“I’m excited to set foot in Guatemala as a team,” Ngo said. “I’m looking forward to having my faith challenged as we learn to love with God’s love.”
To donate to the Guatemala trip, please visit the TWU Donate Page and add “Summer 2015 Guatemala Missions Trip” in the comments section.
For more information about Global Projects, please visit their site.