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Huron Expositor, 2006-05-03, Page 12Page 12 May 3, 2006 • The Huron Expositor News VanderMolen broadens world view on Peru trip Canada World Youth exchange takes Seaforth youth to Peru for three months Jeff H'euehert "Culture shock," is what 18 -year- old Tyler VanderMolen, of Seaforth, says he encountered when he returned home recently after spend- ing three and a half months in Peru. VanderMolen participated in a international exchange through Canada World Youth, which saw him spend time first in Parry Sound, Ont., prior to heading over seas. The purpose of the program is to provide students with an opportuni- ty to learn more about the world and enhance their leadership skills and become an active voluteer. Each participant in the program had to raise around $2,000 which was put towards the program's costs. VanderMolen says his trip would not have been possible without donationsfrom the community. As part of the program, the par- ticipants, which included nine stu- dents from Peru, spent time not just working, but volunteering and help- ing out in the communities they were staying. In Parry Sound, VanderMolen spent time working at a recreation trail and at a school, helping teach gym class. • Church Servicet You are invited to attend these area churches St. Thomas Anglican Church A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit Jarvis St. Seaforth 527-1522 Rector. The Rev'd Sue Malpus. M. Div Sunday, May 7 Worship at 9:30 am Soup & Salad Luncheon - Wed. May 10 - 11:30 am - 1:30pm Everyone Welcome Please note that Rector's Coffee Hours are cancelled on Tues. May 9 Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 527-0982 Sunday School 9:45, a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Youth Activities Wednesday 7:00 p.m. B&G Club Wednesday 7:00 p.m. EVERYONE WELCOME NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH 54 Goderich St. W. Rev. John Gould May 7"', 2006 Worship 11:00 a.m. Sermon: Preaching The Healing Christ Nursery During Worship Adult & Teen Bible Discussion 9:30 a.m. St..James Roman Catholic Church Welcomes you 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 527-0142 Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm Sun. 11:00 am Fr. ChriS Gillespie Egmondville United Church Sunday May 7 Worship 11 am Sunday School 10 am " Men of Note" Wednesday, May 24 - Pork Chop BBQ EVERYONE WELCOME Steve Hildebrand Lay Pastoral Minister in Training First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W., Seaforth Rev. Henry Huberts Sunday, May 7th Worship 11:15 a.m. Sunday School & Nursery Provided May 6 - Plant Sale/Garage Sale 8 am -12 noon May 14 - Mother's Day Breakfast 7:30 -10 am ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH ST. VINCENT de PAUL 81 Mill St. Dublin 29 Nelson St. Mitchell Father Alan Dufralmont Office 345-2972 Mass Times St. Patricks St. Vincent de Paul Sunday 11:00 a.m. Sat. 5:00 p.m. Sun. 9:00 a.m. Wheelchair Accessible - Everyone Welcome In mid- December, the group headed to Peru, where VanderMolen stayed with a host family in ,the coastal city of Chimbote, which he describes as a lower -middle class area. This also meant VanderMolen would spend his birthday, Christmas and New Year's in a foreign country, which he admits, was quite diffi- cult. "Getting there was all exciting. But it was hard miss- ing the family element (at Christmas)," he says. VanderMolen says early on it was a struggle communicating with his host family as well, because he didn't AP dif 11" *Deep Muscle Therapy *Reflexology OReiki Jennfer *Ear Candling 79 Nelson St. Hensall 519-262-2952 A Tyler VanderMolen chats with a young boy in Peru. know Spanish. As for the holidays, VanderMolen experienced some very peculiar New Year's traditions. He got to eat 12 grapes for wealth in the upcoming year, run through the streets with his luggage for hopes of travel, in the next year and build a life size doll, dress it in their clothes and then burn it in the streets for good luck. While in Peru, VanderMolen vol- unteered by passing out pamphlets for a local theatre, picking up garbage, raking leaves and helping at a soup kitchen. He also helped teach English to children at a summer school. He says the English language is seen as sign of wealth in Peru, and therefore it is important to parents that their children learn the lan- guage. In the community he stayed in, which housed around 2,000 people in only six blocks, VanderMolen was able to help kids make crafts and enjoyed the occasional game of either soccer or volleyball, which he says were the only two sports he ever saw anyone play. "They would have nets up in the street and when a truck would come we'd have to lift it up over them," he says. "Sometimes, a truck driver would see the game and back up and go around." VanderMolen also helped out at an orphanage, teaching English, play- ing games with the kids or working in the garden. He says many of the children at the orphanage were there because their parents had been killed or they'd abandoned them. VanderMolen says towards the end of his time at the orphanage, it had become emotionally draining, especially after he had learned more of their language and understood what the children were saying. "It was tough at the end to leave. We had gotten attached." VanderMolen says upon returning home . it felt like he had come full - circle since first leaving, and says it offered him an opportunity to look back over the past few months. "Through the program we didn't just work with them, we became close to them and their culture. It became our own." "We had just left a lot of new friends." He says he realizes that a trip to Peru would not appeal to many people, but says "it's not that Peru is a worse place to live, it's just dif- ferent." VanderMolen says the program opened his eyes and now he real- izes all of the positive things he can do to help out in the community. "The program broadens your glob- al view and makes it more accu- rate," he says. "It made me appreciate 'a different way of life."