Three different groups of SFU students, faculty and staff traveled to the Bahamas, Guatemala and Peru to complete mission work over spring break.
Nine students traveled to Nassau, Bahamas, to volunteer at the Stapledon School and the Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled. Assistant Professor of Education Cassie Grassmeyer and Education Instructor Angela Boutiller traveled with this group.
Isabella Swindell, a sophomore double-majoring in Early Childhood and Special Education, joined the Bahamas mission team for the second straight year.
“We noticed a lot of improvements [from last year], which was great,” she said.
The SFU group assisted in classroom management and worked closely with children and teachers.
Swindell is grateful for the opportunity to help others during her two trips to the Bahamas.
“Everything we do counts,” she said.
Anna DeFazio, a junior majoring in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Med, enjoyed a similar experience in Jalapa, Guatemala. She was one of 17 students who made the trip to this Central American country earlier this month.
Scott Brandenberger, a Clinical Instructor of Physician Assistant Sciences, joined the students in Guatemala.
“It was awesome seeing how much simple things mean to them,” said DeFazio.
The Guatemala mission team administered medical care and provided hygiene supplies to people of all ages. The team treated more than 300 people in villages in and around Jalapa.
The children that the team encountered were particularly grateful for the help.
“They were so excited about little things, like toothpaste and toothbrushes,” said DeFazio.
Nine SFU students traveled to Pamplona Alta, Peru, with three FOCUS missionaries and Fr. Stephen Waruszewski, SFU’s Director of Campus Ministry.
Amy Jacobs, a sophomore majoring in Physician Assistant Sciences, was surprised by what she experienced in Peru.
“I had a certain idea of what it was,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting to get so much out of it myself.”
The SFU team that visited Peru assisted in construction projects.
“We started the foundation for a chapel,” Jacobs said. “We were serving people more generous than ourselves.”
