Michigan—The focus for the Andrews Academy (AA) chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) this year has been that one can make a difference in one's school, neighborhood and the world.
Jason Lemon, NHS chapter president, and Jessica Anzures, NHS chapter vice president, challenged by the theme and motto of the AA NHS, "In His Service," dreamed and visioned how this could be made a practical experience not only for the NHS members but also for the entire school family. While the NHS has been involved in various service projects through the years, this year saw an intentional focus on what an individual can do to make a difference.
The week of Nov. 5–9 was designated as "Cause Week" to raise awareness among the students and to encourage them to become involved in various local and global projects. Devotions on Monday introduced the theme for the week by emphasizing what a bottle of water can do. The Ezekiel Project, supported by students purchasing bottles of water from Alvin Glassford's room, goes to fund Christian education for needy students in developing countries. It was started a number of years ago during a SOW Safari, Andrews Academy's biennial mission trip, when the academy students met a boy who was missing half a leg and couldn't afford to go to school. The AA students rallied around Ezekiel and supported him for several years after which time contact, unfortunately, was lost. However, the name and the overall goals of the project still continue.
Tuesday's worship focused on how children can be helped, locally and globally. Jasmine Jacobs, founder and president of REACH International, an organization dedicated to providing food, shelter and education for approximately 25,000 children world-wide, presented the assembly program, and encouraged students and families to get involved by "adopting" a child. For the practical and local impact, Tuesday was "Stuff a Truck" Day. Students brought non-perishable food items to be distributed as Thanksgiving food baskets to needy families with children in the community.
The devastation caused by diseases around the world was highlighted on Wednesday by Nic Reichert and two AA alumni who gave a presentation of their mission trip to Africa a few years ago, describing how it impacted their lives. They encouraged faculty and students to get involved with a global solution. The practical application was to bring in loose change to buy wells for communities in Africa through Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). AA raised $600, enough to buy two wells.
On Thursday of Cause Week, Ivan Ruiz explained the biblical concept to students that all are indeed stewards of God's Earth. God has put each person in charge of the Earth and enjoins everyone to take care of it. Christians should be leaders in the "Green Movement" that is happening globally. To get students involved in a practical way, he encouraged students to recycle cans, paper, bottles and anything that can be recycled by placing these items in the recycle boxes.
The last chapel program of Cause Week increased awareness of genocide in this world and encouraged the student body to get involved in changing attitudes to prevent further genocide. Angelo Achuil, a refugee from Sudan, presented chapel by defining what genocide is and its impact on people and cultures. Students were encouraged to purchase wrist bands to support humanitarian efforts in Darfur.
The culmination of the activities focusing on the difference that one can make was the NHS ADRA Benefit Dinner held on Feb. 24 with the theme: "Eat simply so others may simply eat." To this end, a simple yet tasty and filling meal was served by parents, students and volunteers to those who purchased tickets. A significant portion of the proceeds supported an ADRA project selected by the NHS officers. Diners were given an opportunity to make an additional donation by choosing one or more of the five specific ADRA projects such as purchasing mosquito netting for families in Mozambique to prevent malaria and buying a sewing machine for a widow to earn a living. This dinner highlighted that one can make a difference, especially when all work together. A special thanks to those who helped with the dinner! The total amount sent to ADRA equaled $2,700.
Through this relatively silent but truly meaningful expression of school spirit, AA students made a difference, individually and collectively, locally and globally.
Sari Butler, guidance counselor, and Steven Atkins, science teacher, Andrews Academy
