The Carson Center

Ten Tabor College students will be fully immersed into the fascinating culture of India during Interterm, from January 8 to 27.

According to Tabor Provost Dr. Lawrence Ressler, the trip is designed to generally introduce students to Indian culture. More specifically, they will be introduced to the inspiring work of the Indian Mennonite Brethren in the Andra Pradesh region of India. Students will be challenged to think globally as they engage with a wide variety of people and situations in another culture.

“This trip is one of the most life-transforming experiences one can imagine,” said Ressler, who has been to India numerous times. “The sights, sounds, smells, and tastes moves students out of their comfort zone. The exposure to the poverty forces them to think about things they generally take for granted. The passion for faith the students will see in the Indian Christians will inspire them in their own Christian walk.”

Tabor students visit the Taj Mahal during a previous trip to India.

The first week will be spent at the Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College in Shamshabad. Tabor students will have the opportunity to get to know Indian culture by living with students in the dorms.

The Tabor contingent also will bring donations collected from the college’s faculty and staff at Christmas, enough to pay the tuition for three students at Centenary Bible College for the year.

“This experience is quite likely to break the cultural barriers that come from lack of familiarity with people from other countries,” Ressler said. “On the last trip, it a mouse that emerged from luggage in one of the dorms was the catalyst. The unwelcome guest led to universal shrieks of all the women in the room, providing the awareness that they were not so different after all.”

The second week, the students will go to different areas where they will be hosted by families and help with church activities.

This year’s group will be led by Dr. Del Gray, Assistant Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies. Before their departure to India, the students were required to read and write a paper about the Bhagavad Gita, the most famous excerpt from Hindu Scriptures. Each student will keep a journal with entries for each day of the trip, and upon returning to campus, will write papers on Indian culture as well as their personal reflections and experiences.

The trip is part of the ongoing work of The Carson Center, a Tabor-based foundation which promotes mission, service, and global education around the world.

India has been a special interest of The Carson Center since its inception in 2005, enabling Tabor to develop a relationship with churches, educators and business professionals in India. This is the sixth time in four years that representatives from Tabor have visited Shamshabad. Three students or faculty from India have visited Tabor during that same time.

Trip participants include: Talia Doerksen, Prescott Valley, Ariz.; Jordan Funk, Wichita, Kan.; Kayla Gershon, Littleton, Colo.; Thaddeus Jarosz, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Jessica Perrault, Westminster, Colo.; Rebecca Steketee, Hillsboro, Kan.; Logan Stranghoner, Wichita, Kan.; Michael Suderman, Hillsboro, Kan.; Kayla Vix, Maize, Kan.; Andrew Wiens, Topeka, Kan.; and Dr. Del Gray.