Sophomore nursing major Rebekah Rhodes knew from the time she was 12 years old that she wanted to be a missionary. In high school, she recognized her love for the country of India, but only last year did she realize that she had the chance to go to India to serve and study abroad through the Vira Heinz Scholarship. 

The Vira Heinz Scholarship, according to the website, is a program that gives young women in college, who have never been outside of the country before, the opportunity to study abroad while serving in a community in the country of their choice. 

Rhodes said she is studying abroad through a program called USAC. She will go to Christ University in Bangalore, India, where she will stay in the female dorms and go to classes with other female students.

“Whenever I heard about the scholarship last year, I just knew that this was from God and I knew that He put this in my life for a reason and I was like, ‘I’m going to go after it full force,’” Rhodes said. “[God] provided the whole way for me.” 

Rhodes remembers her world history class teacher asked students if there was one place in the world they could go, where it would be, and Rhodes chose India. 

“In high school, I really felt called by the Lord to be in India,” Rhodes said. “So, going to India is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” 

Rhodes says that her father is a missionary who has been to India, and the stories he told her of the people and culture there may have been part of the reason she chose India. 

“I’m expecting the unexpected,” Rhodes said. “I’m really excited to see the culture and just a new way of life. I feel like it’s going to be literally a ‘whole new world.’ I’m not going to know anyone and it’s going to be completely different from what I’ve known.” 

Despite how excited Rhodes is for this new adventure, she is also anxious to leave the United States for the first time in her life. Rhodes said she is most nervous for the flight and being in India alone. 

“I’ve never really flown before by myself. So, I’m really scared for all of that,” Rhodes said. “Once I’m over there, I might be scared to walk around by myself, and I might be scared of being in a new place […] I know God’s got me and I know I’m protected and it’ll be ok.” 

The Vira Heinz Scholarship is not just traveling abroad for a few months, but is a year-long program. Before going to the country of their choice, the Waynesburg University Vira Heinz scholars go on a retreat with other young women who received the scholarship from other schools. While in their chosen country, the scholars will serve in a category of service that they chose before the trip. After returning from abroad, the scholarship winners will write a report, go on another retreat and give a presentation about an issue they observed in the country they chose, relating it back to their own community. 

Rhodes chose Children, Family and Youth as her category of service, so she will be serving as a tutor for children as well as other service work in the community. Rhodes is also a Bonner Scholar, and she will also continue her service hours for that program while she is there.