Concordia University, Nebraska

A 16-member team from Concordia University, Nebraska completed a medical mission trip to Guatemala May 22-30. The mission team held medical clinics in two cities, El Progreso and Quebrada de Agua, providing health assessments and medicine for the villagers. Additionally, team members taught children hand washing and other hygiene techniques. The team also built stoves in seven homes with the aim of providing safer methods for cooking. According to Dr. Jennifer Janousek, director of Concordia's public health program and leader of the trip, most people in the villages cook over open fires, which causes respiratory problems and takes a toll on the environment. "What a blessing it was to share my heart and passion of mission work in Guatemala with these amazing students. I pray the people of Guatemala felt God's love as we served in this capacity," said Janousek. Team members shared Bible stories, songs and books with the villagers and spent some time hiking Pacaya Volcano in the mountains of Antigua. The mission team was made up of students from Concordia's Global Health class as well as two professors and a local doctor. The Concordia University, Nebraska student(s) from your area who completed the medical mission trip to Guatemala are:

Five hundred and eighty-five undergraduate and graduate degrees, diplomas and certificates were awarded at Concordia University, Nebraska's 105th commencement on May 5, the most in Concordia's 118-year history. Alumni class members of 1962, celebrating their golden reunion, led the processional in the Walz Human Performance Complex. "This marks the largest number of degrees awarded in Concordia's 118-year history," said Concordia President Brian Friedrich. "What's better is Concordia's placement recordaEUR"96 percent of our graduates have gained employment within six months of graduation at a time when 50 percent of the nation's graduates are unemployed or underemployed. We are proud we continue to grow the number of graduates serving and leading in the church and every sector of the workforce." Undergraduates earning degrees from Concordia were eligible for distinction or high distinction honors. Up to 10 percent of those who earned, at minimum, a 3.75 GPA were designated as graduating with high distinction. An additional 15 percent of those who earned degrees with a minimum 3.5 GPA were graduated with distinction. Departmental awards were also announced. The following are Concordia University, Nebraska graduates from your area:

Nine Concordia University, Nebraska students recently returned from a mission trip to Hong Kong, China, May 9-20. The trip served as an opportunity for the students to teach about God at churches and primary schools around Hong Kong. Throughout the trip, the Concordia mission team traveled to churches and primary schools to teach Sunday School, lead assemblies, converse with students during recess times and participate in worship services. Even though some of the activities and church services were given in the Cantonese language, the team felt language was not a barrier. "It is so exciting to know that wherever we go, no matter what we look like or sound like, we serve the same God," said Hannah Uden, a member of the mission team, about meetings with fellow Christians. The team also had the chance to stay with host families in Hong Kong and get a sense of what it's like to live there every day. "The visit enlightened our perspectives on the Chinese way of living, as well as our own," said Lydia Pomerenke, a member of the team. "We came to the conclusion that the two cultures, Chinese and American, are not so different." The Concordia mission team prepared for the trip by holding fundraisers. They held a raffle for students to win a home-cooked meal, and they sponsored a 5k run/walk in April. The team also completed training through recorded DVD sessions and manuals from The Lutheran ChurchaEUR"Missouri Synod World Mission program. To read more and view photos from the trip, visit the team's blog at http://missiontohongkong-cune.blogspot.com. Student missionaries from your area include: