Freshman Alyse Cook spotted a single tear

<br/>She knew it meant hope, faith, even relief for the people at the chapel serviceShe knew it meant hope, faith, even relief for the people at the chapel service
She knew it meant hope, faith, even relief for the people at the chapel service

<br/>"You could see their struggle," Cook said. "God had taken off their burden."You could see their struggle," Cook said. "God had taken off their burden.
“You could see their struggle,” Cook said. “God had taken off their burden.

<br/>Cook was one of two Baker University students who traveled with Kaitlin Emig, coordinator for service learning and volunteering, to the City Rescue Mission – a center for people who suffer from addiction, poverty, mental illness and homelessness – in Oklahoma City over fall breakCook was one of two Baker University students who traveled with Kaitlin Emig, coordinator for service learning and volunteering, to the City Rescue Mission – a center for people who suffer from addiction, poverty, mental illness and homelessness – in Oklahoma City over fall break
Cook was one of two Baker University students who traveled with Kaitlin Emig, coordinator for service learning and volunteering, to the City Rescue Mission – a center for people who suffer from addiction, poverty, mental illness and homelessness – in Oklahoma City over fall break

<br/>"I learned to lend a helping hand when it's needed," she said. "I learned that you can just smile at (people) and it can help."I learned to lend a helping hand when it's needed," she said. "I learned that you can just smile at (people) and it can help.
“I learned to lend a helping hand when it’s needed,” she said. “I learned that you can just smile at (people) and it can help.

<br/>Together, the three helped out at the shelter serving meals, cleaning streets and playing with the childrenTogether, the three helped out at the shelter serving meals, cleaning streets and playing with the children
Together, the three helped out at the shelter serving meals, cleaning streets and playing with the children

<br/>"It's more than just having a good time, it's about having a worthwhile experience you can repeat," Emig said about the trip"It's more than just having a good time, it's about having a worthwhile experience you can repeat," Emig said about the trip
“It’s more than just having a good time, it’s about having a worthwhile experience you can repeat,” Emig said about the trip

<br/>While in Oklahoma, the women helped clean up under a bridge in the area, as well as pick up trash on the streets around the shelterWhile in Oklahoma, the women helped clean up under a bridge in the area, as well as pick up trash on the streets around the shelter
While in Oklahoma, the women helped clean up under a bridge in the area, as well as pick up trash on the streets around the shelter

<br/>"It's not just a homeless shelter," Emig said. "It allows people to transition from being in a shelter to working and being on their own."It's not just a homeless shelter," Emig said. "It allows people to transition from being in a shelter to working and being on their own.
“It’s not just a homeless shelter,” Emig said. “It allows people to transition from being in a shelter to working and being on their own.

<br/>The shelter wasn't fancy. It didn't have guest bedrooms or catered meals for the volunteers. Instead, the women stood in assembly line format and scooped food onto the trays of the people who live thereThe shelter wasn't fancy. It didn't have guest bedrooms or catered meals for the volunteers. Instead, the women stood in assembly line format and scooped food onto the trays of the people who live there
The shelter wasn’t fancy. It didn’t have guest bedrooms or catered meals for the volunteers. Instead, the women stood in assembly line format and scooped food onto the trays of the people who live there

<br/>"It was really touching," sophomore LaTasha Green said. "You actually saw the malnutrition as they walk past. You could feel how grateful some of them were."It was really touching," sophomore LaTasha Green said. "You actually saw the malnutrition as they walk past. You could feel how grateful some of them were.
“It was really touching,” sophomore LaTasha Green said. “You actually saw the malnutrition as they walk past. You could feel how grateful some of them were.

<br/>The people, Green said, were grateful for a second chance, for another go at lifeThe people, Green said, were grateful for a second chance, for another go at life
The people, Green said, were grateful for a second chance, for another go at life

<br/>"I learned to count my blessings," Green said. "When you work with homeless people, they are no different than you."I learned to count my blessings," Green said. "When you work with homeless people, they are no different than you.
“I learned to count my blessings,” Green said. “When you work with homeless people, they are no different than you.

<br/>Thanks to money given to the group by student senate, the women were able to make connections with leaders from the organization.Thanks to money given to the group by student senate, the women were able to make connections with leaders from the organization.
Thanks to money given to the group by student senate, the women were able to make connections with leaders from the organization.

<br/>"I'm thinking about doing an internship," Cook said"I'm thinking about doing an internship," Cook said
“I’m thinking about doing an internship,” Cook said

<br/>In doing an internship, Cook hopes to spend more time at the shelter and make a bigger, longer-lasting impact on the people – especially the childrenIn doing an internship, Cook hopes to spend more time at the shelter and make a bigger, longer-lasting impact on the people – especially the children
In doing an internship, Cook hopes to spend more time at the shelter and make a bigger, longer-lasting impact on the people – especially the children

<br/>"Even though they were in a situation they had no part in, they still took life by the horns," Cook said. "They showed us they could still persevere through their situation."Even though they were in a situation they had no part in, they still took life by the horns," Cook said. "They showed us they could still persevere through their situation.
“Even though they were in a situation they had no part in, they still took life by the horns,” Cook said. “They showed us they could still persevere through their situation.

<br/>The people could persevere through hunger, through alcoholism, through abuse. They could seek help and get it from people like Cook and Green, through programs like Emig'sThe people could persevere through hunger, through alcoholism, through abuse. They could seek help and get it from people like Cook and Green, through programs like Emig's
The people could persevere through hunger, through alcoholism, through abuse. They could seek help and get it from people like Cook and Green, through programs like Emig’s

<br/>"I was blessed by the experience," Cook said."I was blessed by the experience," Cook said.
“I was blessed by the experience,” Cook said.

<br/>She was blessed to meet the people, to see the look on their faces as they stood in the chapel service thanking God.She was blessed to meet the people, to see the look on their faces as they stood in the chapel service thanking God.
She was blessed to meet the people, to see the look on their faces as they stood in the chapel service thanking God.

<br/>"You could just see the people praising Him for what He's done," Cook said. "They had their hands up praising God.""You could just see the people praising Him for what He's done," Cook said. "They had their hands up praising God."
“You could just see the people praising Him for what He’s done,” Cook said. “They had their hands up praising God.”