By Greg Nikkel
The students preparing to go on a mission trip with the Christian Ethics class to Mexico are excited to be going, with most of the fundraising efforts now completed.
The group held a pasta supper fundraiser on Thursday evening at McKenna Hall, including several raffle ticket items, with one more fundraiser slated for Sunday, March 13 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Some of the girls will be speaking at the church and will get donations towards the trip.
The group leaves on Good Friday, March 25, and will fly to Mexico City, and from there will head to the state of Cuernavaca to the village of Huayapam, where they will live and work over the Easter break.
Seven girls were out on Thursday helping to serve the pasta, do cleanup and to wash up in the kitchen.
Student Jeena Johner was asked what she is looking forward to most.
“I’m looking forward to just being around a different culture and learning how they live in a different part of the world,” said Jeena.
“I think it’ll be a life-changing experience. It’s completely different to how we live in this country,” she added.
Jayla Kaip agreed that she thinks this will be a life-changing experience for the group, and is looking forward to experiencing a different culture.
“We’re staying with families in the village and we’ll learn how to make simple meals,” she said.
Britney Bolton, from Radville, said she is looking forward to helping the community and getting the experience of another culture.
Her best friend, Aline Galarneau, also of Radville, commented, “We’re so blessed where we live, we get to give back.”
She noted one of the projects they will be working on is building an outdoor toilet for the village.
Radville student Mackenzie Loewen said, “I’m really excited to be meeting the people in the village.”
She noted a year ago at Easter, she went on a two-week mission trip to Haiti with Haiti Arise, and is looking forward to going on this trip to help the villagers out.
Kirsten Perras added, “I’m looking forward to helping the people and making a difference. I’m just really excited to go.”
Teacher Lynn Colquhoun, who helped look after the raffle table at the supper, said the preparation for the trip has gone really well so far.
She said the students will be building an outdoor kitchen as well as an outdoor toilet, and in addition they will spend a day with residents preparing for market day, and helping with whatever the ladies need done for that day.
The group will also visit a school to volunteer and assist, plus the students will visit a monastery, a museum and will get to swim in some springs.
“It’ll be a great experience for the students,” she said, noting the group will be back in Canada by April 3.
