University celebrates Missions Emphasis Week

^{Kelli Snyder, a Carson-Newman freshman from Maryville, gathers water as part of a “water walk.” The event was part of Carson-Newman’s Missions Emphasis Week.}

(Nov. 11, 2013) – Carson-Newman University celebrated its annual Missions Emphasis Week, Nov. 4 – 9. This year’s theme focused one of life’s basic necessities: water.

The week featured campus events that brought awareness to the many families in third world countries that do not have access to clean drinking water.

Some Carson-Newman students experienced this first-hand earlier this year while on a spring break mission trip to Guatemala. There they were able to purchase and deliver four water filters to Guatemalan families living in rural mountainous regions. Each filter helps supply clean water for two years.

Throughout C-N’s Mission Emphasis week, money was raised to help purchase additional water filters with the intention of student groups returning to Guatemala to deliver the filters to families in need.

Students also had the opportunity to experience a fraction of what an average woman in a third world country endures to provide clean water for her family. Students participated in a “water walk” from Highway 11-E to Mossy Creek. After hiking to the creek, students collected water in jugs before trekking back to campus with the eight pound containers.

“Though the average woman walks at least four miles a day and carries up to 50 pounds of water, I believe this was still a very eye-opening experience for our students,” said Chad Morris, associate director of the University’s Campus Ministries.

Other events included a chapel service with former athletic director of the University of Tennessee Mike Hamilton, who now serves with Blood:Water Mission. The week closed with students helping Appalachian Outreach Ministries’ annual “Coats for the Cold” event.