HLA Today | Issue 10 | 2014

ISSUE 11 | May 9, 2014

Band Transformation Ms. Fisher Recognized Chicago Field Experience Kat Senum Testimony Hillcrest Junior Maddie Veum traveled with a group of Lutheran Brethren Churches to Mexico for a church-based mission experience during Easter vacation.

Mexico Mission Challenges Students

Amanda Doiron | Staff Reporter

Students’ equipping propels to mission fields outside the reach of HLA Three Hillcrest students traveled to Mexico during spring break. The students traveled with Borderless, a collection of Lutheran Brethren churches who have partnered to support a group of churches south of the Mexico-Arizona border.

Going on a Missions Trip strongly encourages knowing your testimony. Sophie Iverson, a Hillcrest Sophomore joining the west coast’s Borderless group mentioned, “I had actually been waiting for something or someone to encourage me to write my testimony. So in doing that I analyzed what God had done in my life and how many blessings he has given me.”

The teams of churches made goals to achieve during their two weeks in Mexico.

A construction group remodeled a roof of an established church. Another group made a children’s nursery out of an extra room at the new church site. The main goal for the missions trip was to spread God’s love and share the gospel with families in Mexico.

While achieving the goals that were set, they shared the love of Christ to the people of the churches’ community.

By becoming selfless and serving people in Mexico the mission teams experienced joy.

Playing with the kids, making them feel special and important, the team shared the gospel. Vacation bible school (VBS) songs, skits and lessons were the primary channel by which the teams shared Christ. Their words and actions were an ongoing script of God’s love for their friends south of the border.

The teams arrived at their base camp Friday evening, April 11. Saturday, the mission teams traveled to the market, gathering supplies and local treats for their week of ministry. Sunday, the team joined a Palm Sunday service at the mission camping site, playing with the kids of the community after the worship service. Monday through Wednesday the mission teams conducted their VBS programs for the children in the commuty in the morning, playing soccer and coloring sidwalks with chalk in the afternoon. Thursday the team organized a shortened version of VBS in the morning, then celebrated with a piñata in the early afternoon. Thursday evening the teams drove to the airport and made their trip home.

The team did ministry throughout the week, often stretching their individual comfort zones. Brita Iverson shared, “Being up in front of big groups when I led songs, was very challenging for me.” Altogether the trip was very successful and brought the students and team closer to Christ. The trip home, transitioning into their American routine, was hard for some team members. The descent from the focused spiritual mountain top made many long for Mexico. However, their work supporting the church in Mexico is an impacting experience that ultimately unites the church as a whole.

Returning back at school, sharing their experience with others, is very exciting for the three students. But words didn’t and won’t measure up to its actual height. Each student would do anything to be back with the fun loving kids down in Mexico. They all had the time of their lives sharing the gospel with others.

This trip was a life changing and powerful experience for the whole team that went to Mexico. The students will always know in their hearts and minds, the experience they had in Mexico. |1

Dominican Mission Quincey Circo | Staff Reporter “Dios es Bueno, alabale! Dios es bueno, adorale!”

The song echoed through the bus as a group of 15 Hillcrest students traveled around the Dominican Republic. The team’s senior mission trip lasted seven days as the students stayed in a mission house in San Pedro, Dominican Republic.

The team, with four translators and bus driver Papito, traveled through the city of San Pedro to do outreaches with local churches. The outreaches included playing basketball, street ministry and mixing concrete in the hot sun.

On Tuesday, April 15 the team flew from Minneapolis, arriving in Santo Domingo in the afternoon.

Once settled in the mission house, they walked to the local basketball court to connect with the neighbors through basketball and kids games.

Hillcrest students do more on tour than perform concerts, like the one above in Atlanta, GA.

Band Tour Transforms Students The Hillcrest band tour bus was buzzing as Uncle Dave, the bus driver, carried them through Washington D.C. for the first time. But as Arlington National Cemetery came into view, a hush came over the students.

The gravity of the place they were about to visitwashed over the students. The cemetery stretched out as far as they could see. One Hillcrest Junior described his feelings, “The hardest part was knowing that all these warriors had died to give me the gift of freedom. They chose to fight for their country even though they could have just stayed home.” The Junior student prefers to remain anyonymous, the impact of Arlington likely lingering in his preference noting his plans to join the military after high school.

Luke Jennen, another Hillcrest Junior attending the trip, said, “It was nice to see so many people taking time out of their busy schedules to come and honor and respect those who have fallen for our country.” The band’s walk through the cemetery was a somber reality to see the costs of war.

The band visited other sights in Washington D.C., filled with fun and plenty of sun, but they had to change their mindset as they waited to enter the Holocaust Museum.

The entire walk through the memorial documenting the atrocities of World War II, specifically outlinging the Holocaust, was solemn for most students. All Luke Jennen could say was, “How? How could people allow such things to happen? How could the German people not stand up for each other?”

The thing that hit most people hardest at the Museum was the room filled with shoes dug up at concentration camps. “The smell and sight of them almost brought you to that place,” said Luke Jennen. Seeing that memorial of such a horrible 2|

Jonathan Eckhardt | Staff Reporter event made them think about what other events like this are still happening today. It was a solemn way to end their time in Washington D.C., but a reminder of what can happen to a country.

Another formative experience for the Band occurred after a midday concert in Atlanta. Traveling to a local Christian school, Hillcrest’s band participated in listening to a discussion titled Science and Faith: Are they really in conflict? The discussion was moderated by Eric Metaxas, and the two men discussing the topic were John Lennox and Stephen Meyer.

The men painted a detailed picture of how Science not only fits in with faith, but strengthens it. One student commented, “Having two people discuss the topic, and each of them portraying it in a different way, helped me to understand it better.”

The daily devotionals that took place on the bus each day were a time of reflection and digging into the Word. It was a good quiet time to take a break from whatever students did to occupy themselves on the three-thousand mile trip, and look into the Bible and listen to the DVD devotional. Devotions helped students keep a good mindset while on the trip, positioning hearts in the right place during the ten day tour.

The entire band tour was a time of formation for students. Walking through significant landmarks and connecting with their fellow musicians created a change in the heart of most students. The trip is always a highlight for Hillcrest’s musicians; a time for students to refocus and receive challenge as they visit other parts of the country sharing their talents.

The team set off to a small Haitian village early Wednesday morning. This was the first location the team experienced extreme poverty. Many of the local children didn’t have clothes or shoes to wear.

Hillcrest students sang songs and led a VBS-type outreach at the Haitian village. The Hillcrest girls washed the hair of the mothers and children while the boys from the village had hair cuts performed by a local church. Before the team left they served the Haitian community hot dogs and soda with the local churches doing outreach in the community.

The team spent the rest of their afternoon in a nearby neighborhood traveling door-to-door explaining the message of Jesus Christ with a church they led worship at earlier in the day.

Thursday, the team spent the entire day at the Santa Fe school Hillcrest has adopted. Some students worked, carrying gravel, rock and cement to help construct the second story of the school. Others played with the kids at the school, coloring and communicating about their individual families and schools.The Santa Fe school is a blessing to their community, with most students grasping an understanding of Jesus Christ.

Friday mirrored the events of Wednesday, with students traveling door-to-door after spending the morning connecting with families, sharing Christ in partnership with the local church.

Saturday was an eye-opening day, as the team visited children with disabilities at an orphanage. Some children were unable to move, others were strapped to the bed, and few could barely interact with people.

The orphanage is called Casa de Luz, meaning house of light. Even though it was hard to communicate with the kids in the orphanage, they just enjoyed having their hand held or their back rubbed.

Closing their ministry on Saturday, the team went to a church where a Saturday night Easter service was held. They led four worship songs for the congregation, and most experienced a different style of worship they have never witnessed.

On Easter Sunday the team was able to travel to the YWAM Dominican Republic base. Here they were able to debrief their trip and prepare for their entry back into the United States.

The most impactful reality for many students is that their mission work isn’t a one time stop, but an ongoing relationship that Hillcrest has developed for the glory of Christ.

Junior Senior Banquet

Ms. Fisher Departs with Purpose Eddie Jiang| Staff Reporter Hillcrest is fortunate to have Ms. Kara Fisher in the math department this year. Graduating from UND as a math teacher, Ms. Fisher is not only a standout swimmer, she is also an excellent math teacher. Her time at Hillcrest is drawing to a close as she leaves to pursue her dream in research.

Next year, Ms. Fisher will attend Drexel University in Philadelphia. A private research university, Drexel enables students do more in their studies. Ms. Fisher will use her degree in mathematics to propel her in the research field as a graduate student.

Ms. Fisher is studying epidemiology, continuing her education at Drexel. Epidemiology is the science that studies patterns, causes and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. Ms. Fisher would like to obtain a masters degree in epidemiology, as well as public health.

Hillcrest’s Student Activities Center transforms into an auditorium during the month of May; allowing special events like the Junior-Senior banquet and an all-school worship night before graduation festivities.

Brandon Doering | Staff Reporter The Junior-Senior (JS) banquet is always a highlight at Hillcrest. Allowing students to bond and grow together as a student body, the banquet honors the senior class as friends join together for the celebratory evening.

Students charge their phones and clear memory from their digital cameras, snapping pictures, chatting with friends and enjoying the themed decorations for the night of celebration. But the evening in Hillcrest’s gym would be dull if students just attended a ceremony in a gym with bleachers. Behind all the fun and excitement of JS, there is a host of careful planning by a lot of people who are dedicated to making JS a night to remember.

Student council advisor Gaylen Peterson supervises planning and production of JS. A challenge getting everyone to decide on a common idea, Mr. Peterson directs dreams and wishes to a tangible event and many marvel as the evening comes together.

When asked what the most crucial part of planning for JS is, Mr. Peterson said, “Unifying the vision, because once everyone is content and on the same page, everything comes together pretty efficiently.” He noted times when the balance was not struck and the process was not smooth, but comments that this year has been a good one.

Another part of the planning that can be a bit choppy at times for the students involved is working so closely with each other. Sometimes conflicts can arise that serve to nearly derail the process that goes into JS, but as Jeehoon Park, junior class Vice President noted, “This year has been going well. Everyone is cooperating well and are willing to work in the different jobs that have been given to them.” Everyone was willing to compromise a bit, and input and ideas from the class were considered in order to make the planning and event enjoyable.

One of the major things that the juniors have to plan would be who to have as the night’s speaker.

One of the first steps in the process is brainstorming and trying to decide, “Who do we want to hear from?” Once the class has narrowed it down to a few different choices, a committee is formed in order to narrow it down to about two or three people. At this point contacts are made. This year they chose Mr. Peterson as the JS speaker, and he is excited about getting to speak. He said, “I’ve got some things that I am glad to be able to say.”

One thing that is going to a bit different this year would be where the nightly activities are going to be held. For the past eight years, they have been held at the Perham Area Community Center (PACC), but this year another school’s prom reserved it. So this year, they had to find a good alternative, and they did. They found the Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center (DLCCC), which was available that night, and offered a comparable alternative. It has a large pool with water slide, a gym, and large indoor “jungle gym/playground” of sorts. “It is going to be a different, but fun time,” said Mr. Peterson.

All of these things that took careful planning will make for a fun evening. An evening that again, is the highlight of many a junior or senior’s year.

So as each of the people attending enjoy the evening, remember the careful planning and preparation that went into the night.

As one of the best math teachers, Ms. Fisher is leaving because of her unavoidable interest and passion in public health. She notes that “there will be a lot of community based work,” something that is clearly a mission of Hillcrest Academy, propeling students and staff to impact their local community for Jesus Christ.

Ms. Fisher has been a great teacher this year at Hillcrest. She will always be recognized as one of the best and youngest math teachers that Hillcrest has ever had, as noted by Tov Ramberg who commented, “I feel bad for those who are missing out on consumer math with Ms. Fisher.” Students and teachers are grateful for Ms. Fisher’s service. She will be missed next year, but not forgotten, as a math teacher who made an impact at Hillcrest this year.

NHS Serves Food Shelf Jonathan Eckhardt| Staff Reporter Students from the Hillcrest National Honor Society (NHS) chapter volunteered at the Fergus Falls Community Food Shelf on Wednesday. NHS is a group made up of students who not only excel academically, but that also are active in helping their community and honorable in whatever they do.

NHS members conduct volunteer work on their own, but chapter leader Ruth Juliot also arranges group volunteer opportunities. Volunteering at the Community Food Shelf and Salvation Army bell ringing are two of the traditional ways NHS students serve.

The Fergus Falls Community Food Shelf is a volunteer run program providing families with meals for three days once every month. Families are supplied with the basics, foods like eggs, milk and bread, and other easy meals that are also healthy. The food shelf serves an average five hundred and fifty families per month, and has nearly one thousand pounds of food in their store all the time. Last year they distributed six hundred and fifteen thousand pounds of food, meaning they cleared their supply six hundred and fifteen times.

The food shelf has consistent volunteers to help with distribution, but they look forward to the NHS vists as they clean defrosting freezers, dirtied windows and floors.

After cleaning untouched areas of the food shelf, the NHS stocks shelves and stores empty boxes, clearing the way for more food. |3

Nhi Nguyen and Janaya Caines pose at a Chicago museum during the Chicago Field Experience.

Chicago Field Experience Eddie Jiang | Staff Reporter

Kat, and her friend Lydia, relax at the playground of an orphanage for students with disabilities.

The impact of this experience propelled Kat to the mission field through Youth with a Mission.

Kat Senum Testimony Elisabeth Peterson | Staff Reporter Kat Senum, a senior this year at Hillcrest, had the opportunity of traveling to the Dominican Republic with her class during Easter Break.

Her reason for going on the mission trip was to share the hope of salvation in the Lord with people in desperate need. “I wanted to be sent out and used by the Lord to bring glory to His name,” she reasoned.

“I was expecting to see poverty and poor conditions,” Kat noted, reflecting upon her thoughts prior to the week. However, to go along with her desire to go down and spread the love of Christ, she added, “Even though they are poor in material wealth, they are very rich in spirit.”

Once the team arrived in the DR, Kat explained how right away that night they began ministering on a basketball court across from the mission house. “I was overwhelmed with joy, excitement, and energy. I’ve never been so excited to be sweaty and tired.” She also covered the fear of the language barrier, but immediately added that the Lord didn’t allow that stumbling block to stop them.

“The Dominican people were so welcoming, inviting us into their homes no matter the condition,” Kat mentioned. “And we would speak, but it was God who moved.” Regarding the evangelizing, Kat commented on how important the smallest games and interactions were - the chances to prove to the children that they cared. “God was working through our attitudes and ability to approach the kids and relate with them.”

“The boys stepped up their game over the trip,” Kat noted. “The whole team was very encouraging and nobody ever complained. Quincey Circo stepped in a huge pile of horse poop and was able to laugh about it.” She went onto explain the significance about the team by adding how well everyone worked together as a small group who easily fit onto one bus. Kat explained how even the translators became like family by the end of the week.

The most eye opening part about the trip for Kat 4|

was the orphanage. She had never thought of not being able to run with the children, or hold them in her arms. At the orphanage, that specifically housed handicapped children, the team saw children in twisted conditions. Apart from the disabilities, Kat pointed out the smiles these children still had on their faces.

Kat was able to connect with one girl, specifically. Her name was Lydia, an 11-year-old with Down’s Syndrome. “I never had the eyes to see what they were going through, but I was able to be there to see her just want to help and be a friend to everyone.” Kat described how helpful and joyful Lydia was regardless of her condition, and acknowledged the strong impact Lydia and the others in the orphanage had on her. “Lydia doesn’t have the opportunities I do. I’ve never had anything physically or mentally holding me back. But she just pushed through her setbacks despite it all.” The two new friends were able to spend hours together, playing and laughing. As difficult as the goodbyes were at the end of the day, Kat rests in the hope of seeing Lydia again, ultimately in Heaven - restored, with no barriers of language or anything else.

Many will agree that such a mission trip experience would be “eye-opening”. However, Kat declared how life-changing the week was.

Through the Dominican culture, she learned to be herself. Through their worship, she learned that it’s not about what others think, because, she noted, “it’s my praise to the Lord.” Even as she prepares for graduation and her future, suddenly she’s been able to take on a new perspective. In a pursuit aimed to glorify God, Kat is leaning toward a YWAM program and a degree in elementary/special education.

“We’re all being sent out. Now I refuse to just sit and watch. I want to end up wherever the will of God leads me - being a disciple on whatever mission field it is that He leads me to.”

Beautiful buildings light up the night sky in Chicago while students travel through museums as part of Hillcrest’s Chicago Field Experience. The night sky viewed from Willis Tower started the tour, which included the Creation Museum, Adler Planetarium and the Museum of Science and Industry.

The Chicago trip called students to face questions ranging from the creation of life to how the Earth was formed.

One of the group’s favorite museums was the Creation Museum. The Christian perspective of evidence many students saw in Chicago gave the group a Biblical understanding of history and science. Topics like space, anatomy, and Creation fulfilled students’ expectations of learning more about God and the Bible on the science trip. Students left the museum asking what the Big Bang really looked like and why secular scientists alter the fossils like Lucy the ape, presented at the Field Museum in Chicago.

Students also visited the Argonne Laboratory, which studies many different kinds of technology.

The Argonne Laboratory uses solar panels to create energy, powering street lights on the Argonne property. Argonne provides opportunities for college students to use the laboratories to develop more ways to help people. Argonne’s focus is energy efficiency, using specialized equipment to harness electric power.

A highlight for many students was the Museum of Science and Industry’s You Experience. The group watched a short video documenting babies’ development inside mothers’ wombs. The exhibit also included a display of baby fetuses that documented each developmental stage of a baby, showing babies’ growth pattern from conception to full-term birth.

The entire experience, viewing the world from a secular and Christian perspective, gave students a strong apologetic to how the world changes depending on the interpretation of evidence.

This edition of the HLA TODAY features highlights of the staff recalling the first semester.

Staff Elisabeth Peterson Brandon Doering Quincey Circo Jonathan Eckhardt Amanda Doiron Eddie Jiang The HLA TODAY is published inconjunction with Hillcrest’s Journalism class