Twenty-two NDA students traveled with four chaperones to Birmingham, Alabama, on a spring break mission trip filled with service, faith and personal growth. 

For Arnol Castellanos Perez, the trip was an eye-opening experience that helped him create deeper connections with his school, community and the people they served. 

At first, the junior acknowledged he was nervous about the trip. 

He heard about it through the school announcements but was unsure if his friends would join him.

“I was scared my friends wouldn’t be going, so I started asking questions to Fr. Jordan, and after we talked, I became more intrigued,” said Perez. 

Eventually, he realized that he did not need to rely on his friends to have a meaningful experience and began to look forward to the trip as something truly special. 

Throughout the trip, the students served at several locations.  

On their first day, they worked at the Lovelady Thrift on the donation dock and at the Changed Lives Christian Center. 

The  Changed Lives Christian Center is a ministry managed by and in partnership with the Foundry Ministries. The center offers transitional housing for men who wish to break from the cycle of homelessness in their own lives, whether from economic recession or other personal issues such as substance abuse and mental illness. 

For the next two days, the group worked at the Community Food Bank of Alabama and Lovelady Center. 

The Lovelady Center, previously an old hospital, is now a home that  500 women and 100 children occupy. 

 “These women have no support and some of them are finishing their prison sentence at Lovelady,” said Fr. Jordan. 

Students painted, worked with young children, served lunch, and stocked food in the pantry. 

One of the leading women, Rachel, gave them a tour of the Center and shared how she was a former addict and prisoner. 

 “She said that the world told her she wouldn’t amount to anything except being an addict. Then she heard Jesus’ voice and began to believe the truth that she was created in God’s image and likeness, ” recalled Fr. Jordan. 

Perez also recalled her testimony and shared how it changed his perspective: “I realized that everyone is imperfect. We all have a story to tell and aren’t alone.” 

The Lovelady Center is a privately funded non-profit. Although the Center has looked for state and federal funding, they have been denied any kind of assistance. 

Rachel explained to Fr. Jordan that when they asked for financial aid the government said, “The Jesus stuff has to go.” 

Despite having no help, if a crisis arises, they miraculously find funds. 

The University of Alabama School of Business did a case study on the Lovelady Center,  and they do not have an explanation as to why the Center is successful. 

“ When they needed $20,000 to fix the plumbing, the money showed up.  The people we serve have total trust in God, and he always provides!” shared Fr. Jordan. 

The trip was not only about acts of service but also about building relationships. 

Perez particularly appreciated the deeper connections formed among his classmates, noting that they bonded in ways they hadn’t before. 

“Without this trip, we wouldn’t understand one another the way we do now,” he said. 

 Junior Irene Ertman, another participant, echoed similar sentiments. 

“There wasn’t one specific moment that changed me but rather the whole experience,” said Ertman. 

The love of the people they served impacted her. 

“Even people who had gone through significant struggles were living out the love of Jesus and crediting him with everything they had. It was truly empowering,” she explained. 

Despite some challenges, like the chilly nights at the church where they started, the trip was overwhelmingly positive. 

Ertman also mentioned how the experience gave her a new perspective on the underprivileged in both her community and school. 

“We all have things to learn,” she said. 

In the end, the mission trip was not just what the students did for others, but it was about what they gained in return. 

“The trip was  made with the idea of living the life of the apostles and acting on the word of God,”  shared Fr. Jordan. 

The trip was made possible by donations from Tritonfest, a teacher, parents, chaperones and Fr. Jordan himself.