Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Fall 2013 Issue | Page 27

Tangible Work through Disaster Relief
Michele Braithwaite
Campus ministries are ideally suited for mission trips. The Rev.
Brian Turner, chaplain of Canterbury Ministry at the University
of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, says his students have a
tradition of a spring break trip each year, alternating between a
mission trip and an international pilgrimage trip. George Mason
University’s interdenominational Arise Campus Ministry says
mission service is a big focus. “It’s a tangible place where we
can really help,” says the Rev. Mark Montgomery, director.

So it’s no wonder that 4 ½ months after Hurricane Sandy,
these two campus ministries made plans to do recovery work
during their March spring breaks. That’s how they found
themselves in New York taking a crash course in mold, and
experiencing the lessons of ministry.
Canterbury Ministry was in the
Rockaways, working with Respond &
Rebuild, a group recommended by
Members of the team from Arise
the Diocese of Long Island. R&R
Campus Ministry (above) spent
specializes in mold remediation,
their spring breaks working on four
so the four students and
houses that had not been touched
their chaplain spent their
since the October 2012 hurricane.
week on one house, decked
out in Tyvek suits and face
The group from the Canterbury
masks and wielding wire
Ministry at the University of Mary
brushes to attack the mold.
Washington (left) worked wi Ѡ