DBU Takes Two Groups to Spain

DBU provides students with many travel and service opportunities on University Hill. This summer, DBU sent a group of Ford Village students on a sightseeing/mission trip, and a few weeks later, a group of female students traveled to Denia, Spain, to serve with Alfa y Omega. Alfa y Omega is one of the only Christian schools in Spain, and many unbelievers enroll in school and summer camps each year. DBU's Assistant Director for Missions and Ministry Engagement, Jenni Harwood, led both trips. Reflecting on her time in Spain this summer, she shared, "Alfa y Omega is a standing reminder of God's faithfulness over time. Getting to hear their story and partner with them is an honor."

During the Ford Village trip, the students explored the vibrant cities of Barcelona, Valencia, Calpe, Javea, and Denia, immersing deeply into Spain's culture and history. The students visited Europe's largest aquarium in Valencia, watched a flamenco show in Barcelona, and hiked a mountain next to the Mediterranean Sea. Lizeth Marmolejo Chapa, a DBU student on the trip, was blessed to share a devotional with the volunteers at Alfa y Omega. "As soon as I entered the school, it filled me with joy. The directors and staff make everyone feel like family, and the environment there is full of love and a passion to serve the Lord."

The second trip consisted of female DBU students traveling to Spain to serve at Alfa y Omega for the entire week. Many kids who have never heard the Gospel attend summer camps and programs similar to VBS at the school. DBU's group focused on spending time with the kids as they hosted an Olympic-themed camp with rotations in crafts, sports, and Bible stories.

Juliette Love, a DBU master's student on the trip, shared, "We had to be very strategic in explaining the Gospel because almost none of the kids spoke English or had any church background. We asked the kids if they had ever heard the name Jesus Christ or had a Bible at home, and maybe 3 or 4 had out of the large group. It was challenging but also encouraging that we had the opportunity to share the light and plant seeds in their hearts." Juliette continued, "Being able to teach the gospel to kids who have never heard of Jesus was incredibly impactful and beautiful and has renewed my passion for missions."

Both groups visited with DBU alumna Shelby Weatherly at Alfa y Omega. Shelby, a 2018 and 2023 DBU graduate who previously served as the Director of Global Missions at DBU, fell in love with Alfa y Omega during a trip to Spain as an undergraduate student. After graduation, Shelby returned to Spain, where she met her future husband, Tyler. The Lord led Shelby and Tyler to get married and move to Spain to work full-time at Alfa y Omega, where they now lead the school's international Christian volunteer program. Shelby translated the story of Alfa y Omega for the DBU students as one of the school's directors, Hugo, shared how it was founded by some of the first Christian missionaries in Spain. "I was encouraged by Shelby's testimony and the work that the Lord has been faithful in blessing the ministry of Alfa y Omega and that we got to be a small part of the story that God is writing there," Juliette continued.

Jenni felt incredibly blessed to lead two remarkable trips to Spain. She shared, "DBU trips are special because, for many of these students, this is their first time experiencing another culture. The mission trips are particularly transformative as they push students out of their comfort zones, fostering deep, meaningful engagement with new cultures. I am grateful to travel with students around the world not so that they can expand their horizons for intellectual or social gain but so that they can see the Kingdom of God spread across places and people groups."

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Are you interested in attending a DBU mission trip? Learn more about DBU's service opportunities, or email Jenni Harwood for more information.