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Elizabeth's Service - Villa Duchesne/Oak Hill School |
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Elizabeth paints the village schoolhouse in Shaxi, Yunnan Province, China
What motivated you to work with people in a foreign mission country?
When I was sixteen, I was preparing to travel to Africa to climb Mount Kilimanjaro when the first American Idol Gives Back show aired. I was taking anti-malarial pills and during the show I learned that in Africa a child dies every 30 seconds from Malaria, and I was shocked. It truly upset me that I just needed to take one pill a week to prevent the deadly disease, and children were dying of the same thing. I used my trip to raise awareness and over $3,000.00 for the Malaria No More cause. It was the beginning of my awareness of the great need in foreign countries.
What was your best and most meaningful experience while volunteering in a foreign mission country?
While in Shaxi, a remote mountain village in Yunnan Province, China I worked with the children of the village and repaired, cleaned and painted the village school house. As we worked I was struck by the disparity between the schools in the United States and the school we were refurbishing. The local people and children were so excited by our efforts and I felt I was doing what I could to offer the children at least a clean, welcoming place to study and learn.
Elizabeth takes care of endangered pandas at the Giant Panda Research Center in earthquake-devastated Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
What impact has volunteering abroad had on the way you live your everyday life?
I think that volunteering abroad has deepened my appreciation for the gifts I have at home, my family, school and community. All service work makes me more aware of the ever-present need for becoming more involved both locally and globally. I approach life from the perspective of what gifts do I have to offer to help an individual or an issue.
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