Students forgo beach towels for Spring Break in Nepal

^{A Carson-Newman tradition, SPOTS trips are often life-changing experiences for those involved. This year volunteers will take part in outreach projects and ministries from Atlanta to Nepal.}

(Feb. 22, 2016) – Carson-Newman students and members of the campus community will volunteer to waive traditional Spring Break activities to take part in the University’s annual spring SPOTS mission trips.

Beginning March 1, teams will leave campus to serve in locations including, Chattanooga, St. Louis and Washington D.C.

The University will send its first 11-member team to Nepal. Chad Morris, associate director of Campus Ministries and coordinator of the trips, says he believes the trip will be memorable.

“The team will be flying to Katmandu and then to Lukla, where they will meet Sherpa guides, who will take them on treks to three different villages.” The team will deliver dental, school and medical supplies, as well as taking time to pray over hospital patients. Members will also be involved in service projects at a local school.”

Morris says there is another aspect he’s excited about for the Nepal team. “In my 10 years here, this is the most diverse team that’s been put together. It has a faculty member, a staff member, undergraduates, graduate students, alumni, a dad of a student, and University Board of Trustee member Todd Greene, who helped initiate the Nepal trip.”

Morris says the team members also have backgrounds that include medicine, education and international travel experience.

“It’s just really neat to see how God has placed this team together.“

The University’s SPOTS trips not only allow students to become more aware of the world around them, but are many times life altering. “We have seen students change majors and even vocational goals following these trips,” said Morris. “When our students catch the vision of experiencing life through the lens of Christ, it not only can change themselves, but the world around them.”

Founded in 1851, Carson-Newman is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The University has over 2,600 students and offers 50 undergraduate majors, as well as associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.

• Check out the video below to see what happens when Carson-Newman students teamed together to help those in need during the University’s 2013 SPOTS trip to Guatemala.