Katie Timmerman spent spring break on Dordt College mission project

2011 Apr 6

Katie Timmerman of George, Iowa, spent spring break in Shiprock, N.M., while participating in PLIA (Putting Love Into Action), a mission program with Dordt College. Timmerman is a sophomore majoring in art: graphic design.

The goal of PLIA is to share Christ's love with people in diverse communities; to challenge participants to adopt a more service-oriented lifestyle; and to assist and encourage the growth of ministry centers with which they work.

Shiprock is located on a Navajo Nation Reservation, the largest reservation in the U.S. Dordt PLIA team members were surprised by the variety of odd jobs the pastor of the local Christian Reformed church was responsible for each week including serving as the janitor, technician, driver, landscaper, and much more. They helped bear the load by cleaning up weeds and planting tomatoes. They also did some painting in the community and helped out in an elementary school.

While hiking a trail at the Grand Canyon, the Shiprock team had a frightening experience when a large rock fell only about six feet from the group. "God protected us that day," said Katie Watt, a junior.

The overall experience at Shiprock left lasting impressions. Feije de Boer, a Dordt senior, said, "It gave me hope; hope that redemption is possible and that the church universal is alive."

This year 135 students from Dordt College spent their spring break serving others. Groups of seven to ten students participated in PLIA, traveling to one of 15 locations in the U.S. and Canada. Teams went to Denver, Colo.; Grand Junction, Colo.; Atlanta, Ga.; Neon, Ky.; New Orleans, La.; Cary, Miss.; Jackson, Miss.; Mendenhall, Miss.; Bozeman, Mont.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Camden, N.J.; Shiprock, N.M.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Ansted, W.Va.; and Toronto, Canada.

To learn about the projects that the other teams participated in, visit www.dordt.edu.