Jaden Palu
What grade are you in currently?
I am a senior.
Have you ever been on a mission trip?
I have been on two mission trips.
Did you initially become involved through your church?
Yes, I did become involved with the mission trips through my church.
If so, what church do you attend?
I attend St. Leo’s Catholic Church.
How old were you when you went on your first trip?
I was sixteen on my first trip.
Who (organized/was mainly in charge of) the mission trip(s)?
Rita Hemmer.
How many mission trip(s) have you been a part of?
I have been on two mission trips, soon to be three.
Where did you travel for your mission trip(s)?
[For my first trip] I went to Chicago, [for my] second trip I went to St. Louis.
Do you enjoy going on mission trips?
Yes, I really did enjoy my mission trips.
What do you enjoy most about going on a mission trip?
I like meeting new people, and just being able to see new places.
What made you first become involved (inspired) to go on a mission trip?
My brothers went on trips, and said they really enjoyed them, so I thought I would try it.
What was the most frightening experience you had encountered during your trip(s)?
Well, on my first trip I saw a man jump from a building and commit suicide.
Which one was your favorite mission trip?
My first trip to Chicago was my favorite trip.
Would you please describe the purpose of the trip?
To help anyone in need, and show that they always have support and we will always help.
How long was the duration of this trip?
The trip was a week long.
What role did you play?
On my first trip I was the rookie of the group, so I didn’t really know how to approach it.
How many other people were there with you?
We usually have about fifteen to twenty kids on a trip.
Would you please describe the scenery/location of this area? (sound, sights, smells, weather, etc.)
Both [of] my trips were in bigger, urban towns. It was louder than Grand Island, and just felt like a whole new experience compared to Grand Island.
Do you believe you made a helping impact in visiting this area?
I think we helped the people in the area, and showed them [that] we are always willing to help.
Would you enjoy making another trip there?
I would love to go on more mission trips.
Are you planning to take part in another missions trip anytime soon?
The mission trips have impacted my life, they have opened my eyes to how lucky some of us really are to have what we have and live where we live, and to not take stuff for granted.
Would you recommend other students to at least go on one missions trip during their lifetime?
I would, for sure, recommend people to go on mission trips. They are great experiences for everyone.
Megan Canfield
What grade are in currently?
Junior.
Have you ever been on a mission trip?
Yes.
Did you initially become involved through your church?
Yes.
If so, what church do you attend?
St. Leo’s.
How old were you when you went on your first trip?
Sixteen.
Who (organized/was mainly in charge of) the mission trip(s)?
Our youth director, Rita Hemmer.
How many mission trip(s) have you been a part of?
Just one so far.
Where did you travel for your mission trip(s)?
St. Louis, Missouri.
Do you enjoy going on mission trips?
Yes, they are so much fun.
What do you enjoy most about going on a mission trip?
I liked getting to meet new people, or learning more about the people I already knew.
What made you first become involved (inspired) to go on a mission trip?
I liked getting to help people in need.
What was the most frightening experience you had encountered during your trip(s)?
The group I was with spent a week at this place called the Griffin center in East St. Louis. It’s a place where kids can go during the day to keep themselves occupied and out of trouble. While we were there one of the adults who work there had gotten shot at night, while he was going to the grocery store. We weren’t anywhere near there during the time it happened, but it was still frightening to know that bad things can happen to good people.
Which one was your favorite mission trip?
The only one I’ve been on. 🙂 I am looking forward to the one we are going on next summer, to Montana.
Would you please describe the purpose of the trip?
The group I was in spent the week with a group of kids at the Griffin Center. We played games with them and went to the pool with them. The kids that go to the Griffin Center are the kids who live in the government housing facilities in East St. Louis. So, a lot of them just needed someone to talk to, or someone to play with them. They were all great kids, but it’s hard because a lot of them won’t get the chance to not live in poverty anymore, if that makes sense.
How long was the duration of this trip?
One week.
What role did you play?
I didn’t really play a role. I was the navigator on our drive down there, but I failed badly at that.
How many other people were there with you?
From our church there were about fifteen of us. In our larger group in Missouri, there were about thirty-five of us.
Would you please describe the scenery/location of this area? (sound, sights, smells, weather, etc.)
The city St. Louis itself is very large. It’s like a more hilly version of Omaha. It didn’t really have a smell until you got near the Mississippi River [then it started] to smell like dirty lake water, but what river doesn’t smell like that? It was really quiet in East St. Louis; the town seemed desolate, and broken, like it was trying to stay clean, but everyone had given up. There was an old brick factory in that town and once it closed down, the whole town started to fall apart. St. Louis, though, was busy, with a lot of traffic. It did remind me of Omaha a lot, but just with a large arch in the city.
Do you believe you made a helping impact in visiting this area?
I don’t think we made a huge impact, but I do think we impacted at least one kid’s life.
Would you enjoy making another trip there?
Probably, but I would get lost trying to get there!
Are you planning to take part in another missions trip anytime soon?
Yes, we are taking one next summer.
Do you believe that these mission trips have had a great impact in your life?
Kind of, I feel like I’m a lot more aware of the world, and it was good to see outside of my own world and into someone else’s.
Would you recommend other students to at least go on one missions trip during their lifetime?
Absolutely, they are a ton of fun, and you learn so much about yourself and others!
nwvikingsaga 