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Matthew's Service - St. Mary's High School |
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Matt with the Belize YMCA Director
What motivated you to work with people in a foreign mission country?
I have had a great mission trip experience in Belize and in Mexico. I went on the Belize trip after being selected for the YMCA International Program and to Mexico for my junior service project. I love serving others, and I thought why not go and help those in other countries. My work in Belize motivated me to want to go to Mexico and urged me to want to go back and do more work. This summer I will be visiting Trinidad through the YMCA International Program.
What was your best and most meaningful experience while volunteering in a foreign mission country?
The enjoyable and life changing part of my service in Belize was the time I spent tutoring at the Belize City YMCA. The tutoring happened every day after the young students, who came to the YMCA to learn, got out of school. Along with my traveling companions, I taught the students to read and spell. I played educational games with the students so that they had fun while learning. My simple service helped several students prepare for the high school entrance test.
Matt spends time with his host family's children in Mexico
What impact has volunteering abroad had on the way you live your everyday life?
When I went to Mexico for my Junior Service Project, I bonded with several of the Mexicans as well as those I was traveling with. My experience of volunteering and bonding has given me the desire to do more service as well as apply for scholarships through service organizations at the colleges I am considering for next fall. My everyday life has changed in the way I do simple service for others—from holding doors, to picking up trash, and sharing my service with others. My life changed for the better because of the great times I had volunteering and giving my time to serve.
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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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