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Nicholas' Service - St. Dominic High School |
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Nick prepares cement for the mixer in Mexico
What motivated you to work with people in a foreign mission country?
I have always been involved in numerous service projects in my own country with some of the local people in need or those I have met through service trips. I had never really gotten the true feeling of helping someone who was in dire need. Several of my friends told me about the mission trip they went on to Mexico through the group, Esperanza Communities. I felt this trip could be very meaningful to me, and it would help me gain a better understanding of the situation of poverty, and that was the deciding factor in my participating in this project.
What was your best and most meaningful experience while volunteering in a foreign mission country?
My Mexico trip through Esperanza has been by far the most meaningful mission trip I have ever participated. There I witnessed firsthand the day-to-day life people are living. These people were not ashamed of their situation at all. In fact, they had the strongest ties of family love I have ever seen. This really struck me as something many people are lacking today. Love and closeness of family is more important than any kind of wealth we could imagine.
What impact has volunteering abroad had on the way you live your everyday life?
My experience in Mexico has really made me realize how truly grateful I am for the life I have been given. I am very lucky just to be born in a family that can easily hold its own. Families in Mexico, which are often twice as large, struggle each day just to put food on the table. I am very grateful just to be alive and not suffer each day, and I make it a goal each day to give back to God by sharing my time and talent with others in need.
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Archdiocese of St. Louis: Mission Office
20 Archbishop May Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63119 • missions@archstl.org
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