< Previous20 FOCUS WINTER 2021 Top, clockwise: Assembling care packages for the homeless Completed Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes Filling shoe boxes with toys for Operation Christmas Child As the community engagement pastor for the Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Bend, Indiana, under the direction of Lead Pastor Claval Hunter, I have learned very quickly that he is a minister who evangelizes in the community. Every second Sabbath the church is in the community feeding the home- less, showing love to first responders (like firefighters), visiting nursing homes and engaging in various projects such as a march against violence, school giveaways, health awareness, a Christmas giveaway, and much more. Since we launched our “Compassion Outreach Day” the response from the community has been astounding. When I received the call from Teela Ruehle, director of student missions and service at Andrews University, stat- ing that she and Andrews students would like to part- ner with us to serve the community for “Change Day,” I was ecstatic! The contributions given for our home- less community were more than we expected. We had so many homeless packages to distribute that we had enough for two more outings. In each package there were toiletry items, gloves, hats, snacks, water, etc. There were smiles on everyone’s faces as they were shown so much love on that day. Because of what the stu- dents did, Danielle Pilgrim, associate chaplain, continues to collaborate with Berean for future community service support. Betty Smith Coming into the new semester with COVID still in full swing, many students felt the desire to help make an impact on our local community. My group specifically was able to put together packages of needed goods for homeless individuals who are being especially affected by COVID. It was an amazing experience partnering with other students who showed up in large numbers (socially distanced of course) to passionately and brightly pack the packages that were so graciously received by the members in our community. By the end, with the bags packed and letters written, we were able to send out a group of volunteers to hand out these gifts and encourage many individuals and provide for some of their needs. Being able to participate in this event with fellow students helped me remember that we can still make a difference even with COVID hap- pening all around. It’s easy to focus on myself during these times, but this event really helped me focus on something bigger than myself. It was amazing seeing students put others before themselves in this way and work as a group to take care of those who are less fortunate. I believe this is what is needed in our world, especially in the time of COVID and quarantine—a focus on others and on our communities. Ben WilliamsAndrews University ANNUAL REPORT 21Mission & ServiceMission & Service “Here I am. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8 NLT). After my first mission trip to the Dominican Republic as a sophomore in high school, I knew my purpose in life was to serve others. Being able to serve others filled my heart like nothing else could. Since then, I have been blessed to serve people both internationally and locally, whether it was translating for doctors and nurses in clinics, helping ADRA with disaster relief after a destructive tornado, or tutoring children in a developing community. I say blessed, not because I am a blessing for helping oth- ers, nor because I feel like I am a savior to others. I say blessed because serving others has truly impacted my life and has brought healing to my heart. That is why I am a stu- dent missionary. Along with the world, COVID-19 has impacted my life and the decisions I made post-graduation. Although coronavirus limited my location options, it did not limit my willingness to serve. I am currently serving in the grand rainbow state, Hawaii. I am a teacher’s aide at Mauna Loa School—you may find me going over the alphabet with kindergarten students, reading with fourth graders, or helping eighth graders with math. It can be challenging working with such a diverse age group because each child requires different attention, however it is so rewarding when they accomplish or overcome something they were once struggling with. I enjoy serving others, especially while living in paradise! I have learned that I can be a light to others, not only through what I say but in what I do. I believe that my actions may speak louder about God’s love, rather than my words, especially to children. I also believe a life worth living is a life serving others. God calls us to “go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19 NLT), and on judgment day, I want to attest that I lived a life worth living. In 2020, Andrews sent out a total of 19 student missionaries. The year, of course, did not go according to plan. In spring, most students had to return home early due to the COVID pandemic. In fall, those able to serve chose from limited locations with specific safety guidelines. “I am inspired by our students’ commitment to serve,” says Teela Ruehle, director of student missions and service. “I’m so proud they chose in the midst of these unknown times to answer the calling God placed on their hearts to sacrifice their time and energy serving in the mission field.” She adds, “The need to share the love of God in our communities and world continues to increase, and our students here at Andrews are passionate about meeting those needs.” A Servant’s Heart Esther Meza22 FOCUS WINTER 2021 MY EXPERIENCE IN UKRAINE AS A STUDENT missionary was a grounding experience because it confirmed some ideas that I had but also exposed me to knowledge about the world and myself that I’m not sure I would’ve gotten anywhere else. Being a continual thinker, I have positions and opinions on many things, including myself. Going to Ukraine allowed me to test many of the thoughts that have floated through my mind over time. Through my experience, I confirmed that: § There really is a whole other world beyond America. § People really are just people, no matter where you go, both in good ways and bad. § I truly will stare danger in the face when I’m committed to something. § There are many different versions of a fulfilling life. § I am truly a people person and that cannot be changed. § Culture impacts us more than we may realize (that includes church). § I would definitely teach kids if neurosurgery doesn’t work out. § Carrying a football draws everyone’s interest no matter where you are. § Friendship is a lot simpler than a lot of us make it to be. § God uses me in very precise ways to impact the lives of others. § If you do your best, God will do the rest. On the other hand, I learned that: § My fundamental view of life fits pretty well with Ukrainian culture. § Culture is a lot more complex than any single YouTube video will tell you. § Speaking English in Ukraine = instant brownie points. § You don’t even have to speak the same language to have a conversation. § There actually is an idealistic view of America out there, and many people are surprised by the reality. § God can truly carry you when you feel alone. § Many experiences are better when you actually put yourself out there and invest yourself. § Being a Christian will set you apart no matter where you go. STUDENT MISSIONS. FOR SOME, THIS phrase conjures up specific stereotypical images: group fundraisers, writing to potential sponsors, teaching on an island or preaching in a mountainous jungle. Perhaps no internet, limited resources and less comfort than one is accustomed to. I served for ten months on the Adventist campus in Sagunto, Spain, initially as an of- fice assistant/internship supervisor/English conversation tutor and later as a grounds worker once we were quarantined. After about a month of being in Sagunto, I found that I was still struggling to find my place on the campus and understand why God wanted me there. I wasn’t sure I felt like a missionary. I had Wi-Fi, I was living near a city, there were a lot of American students, and while my job title sounds quite involved, I didn’t feel like I was making much of an impact. But what is a missionary “supposed” to feel like? What is a missionary? As I sat outside on a hill over- looking Sagunto contemplating this, God reminded me that my purpose was not to fill a stereotypical role but to instead live each moment knowing that every act or word would either point people toward or away from Jesus. I didn’t have to understand everything. I was to simply live every day as a true missionary: a wit- ness, a servant. One who’s willing to help without expecting anything in return. Who puts others first and loves unconditionally. Who sees everyone as Jesus does—lost sheep, children of royalty, valuable beyond measure. My student mission year began and ended after ten months in Spain. But the call to live as a missionary began long before and continues every day I wake up. The Student Missions team is now seeing a growing interest from students who want to serve. To connect with Student Missions online, follow “austudentmissions” on Instagram. To contribute to the support of outgoing student missionaries, visit andrews.edu/go/give/2Sm . Raymond Bennett Zoey CaballeroAndrews University ANNUAL REPORT 23Mission & Service NOT MANY PEOPLE REALIZE THAT THE United States of America is the country with the second-largest population of Spanish-speaking people in the world. In the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, church membership among Hispanics has been growing steadily. This growth is a blessing but the resources necessary to support Spanish-language churches, pastors, lay ministers and evangelists have not grown in proportion to the need. In 2009, a group of Hispanic theology, ministry and education scholars (both professors and doctoral students) from Andrews University and other Adventist institutions around the world founded the Hispanic Adventist Center for Theological Dialogue [Centro Hispano Adventista para el Diálogo Teológico] (CHADT). The mission of CHADT has been to sup- port the ministry of the Adventist church to Spanish-speaking peo- ples and to help raise the awareness of Andrews University and other in- stitutions of higher learning to the needs of these communities. As a result of their good work, Andrews University has become a member of the Hispanic Theological Initia- tive Consortium (HTIC). HTIC has helped to sponsor more than 12 doctoral students, providing both financial assistance and mentoring for dissertations. Then, in 2015, Andrews Univer- sity collaborated with the Hispanic Adventist Center for Theological Dialogue to create the Spanish Ministerial Initiative in order to develop materials, resources and courses in Spanish that would help prepare pastors and lay leaders by providing them with a strong bibli- cal foundation for their ministries. In 2017, under the leadership of Rubén Muñoz-Larrondo, associ- ate professor of biblical studies, Bible Studies, Theology and Ministry by Alayne Thorpe The development of instructional materials in Spanish Clockwise: Bust of Nefertiti, Museum of Antiquities, Cairo, Egypt Recording in Alexandria, Egypt A tomb in the Valley of the Kings Virtual launch of the Spanish Ministerial Certificate Textbook Series in summer 2020 by the “Iniciativa Ministerial Hispana” of the Andrews University Department of Religion & Biblical Languages 24 FOCUS WINTER 202124 FOCUS WINTER 2021 Andrews University initiated the first undergraduate min- isterial certificate offered for academic credit completely in Spanish in the U.S. To make the program available to as many students as possible, it is avail- able online and students may complete the certificate alone or apply it toward an associ- ate’s degree in religion from Andrews University. It became clear to Muñoz- Larrondo and his colleagues in CHADT that there were not enough instructional materials It became clear to Muñoz-Larrondo and his colleagues in CHADT that there were not enough instructional materials available in Spanish to provide the foundation necessary for ministry in the Adventist church. available in Spanish to pro- vide the foundation necessary for ministry in the Adventist church. Enlisting the support of Andrea Luxton, Andrews University president, Keith Mattingly, former dean, College of Arts & Sciences, and Alayne Thorpe, dean, College of Educa- tion & International Services/ dean, School of Graduate Studies, Muñoz-Larrondo and a group of 85 Spanish-speaking scholars and theologians from around the world embarked on the daunting task of creating a series of textbooks with sup- porting videos and instructional guides for the ministerial certif- icate. To date, eight books in the series have been developed— three already published, three in the final editing process, and two in preparation. The text- books are informed by extensive research and three biblical expeditions—Turkey and Israel in 2016, the route of Exodus in 2017, and Rome in 2018. In addition to Muñoz-Larrondo, a number of distinguished Spanish-speaking scholars devoted their time and expertise as editors of the textbooks; this list includes Roberto Badenas, Enrique Báez, Félix Cortéz, Victor Figueroa, Abner Hernández, Ricardo Norton, Ángel Manuel Rodríguez and Davide Sciarabba. Luxton has said of the series, “As the first academic accredit- ed courses of theology/religion completely in Spanish in the NAD, we do hope that these will deepen biblical understanding and strengthen ministry in the Spanish language throughout the division.” Below: Team at Jerusalem in 2016—CHADT’s professors worked in partnership with the “Iniciativa Ministerial Hispana” of the Andrews University Department of Religion & Biblical Languages, recording “Series Expediciones Bíblicas” in Israel, Turkey, Rome, Egypt and Jordan Scan the QR code for more information on the Spanish Ministerial Certificate offered at Andrews University.Andrews University ANNUAL REPORT 25Philanthropy & Development PHILANTHROPY & DEVELOPMENT WE ARE LIVING IN AN EXCITING TIME IN healthcare. There is a high demand for qualified professionals in health and human services. In order to meet this demand, Andrews University has responded with the creation of the College of Health & Human Services (CHHS), which consists of nationally recognized programs in Architecture & Interior Design; Communication Sciences & Disorders; Medical Laboratory Sciences; Nursing; Population Health, Nutrition & Wellness; and Rehabilitation Sciences. All of the programs are accredited, and the state licensure passing rates of our graduates are above the national average. Andrea Luxton, president, says many of the programs in the College of Health & Human Services are at capacity. “The last few years have seen new programs added, and our graduates inform us that studying at Andrews University is an exceptional experience with the vital connection between their professional studies and faith. We want to ensure that the excellence of that student experience not just continues but increases.” Currently, the College of Health & Human Services serves more than 700 students annually, and we are convinced it will continue to grow as the University seeks to meet the increasing needs of the community and church for health and human ser- vices professionals. While several of the programs in the College of Health & Human Services have good facili- ties, other program facilities such as nursing, public health and nutrition are in need of revitalization. We plan to build a new facility that can serve as the heart of this vibrant and grow- ing college and will allow for further integration of the social, academic, professional and spiritual learning that is the signature of health and hu- man services at Andrews University. Emmanuel Rudatsikira, executive dean of the College of Health & Human Services, says, “The goals of the CHHS are to facilitate interprofessional, evidence-based education; sustain and expand learning experiences; utilize the most advanced technolo- gy to enhance learning and prepare graduates to function effectively in interdisciplinary teams; and provide opportunities and resources for faculty and students to engage in interprofes- sional service. A modern training and learning facility is necessary in order to sustain the quality of the student experience and increase enrollment.” Timothy Osman, a current MLS student at Andrews University, also believes that student interaction would benefit from a new facility. “A better facility would encourage interdepartmental collaboration, which prepares us for real-life sce- narios,” he says. Some of the highlights of this CHHS building will include intention- al spiritual concepts in the planning; ADA compliance for all spaces with digital monitors for signage on each floor; environmentally friendly con- struction; an advanced simulation center, which will reduce the need for clinical placements; innovative and cutting-edge equipment; and a mini food court in the common lounge with healthy choices. Haley Smoot graduated from Andrews University with a BS in nursing in 2018. In recalling her experience at Marsh Hall, she agrees that a new facility will aid in foster- ing a more integrated atmosphere for students. “I remember as a nursing student feeling detached from the other health sciences students because our building was essentially on its own,” she says. “It was difficult to make friends outside of my nursing major and my few general education classes because I didn’t run into many other students. A new health sciences center will allow more interaction between like-minded students and create the possibility for friendships outside of your specific major.” We hope that you will join the CHHS in its endeavor to provide excellence in healthcare and design education that fosters collabora- tion, research and service within a Christ-centered environment. Healthcare and Human Services at Andrews University Creating an innovative learning environment for the future26 FOCUS WINTER 2021 by Kermit Netteburg They hiked through cold and heat, through snow and rain, through fog and sunshine. They learned to dress in layers, often wearing five or six layers in the morning to protect against the cold, then shedding down to one layer in the noontime warmth, finally adding layers again as the afternoon wore on (from left: Zane, Juniper, Olen, Danae, Addison and Lyol). All photos courtesy of the Netteburg familyAndrews University ANNUAL REPORT 27Philanthropy & Development H iking the 2,193 miles of the Appalachian Trail is quite a feat. Every year three million people hike a part of the trail, but only a thousand hike it all. Drs. Olen (BA/BS ’01, Hon LHD ’17) and Danae Netteburg (Hon LHD ’17) did it this past summer. Hiking the trail with four young children is even rarer. Lyol (11), Zane (9), Addison (7) and Juniper (4) hiked the entire trail. Juni- per, finishing the trail at 4 years, 340 days, became the youngest person ever to complete the trail. “She hiked every step of the way,” Danae said. Addison, at 7 years, 61 days, is probably one of the 10 youngest. Hiking the trail in pandemic-crazy 2020 added another wrinkle. Olen remembers their first brush with the virus. “March 19 was the day things started to close. We had hiked only 44 miles to that point. I bought fresh supplies, so everyone’s pack was heavy. We hiked 8.2 miles to the hut where we planned to stay; it was our longest hike so far. But the shelter had a sign: ‘Closed for Coronavirus.’” The next place to stay was three miles away, and they’d be pushing dark, something they’d never done before. They decided to go for broke and made camp just before dark. “We were eating Ramen with headlamps, and nobody was complaining. Instead, the kids were practicing their ‘Katahdin’ poses—how they’d mug for a camera at the northern terminus of the trail!” That night Olen smiled to himself, figuring they had a chance to complete the trail. Juniper earned her trail name—“The Beast”—on one of the first big climbs. They had 1,000 feet of vertical or so, and Danae took Juniper’s backpack in order to make it easier for the child. No more than 100 yards up the trail, Danae found Juniper crying. “Uh, oh,” she thought. “Juniper can’t make it.” But the truth came out; Juniper whimpered that she wanted to carry her own backpack! The Beast was born. “She often led the family, setting the pace for the rest of us to keep up,” Olen said. Everyone got trail names. Lyol became Blaze, because he started the campfire every morning. Zane became Boomerang, because he loved to hike on ahead, or slightly off the trail, but he always came back. Addison became Angel Wings, because she often hiked in thick socks, trail boots and a princess dress! (Olen was Lion King, and Danae was Queen Bee.) The Netteburgs marked each 100 miles of trail hiking by taking a picture of the moment. At 1,900 miles, the smell of the shoes was the defining picture. The family went through 2–4 pairs of shoes each in hiking the 2,193 miles of the Appalachian Trail (from left: Olen, Juniper, Zane, Lyol, Addison and Danae). Olen Netteburg remembers one of the scariest moments of the hike. “It had rained a lot for several days in Maine. That’s the wildest section of the trail. This river normally has rock ‘steps’ for hikers to cross without getting wet. But the river had overflowed those steps and was far too swift and deep for Juniper. So she clung to my back. I had to feel with my hiking poles, looking for the next rock step. Then I had to maintain balance while moving a leg through the rushing water to secure the next foothold. And repeat that for a dozen steps or more. We took an hour crossing that stream.” Lyol and Zane are on the far riverbank. Science class meets lunch. One of the bonuses along the Appalachian Trail is foraging. Raspberries, blueberries, apples and other fruit grow wild along the trail. Morel mushrooms and mustard greens were serendipity additions to their diet. So for science class, they learned to recognize plants. And for lunch, they learned to enjoy science class projects.28 FOCUS WINTER 2021 How did they keep the kids going? They sang songs. (“I don’t ever want to hear ‘Do You Want to Build a Snow- man?’ again,” Olen reminisced, shaking his head.) They enjoyed camp meals— pancakes or oatmeal at breakfast, trail mix for lunch, and Ramen for supper. (“Sometimes we’d be close enough to hike off the trail to get take-out Chi- nese or pizza,” Danae admitted. “Or ice cream!”) They played trail games, turning big boulders or huge climbs or swift rivers into American Ninja War- rior courses. And they did schoolwork. What? “Every day we could find something for school,” Danae said. Trail games some- times were spelling quizzes. Math was calculating distance and miles. Science was classifying flora and fauna. “Bible was seeing God’s leading everywhere,” Danae added. “Kids are naturally inquisitive,” Olen said. “When you get them into nature and they see what’s around them, they start asking questions. They can become obsessed with a slug, or newt, or tree. No day is ever boring through their eyes.” The hike was a nine-month sab- batical from their regular work as missionary physicians at Hopital Adventiste de Bere in Chad, Africa. They’ve served the 100-bed hospital for 10 years, Olen as emergency physician and Chief Medical Officer/administra- tor and Danae as OB/GYN. “Plus, we do whatever else is needed,” Olen said. They’d planned the trip three years ago, but the relief physician didn’t materialize. Then this past February they realized, “We have an exceptional staff at the hospital. We’ve got time. We should think about doing this now!” They left Africa five days later. Their first day on the trail was four days after that. “Being out on the trail for that long helped me re-find a sense of peace,” Danae said. “Living in Chad, we deal with a lot of illness and death. You start to carry that weight around. This was God’s way of getting us ready for more service in Chad.” The family began hiking in February in Pennsylvania and had to hopscotch back and forth on the trail because of the virus. That meant hiking Virginia, then more in Pennsylvania, then down to North Carolina, before jumping north to Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine while the weather was nice. “We always wanted to stay safe,” Danae Netteburg roused the family at about 4:30 a.m. in order to get everyone out to McAfee Knob for this silhouette against the morning sunrise. Two things were constant about the Netteburgs’ hike on the Appalachian Trail. They saw wildlife, from tiny to large. Bears, ladybugs, deer, wild ponies, flies—oh, yes, flies, flies and more flies. But Zane remembers most vividly his first encounter with wildlife; he almost sat on a rattlesnake. The family told him how to carefully move away. The second constant? Juniper in her Wonder Woman dress and Addison in her “Frozen” princess dress, hiking more than 15 miles on many days. The family held science class almost every day on the trail. One day it was identifying a Luna Moth (here held by 4-year-old Juniper Netteburg, the youngest person ever to hike the entire Appalachian Trail). Another day it would be collecting a dozen insect specimens (they mounted the specimens later). Some days it also was identifying cloud types—and which types held rain!Andrews University ANNUAL REPORT 29Philanthropy & Development Olen said, “so we went where the trail was safest to hike and observed the rules of the state.” They also did their best to remain socially distant along the trail and not disturb the peace when they came up on a campsite. “But as a family of six, we’re not really very peaceful,” Olen said. The family averaged 15–17 miles a day, until they got to New Hampshire. “We didn’t make 10 miles most days there,” Olen recalled. “I began to wonder if we would be able to hike the entire trail before winter.” To add to the challenge, Olen severely sprained his ankle. “We’d hiked a really hard section. When we were done, I took off my pack, stepped off a bridge, and rolled the ankle over 90 degrees. I thought I’d broken it.” An exam in the emergency room at a nearby hospital—an irony for an emer- gency physician—revealed a very severe sprain. “The swelling made my foot huge. I was black and blue from my toes to halfway up my shin,” Olen said, with typical physician detachment. “Every morning it hurt a lot, but after a few miles of limping it would loosen up.” They did 30 miles a few weeks later—in the Maine wilderness. “That’s when I knew we had a great shot at completing the trail,” Olen said. They also had other thoughts about the pandemic. “We heard the stories of our medical colleagues. They worked in extreme conditions. They risked their own health, and lives. And here we were hiking the AT,” Olen said. “Society had invested a spot in medical training for each of us. And here we were not helping out in the worst health crisis of a generation.” Danae reflected, “That was a daily battle.” They’re back at the hospital, bringing healing to a remote area in Africa. Bere has 65,000 people—with no stoplights or paved roads or electrical grid or water/ sewer system. There are more oxcarts than cars. Every day presents a new challenge. A child who fell out of a mango tree has a depressed skull fracture. (He lived.) A pregnant woman has been in labor for days—but couldn’t afford to come for care. (This is common for many.) Ma- laria, and malaria, and malaria. (Many don’t survive.) “We see stuff in Chad that physicians don’t in America,” Olen said. They removed an abdominal tumor the size of a watermelon. Danae has fixed 65 fistulas in the past three years—a number virtually no American OB/ GYN sees in a lifetime. But they are missionaries, not merely physicians. Every Sabbath they pack the kids in the truck, along with some local Chadians, and drive out into the bush. They find a mango tree. They park the car. They spread plastic mats. Village children show up and sit on the mats. Olen teaches the children Bible songs. Danae tells a Bible story. Someone talks about how to pray. Adults hang around the edges of the shade of the tree. Soon the group is 50, 80, 100 people. And after a few weeks, it’s a church. The Appalachian Trail snakes through canyons and along mountain ridges, providing spectacular views. But Olen remembers the difficulty of New Hampshire and Maine. “It was a whole new ball game, with steep ascents, big boulders and equally steep descents. Near Lake Moosilauke we had a 1,000-foot descent in one mile. It took us an hour” (from left: Danae, Olen, Lyol, Zane, Addison and Juniper). Every night at the campsite meant several things. Lyol started a fire. Everyone took shoes off. Clothes were hung out to dry, if they’d been wet. Or hung out to air, because they didn’t get laundered very often. “Every week we tried to find a place to stay that had laundry facilities, and a hot shower,” Danae said.Next >