<p>Happy New Year to all… this will be an exciting year for all of us on this thread…
Congrats on the latest acceptances!</p>
<p>DS received his Eckerd scholarship letter, $10k a year, needs to maintain a 2.0 average. Not bad. Still hoping for $ from Ursinus, and waiting on more decisions this month.</p>
<p>Great news, congratulations.</p>
<p>S2 leaves tomorrow for the winter term at Elon. Then he’s heading down to Florida for a week with Elon’s Hillel to participate in a Habitat for Humanity project. He had a great first semester and I’m hoping for more of the same.</p>
<p>Great news from all of you!</p>
<p>I’m just curious, though–why do college groups always seem to need to go ELSEWHERE to do social service projects like Habitat for Humanity?</p>
<p>It just seems to counterproductive to me!</p>
<p>My son’s group in DC (which itself has huge housing problems, many really, really poor neighborhoods) also went to do Habitat for Humanity in Florida last year. My assistant’s church group (here on the border of Appalachia) spent two weeks doing a similar project in Alabama.</p>
<p>Couldn’t these kids accomplish more by doing their good works in their own neck of the woods, and donating all that extra money spent on travel and travel expenses as well?</p>
<p>OK–rant over.</p>
<p>I think that is a valid point. In S2’s case, traveling to Florida makes it a nice combination of fun trip over break + community service. They are actually staying in Boynton Beach, which is a very nice area with lots of Jewish grandparents! Hardly the area that needs help. Not sure where the actual work is going to be done.</p>
<p>Exactly RVM…it’s a vacation wrapped up as “community service”…and yet it’s done in a way in which it is hard to say no…</p>
<p>Even in the Jewish grandparents’ neighborhoods, there are always nearby areas below the poverty level. Poor neighborhoods can be found anywhere. So they will find work to be done. But it sure won’t occupy the majority of the hours on the trip.</p>
<p>And if they are going to visit a nice Jewish neighborhood…how about just visiting Grandma or Aunt Mimi and helping them around their houses?</p>
<p>From the itinerary I saw, they will be working most of the trip, with free time on the weekends. I guess I won’t know until afterwards how much time was work vs how much was play, but even if it is 50/50, it’s still quite a few hours of community service and I am glad he has become so involved with Hillel. No downside as far as I am concerned.</p>
<p>Just a funny aside, boysx3’s comments prompted me to google Habitat for Humanity and learn more about it. I was surprised to learn it is a Christian organization. Ecumenical certainly, and they do not consider religion when selecting people who will receive homes, I just thought it was funny that I didn’t know that.</p>
<p>RVM,</p>
<p>Though HFH has what it calls an “open door policy,” make no mistake about it - it was founded as and remains an “unashamedly Christian ministry:” </p>
<p>[Myths</a> and Truths about Habitat for Humanity](<a href=“http://www.showmehabitat.org/myths.php]Myths”>http://www.showmehabitat.org/myths.php)</p>
<p>Also, the founder of Habitat decried the open door policy and wanted the organization to be used by Baptists as a means to proselytize:</p>
<p>[Help</a> keep Habitat Christian, founder urges Baptists](<a href=“http://www.abpnews.com/archives/item/2658-help-keep-habitat-christian-founder-urges-baptists#.UOOw6mv86KY]Help”>http://www.abpnews.com/archives/item/2658-help-keep-habitat-christian-founder-urges-baptists#.UOOw6mv86KY)</p>
<p>The means justifies the end?
Regardless of its origin and its founder’s continued beliefs, HFH embraces volunteers of all faiths (albeit out of necessity) and benefits recipients of all faiths. As a movement, it has become bigger & better than perhaps originally planned, and is therefore, hopefully, beyond the founder’s control regarding nonsectarian strength. I’m all for supporting this…the more diverse the HTH volunteer base becomes, the less chance its founder has of using HFH as a mission of ministry.
Surely there are humanitarian organizations that were founded by Jews and continue to espouse Jewish teachings, yet benefit people of other faiths, such as JSSA, JDC and JVS? They may not have the name recognition or vast network of volunteers, but they are Jewish organizations doing good without regard to recipients’ background - other than need.</p>
<p>Re: going away for mission trips…</p>
<p>My D and my DH are leaving our area (Balt-DC Metro) to fly to Louisiana for Spring Break to do missions work. Our church has been going to this area since Hurricane Katrina. That being said, this is the last year they are going there, for precisely the reasons mentioned above. Two plane flights to LA, over Easter/Spring Break week is going to be VERY pricey for us. Baltimore and metro DC have a TON of need and there are plenty of other areas within driving distance they could go to. That being said, they do go to Appalachia for two consecutive weeks in the summer as well, which is a long drive but at least not expensive holiday flights!</p>
<p>Just got back from a quick trip to the Gator Bowl (Woo Hoo, Wildcats!) and want to wish you all a Happy New Year! While I was away, my DS received his acceptance packet from UMass… with $12K/year Chancellor’s Scholarship. Even my low-reacting DS was pretty impressed with the amount of money and texted me on Monday about it. I was just thinking that if we were to fall off a fiscal cliff, he could still go to college!</p>
<p>Now we wait for Miami…</p>
<p>Pardon my dyslexic moment…meant, “The end justifies the means?”!</p>
<p>Hello everyone! :)</p>
<p>S1 is on his way to Israel. Plane left tonight about two hours ago. Yikes. I’m sure he’ll be okay…I think I’ve said that I hope the ten days goes slowly for him, but quickly for me! Glad there are no stops. When I went to Israel (back in college) for three months in the summer, we stopped in London first. I think the security is much better with a direct flight, no question!</p>
<p>As far as Habitat for Humanity goes, our cousins have gone on several house building excursions. It would not bother me in the least to help out with this organization, except I am NOT a Jimmy Carter fan at all. That’s all I’m saying, because I don’t want to make this a political discussion! 
The charitable work being done is to help anyone in need and that’s what I would focus on if I were to volunteer.</p>
<p>RVM: Glad your son enjoyed his first semester. Can’t believe how fast the time goes! We’re into the thick of things here with SAT and ACT prep…I remember your S going through this like it was last week! Does he have a major in mind yet? Glad to hear he’s involved in Hillel, yay for him!</p>
<p>CCC: I hope your son has a fun, safe trip. Both of my D’s loved their birthright trips.</p>
<p>LINYMOM: Congrats on your son’s acceptance and scholarships. It looks like he will have great choices, although I know you’re still waiting on his top choice.</p>
<p>RVM: I’m glad your son is enjoying Elon and doing so well. It’s great that he’s taking advantage of the January term and Hillel trip.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Sorry, I have no idea what that (or in the original reverse order) means in relation to what I posted.</p>
<p>So, in case there is any confusion from my end, I will try and elaborate.</p>
<p>First, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Second, nothing against members (or the beliefs) of another faith. I married one, after all. 
Third, I have nothing against any other organized (or unorganized) religion.</p>
<p>My points about HfH are:</p>
<p>I have issues with any missionary, proselytizing or evangelical organization. I have lived with and interacted with several and it just rubs me the wrong way. Im a strong believer that people should follow their own heart but should not try and force anyone to think or feel the same way as they do. To me, it is no different from brainwashing and cultism.</p>
<p>I also especially have issues with organizations that do a bait and switch, that under a ruse do one thing but actually try and surreptitiously obtain something else.</p>
<p>And the fact that a former president that is closely associated with the organization happens to be anti-semitic certainly doesnt help.</p>
<p>ccc - hope the trip to Israel goes very well and that you don’t worry too much!</p>
<p>On Habitat for Humanity - I’m going to stay neutral and just hope that S2 has a fun and productive trip - and leave it at that.</p>
<p>Thanks, guys. He arrived safely and already sent me two pictures of the Mediterranean…I emailed him it would be better for someone to take pictures of HIM in front of the sea! 
He has a cousin that’s there now, set to come home on the 7th and another cousin ready to go on the 12th or 13th…Jozuko: hope your child (I can’t remember if it’s a S or D) has a fabulous time too.</p>
<p>Momjr: I remember when your D had mono and couldn’t go right away…that was the older one, right? When did your D2 go? How is Sophomore year going?</p>
<p>I understand what GolfFather is saying…there are many organizations, it seems, out there who promote one thing, but behind closed doors say something else. I have found this to be true of many businesses as well. I agree that I hope your S2 has a great experience, RVM and returns safely.</p>
<p>Who else is waiting for more decisions this month? DS has notifications due 1/15, 1/20 and 2/1, plus another that might come by the end of the month. Meanwhile, DD still has 5 or 6 apps to complete that are due 1/15, and then the long wait until mid-March to April.</p>
<p>Chocchipcookie: You have a good memory. My D1 came down with mono about a week before she was supposed to leave on a birthright trip 2 years ago. She was very disapointed to miss the trip, but she was definitely too sick to go. She did go on a trip from her college that May, so it all worked out fine in the end. Fortunately, the mono ruined her break but didn’t didn’t affect her semester. D2 went on a birthright trip last July. She signed up with a friend from HS, but otherwise it was a random group. She had a wonderful time. Her semester is going well. She’s very happy at BU if anyone with HS kids has any questions. I’m glad that your son arrived safely. </p>
<p>PKD: Good luck to your D and S as they wait to hear. I can’t imagine doing the process with two kids at once.</p>