Ascend Alliance: The Insider View, a video by Samantha Tacy

Our very talented and extremely dedicated intern Samantha Tacy is sharing a video that she created for one of her classes. She has been the assistant to the Gala Coordinator, Sabina Casto for the last 3 months and has experienced first hand the challenges and triumphs of organizing a large event.



We are very impressed with Samantha's dedication and consistently professional performance in preparing for this event.

Vocal Point as Guest Performers for our Annual Gala

It is a distinct pleasure this year to have Vocal Point performing at our annual gala on April 27th!




They will bringing their rockin' beats and their dancing feet to this exceptional event, if you are interested in joining us for the evening, please call Lynn Merritt at 801.601.8810 or send an email to him at lynn@ascendalliance.org.

A Message from Lynn Merritt, Executive Director

It's a New Day ...

  

The world of humanitarian work is changing. Figuring out fresh ideas and looking at things from a different vantage point is nothing new, but the old model of non-profits is giving way to a new direction. Organizations are always trying to measure the impact they have on the ground and ask themselves the question "are we really making a difference?" With all of the studies and metrics in place and the amount of knowledge that is available today, why does it feel that we are doing the same things over and over? A progressive non-profit will take the time to review and assess every aspect of the organization. How can we do better and why we do things a certain way? These questions need to be asked in order to create growth and learning. At Ascend, we can look to our rich history and review how we have accomplished everything to this point, but we need to look at both our successes and our failures. We often learn more from our failures than we do from success. We also collaborate with other non-profits and together, figure out best practices and learn from the lessons of our partner organizations. We believe that only in a spirit of pure partnership with other non-profits, businesses and donors can we truly make a difference, but the key partnership is with the people that we serve. If we listen and learn from those that we serve, only then can find ways to truly make an impact and create true social change.

John Moore working and sharing a beverage with a citizen from the community of Jech-Vo, Chiapas, Mexico December 29th, 2012

 
Lynn invites you to contact him if you have questions, or would like to volunteer. He can be reached at 801.601.8810 or by email at lynn@ascendalliance.org.

Opportunity to Serve

I want to thank you for taking a few minutes to come to our blog! We are so grateful for the people who have come to visit us, learned a little about us and then become part of our community.

Also, if you don't mind, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Becky Olsen, and I am the Director of Marketing for Ascend Alliance. I had the opportunity to go on our most recent service expedition to Jech-Vo, Chiapas, Mexico where our group built an addition to an elementary school, repaired a very dilapidated retaining wall that was collapsing into two home-sites, and also brought in a Dentist for a care and education campaign. 

The group that had assembled for this trip was comprised of exceptional people who are all hard working and very talented in unique ways. Some traveled from Texas, and others were from various cities in Utah, but the one thing we all had in common was our desire to serve. I have to admit, it had been a while since I had balanced a wheelbarrow, jumped on a shovel and wielded a paint brush, but each task that needed done was an opportunity to push myself past fatigue and embrace the true joy of giving to a community. 

The long term impact of these efforts by our group of 23 expeditioners can't be measured at this time, but we do know that there is now room for 25 more young children to go to school everyday. But the impact on me, I can measure that. I grew in faith that believing that small contributions can make a big difference, that the small seed of hope can grow into a flower of success, and that working with joy in my heart can be contagious for those around me.

Opportunity is everywhere to become the humanitarian you were meant to be!

No Act of Kindness...

Sharing a smile, providing silent service, or giving a hug can all make the difference in someone's day.

We would like to challenge you to perform a random act of kindness. No matter how big or small, it will not be a wasted effort  :)

Success is Finding...

We have so many beautiful images from all of our exceptional service expeditions! These pictures move us and give us the desire to keep doing this challenging work. We want to share their power with you so, we will be sharing these moments along with a quote that is inspiring or motivational.

After all, our world gets a little more connected each day  :)

Save The Date!!

Our annual gala is in just six weeks!

We would love to have you join us!

Tables are almost sold out, making it one of the hottest tickets in town!

Hay Un Amigo En Mi

A little planning, some bold colors of paint and a lot of patience can leave a message of enduring friendship in the most unexpected of places.
Blake Hadley, one of the expeditioners on our recent trip to Jech-vo has a huge talent and wanted to share it with the people we were serving, but how does a graphic design/advertising genius leave a mark in a poor pueblo in Mexico?

He spent a few weeks devising a message combined with iconic images that would remind everyone that even though they may dress and speak differently, they would always be friends.
It started when the first work day was done. The designated wall was washed, and prepared for the many layers of blue paint that were soon to follow.

Such a cold night, but Blake and the AV crew set up the projector and the white crayons were put to good use to get sketch the images onto the wall. The images were then taped off and the paint brushes were brought out :)

Steady and patient hands were needed for the many different colors to follow. Ambassadors were appearing right in front of our eyes, and even more importantly, before the eyes of the young children who would be seeing them everyday from then on.

The lasting message of "Hay Un Amigo En Mi" was completed in just a few short days, with the impact of informing the children and the community that they had many friends around the world.

 And as for the expeditioners...

The memories will last forever!

Meet Samantha Tacy

Samantha spent most of her childhood and adolescent years growing up in a small town nestled in the mountains of north Georgia. Growing up she participated in many leadership positions and worked closely with others to plan, organize, orchestrate and carry out successful events. In working with and organizing these different events, Samantha knew pursuing a business degree was the right path for her in order to work events later in life. Upon graduating high school Samantha was accepted to Brigham Young University Idaho, along with a few other universities. But after some reflection and thought it was decided, she picked up and moved her whole life out to Rexburg, Idaho in the summer of 2008. College has been everything she expected. It has been a wonderful three years full of good experiences, many friends, exciting adventures and lots of snow! Throughout the course of her college years Samantha has been able to complete an internship with Texas Old Town, a wedding venue facility. It is here that Samantha first discovered her true love of the wedding industry. In addition Samantha has also had the experience of starting, organizing, and running a company with twenty-eight other students on campus at BYU-Idaho. Other hand on experiences Samantha has, include the opportunity of participating in two consulting projects with clients from the surrounding community. Her first project was based in conducting market research and analysis for a potential product line, and the second consultation was to help the client create a complete business plan for their new company. Most recently Samantha completed a two-year full time volunteer assignment for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Samantha loved working closely with the people and surrounding communities of San Jose, California. During this eighteen month volunteer project Samantha had the many opportunities to work alongside a wide variety of people. She provided many hours of service throughout the community, taught one on one lessons, and helped individuals find an improved quality of life and worked aggressively to raise people’s self worth and confidence. Her time as a missionary was very rewarding and provided her with many invaluable experiences. Samantha has come to Ascend Alliance for her Senior Internship Project. Samantha is working closely with our Annual Gala Fundraiser as the Production Manager. She spends her time in the office coordinating and getting in contact with those who will be performing at our event, orchestrating the program, writing the script for the night, and trying to manage the millions of smaller details of the evening. It is a fun, fast paced, highly social position, providing her with the perfect experience she will need to later work in the event planning industry. Samantha will graduate in July of 2013 with her bachelor’s degree in Business Management. She has obtained her primary emphasis, in marketing, and two complementary clusters, the first in Public Relations and the second in Family Consumer Science. Shortly after graduation Samantha plans to go back and make her living in the Wedding/Event Industry, working within the marketing, media relations, PR side of things. Since her first internship she has loved weddings and event planning and knew one day she would work with them closely. From her past internship and previous work experience she has found working within the industry is very exhilarating. She thrives off of sharing in the joy, love and happiness of so many individuals as they plan their special events.

Being an Intern at Ascend Alliance

Personal Account of Being an Ascend Intern from Tyler Olsen 
We value our interns and work diligently to provide a strong and supportive internship environment with opportunities for hands on experiences. 

When Becky Olsen, the Ascend Marketing Manager and my loving mother, suggested that I do an internship here at Ascend, I was dubious about whether or not I could balance that on top of the 15 credits I had already committed to up at the U of U and my part-time job. She asked me to visit the office and talk with Matthew Casto about being an intern anyway. That chat convinced me. I added 3 more credits to my course load, and I started. It was very easy to get registered for the internship course. the Hinckley Institute of Politics has been a dream to work with. They challenge us as interns to do our absolute best in our positions. The main course assignment is a research paper that is related to the internship and current events. Doing research about humanitarian work is very different than what I to what am used to. Working here has been such a good experience. There will always be space for another intern or volunteer, no matter what their passions are. If they want to be an accountant, an artist, or a writer, there is always something for them to do here. All levels of experience are welcome; all fields of study are welcome. It is impossible to walk through the front doors of this office and not change for the better. Volunteer work, on every level, helps a student gain a global perspective. Finding your niche in society starts in college, and doing an internship at Ascend will help you practice what you learn at school. The interns at Ascend Alliance work intimately with the executive team to reach their goals. Participants have opportunities to connect and network with top leaders and businesses and build long lasting relationships. If you are interested in more information, please contact Brenda Rindlesbach at 801.601.8810 or at brenda@ascendalliance.org.

Cusco Orphanage Playground Inauguration

Through selfless fundraising efforts and a collaboration of resources the Girl’s Orphanage San Judas Chico in Cusco, Peru inaugurated a beautiful new playground on Sunday, September 16th! The PC5 and the North Ogden service expedition groups raised $2,400 for the construction of this new playground.  Through the accomplished coordination of Ascend Alliance, Ascend Travel, and these dedicated service expedition groups that came to Peru last June, the girls at San Judas Chico now have a safe place to relax, exercise, play and be kids in a place they can finally feel at home.
Before the improvements:



There are three orphanages in Cusco that take in boys and girls ages 5 to 17.  These brave young children are either orphaned, have impoverished families that are unable to support their children, or are victims of domestic abuse, social risk, or sexual abuse.  All three Cusco orphanages are directed by Señor Luis Alberto Palma Gonzales, the President of the Sociedad de Beneficiencia Publica del Cusco (a state run organization that serves neglected youth, the mentally challenged, and a retirement community). The Hogar de Niñas San Judas Chico Girls Orphanage where the playground humanitarian project was installed is run by Señora Maruja, and hosts 36 amazing, intelligent, and inspiring young Peruvian girls.
After at the inaugeration:




As an intern with Ascend Adventure Travel, I have had the pleasure of working with these girls in their vegetable garden over the past three weeks, and I have never seen them so happy as the day we first opened their playground!  The ceremony itself was a congregation of children from all three orphanages in Cusco.  When Timothy Marti, the CEO of Ascend Travel and Regional Manager for this project, cut the tape to signify the opening of the new playground nearly 100 children went bolting for its castle, monkey bars, and teeter-totters! Tim and I where both relieved that it was finally inaugurated, yet scared for the children’s lives, hoping our Chief Operator Señor Felipe had made the castle feature strong enough to withstand 50 enthusiastic Peruvian children!  We looked at each other with a slight grin, both thinking “no better way to test it out than this!”  As I savored my delicious, authentic Peruvian lunch with all the children and their mentors, celebrating our new playground, I felt accomplished, gratified, and most importantly I felt like their friend.

A Message from our CEO

The other day at a family barbeque my father asked me how I was enjoying my new leadership role at Ascend Alliance.  It was noisy with children playing their favorite summer games and I was not really sure how to answer him without evoking a deep conversation.  Instantly, flash of images rolled through my mind, recounting a number of exciting events from the past four months.  Almost without restraint, one word flashed to mind and leapt from my lips – ENTHUSIASM.

Enthusiasm is definitely the word to describe how I feel about my short tenure as CEO of Ascend Alliance. The word enthusiasm literally means a strong excitement or feeling; taking its origin from the Greek word enthousiasmos, meaning to be inspired.  As I have embraced my leadership role of this wonderful organization I have truly been inspired; inspired to carry on a powerful legacy and motivated to craft a new and exciting vision for the future.

Since 1982 the founders of Ascend Alliance and their supporters have been changing lives by promoting self reliance across the world. The impact of this organization can hardly be quantified with numbers or described by words.  Let it suffice to say that great things have been accomplished. 

The great Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm”.  I would concur that enthusiasm is the mother of all greatness.  Enthusiasm has been, and will continue to be, a driving force here at Ascend Alliance.  Personally, I have never been so passionate about my life.  I fall asleep every night and wake up every morning thinking about the opportunities that lie ahead. 

Join with the team at Ascend Alliance and let the power of enthusiasm infuse passion in your lives and purpose in your actions!

Go.See.Serve

Go.
Where, you might be asking.

How about somewhere beautiful...
See.
See what, might be your next question.

How about seeing some of the worlds wonders and wonderful people.
Serve.
Whom, could be your next thought.

Why not serve those who are ready to have the opportunity to lift themselves and are just waiting on someone to show them how.
We want to help make all of this happen for you and them!

There are friends and memories just waiting to be made!

Meet Matt Casto

 With a 30 year legacy of service, there are bound to be changes, adjustments and innovations. If you attended the most recent gala or have popped into our headquarters, you might have had the opportunity to meet the embodiment of the latest version of those dynamics. Matt Casto and his wife Sabina had recently moved back to the states after years of raising their family abroad. They were looking for opportunities to serve and divine intervention led them to our offices!


Matt has many years of international business experience. Combine that with a dedication to honor the legacy of those who have previously served and a desire to develop innovations in humanitarian service he is providing his time and talents to take Ascend Alliance to new heights as the new CEO.
He has been a whirlwind of energy around here, has a contagious smile, an intense desire to serve and asks weighty questions of purpose. If you would like to meet him in person please stop in and visit, we always welcome visitors!

 

Leaving Past Traditions, Finding New Horizons

 

My name is Tyson Hardcastle.  I am 22 years old living in Salt Lake City.  A year ago I returned from serving an LDS mission in Samara, Russia.  In all, I spent about two years serving Russians in the cities of Orenburg, Balakova, Talyatti, Samara, Saratov and Marks.  My time spent there was and still is a meaningful and important part of my life. 

As a missionary for the LDS church, my focus was to help people improve their lives through developing faith.  However, we were also involved in humanitarian efforts and I anxiously took the opportunities given to serve the wonderful people in whatever way possible.   Through these efforts, I saw individuals who were at first strange and foreign become my very closest friends and even family.  Although I spoke very little Russian to begin with, and with only moderate improvement as time passed, the efforts of love and service between us allowed a strong bond to form which has forever changed my life and hopefully improved upon theirs as well. 

I can remember my first thoughts and feelings as I entered Russia.  A strange mixture of influences had created both a fascinating and interesting environment.  Among the plain, simple and very often dull architecture and appearance of Soviet-Union-era buildings and vehicles, there were glimpses of the culture which existed when Czars had power.   Ornate designs were visible on homes of humble artisans and hard workers that represented a time when feelings were more free and expressed openly.  In all, I found the contrast between the two very intimidating and an attempt to fully understand the history was only possible first-hand. 

In all of the cities where I served, there were always three main areas.  First, the city housed most of the commercial structures and government facilities and large apartment buildings, and was always busy with people going to and from work, the movies, stores and other interests.  The second was a section of dirt roads, some of which were or became during the snowy months usable with only rugged four-wheel drive vehicles where individual family residencies were located.  The last was even further from the center where families possibly had a dacha, a small shack-like structure used only in the summer months.  In the latter two areas, these families had often if not always, beautiful and incredible gardens.  Neat rows of vegetables were admired as my companion and I traveled through these areas.  It is often the case in America that such gardens are the result of a hobby or an attempt to avoid unhealthy pesticides in commercially grown produce.   In Russia, these gardens exist for survival. 

It was my blessing to assist a dear friend early in 2011 with his garden.  Sascha was a polite and hard-working bachelor living on his own about a half hour from the center of the city.  He had a large playful dog that would always jump on us each time we visited.  Over the course of several months, I came to know Sascha on a personal level and I can attest to his bright and friendly attitude despite the well-known prosperous circumstances I had come to him from.  This was the case in most of my relations with those who I came to know very well in the country. 

On that day early in 2011, my companion and I spent no more than an hour or so turning the soil in his garden, preparing it for the vegetables that would soon need a rich and firm place to grow.  Our efforts were minimal in the grand scheme of gardening but the experience was irreplaceable.  It felt good helping a friend who I knew would soon rely on that garden.  It felt good receiving the warm thanks and friendly smile from Sascha. 

I guess it’s too easy to get lost in the world of material goods.  Especially when we have it all.  Pursuing the latest technological release and keeping up to date with entertainment today can distract us from realizing how blessed and fortunate we are.  It’s good to enjoy life.  But to use one’s life to enhance the lives of others by sharing the resources we often take for granted is paramount to every other experience we can have.

Stilettos to Hiking Boots

When I was presented with the opportunity to join the Ascend Team in 2005, I was energized by the opportunity to fulfill my desire to help others.  After learning more about the organization my excitement grew, however, I was not enthused about the idea of trekking to a third world country on expedition.  I was content serving others from the comfort of my familiar surroundings in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Although I began to grow fond of the adorable, smiling faces in the photos that were regularly sent to the Ascend office from the South American and African staff and expedition participants, I still had a fear of scabies, lice and well…dirt.   I could not imagine a week with out my stilettos and designer hand bags.
After a few months, Carolyn Dailey, Ascend’s CEO, who has participated in countless expeditions, had me talked into going on an Executive Oversite Expedition to Peru.  For a girl that had never been out of the country or even camping for that matter, this was a monumental commitment.
I purchased a new pair of hiking boots because the only other flat shoes in my closet were my pool flip flops and my gym shoes.  Those not so pretty, very comfortable and practical hiking boots lead me on the adventure of a lifetime.
Peru is a beautiful country with beautiful people.   I had the opportunity to serve in urban and remote rural villages.  The tremendous need of the Peruvian people is undeniable.
Tears fill my eyes as I reflect on the opportunity I had to teach Peruvian children the importance of hygiene and hand washing.  I had the blessing, despite language barriers, to wash and paint the fingernails of tiny hands that had not been cleaned in weeks or longer.  My purell obsession and scabies phobia disappeared as I became acquainted with the smiling faces that surrounded me.
I was not qualified to prescribe medication or provide dental care as others on our expedition were able to do, however, my insignificant contribution may help keep some of those little people healthier this year.
Experiencing an expedition is truly a life changing experience.  It is not a vacation at a lovely spa, however, it was the best vacation money I ever spent.
My fondness for fabulous clothes and five star hotels has not diminished, however, after my brief time in Peru, I have a renewed commitment to use my talents and abilities to help others.  I look forward to another expedition in 2007.
Rachel went on an expedition to Ecuador in 2007. We are so happy to have her part of the Ascend team.

Peru Rail and Ascend Working Together

Beginning the 29th of March, train service will restart between Piscacucho and Machu Picchu.  Because of this, more than a thousand visitors will pass through Piscacucho per day.  Among these people will be locals and tourists, and so that this experience is as positive as possible, PERURAIL is working on education initiatives in this small town.

 

In fact, last Friday March 19th, PERURAIL did a training workshop for the artisans and merchants that sell food in Piscacucho.  First, there was talk about business management, sales, and expense control in order to teach the locals how to better administer a business.  This portion of the class was provided by the NGO Ascend and was delivered by instructors Rubén Auccahuaque and Tim Marti. This class had 25 food merchants in attendance who were very pleased for going.

 

PERURAIL would like to thank NGO Ascend and SERTURAM, as well as the merchants from Piscacucho who attended the talk.  We are also proud of the interest these people have shown in learning about and improving their businesses."

 

To see the original article in Peru, http://www.agenciaorbita.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4894:perurail-capacito-a-comerciantes-de-viandas-y-artesanias-en-piscacucho&catid=94:turismo&Itemid=152.

Ascend Alliance Travel

 

Who We Are

 

Ascend Adventure Travel was first organized in 2011 by CEO Timothy Marti. Drawing on years of humanitarian and travel experience, Ascend Adventure Travel was established with the goal of bringing about positive social change and poverty elimination through participation in the travel and tourism industry. Our passion comes from many successful instances of facilitating intercultural change through reciprocal learning and service experiences over our 30 year history of organizing service expeditions!

 

How We Are Organized

 

Ascend Adventure Travel is made up of two legally established organizations under Peruvian law. One half of the project is a non-profit Civil Association which manages all service expeditions and project donations. The other half of the equation is our privately owned business (Sociedad Anonima Cerrada), which manages all of our tours operated in Southern Peru and pays the normal sales tax required by Peruvian law. By selling and operating tours, we are able to pay the majority of our operating and staffing costs without relying on donations or diverting money that would otherwise go to project costs. This unique, hybrid approach allows us to receive a broad base of support from donors, volunteers, service expedition participants, tour participants, institutions, and corporations; from countries all over the world.

 

 

 

 

 

Underlying Values

Service

 

The world becomes better through voluntary service. As we become actively engaged in causes that alleviate human suffering we elevate and transform society. Meaningful, lasting service is found in assisting those who need it most become self-sufficient.

 

Stewardship

 

Each of us has stewardship over the resources entrusted to us. It is our responsibility to be wise and good stewards and to use those resources to become self-reliant and to improve the lives of others. Good stewards allocate rather than accumulate.

 

Unity

 

Every human being is of great worth. We should do all within our power to assist our fellow human beings to achieve their full potential without regard to race, religion, nationality, gender, social position or political affiliation. Ascend supporters and volunteers come from all walks of life and a variety of religious beliefs and political backgrounds. We view the world as a global community wherein we are all members of the human family

 

 

 

 

 

Approach

 

 

Ascend Adventure Travel projects and programs are accomplished in a collaborative effort with local community leaders. Ascend embraces the philosophy of providing "a hand-up, not a hand-out." Recipients are required to contribute in various ways to projects and programs and to be responsible for carrying them forward. Ascend initiatives are therefore designed to be:

 

Simple

 

Participants are able to understand, implement and replicate each initiative. Materials and instructions are available in country; so it is easy to replicate projects and also repair them if necessary.

 

Sustainable

 

Appropriate, sustainable interventions include training to ensure local participants are able to continue efforts and teach others as part of their stewardship. Initiatives are affordable, so while primary capital or resources may be beyond the reach of recipients, ongoing maintenance and repayment costs are structured to remain within their economic capacity. Ascend does not focus on aid, gift-giving, or disaster relief.

 

Sensitive

 

Ascend programs and projects are sensitive to the culture, political systems, and customs of the local people and community. We strive to preserve and respect their positive traditions. We also listen to those we serve, encouraging discussion and learning from them, so that we can suitably partner with, and empower them to achieve their goals.

 

 

 

What Sets Us Apart

 

 

Active Partnerships

 

At Ascend, we set aside territorial boundaries and egos to work together. Our active partnerships with like-minded non-profit organizations, corporations, foundations, civic organizations and government entities enable effective teamwork, efficiencies, economies of scale, leveraging of scarce resources, growth, and strength.

 

Methodology & Accountability

 

Ascend uses a literacy-based, capacity-building program for integrated community and family development, which includes documenting measurable objectives. Solution areas are: 1) Education, 2) Enterprise, 3) Health, and 4) Technology & Construction. Program progress is documented using web-based systems. Community-based councils are organized to coordinate with Ascend. These councils nominate community workers, who are trained in solution areas and survey the families they teach. In-country staff members check the data and enter it into an Internet database on a regular basis. Ascend Travel holds itself accountable to donors and provides them with specific information on the result of their contribution.

 

Graduation to True Sustainability

 

True sustainability requires what we define as "graduation." Ascend Programs work towards a phased-in, self-funding plan so that development activities and communities can operate using their own resources, and are no longer dependent on Ascend. This "graduation" enables Ascend to continue to expand its reach and impact, without taking on huge commitments for long-term maintenance of programs.

 

 

Click on our logo to go to our website.

 

Participant Perspective: Building Legacies

Last June, a group of about 50 participants (most of them Park City High School students) associated with the ParkCity 5 worked to build a school in a small village in the Peruvian Sacred Valley called Amaru. Our group became quite close to the villagers because we lived in their homes, ate their food, worked side-by-side with them, and even wore the traditional wool ponchos and hats they hand-made for us to keep out the cold at night.

We've never met such honest, humble, hard-working people. In addition to the school construction we also did English teaching, cultural groups, small business training, and a health fair.  The village children were very excited about the school supplies and soccer balls that we brought. We may have improved education in Amaru, but the people there gave us a priceless "education" as we saw their resilience, strong families, and desire to better themselves. We will never forget it!

 

Making a Difference, Wherever We Are

 My name is Abigail Marshall, and I just recently returned from serving as a missionary for the LDS Church three months ago in Brasilia, Brazil. It was an incredible experience, being able to spend a year and half among a people I’d known so little about before, and I came to truly love their culture and admire the people.

  When I first came in contact with Ascend Alliance, I was reminded a little of my experience as a missionary because of the selfless efforts made by those who live so far from the lives of those they are helping. I often wondered as a missionary how I would be able to relate to a people whose language I had only just learned, and what they would think of me as the foreigner. I learned quickly that when one is dedicated to helping others that every wall and difference seems to vanish and is replaced by a better understanding of the culture, the people, and their needs.

  Being a missionary, I passed through different places in which I could see the temporal needs of the people. The Brazilian culture is a generally hospitable one, and neighbors weren’t hesitant to lend the occasional cup of sugar, even when they had little to give, but there was often too much need for it all to be met. It reminded me that no matter how much good we do, or how much we give there will always be someone, somewhere that needs help.

  Although most of our work as missionaries consisted of improving lives by personal change and belief, that’s not to say that we didn’t have some opportunities to help temporally. There was a time when I’d been serving in the city Lago Sul that some of our friends  recruited us to help clean up one of the churches in the area. Between Karin, Bruno, my missionary companion and I, it took us about three hours to clean one room of the church, thanks to the dirt that it had accrued over months of not being thoroughly cleaned. We scrubbed tile, cleaned out closets, hosed down mats, dusted out cob webs, and killed families upon families of spiders, and even found an opossum living in one of the cupboards. Did I mention this was the nursery where all the children played? It was nauseating, but it stands out in my mind as one of the greatest experiences I had on the mission, because we were able to contribute something a little bit more this time.

  Service doesn’t have to be something big. Really, sometimes the smallest acts of service mean the most to people. That’s why service is possible anywhere, even within your own home. Homemade cookies, a phone call, cleaning leaves out of the rain gutter are all simple enough to be done without even leaving the block: the important thing is that we reach out. Our purpose in life seems to be to improve the quality of our lives, and I can attest that I’ve never felt a greater satisfaction than when I was giving of myself for somebody else’s sake.

  So many people in the world don’t have the resources we’re so lucky to have here. There’s a strong need in every part of the world for more service, Brazil included, and there’s nothing that opens the eyes so much as being in the middle of that need. Could I have imagined the difference it made in my life? Never. But it gave me a desire to help continually, no matter where I am, and that has made a big difference in my life. I guess you could say that Brazil and I did each other a favor, although I feel much more indebted to the people there for the change I saw in myself than the good I did that impacted them.