Global Perspectives trips offer immersive learning experiences abroad

Each year, Lee University students have the opportunity to expand their education beyond the classroom through Global Perspectives trips. These faculty-led experiences allow students to explore other cultures, gain hands-on experience, and see faith in action across the world. This year, destinations range from the cobblestone streets of Dublin to the beaches of the Bahamas and the rural mountains of Honduras.

Many of the upcoming trips will have information available at Global Perspectives’ annual World’s Fair on October 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the SMC great room.

Ireland: history, culture, and hospitality

Dr. Randy Wood and Kendra Grey will lead the annual spring break trip to Ireland, continuing a long tradition at Lee. Wood, who has previously led trips to the United Kingdom, said Ireland’s unique blend of history and culture makes it an ideal destination.

“We hope students come away with a deeper understanding of Irish culture — the people, their faith, history, and how it has shaped Western civilization,” Wood said. “Bottom line, it’s about seeing the world differently and understanding how other cultures shape our own.”

The trip highlights four distinct regions: the bustling capital of Dublin, the natural beauty of Killarney, the university town of Galway, and the coastal charm of Westport. Students will experience everything from castle tours and Irish dancing to hikes, biking on the Aran Islands, and conversations with locals.

Wood emphasized the variety and balance of the experience. “It’s truly the ideal mix of structured learning, cultural immersion, and just enough free time to explore on their own,” he said. The application deadline for the Ireland trip was Oct. 10, but extensions may still be available.

Bahamas: service and cultural connection

For students looking to combine service with cultural immersion, the Bahamas trip led by Dr. Lynda Bowers focuses on building relationships with local communities while fostering a deeper understanding of Bahamian culture.

“Goals of the trip are to increase the cultural awareness of our students, foster connections with the Bahamian community in mutual respect, and diversity with the aim of sharing the light of Christ,” Bowers said.

The trip is based in Eleuthera, where students partner with the nonprofit One Eleuthera. This connection was made through a Lee alumna from the Bahamas, Dhuranique Ferguson. Students will participate in service projects and cultural engagement while also enjoying sightseeing and beach time.

“Our price is pretty reasonable for a trip like this,” Bowers said. “Also, we open this trip to all majors.”

The application deadline for the Bahamas trip is Oct. 30, with deposits due Nov. 15 to secure airfare.

Honduras: hands-on medical missions

Lee’s longest-running Global Perspectives trip is also one of its most intensive. Since 1998, the Honduras medical missions trip has given nursing, pre-med, and health science students the chance to serve in rural communities while practicing their skills in real-world contexts.

“Our hope for students is two-fold,” said co-director of the trip, Dr. JoBeth Boyer. “First, this exposure to medical missions will create in each student a lifelong commitment to medical missions. Second, they are able to put into practice some of their academic knowledge and develop skills in ministering to the people of rural Honduras.”

In partnership with Healing Hands Global, founded by Lee alumni Dr. Martin and Wendy Williams, the team serves at the Jungle Hospital in the Cangrejal Valley. Students rotate through areas including trauma, maternal and child health, dentistry, and eyeglass ministry, often working in remote villages that require hours of hiking to reach.

“It is really hard work, and we often have long days in physically difficult situations,” Boyer said. “Still, the students love it. They work tirelessly and without complaint.”

The Honduras program has seen a significant long-term impact on local healthcare, and many former student participants return as medical providers. This year’s trip is scheduled for June 5–20, 2026, with applications due Nov. 7 and deposits due Dec. 2.

Thailand: Two options for summer experiences

There are two options to experience Thailand this summer. Communication, Engineering and Math are planning a trip together to visit MediaLight in the mountains of Northern Thailand.

“The comm students will get some training on the messaging of Christianity in an international context and work on creating some documentary style content for missions in the area,” said Dr. Megan Moe, professor of communication. Meanwhile, enginneering/math students will work with Operation Compassion to build a water filtration system at orphanages in the area. It will be a smallish trip, Moe said, about 15 students. They will have a booth at the World’s Fair event, but she promises the trip will include some local fun.

“We’re going to ride elephants and not just for 15 minutes — for hours in the jungle,” Moe said.

Education will also be hosting a Thailand trip, led by Dr. Rapson.

Lee student Destiny Long worked with MediaLight last summer in Thailand.

A global education

Whether hiking the Irish coast, serving in Bahamian communities, or assisting in a Honduran clinic, Lee students have the chance to encounter the world beyond campus in life-changing ways.

As Dr. Wood put it, the ultimate goal is for students to return home seeing the world differently.

“We want them to experience what it means to step into another way of life, building empathy, curiosity, and a global perspective,” he said.

For more information on any of the trips, students can contact the Global Perspectives office or the faculty sponsors directly.