Adventist young people are eager to serve. When Livingstone Adventist Academy, in Salem, Ore., became a full high school in 2005, leaders wanted to stress the importance of service within the curriculum. As a result, the seniors, decided to do a mission project in lieu of a class trip. As a tie-in with their course work, they chose to go to Puerto Rico where they could immerse themselves in Spanish. Since the first trip, each succeeding senior class has done the same.
After working in Cancun, students spent the past three years in Costa Rica in the town of Golfito on the Pacific coast. It has an active Adventist presence and a booming church attendance. Members wished to start a school on their property. So this year's seniors began work on a school building. The local church has embraced LAA students and wonderful friendships have been made, so much so that the new school is also to be named Livingstone Adventist Academy.
"I was so blessed when we went to Costa Rica," says Taylor Gall, a student at Walla Walla University who was part of the 2010 LAA mission team. "I felt a great connection with the people and what we were there to do. God showed me how I can impact people's lives. You don't need a lot to be happy." Alex Bones is the computer technician at Livingstone. He was a member of the 2008 team that worked on building a church in Cancun. "The mission trip was an amazing, life-changing experience," he says.
Taylor Gall hugs a young Costa Rican girl she befriended.
