News Archives - 2007

For many of us, the ten last days of winter break meant recovering from the feasting and festivities of the holidays. For 16 Augsburg students enrolled in Religion 480: Vocation and the Christian faith, however, these ten days meant much more.

The group traveled to El Salvador to learn firsthand about the effects of the civil war and to hear from church and community leaders how their faith is helping them cope in the war-torn environment and impacting their ongoing struggle for social justice.

“As with all [Center for Global Education] trips, the chance to hear from people—about their joys, hopes, and struggles” was the highlight for religion professor Beverly Stratton. This was the second time she has led this trip.

The group visited massacre sites, met with survivors, and heard from leaders such as the bishop of the El Salvadoran Lutheran Church, who spoke about how he sees his vocation at work in El Salvador. He gave the students crosses made from the wood of homes destroyed in a recent earthquake to remind them of their experience.

“To see such strong faith is really inspiring,” says participant Chris Stedman. “To immerse myself and be forced to look it in the eye is an experience you can’t replicate in the classroom.”