"You will never be poor. You have knowledge and education, and you now have a duty to help those who don't"
Ecuador
During the summer between my junior and senior years in high school, I took a mission trip to Ecuador. I had taken Spanish earlier in high school and fell in love with the language, so I figured this trip would be a great way to further my language skills and volunteer in another country. I gained far more than I gave on this mission trip.
Ten of us from St. Xavier traveled to a squatter town (Durán) near Guayaquil, Ecuador. In contrast to most other mission trips, we did not spend our eleven days building a well or a school or doing manual labor. Instead we visited community members and discussed some of the social problems of the area and ways to fix it. We traveled to a center for Hansen's disease (leprosy) and saw up front how poor nutrition and medical care affected the community. We traveled to schools, daycares, soup kitchens and orphanages. We heard stories about crime, murder, dirty water, no education, and no access to electricity plagued the squatter towns. I had no idea things were that bad.
After nine days living in the middle of a very poor area, we visited an upscale school in a nice part of Guayaquil. Most of the students came from wealthy families, but about 30 came from the poor squatter town on the scholarship of a few wealthy benefactors. Only the best students from the poor town received the scholarship. The rest were left behind. One of the teachers at the nicer school told us frankly, "You will never be poor. You have knowledge and education, and you have a duty to help those who don't."
Culture shock is an understatement. This trip really introduced me to a lifestyle other than my own. This was my first time out of the country, and by no means was it pleasant. I was deeply troubled for weeks afterwards, ashamed of how lucky I was to have all that I do. My only solace was made in a personal promise. I vowed that whatever I do, I have to find someway to help.
Back in Cincinnati, our small group of students did raise about $4,000 at a school dance. This money was sent directly to the leprosy center for their much needed medical supplies. This in itself was an achievement. But the teacher's words remain. I still have my knowledge and education: I still have a duty to help.
Ten of us from St. Xavier traveled to a squatter town (Durán) near Guayaquil, Ecuador. In contrast to most other mission trips, we did not spend our eleven days building a well or a school or doing manual labor. Instead we visited community members and discussed some of the social problems of the area and ways to fix it. We traveled to a center for Hansen's disease (leprosy) and saw up front how poor nutrition and medical care affected the community. We traveled to schools, daycares, soup kitchens and orphanages. We heard stories about crime, murder, dirty water, no education, and no access to electricity plagued the squatter towns. I had no idea things were that bad.
After nine days living in the middle of a very poor area, we visited an upscale school in a nice part of Guayaquil. Most of the students came from wealthy families, but about 30 came from the poor squatter town on the scholarship of a few wealthy benefactors. Only the best students from the poor town received the scholarship. The rest were left behind. One of the teachers at the nicer school told us frankly, "You will never be poor. You have knowledge and education, and you have a duty to help those who don't."
Culture shock is an understatement. This trip really introduced me to a lifestyle other than my own. This was my first time out of the country, and by no means was it pleasant. I was deeply troubled for weeks afterwards, ashamed of how lucky I was to have all that I do. My only solace was made in a personal promise. I vowed that whatever I do, I have to find someway to help.
Back in Cincinnati, our small group of students did raise about $4,000 at a school dance. This money was sent directly to the leprosy center for their much needed medical supplies. This in itself was an achievement. But the teacher's words remain. I still have my knowledge and education: I still have a duty to help.