The group of young volunteers of Yonhap church posing for a group picture at Escola Bíblica para Adolescentes, a mission trip program under the organization Vale do Senhor [Photo Credit: David Choi]
By Kevin Dai
Extracurricular activities form an integral part of the PACA student profile. Of particular interest are some of these activities that also allow students to explore their faith, namely, missions trips.
Missions trips are short-term community service trips organized and led by Christians and churches. They represent great opportunities for students to develop their spiritual faith and connection with God.
Mr. Lucas Ham Swisher, PACA’s school chaplain, has personally participated in many such trips in several different countries, including Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, and the United States. He attested to their spiritual value and significance they can bring to students.
“It provides many benefits, one of which is a stretching of the faith because [students] have the opportunity to be the hands and feet and voice of Christ,” he said. “The benefits [come] before, during, and even after.”
Mission trips also pose a healthy challenge to students that incentivizes their growth and development. Preparing for mission trips is a multi-step process that will see them take the initiative to overcome obstacles that appear in the way of their service.
“Because mission trips require funding, students have to learn to share the vision, pray, and ask for partnerships in order to get the resources needed for these trips,” said Swisher.
Parents eager to support their children in participating in these activities can also lend a helping hand.
“Parents can help by talking [students] through the steps of what it takes. To help the kids and students to think out loud, to process how they can follow a responsible path to prepare for and be ready for the mission trip,” said Swisher.
“Yes, they should,” he said when asked if students should seek out and participate in these opportunities. “I would say the spiritual, emotional, and social benefits are invaluable. But additionally, especially during breaks, when students usually just travel and do their own activities, it gives them the opportunity to sacrifice their time and give to others, a very important expression of our faith.”
One student who has participated in several such trips is Junior David Choi. Most recently, he went to Recife with the church Yonhap, located in the neighborhood of Bom Retiro in São Paulo, to work with the non-profit organization Vale do Senhor in their efforts to aid underprivileged children and families in Recife.
Over the course of eight days, Choi and other young members of Yonhap delivered food baskets to families and conducted bond-building activities with local children. They arrived in advance to prepare for their activities, practicing dancing for a theater performance for the children and meeting some of the organization‘s workers.
The group of young volunteers of Yonhap church posing for a group picture at Escola Bíblica para Adolescentes, a mission trip program under the organization Vale do Senhor [Photo Credit: David Choi]
Choi emphasized that volunteers receive just as much as they give during mission trips.
“Not only do you do good deeds for others, but I’ve also noticed that it improves your own life. You build stronger relationships with the people you travel with, and seeing the reality of the world makes you realize how fortunate you are” he said.
The only drawback, he added, was that people might struggle to find time for these trips. Despite this, Choi plans to participate in another trip in July of this year.
The trip also taught him many lessons as he interacted with the children and families at EBA. Choi said that it opened his eyes to the previously unperceived privileges of his life.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is how ungrateful I have been for the things I have,” he said. “During this last trip, my team went out to distribute food baskets, and that was when I realized how different my life is from the lives of those in need—it is completely different. While I keep wanting more clothes, more shoes, and even complain about school, the families there don’t even have a proper roof over their heads.”
Missions trips provide students with invaluable experiences with the potential to change their perspective of the world and sacrifice their time to serve others, developing their spiritual relationship with God. Parents and students eager to participate in mission trips who have questions and doubts or are looking for support are welcome and encouraged to approach Mr. Ham.
