Life changing. Eye-opening. Surreal.
These are just some of the words being used by six students in the Estevan Comprehensive School’s (ECS) Christian ethics class following their mission trip to Mexico from March 25 to April 3.
They worked in the historical central Mexican city of Cuernavaca and the nearby village of San Andrés Huayapan.
A total of 15 students from Estevan, Weyburn, Radville and Regina went on the trip, along with Christian ethics teacher Mary Ellen Barreth, ECS math teacher Breanne Swarbrick, parent chaperone Roberta DeRosier of Estevan and project co-ordinator Joan Rink, who is from Regina.
It was facilitated by the Archdiocese of Regina.
“Whenever we do a service trip like this, I always focus more on the students that I’m taking, and I came back knowing that these 15 young ladies are truly amazing, and will continue to do good work in this world,” Barreth said in an interview with Lifestyles.
This is the third time that Barreth has been on a mission trip through the Christian ethics class, which is offered at ECS by the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division.
Barreth said they worked with the Centre for Encounters in Dialogue in Cuernavaca.
“We did some work touring the greenhouses that they were developing for the community in order for those families to become self-sustaining, and to be able to grow organic foods to sell at markets,” said Barreth.
Team members built a dry toilet so a family could have a clean and sanitary facility in their home. They also built an ecological stove, so a family will spend less time gathering wood and preparing meals.
“The stove even has a pipe so that the smoke doesn’t fill the air, but it goes up and out,” said Barreth. “That was one of the things they were happy about.”
Language was an issue, but team members and the residents worked it out in order to complete the projects.
“That was something that they really learned a lot about and grew with,” said Barreth. “I appreciated this project in the way that it really connected with working with people in the community. It wasn’t just coming in, dropping things off and leaving.”
Swarbrick saw the students overcome the language barrier while staying with people in the community, and building a wall.
“The night before, they had been really anxious about going into their host homes, and just seeing them overcome that language barrier, and figuring out how to learn how to build this wall without language was incredible,” said Swarbrick.
The team also visited a school for autistic children, where they helped the students start a chicken farm. They also had lunch and made crafts with the students.
The trip had a big impact on the students, who were all on a mission trip for the first time.
Cassie Blanchette, a Grade 12 student, said it was “life changing,” as she learned about the culture and the way things are done in the country.
“It was just very eye-opening to see how little they have, but how grateful they are for it,” said Blanchette. “Whereas when you come here, we have so much but we’re always wanting more.”
Everyone in the country was so welcoming and happy to see them. She wishes people in Canada would be more inviting to people coming from other countries.
She said her favourite part of the trip was visiting the autistic school and interacting with the students.
Michaella Matthies, who is in Grade 11, called the trip a “surreal experience.” She fondly remembers the other Saskatchewan people she met on the trip, as she regards them as family now, and the Mexicans she encountered.
“What we did to help them, it was amazing to see all the smiles on their faces,” said Matthies. “They were just really happy and grateful that we came to help them.”
She forged bonds with the children she encountered in Huayapan, and even though they didn’t speak the same language, she found it easy to communicate through laughter, crafts and play.
“It was interesting to see how close you could get to someone without speaking the same language,” said Matthies.
Sisters Maisy and Madison Daoust were busy while they were in Mexico. Maisy, a Grade 11 student, was excited to see a different part of the world and encounter a different culture. Her interest started because her older sister was going.
“I started learning more about it, and I just got an interest because I want to learn more about other people and their culture … and the way they live,” said Maisy.
Maisy loved spending time with the individual families in Huayapan and working with the people.
“I have a greater appreciation for what I have, and I notice more of the little things in life that people often take for granted,” said Maisy.
As for Madison, a Grade 12 student, she loved making new friends and immersing herself in the culture.
“For me, one of the highlights was giving our donations and other things to the children in the village,” said Madison. “They were just so happy to accept everything.”
They brought dental hygiene supplies, clothes and toys that were donated by people in the Estevan area.
Tess Lindquist wasn’t present for the interviews, but she sent her thoughts to Barreth. Linquist would like to one day return to the autistic school.
“That’s the kind of impact it had on her,” Barreth said.
Casey DeRosier, who is in Grade 11, echoed her peers’ statements on the impact of the trip. She was stunned with the attitudes of the Mexican people, and their acceptance of team members.
Each day was busy as they worked and interacted with the residents.
“One night there was this party, and we were all dancing with the little kids and seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces,” said DeRosier.
If the trip is offered again, she hopes participants will go with an open mind and a desire to build new relationships.
“Be ready to go and learn so much about the culture that you haven’t seen before,” she said.
Her mother, Roberta DeRosier, chaperoned the trip, and was there to offer support and answer questions.
“Seeing people first hand, for the first time, who aren’t as fortunate as we are, it’s shocking, and they have a lot of questions,” said Roberta DeRosier.
Not only has she travelled on mission trips before, but she has now been on a trip with each of her daughters. She found this one to be unique.
“This one was a lot more educational, in that the girls got to see how they are helping themselves,” said the elder DeRosier. “It wasn’t us going and working for them, it was the girls going and getting to work alongside them, to see what they’re doing and how we can partner with them.”
Swarbrick has been on mission trips in the past, too, but this was the first time it has been in a service capacity.
“Getting to know the people and being immersed in their culture is exactly how I love to learn,” she said.
She was also excited to spend several nights with a host family. The family had two young girls, and Swarbrick found laughter, tickles and games brought them together.
“It was that universal language that was so beautiful,” said Swarbrick.
Now that they’re home, the team members will make presentations in the community, particularly for those who supported them. Barreth said local people were very generous, and they’re grateful for the donations.
Barreth hopes another mission trip will be offered in two years. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also a great experience that leaves a lasting impression on the students and the rest of the team.
