Accounting raises money for mission trip

By Stori Long
Reporter

If you have a craving for egg rolls and orange chicken, go to Panda Express at 2448 W. Loop 340 today for a chance to satisfy that craving and help send Baylor accounting students on a mission trip to Uganda.

Wellington junior Kaila Jurado, who will attend the trip for the first time this year, is helping to organize the fundraising.

“The point of the fundraiser is to raise money and awareness that we are going on this trip,” Jurado said. “We really want to get the whole community out there to help us.”

For the past three years, Baylor accounting has partnered with Compassion International to give accounting students a chance to combine their skills in accounting with mission work.

The trip is primarily student-led, but Dr. Kathy Hurtt, assistant professor of accounting and business law, is going on the trip as the faculty adviser.

“I am really excited about the chance to do vocational missions,” Hurtt said. “It’s a chance to take our skills and use them for the kingdom.”

In Uganda, the accounting students work side by side with student leaders at Uganda Christian University as they engage the community in many different ways. The Baylor students will consult small businesses, conduct church budgeting training, conduct classes on professionalism and business ethics, hold mock interviews and play with the younger children in orphanages sponsored by Compassion International.

“The premise is integrating faith and business,” Jurado said. “I’m passionate about that so I jumped on board.”

Wheaton junior Doug Kimball, who has been on the trip every year since coming to Baylor, echoes this sentiment that just because one pursues a career in the business world does not mean one can’t live “missionally.” In fact, the trip has taught Kimball a lot about what it means to be a good accountant.

“It helps you to look beyond just the numbers to actually serving people,” Kimball said.

Students who have gone on the trip in the past have not only gained valuable work experience, but have also forged strong friendships with many different people, friendships that are maintained through Facebook and e-mail.

“It’s a great way to show students all the international opportunities there are,” Hurtt said. “But also just to get exposure to an entirely different culture.”

While the students are there to serve and enable the Ugandan people, Kimball hopes that he and his fellow students will see that spreading the gospel is not just the work of pastors and missionaries, but is something that can be done in all careers.

“You can preach the gospel in so many ways, through how you respect your client, through how much you enjoy your work and how well you do your work,” Kimball said.

The Panda Express fundraiser will be held today and again on Feb. 15.

Those who wish to support the mission trip should pick up a flier at the accounting school or the business computer lab and present the it at Panda Express, which will donate 20 percent of the purchase to the accounting students.

The accounting students also hope to hold a “dine-out” fundraiser every Tuesday at various establishments until the end of the semester.

For more information on these locations and how to further support the Uganda mission trip, contact Kaila Jurado by e-mail at kaila_jurado@baylor.edu.