Lakeland Catholic high school students will be rolling up their sleeves and immersing themselves in a new culture to serve others.
During their board meeting late last month, the Lakeland Catholic School District (LCSD) board of trustees approved a missions trip to Ensenada, Mexico. The trip, which is open to Grade 10 to 12 students across the district, will see the group travel to a safe home for children known as El Refugio.
"It's an opportunity for our students to be the hands and feet of Christ," said religious education coordinator Nicole Hebert. "It doesn't matter where we live, God asks us to take care of everyone, especially the poor. That's really the message the Pope Francis has been telling us; he's really been expressing the need for us to take care of each other."
Typically, LCSD offers the opportunity to participate in a missions trip to its students on a biennial basis. A group of about 10 to 15 teens will take part in the weeklong journey, where they'll be fully engaged in the culture and lifestyle of the people they're helping.
"As always, we're quite excited for students to be able to live and work in a different culture, even if it's only for a few days. It allows them to experience how people in other countries live and it allows them to be of service to the people," said board chair Mary Anne Penner. "It allows our students to see another side of what's happening in the world and, in doing so, they see that there are way they can help serve, whether it's going on a missions trip or other ways they can help serve when they come back."
Hebert added, "It's an opportunity for our students to get involved with people from other cultures to connect with them, connect with their experiences, their way of life, and to help them develop that the genuine care, concern, and compassion."
Within El Refugio, students will be spending time at the main ministry, Casa Esther. The facility houses teen and pre-teen girls who are leaving situations of violence and neglect.
Hearing testimonies from others who have made the trip to lend a hand, Hebert said she knew it was a good fit for LCSD students.
"I knew of people that had gone to this place before and really felt that the experience was something high school students would be able to connect with. Hearing others who have gone say what an impact it has made on their lives and on thinking about others, I thought "let's try it.'"
There are a number of different opportunities available for missions trips to help with at Casa Esther. One of those is the multi-experience, which allows groups to see all aspects of life inside and outside of the home. Hebert explained it can be tailored to what students would like to engage in while there.
"There's things like working with the girls in the home, perhaps teaching them a little bit of English or skills that our students have. It could be a little sewing project; the opportunities to teach the girls different things is endless."
Other options include a feeding program, where they would prepare and cook a meal for people outside of Casa Esther. There's also a migrant camp that groups provide food hampers, toiletries, and other necessities to.
Students have the ability to participate in a maintenance or small construction project, such as helping to repaint a building, repairs, renovations, or pouring concrete slabs for houses.
"They have a vocation bible school and sports camps they can do for parts of their days while they're there," added Hebert. "At this place, there are a lot of different opportunities for people with different gifts and talents to share."
The missions trip is set for April 11 to 17, 2019.
