Community service is a way students can give back to their environment, but some find international work more rewarding.

“Helping others through community service is my passion,” senior Liza Karras said. “I love knowing I can make a difference globally through mission trips. There’s no greater feeling in the world.”

Over the summer, Karras traveled to Alajuela, Costa Rica on a mission trip with Floris United Methodist Church. The trip consisted of about 40 students and adults, including senior Sean Liesgang.

“The trip helped me build strong relationships with kids from Costa Rica that wouldn’t have been possible,” Liesgang said. “Seeing the poverty stricken communities really helped me realize how fortunate I am.”

The group stayed in a missionary retreat center run by the local Methodist church. During their stay, part of the group worked on renovations for the center, while others traveled to help build the church. Almost no one spoke English, so communication was difficult.

“The kids were adorable and the church members were really inspiring,” said Karras. “Although we didn’t speak the same language we were still able to form connections with the kids.”

“While the language barrier was the greatest thing that set me and the kids apart, it was their joy and energy that made me want to go back for a second year,” Liesgang said. “It was a new experience and it helped me with my Spanish.”

During the day, members of the mission trip ran Vacation Bible School (VBS) with the community children.

“[VBS] was probably the most memorable part of the trip,” Karras said. “It was just cool being able to meet kids completely different than ourselves.”

“The students at VBS helped me expand my vocabulary,” Liesgang said. “I learned new ways to say body parts as they kept kicking them, but they were really cute.”

As the trip was religious based, the crew attended a service one of the days of their trip.

 “It was so cool witnessing a completely new way of worship,” Karras said. “It was amazing.” Karras describes the trip as “life changing.”

Liesgang agrees he had a similar mindset.

“[I am] so fortunate” Liesgang said. “They do so much just to live day-to-day and this experience let me see it firsthand.”