Over Spring Break students affiliated with the christian club JOLT/FCA went on a mission trip to the orphanage Pilar de Esperanza located in Mexico. Pilar de Esperanza means “pillar of hope.” Hope is what the students brought to the kids. They partnered with Project Fortify ran by two friends of Mr. Foster Shawn and Carla Estes. Mr. Foster has visited Mexico on multiple different occasions. Any student was welcome to attend the trip, but once the seats were filled that was it.

The group took two vans and drove the whole way to Mexico where they would work hard and have fun while doing it. They completed multiple projects while at Pilar de Esperanza. Mr. Foster said, “We hand dug concrete footing for a new cistern which is 20 feet wide and 3 feet deep.” He also added that they repaired a walkway by mixing and pouring concrete, built a 24×8 foot chicken coop, and built a ramp for the back kitchen entrance. They started and finished all of these projects at the orphanage.

After a hard days work in at the orphanage they would engage in activities such as kickball, soccer, and football with the children at the orphanage. Students also got to know some of them on a personal level. They were able to learn their likes and dislikes. Sarah Bethurem a junior at Fair Grove really enjoyed her experience of playing with the kids and learning about them. “I fell in love with the kids at the orphanage and not only did I get to experience meeting the kids I got to serve my lord,” said Bethurem. She also mentioned that she thinks her time spent of the trip bettered her.

It is obvious that the people who went on the trip had many memories that they cherish and were grateful for the opportunity to help others. As much as Mr Foster enjoyed the trip he didn’t have a single favorite moment of the trip that stood out to him. Foster was just grateful for the opportunity and he enjoyed everything. “No single moment that stood out… just a great opportunity for me to serve Jesus Christ alongside some of our students,” stated Foster. Some students plan on going on the trip again next year. Students Shain Lahey and Sarah Bethurem have stated they plan on attending the trip again next year. “I would definitely love to go back to Mexico,” said Lahey. “It depends on what I have going on next spring, but am hopeful I can go back to Pilar de Esperanza it really was an eye opening experience,” explained Bethurem.