Tag: spring break

Categories
News

Czech Republic Mission Trip

Courtesy of Cindy Austin
By Victoria Hock

Houghton students were busy over Spring Break. Some went on vacation, some traveled for sports training, others relaxed at home, and then there were the Eight Houghton students (including one December graduate) who went on a mission trip to the Czech Republic.

This trip was run through Global Partners, which, according to their official website, is an organization that works towards “Amplifying local church mission for global transformation.” 

Junior Sarah Rider was one of the students who traveled on the trip, noting that group members “all learned so much about the importance of authentic relationship building as a part of starting and growing churches.” 

Rider further adds that attendees had the opportunity to learn “about the history of Czech culture,” and that they were able to meet and make friends with a lot of Czech people, who she described as “wonderful.”

Students on the mission trip were hosted by two Houghton alumni, Kevin and Cindy Austin. 

Senior Kendra Evans, another mission trip attendee, commented on the impact the Austins had, stating, “Both of them have shared extreme hospitality with our team while we were in the Czech Republic.”

Junior Hope Willert, another student who went on the mission trip, also shared the impact that the Austins had on their trip. 

“We got to see a lot of what missions look like for them, which we learned is based primarily on building relationships and sharing the faith through them.”

 Students had the opportunity to participate in many different activities while on the mission trip. “We visited local schools, helped out at a church youth event, had Czech lessons, traveled to three different cities (including Prague!), tried lots of Czech foods, and so much more,” says Willert.

Evans noted that students were able to visit places like Pogêbrody, Kutna Hora, and Brno, in addition to Prague. She also added that they were able to assist with a conversation club to teach English to adults in Brno, as well as a “youth hangout with high schoolers.”

Helping out with a few Christian organizations was another opportunity that Evans mentioned.

“It was great to see and help the Christian organizations in the Czech Republic,” says Evans, “Mijak (which means lighthouse in Czech) and Remedy (a church of twenty people). Christianity is kept on the down low due to the Czech Republic having the highest concentration of those who do not associate themselves with a religion.”

Evans also discussed that they saw “the effects of the war in Ukraine,” and they became friends with Ukrainian Refugees.

Overall, attendees seem to be in agreement that they were positively impacted by their mission trip, with Willert stating that after talking with the people who went on the mission trip, she feels that they “have all been changed for the better because of this experience.” She further added that “God clearly worked through the people there to open our eyes to the new culture and the missions field there. Coming home, we are all inspired to find more ways in our lives where we can serve God in both big and small ways.” ★

Categories
News

Baseball Teams Heads to Florida for Championship

This past spring break provided time for the Houghton Men’s Baseball team to embark on the 26-hour drive from campus to Florida to participate in The RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.  The week-long trip was an opportunity for the team to build relationships between each other and test their skills on the field.  Ten games were scheduled; however one junior varsity game was rained out. A total of eight varsity games were played as well as one junior varsity game for freshman and sophomores.

Up to this point the baseball team had only participated in scrimmages.  The tournament consisted of mostly northern college baseball teams and was intended to provide extra playing time for an otherwise short season.  It also gives players the chance to encounter scenarios that do not surface while practicing indoors.

Having participated in the tournament two years previously, with a beginning record of 1-7, the team is excited about this year’s record of 4-4.

rp_primary_IMG_5194Pitcher and DH Seth Cornell, a junior, remarks on the team saying, “We have improved every year and it’s nice to see that we compete.”

Coach Brian Reitnour says, “The team was competitive in all the games and this gives us a look at the big picture in order to move in the right direction for the upcoming season.” Reitnour points to the two home runs and two triples by freshman Tommy Walker as just one example of the type of playing exhibited by Houghton during the tournament.

The trip involved many activities for the baseball team besides the tournament itself.  Just one example was the parents’ cookout that was held for family that travelled to see the team compete. Additionally, the team held a worship service for a time of praise and testimony, spotlighting players such as Mike Kerr and Kevin Cassar in which teammates were able to see each other in a more vulnerable light.  They were also able to spend time bonding during a Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins game where two home run balls were caught.

For freshman Joe Gilligan, the trip gave him just a small look at the camaraderie shared between the players.  Gilligan says, “I thank my teammates for making this such a great experience.”

This season’s team consists of 12 returning players, 17 new players, and no seniors.  Being such a young team means that they are “not experienced yet at such a level, but have a lot of promise,” says Reitnour.

Watching the players grow into new roles on the team, especially those who have been on the team since its start three years ago, has been exciting for Coach Reitnour.  He says, “the guys teach each other academically, socially, and athletically.”

With such a team, Reitnour added that, “they play for something more than themselves, making it more meaningful individually and collectively.”

Categories
Sports

Softball and Baseball Teams Travel to Florida

While many students are headed home to celebrate the week off of classes, the baseball and softball players are headed to sunny Florida. Both teams leave this weekend and will return to New York early on Easter weekend.

Courtesy of athletics.houghton.edu
Courtesy of athletics.houghton.edu

Due to the weather conditions, the softball team has yet to play their first game in the new conference. Both teams have been practicing in the gym because the fields are covered in snow.

“[Going to Florida] is a chance for us to improve, to get out of the snow, to play consistently, and to play better. I think we are already playing better now than we did last year. But we need to continue to improve,” said baseball coach Brian Reitnour. “I think one of the things that Florida does for us is it gives us an opportunity to get outside because it is very difficult now to see fly balls and live pitching every day.”

“Our games have been cancelled, so it will be nice to get them out on the dirt, on real grass. It will be good for them to see the game because for half of them it is their first time playing in a collegiate game,” said softball coach Jeremy Shepherd. “We are just looking forward to them getting those first couple games under their belts.”

The schedule looks considerably different for both teams this year. Due to the new conference, the baseball and softball teams will be playing other teams recognized by NCAA division III.

“We are playing some really difficult teams. Our last day of spring break we finish with Luther who is ranked third in the country…so that will be a test,” said Shepherd. “And right when we get back we get Ithaca on that Saturday and right now they are ranked 15th in the country.”

“I think we will be better this year than last year now that we have experienced playing with each other,” said senior Jacob Kocher. “So we have pretty high expectations for Florida this year now that we have been there and done the same thing.”

Both teams plan to have a service on Good Friday as they will be in Florida over the weekend. The softball team will return to Houghton early on Easter Sunday so some players will go home with their teammates.

“We get in on Monday, we practice. We play on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Friday we will have a service with family members…our players, and coaches,” said Reitnour. “It’s a little bit of an atypical year because on when Easter falls, we typically would have ten days in Florida. So it just looks a little different.”

The women have Wednesday off and will have the opportunity to take advantage of the different amusement parks in the area, such as Disney, MGM and Universal Studios. The men will have some time to head to the beach or the different amusement parks after they finish playing, and they also intend to do a service project while in Florida.

“A lot of the trip is that it is a great bonding experience. It is an opportunity for us to live out the mission of Houghton athletics,” said Reitnour. “It’s about more than just baseball and more than just our team. It is an act of worship and it is a ministry.”

“We are expecting some tough games, but as far as Coach told us, we have a good chance to win some,” said sophomore Ashley Popp. “It should be a lot of fun and I’m really looking forward to it because I just want to see the sun!”