By Sommerly Simser, Student Reporter
Four ACU students spent their Saturday, from sunrise to sunset, in a tree in front of Nelson Hall.
With a sign hanging on the trunk and a money jar sitting on a table adjacent to the tree, the sitting paid off – the students raised more than $280 for various mission trips the tree sitters will be going on this summer.
“I just thought it would be a really unique way to raise money,” said Cecilia Clowdus, junior psychology major from Hurst. “And I’ve never sat in a tree before.”
Clowdus will be going to Paris this summer with World-Wide Witness and said she needs to raise about $2,300.
“I’m passed the halfway point in raising money for my internship,” Clowdus said.
Haley Dilling, junior marketing major from Vero Beach, Fla., came up with the idea of having a tree-a-thon to raise money.
“The idea just popped in my head one day,” Dilling said. “I attribute the idea to God.”
Dilling will be going to Choluteca, Honduras, with Mission Lazarus this summer. Dilling said she needs to raise $3,000; so far she has raised $1,100.
She will be one of eight interns and will be able to rotate through all different aspects of ministry, including working in a medical clinic and an orphanage.
“I will be able to introduce people to Jesus and learn a lot while I’m there,” Dilling said.
Clowdus agreed that her mission trip should be a learning experience as well.
“I’m really hoping for God to change me and that I can learn to share Christ in a culture I’ve never been in,” Clowdus said.
Several people walked by the tree, noticed the big sign and stopped to ask questions or donate money. And the onlookers’ attention did not go unnoticed.
“It’s been really encouraging when they stop by and talk to us,” Dilling said.
The most popular question Dilling and Clowdus said they heard was how they went to the bathroom. Their response was simple:
“We take quick breaks to use the restroom,” Clowdus said. “The tree is never abandoned though, and we don’t abuse the
bathroom privilege.”
With a few dollars raised and a good response, these aspiring missionaries are now closer to funding their trips.
“This has been a big learning experience, putting myself out there like this,” Dilling said. “We’ve talked about doing another one next weekend.”
