This is the ninth in a series of blogs written by alumni of the Student.Go program. This year Student.Go is celebrating 10 years of providing summer and semester missions service opportunities for college and graduate students in locations all over the world.
This blog is written by Allyson Wisdom Vamplew who served through Student.Go in Washington, DC during 2007 and 2008.
As a senior at the University of Georgia majoring in Special Education, I knew I did not want to go straight into teaching. God had put on my heart to serve in the mission field and I had a strong sense of peace that He was guiding my steps. A trusted mentor and friend suggested the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s mission opportunities. Throughout the interview process, I felt God calling me to stay in the United States. I felt convicted that our country was and is in need of a Savior just as much as any other country. God opened the door for me to go through Student.Go to work at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.
For 2 years I was able to love on, minister to, and befriend 70 local DC youth through an after school program called Horizons Club and also work on the Calvary Baptist Staff. The two years I spent in DC I would never trade for any other experience. God did great things in my life and in the lives of those around me.
Allyson and some of the Horizon Club girls
I believe there is a huge learning curve in the years after college, and even more so when you are in a brand new city surrounded by brand new people. By God’s grace and mercy, He guided me every step of the way as I walked with students through pregnancies, drug use, poverty, self-inflicting pain, abuse, and loss. Many times I felt that God was teaching me more through them than I was teaching them myself. In the midst of heartache, we also got to experience many joys and create unforgettable memories. Through trips to New York City and Atlanta, some of the students were able to see life outside of DC and expand their goals and dreams.
While at Horizons Club after school, we laughed, played basketball, rapped, and listen to music often. Our team of volunteers and myself also taught them the joy of serving others. It was an incredible experience to watch them bring a smile to other people’s faces. We used these and many other similar experiences to guide them towards a relationship with Christ and show them where our hope came from.
Many students captured pieces of my heart during those two years and I am forever grateful for the time God gave me in DC. Short-term mission trips are valuable for many reasons, but an experience through Student.Go is life-changing, for you and for the people you serve.
Allyson Wisdom Vamplew