While much can be learned in classrooms here on campus, one of the best parts of the Olivet Nazarene University experience is the lessons gained when students engage with cultures and communities around the world.
Madison Zeldenrust
Sharing Communication and Faith in Guatemala
For senior Madison Zeldenrust, a mission trip to Guatemala didn’t just mark her first trip outside the United States. It changed her life. 
“I came full of nerves — I didn’t speak much Spanish and didn’t feel equipped to teach communications,” she says. “But God showed me that age or experience doesn’t matter. He uses whoever comes to Him willingly, and He did more than I could ask or imagine.”
Led by Brian Utter ’81, Shine.FM station manager, and Dr. Heather McLaughlin, chair of the Department of Communication, the Olivet Nazarene University team stayed at a Nazarene seminary in Guatemala City. After exploring the city, they prepared for a communications camp attended by people from across Central America — Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras — who learned social media, public speaking, podcasting, photography and storytelling to strengthen their home churches.
Other trip members included senior Ava Tueck, sophomore David Gonzalez and sophomore Camden Koester; Shine.FM development officer Abbey Bennet ’23; and graduate assistant Maori Brown ’24.
The trip concluded in Cobán, where the group visited a remote children’s ministry in a village without running water or electricity. Madison recalls teaching a young boy to say “blue” in English. It was a moment that showed how technology bridges language gaps and God’s love crosses every barrier.
Worshipping in three languages around a campfire and witnessing joy amid hardship reminded Madison of Zechariah 14:9: “The Lord will be king over the whole earth. … There will be one Lord, and His name the only name.”
“Trips like this push you out of your comfort zone and deepen your reliance on Christ — physically, spiritually and relationally,” she says. “It changed my life and my Olivet experience for the better.”
Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf
Papua New Guinea
In continued partnership and research, Olivet students and faculty spent a month at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea, dividing their efforts among engineering projects, scientific research and medical shadowing with missionary doctors.
The team included seniors Sadie Blaszczyk, Jaxon Snyder and Emily Neel; recent graduates Will Brown ’25 and Lucy Martinson ’25; and professors Dr. Nicole Vander Schaaf, Dr. Aggie Veld and Dr. Michael Wade.
One highlight was performing lifesaving HPV testing to detect cervical cancer early. Several women who tested positive for cancer-causing HPV were able to receive early treatment, likely saving their lives. The team also confronted difficult realities, including treating victims of violence, which underscored the urgent need for Christ’s hope in the world.
For Dr. Vander Schaaf, these trips are always meaningful because she sees how students develop a broader worldview, witness God’s vast creation, and grow in reliance on Him while learning to steward their gifts for Kingdom work.
“This trip was a profound reminder of how truly blessed we are — not just with material resources but with knowledge and opportunity,” Dr. Vander Schaaf says. “Yet, what moved me most was witnessing the incredible generosity and joy of the people we met — despite having so little. It challenged me personally to live more generously and trust God deeply, no matter the circumstances.”
Samuel Morehart
Tanzania
In his second trip to Tanzania as part of an Olivet Nazarene University mission trip team, Sam Morehart ’25 once again witnessed the Lord working and moving among the people there.
“One of the most impactful moments was visiting the orphanage,” Sam shared. “Seeing the reality of the children’s lives hit all of us hard, but it was amazing to see the church leaders step up, engage with the kids and lead them later in the trip.”
The mission trip team worked with a church in Arusha, providing ministry training for lead pastors and serving at a local orphanage. Each day, a small group visited the orphanage to play games, share Bible stories and spend time with the children. In the second half of the trip, they returned to Mwanza to continue ministry training for children’s, youth and lead pastors.
The trip was led by Dr. Leon Blanchette, Antonio Marshall ’13 and Olivia White ’25 and included student team members: sophomore Victoria Schenck, senior Katie Draper, senior Sydney Marcukaitis, sophomore Emily Poole, junior Leigha Pardee, junior Amanda Elleson, junior Evangeline Stein, sophomore Laney Glueck and junior Logan MacPherson.
Sam noted that the team’s strong bonds and diverse gifts created a powerful environment for ministry and growth.
“Tanzania is a place where the Lord is moving in big ways, and our team experienced that in very tangible ways during our time there,” Sam says. “Even though we see the injustices happening at times, we have trust that the Lord is making all things new. That’s where our focus needs to be.”
Cole Tueck
Cactus, Texas
For recent graduate Cole Tueck ’25, partnering with the Cactus Nazarene Ministry Center (CNMC) in Cactus, Texas, was a powerful experience. The community is made up of immigrants and refugees from more than 20 countries, and Cole and his Olivet Nazarene University mission trip teammates supported outreach programs such as ESL and citizenship classes, after-school youth ministry and community events.
Led by Jacki Tamez ’20 and Ben Hansen ’23, the team also included senior Karey Mendiola, senior Korey Ziemkowski, sophomore Caleb Jones, junior Ethan Mathews, Justine Kauffman ’25, sophomore Logan Carver, Isaiah Dallal ’25, senior Anna Reynolds and Brooklyn Hulliberger ’25.
Over the course of their experience, the ONU team used their unique gifts and talents to connect directly to the work at CNMC: A pastoral ministry student preached, a music major led worship and social work students helped with social services.
The group also assisted with painting and landscaping, giving the center’s staff a much-needed break amid recent transitions. Cole found the testimonies of CNMC staff especially impactful, noting their deep faith and perseverance despite challenges.
“Mission trips like this one have played a significant role in shaping my spiritual walk and growth as a student,” Cole says. “Not only do they allow us to support and encourage others, but they allow us to learn from those already doing meaningful Kingdom work. There is an invitation extended to us to see the world through different stories and perspectives, which deepens our understanding of faith and service.”
RyLeigh Shaul
Honduras
Junior RyLeigh Shaul had an eye-opening experience during a week in Honduras partnering with Footsteps Ministries, an organization dedicated to creating better opportunities for the next generation.
Led by Erika Moeschke ’12/’19 MBA, senior director of alumni relations; Wayne DeBoer, director of development; and Olivia White ’25, the Olivet team of 16 students worked at a community site that included a pickleball court, Selva Café and living quarters for children who travel long distances to attend school. RyLeigh led the mural project, designing and painting three murals inspired by Footsteps’ mission and collaborating with their translator to plan future art projects.
In the afternoons, the group served lunch and engaged with children at two after-school sites called The Gardens. They used crafts, lessons and games to connect through their shared love for the Lord. Evenings included cultural immersion with meals in local homes and businesses, helping the team grasp the broader impact of their work.
“Each teammate flexed their unique gifts — from worship leading and lesson planning to painting — and it made this trip unforgettable,” RyLeigh says.
A highlight for RyLeigh was helping create lasting art in a foreign place, which deepened her perspective on life at home.
“Seeing children sing and dance despite language and material differences reminded me that we all serve the same God,” she explains. “Trips like this push you beyond your comfort zone and equip you to serve boldly.”
From Olivet The Magazine, The Parent Guide – Autumn 2025. Read the full issue here.
