Fall enrollment drops 5.1 percent Final numbers due out Oct. 15 ASHLEY MORALES Executive Editor KC’s 12th day enrollment has decreased 5.1 percent from this same time last year. As of the 12th class day, Sept. 11, total enrollment is 5,920, compared to 6,238 Fall 2012.
“We still have to go through the attendance verification process for financial aid,” said Staci Martin, registrar. Adjustments will cause headcount to fluctuate over the next few weeks. Final numbers will be determined by the state Oct. 15.
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Tory Van Blarcum / THE FLARE
O. Rufus Lovett / SPECIAL TO THE FLARE
The Flare From
Friday, September 20, 2013 Vol. 77 No. 3 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
across the pond
Amy Hodge and sons Ian, Charlie and Andrew stop for a photo at the South Kensington Underground station in west London.
Hodge and her husband, Nathan, at Hadrian’s Wall. The wall stretches across the north of England from the west Cumbrian Roman coastal defences at Ravenglass, on to South Shields.
Hodge’s uses her iPhone to access Bible apps. Hodge is the director of the Wesley Foundation on campus.
The Hodge family at Central Methodist Church in York, England. Nathan Hodge preached at this church as part of the exchange.
Wesley director spends summer in England CHRISTINE RITTER Staff Writer
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Hodge with her sons Ian, Charlie and Andrew location for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy in the Harry Potter series.
Amy Hodge / ALL PHOTOS COURTESY TO THE FLARE
Hodge and her husband, Nathan, stand in front of the prehistoric monument, Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England
Sonia Garza / THE FLARE
he Rev. Amy Hodge was 19 when she learned about the pastor-exchange program. Her pastor went through the program and brought back photos of his experience. When she looked through them she knew she wanted to go through the program, too. Hodge, director of the Wesley Foundation, and her family experienced a new culture and spiritual perspective when they participated in a pastor-exchange program in England this past summer. The Hodge family had a long wait to engage in the program, because there are more American pastors than British pastors available. Her husband signed up three years ago and was notified of acceptance in 2012. Unfortunately, the family they were paired up with was in the process of moving. The Hodges decided to stay with the same exchange family and wait another year to take the trip. The family would swap places with the Rev. Andy Lindley’s family and stay in their home in York, England while the Lindleys made Hallsville their home for the next four weeks. In planning, the Hodges looked over travel books together and marked places they wanted to visit. They also prepared spiritually by praying for the other pastor and his family and saved their money. The Hodges had to cover travel expenses themselves, so they cut down on luxuries. “We had to cut back on a lot of things such as no soft drinks from Sonic, and we didn’t take any big family trips,” Hodge said. All that saving paid off when they were on the plane and on the way to England. When they arrived at the British pastor’s house, it was smaller than their own. The size of the refrigerator was shocking to
Hodge. “The fridge was what we consider a mini fridge,” Hodge said. “We had to shop every few days to keep it stocked.” Hodge said that the most difficult thing was not being able to use their cellphones, because they had no service. The family had to rely on maps and asking bystanders for directions. After a few days, they were able to get service back by purchasing a SIM card. With the card they were able to use their phones normally and make calls in England for no extra cost. There was more challenges settling in, and driving continued See HODGE on Page 3
Amy Hodge / COURTESY TO THE FLARE
The Lindleys from York, England switched lives with the Hodges for four weeks. They stand at the entrance of their family home where the Hodge family stayed while in England. Andy, Jo, Hannah and Thomas.