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Scott's Service - DeSmet Jesuit High School |
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Scott, along with classmates from DeSmet Jesuit High School, volunteer in Nicaragua
What motivated you to work with people in a foreign mission country?
My faith was my primary motivation to participate in these mission trips. I got my first opportunity to go to Nicaragua through my youth group at Incarnate Word parish. I realized that service to others is necessary for every responsible Christian and that serving and loving others is the core of Christianity. I wanted to work with people in a foreign country because it put me entirely out of my comfort zone. I wanted to live in solidarity with the people in these poverty stricken areas so I could fully understand their situation and broaden my perspective on global poverty.
What was your best and most meaningful experience while volunteering in a foreign mission country?
I have had many different remarkable experiences that have struck me powerfully and it’s hard to single out just one. The one experience that seems to encompass my overall experience is when I visited the village called El Limonal in Nicaragua, which is situated between a dump, a sewage processing plant and a graveyard. When we walked into the dump I saw children eating out of the back of garbage trucks and old women sifting through the trash to find enough tin and aluminum to earn enough for one day’s food. It is a sight that I will never forget.
What impact has volunteering abroad had on the way you live your everyday life?
These trips have had a dramatic impact on my everyday life. I have a greater awareness and appreciation of the blessings that God and my family have given me. But besides this obvious impact, the people I worked with have also taught me a lot about generosity and my relationships with others. These people were some of the happiest, most loving people I ever met. I wear a wristband from each of my trips everyday to keep my experiences in perspective. Throughout the day, despite what I’m doing, I can look down and see them and remember my experiences there.
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