West Virginia Wesleyan College annually offers travel courses that are designed to encourage students to explore history, music, religion, and politics.  Occasionally, one of the trips adds a dimension that genuinely touches the human spirit and results in an intense educational development experience. This was the case for six Wesleyan students, one faculty member, and one United Methodist Church clergy member. 

The group participated in the May Term class “To Russia with Love.”  The three-hour course, sponsored by Wesleyan in collaboration with The United Methodist Church’s “Volunteers in Mission” was led by Dr. Carol Means, associate professor of education.  The class explored Russian culture, music, history, and the Orthodox Church where students could gain a better understanding of the current social, religious, and political situation in the country and provided teaching opportunities in a cross-cultural environment.  Each Wesleyan student prepared three-hour teaching units for the Russian school children with special needs.

The group lived and worked in a boarding school of over 270 students, which is operated by the City of Electrostal.  Wesleyan students worked primarily with 19 elementary children.  “When we first met the children, they were a little timid, but it did not take long for them to warm up to us,” says Jennifer Jones, a sophomore elementary education major from North Huntingdon, PA.  “By the end of the trip, we were a family!”

“We really bonded with the students who were without parents,” adds Kelly Poling, a senior biology major from Philippi, WV.   “We spent the first eight days of our trip developing relationships with the Russian people. The sightseeing and touring of Russia was wonderful but I believe all of the Wesleyan students would agree the best part of the trip was the relationships we developed and our experiences with the children.”

The trip provided one United Methodist minister the opportunity to see first hand the triumph of the human spirit.  “There clearly was a language barrier,” notes Rev. Jim McCune, a 1978 Wesleyan graduate and the pastor for the Keyser United Methodist Charge.  “Still, the Wesleyan students were able to teach the Russian children American games and learn their games as well as teach gardening, work on playgrounds, and most importantly develop relationships.”

McCune also believes the Russian college-aged interpreters were instrumental in making the trip such a success.  “They were extremely intelligent and willing to share their knowledge of their country with the Wesleyan group,” adds McCune.  “The dialogue between the two groups was intriguing to observe.  Discussions included a comparison of health care systems and world politics.  I was extremely proud of our students because of their willingness to listen, to be gracious and courteous, and most importantly to reach out to the children.  For me, this was an interesting human relations study.  I was amazed at how fast history changes—the dynamics of the cold war no longer exist with these kids.”

Poling clearly came back to the United States with a different perspective about her country and herself. “I gained a great appreciation for Russian culture and history and found that the people there have great love and compassion for children,” notes Poling.  “As someone who grew up in a small town, I never saw myself as a world traveler, but I would gladly jump right in and do it all again.  This trip also opened my eyes to how blessed we are as Americans and the potential all of us have to make a difference in the world.”