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Mississippi or Bust
Story by Jennifer Joy Carter, Class of 2005
Photos by Eric Stephen Vorm, Class of 2004
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Working diligently on the Barbour campaign was exactly what we as ORU students proved to do best. Our four-day work schedule included: going door-to-door to remind and ask Jackson citizens to vote for Barbour, making hundreds of road signs to line all major roads, placing Post-Its on cars in shopping center parking lots, and making phone call after phone call to ensure that those who supported Barbour were going to get out and vote on Election Day, Nov. 4.
I was one of 94 ORU students who filled two Greyhound buses that pulled out of the lower parking lot at about 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, heading towards Jackson, Miss. A shiver of anticipation came over me while I was gazing out the window. I had no idea what lay ahead; I assumed high-strung politicking. To my surprise, the campaigning proved to be more of a missions trip, reaching out to people in their world, serving side-by-side with hard-working students.
When we arrived in the parking lot of the GOP--"Grand Old Party"--on Nov. 1, butterflies began to flutter in my stomach. I don't know if they were caused by my anticipation of what the next four days would bring, or the 12-hour bus ride. All my anxiety soon subsided, however, as we were welcomed warmly with Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Haley Barbour campaign T-shirts.
Rallying our spirits even more was Barbour's campaign manager, Ward Baker, who proved to be an excellent motivational speaker. Another Barbour representative, 72-hour-campaign coordinator Steve Steubner, drilled us on the campaign issues. Both men were also able to answer any questions we had about our itinerary and responsibilities.
Baker and Steubner emphasized that one of Barbour's main slogans was, "I'm running for Governor, because I know Mississippi can do better." They let us know that Barbour planned to help Mississippi "do better" by addressing several key issues: making education the top priority, bringing more jobs and economic growth, and opposing all tax increases.
Dr. Tim Brooker, professor of government at ORU and student campaign trip leader, and his wife divided us into teams of eight to ten. Each team was assigned a precinct for a specific district in Jackson (on Saturday and Monday) and Desoto (on Tuesday), in order to reach as many homes as possible in four days. Armed with campaign literature--and with Subway sandwiches--we went out to begin our door-to-door journey with energy and confidence.
The team I was on broke up into four pairs, with each team tackling a specific number of houses on each street. This door-to-door process was a bit intimidating at first, since we were at the mercy of the resident's reaction; however, once I developed a basis of knowledge and a personal approach, it became simply second nature.
After a rejuvenating time of prayer on Sunday, our teams loaded up as many Barbour campaign signs as possible and placed them along major roads in Jackson. We also went to several downtown shopping centers, placing Barbour Post-It notes--reminders to vote--on residential car windows.
The "rejuvenating" Sunday morning occurred after Dr. Brooker gathered all the ORU students by the Jamison Inn patio/pool area for a word of encouragement and advice. He reminded us that as we worked, we needed to remember our greater cause, so that we might not miss an opportunity to share the love of Christ with anyone.
We then proceeded to join hands and pray for our protection during our stay. I was very thankful for this word and this time to reestablish any Christian's real purpose: to further God's Kingdom and let His light shine through us before all men.
Our prayers did not go unanswered. When we regrouped at the end of the day, several students gave testimonies regarding the opportunities they'd had to witness to Jackson residents.
One male student was going door-to-door when he heard an elderly woman cry out for help. He ran over to see what he could do and found that the woman's husband had fallen just outside their home. The student was joined by another male student, and the two of them helped the elderly man into his home and asked to pray with him for healing. The couple agreed to be prayed with and was still in tears when the two students left.
Another student led an 89-year-old woman to the Lord. The team I was part of was able to pray with a Jackson resident whose back had several shattered disks that were causing her extreme pain. As we were leaving, the woman repeatedly thanked us, and I remember thinking how blessed we ORU students are with so many opportunities to go and change lives.
These testimonies were not uncommon and continued to multiply and lift our spirits throughout the remainder of our time in Mississippi. We sowed seeds, and God will continue tending them for growth.
According to Brooker, Washington pundits are crediting Barbour's win to ORU students' involvement. Voter turnout was eleven percent higher than the largest total ever recorded for a Mississippi governor's race. "Every place we [campaigned] was five to seven percent higher [in voter turnout] than it had ever been before," said Brooker.
By Monday night, Ward Baker said we had done all we could do in Jackson and asked us to go to Desoto on Tuesday morning and cause the same "positive damage" there on Election Day (Nov. 4). Apparently it worked, because, according to Brooker, so many Desoto citizens showed up to vote, there were not enough ballots for everyone.
When I look back on this trip in the years to come, I will see it for what it was: a rare, one-on-one opportunity to be responsible for relaying the importance of each person's vote. Through our involvement, I hope we ensured that the voters' interests were represented to their greatest benefit. Also included in this process, fortunately, is the chance to witness and share the hope and healing of Christ with someone, having faith for the improvement of that individual's life and future.
According to my campaign team leader, Kweku Boafo, international relations major, "Mississippi was a great example that whatever [you] do, God is in control and anything is possible when you put God first. If He sends you somewhere, ask Him, 'Lord, what do you want me to do there?' Every mission has a particular goal and target. You cannot go in with the same target for every mission."
