It was Tuesday evening, the night before three families would have a new home unveiled to them. As I nestled into my chair, I looked around. The campsite had not changed much since my arrival three days earlier. A handful of students were cleaning up after the dinner they just prepared for everyone. A couple more rejuvenated the fire pit with fresh wood, while a few others played horse shoes with Mr. Williams. In the far distance, the mountains began to swallow the sun, causing the rest of us to scamper into our tent and grab a sweatshirt or blanket of some kind. Running water was still nowhere to be found, electricity was out of the question, and cell phone reception was about 70 miles away. The only thing that did change, for me anyway, was my ability to understand what separates Bourgade Catholic from the dozens of other Catholic schools I have been involved with in my educational and professional careers.
As the pile of logs and cardboard began to blaze, the entire camp started gathering around the fire. As everyone became settled, we were encouraged to reflect upon our experience over the past couple of days, and to share any insight we may have. One by one, people stood up and gave a brief narrative about what stood out in their mind. Some told a quick story, while others expressed what the trip meant to them personally. Midway through the discussion, sophomore Liana Stalzer decided to stand up and explain what the trip meant to her. She said, "The reason I love this trip is because 60 people decide to get in a van, drive away, and become selfless for 4 days. Not many people can truly say they have been selfless for even one day, but I'm certain that everyone here has been for the past three days. It's an experience that opens your eyes on many levels." Aside from being able to sum the trip up in three sentences, I was impressed with the fact that it was Liana's 16th birthday. While most teenage girls are busy wrapping up a sweet 16 dinner with their family, Liana was sitting in the middle of the desert discussing selflessness.
The trip itself was simply remarkable. The only thing that was more amazing than the level of poverty these families faced was the leadership of the Bourgade Catholic students. The passion and energy these teenagers demonstrate throughout the trip is compelling, to say the least. They literally transform a stack of lumber, a huge pile of dirt, a few buckets of nails, 50 bags of cement, and a couple wheelbarrows filled with saws into a life changing experience for an entire family. What's more impressive is how they do it--all by hand. Since there is no power, hammers take the place of nail guns. Handsaws and 2 buckets are substituted for power saws and a workbench. The dirt used for cement mixing is shoveled over a hand made contraption to sift out the rocks. These students truly built three homes, with their bare hands, from the ground up.
Two instances, in particular, stick out in my mind from the trip. The first was, of course, when we presented our family with their new home. All the hard work put into the construction of the home was a very small price to pay when you saw the joy it brought to the family. The second one took place on the second day of building. Several students and I had just finished laying the tarpaper on the roof when I noticed that senior Alex Ebertz was wearing his "March for Mexico Mission" T-shirt. (The "March for Mexico Mission" was this year's theme for our Walk-A-Thon, which funded a portion of the Mexico Mission trip) As I thought about all the time and effort (and sometimes headaches) involved with the Walk-A-Thon, I came to a very strong realization. There are many times when the intricacies of our daily life cause us to lose focus on the big picture. We tend to lose sight of what our work here at Bourgade Catholic is truly about. But as I sat there, on the roof we literally just put above these beautiful girls' heads, I realized how rewarding it was to be involved at Bourgade Catholic.
Since I began at Bourgade Catholic, I have alluded to this "magical vibe" that encompasses our school community. But I have not been able to put my finger on the ingredients that foster such a unique environment. After having the opportunity to participate in this year's Mexico Mission trip, that is no longer the case. I realized a great deal throughout my stay in Mexico, but the most important lesson I learned was to take a step back and listen to our students. Their compassion, coupled with a delicate sense of humanity, influenced the lives of three wonderful families. But the impact they had on me may have been even stronger. They demonstrated, loud and clear, how the mission and message of Bourgade Catholic is alive and thriving among our students. I did not pinpoint all the ingredients, but the Mexico Mission trip is a very real and powerful example of the "vibe" I, often times, have trouble putting into words.
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