Spring typically signals a time of renewal and new beginnings. While many students take advantage of the traditional week-long break to relax, six Ferris State University student-athletes, along with a contingent of their fellow schoolmates, spent the time helping a North Carolina community build a fresh start two years after being devastated by a hurricane.

For a number of years, Mike Wissink, who directs the campus ministry at Ferris State and serves as chaplain for the football and basketball programs, has organized a mission trip for the Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) organization. While the trips occasionally are to poverty-stricken communities, he generally aims for projects in communities affected by natural disasters. This spring's destination was Engelhard, North Carolina, where residents still are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Isabelle, which tore through the town in 2003.

What was different was who joined Wissink on the mission trip from the campus in Big Rapids, Michigan. The Ferris State chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes is fairly new, and although similarly purposed, the steadily growing group rarely mingles with FCS. But five women's soccer student-athletes and a football player expressed a desire to join the trip. Bulldog soccer student-athletes Carla Gilbertson, Lyndsay Sleek, Anne Simmons, Kristin Aukeman and Janelle Ausema were joined by freshman football offensive tackle Bill Bourdlais. It was the first time in 16 years members of the two fellowship groups had made a mission trip together.

"We just got to thinking about it and all five us thought it would be a great experience," said Gilbertson of her and her teammates' decision to go on the trip.

The interest was surprising to, but welcomed by, group leader Wissink.

"Knowing the Division II criteria for being a student and an athlete, for work study or getting a job over spring break, it seems there's always workouts, team trips, camps or something going on," said Wissink. "The FCA group got wind of the trip and thought it'd be really cool. They asked if they could come along and I said yes."

Heading into the adventure, the students believed they would help build a house. However, they were assigned a different, but just as critical task: assisting in the construction of a 60-by-80-foot church addition. The project was necessary because some churches that were destroyed in the hurricane were not scheduled to be replaced.

Working 10-hour days and slowed but undeterred by windy, rainy and cold conditions, the Ferris State contingent, along with other groups also volunteering for the project, began from the ground up. By week's end, the building had taken shape. In addition to laying the foundation, and setting the posts and floor joists, the volunteers had erected the interior and exterior walls. They also spent time painting and installing insulation in a home that had been damaged by Isabelle.

Although the group was committed to making as much progress as it could during the week, members did take some time to do a bit of sightseeing and visit the beach. In addition, the on-site volunteer organization arranged a meal so the volunteers could meet families and members of the Engelhard community.

"It's an opportunity for the families to meet some of the students doing the work and thank them. That's really kind of special," said Wissink. "I think it means a lot to the students to be able to put a face with the project and to know this family or community we were helping."

Wissink was right. For sophomore goalkeeper Gilbertson, the best part of the trip was not only helping those in need, but also meeting new friends.

"The best parts were knowing you helped out and meeting new people, whether they were in North Carolina or other people on our campus," she said. "Now I have 30 more friends on campus I never would've ever had a reason to talk to."