HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-03-11, Page 9Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - Page A9
Photo contributed
Seen here are the Kingsbridge Youth who recently
took a trip to Costa Rica to help out orphaned chil-
dren. The group consists of JenniferMiltenburg,Natalie
VandenHeuvel, Julia Hogan, McKenna Scott, Kelsey
Scott, Nikki Howard, Amanda Gorel, Dane Nickel,
Liz Lalonde,Patrick Miltenburg, Missy Kuik, John
Dalton, Lisa VanOsch, Ben Miltenburg, Steve
Howard, Lauren Scott, Teresa Dykstra, Denis
Lalonde, Michael Hogan, Katryna Dykstra, Mary
Gwen Miltenburg and Conor Miltenburg.
Youth make over Costa Rican orphanage
writ Reid
sun media
The Kingsbridge Youth Group from St.
Joseph's Church, Kingsbridge, went on a
special trip to Costa Rica in early Janu-
ary. They had the privilege of helping or-
phaned children and gave their orphanage
a makeover. •
The youth group did things like paint
rooms, fix plumbing, so there would be
running water in all of the sinks.
The youth group's goal was to put some
hope into the minds of the less fortunate
and for the group they feel they accom-
plished that task.
"We went to help people in Costa Rica.
People who are less fortunate than us. We
were there to give what we had because
we have so much here and they don't have
as much as we do," said youth group mem-
ber, Lisa Van Osch.
The group is aware that people here in
Canada take what they have for granted
and to make the Costa Rican orphanage
a better place to live is something they
• wanted to be a part of.
The youth group did many things to try
and help out during their stay in Costa
Rica. They tried to do as much as possible
for the people they came to help.
"First of all, we packaged a whole lot of
goods, like pencils, pens, paper, clothes,
toys and cloth for the sewing machines
they just got. We did a lot of work at the
Orphanage. We refurbished the orphanage.
We painted walls, did some plumbing,
4paekling, tiles, etc," said youth member
Denis Lalonde.
For many of the members it was a spe-
cial trip and it taught them a lesson about
compassion and a new perspective on the
world around them.
"It was very moving and special. It was
a very good experience," said youth mem-
ber Conor Miltenburg. "We were able to
communicate with people of a different
language through the things we were do-
ing for the orphanage. We had translators,
but we learned more through their body
language, by how much they appreciated
what we were doing for them.
The young Canadians were very aware
of the positive impact they had by the hap-
piness that surrounded them. The smiling
faces of the orphaned children put smiles
right back on the faces of the Kingsbridge
youth.
"The children at the orphanage were re-
ally happy about what we did," said Van
Osch. "They got so excited about the paint-
qd rooms and they had a lot of fun playing
with us in their spare time. It seemed liked
they really appreciated what we did a lot
more than some people here would.
The orphanage buildings were donated
20 years ago and were in need of a lot of
work and it's something the youth, group
was able to do.
"The kids didn't really understand what
was going on, but they were so happy
when they saw the different colours on the
wall and the kids were so excited when
they saw water coming out of the sinks. It
made a really dull and dreary place a re-
ally nice place to live, for the kids," said
youth leader, Jen Miltenburg.
One of the things that gave the youth
group a little more global perspective on
the world is how dangerous parts of some
countries can be. It makes one appreci 'ate
the safety they enjoy in communities such
as Lucknow.
The youth group required a police escort
to the Evangelical church when they went
to help give food to needy children. The
church was located near the sometimes
dangerous suburbs of San Jose.
"It gives you a greater understanding
on how strong people can be, like the or-
phans and the kids who live there in gen-
eral. There were grown men there, like the
bus driver who didn't want to stay in the
area because it was that dangerous. For us
it was okay because we were with the po-
lice," said Conor Miltenburg.
The youth did find time to have some
fun of their own as they went white water
rafting and took a ride on a zip line.
Leaving, however, was probably the big-
gest ride as the country was rocked by an
earthquake as the group prepared to depart
at the airport. This just added to the expe-
rience of going through something we in
Canada don't experience. The earthquake
was measured at 6.1 on the Richter Scale.
One thing the Kingsbridge Youth Group
really appreciated was the support they
were given by the many communities in
the Goderich and Lucknow area. Before
going on the trip many area businesses
donated supplies and were very support-
ive about what they were going to do in
Costa Rica.
"I wasn't sure how fundraising would
go because we're a small church. We can-
vassed Goderich and Lucknow for dona-
tions for our silent auction. While Ooderich
was supportive, Lucknow was absolutely
overwhelming," said Jen Miltenburg. "Ev-
ery business we approached supported us
and there were even businesses we didn't
ask who donated to us. It was really cool
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