Senior Breanna Morrow and her team traveled to Costa Rica, and worked on construction for one of the Score International facilities, by making cement and digging holes. Photo by: Katie Sommers
By Katie Sommers
Even though summer has past and school has begun, the memories of summer are still with the students who traveled on mission trips to foreign countries.
Traveling to Guatemala over the summer with members of her church, sophomore Meghan Egierski spent most of her time on the trip with younger children and teens. Egierski’s favorite part of the trip was their, “visit to Hermano Pedro where we spent most of our day with mentally challenged kids in a hospital. I absolutely adore children, and these ones needed a lot of love! The amount of joy and happiness these girls and boys had, considering their circumstances, was incredible.” She was able to bring home many memories and a few souvenirs as in, “woven sweatshirt, a stuffed turtle, and cool shoes.” The goal of the trip was to spread the word through Evangelism and for each group member to gain a more personal relationship with God. The trip had a powerful impact on her and feels that she is more thankful than before.
Junior Andrew Gerard traveled to Pilatre, Haiti with nine other members from his church. The trip was an overall medical mission trip, and they spent most of their time in a medical clinic for Haitian people. They took medical supplies in their suitcase because the clinic had very little supplies. “It was amazing to watch God provide and get us through the week after seeing more than 420 people!” Gerard said. Not only did they focus their time at the medical clinic, but they also played soccer with children and toured the area. Gerard said it was amazing they way they interacted with each other. “We never argued or fought. We got along so well! It was so much fun to grow closer with them.” Gerard said that overall he learned to have greater faith in God and to trust him with his future.
Traveling to Haiti for a week with a group from his church, junior Andrew Gerard participated in a medical mission trip and helped over 420 people in the process. Photo provided by: Andrew Gerard
Going on a mission trip together in the same group, sophomore Sara Smith and junior Katelyn O’Neal traveled to Balaclava, Jamaica through a ministry known as “Praying Pelican.” The group faced a few challenges with the weather and having to change plans at the last moment, but they still accomplished many things. Doing many activities in Jamaica, Smith said they, “went to an infirmary (nursing home) and visited people who don’t get many visitors. We held a Vacation Bible School at the local church, painted, and did work at a basic school.” Their group consisted of sixteen people from their church. O’Neal said that their group got along real well for not all knowing each other perfectly, they did not have any arguments and all had a great experience together.
Spending a week in Costa Rica, senior Breanna Morrow traveled with a group of eighteen people from her youth group with an organization called Score International. The beginning of the trip was kind of rough. “Our first flight from South Bend to Chicago was cancelled at 3:30am, so we had to fully rely on God from the start, to even get all of us to Costa Rica,” Morrow said. Some of the activities that her group did included passing out tracts in San Jose, doing three Vacation Bible Schools at three different orphanages, passing out food, doing construction work, and going zip lining. The activity that mostly impacted her was visiting the orphanages, “I just realized how little the kids have, but how big their hearts are full of happiness and joy.” Morrow not only bonded with her group, but also with Salvador, the bus driver and missionary that helped their group. They both have a passionate heart for spreading the gospel. Having a great impact on her, Morrow has considered going into the mission field instead of theater.
Spending a week long mission trip in Costa Rica, senior Breanna Morrow visited three orphanages and spent quality time with the children their as well as created great relationships. Photo provided by: Breanna Morrow
Going to Nepal, Mr. Ryan Rust, junior Megan Rust, and senior Alli Rust traveled as a family to visit their missionary friends and help with their ministries. A challenge that was before the Rust was the travel time. It took forty hours to get to Nepal and there was a fifteen hour layover, which had a great affect on them. Completing a few activities in Nepal, the Rusts built a bamboo hut, helped tutor two students in Pre-Calculus and Calculus, spent time with lots of children while being at the school. Megan said that, “Spending so much time with the kids definitely had an impact on me. I gave them the little notes I had written the day that we left when they were at lunch.” Mr. Rust said this trip had a great impact on him in how he was able to see what his missionary friends do on the other side of the world. “It makes [it] easier to pray for them.” Coming back to the states, after the 14 day trip was a challenge as well. They lost their luggage when they returned to Chicago on their way back home, but received it about a week later.
Traveling out of the country can be quit the process and an experience. For a few people they had the privilege to travel to foreign countries and make a difference in the world, and their own lives.