Today, I am lucky enough to be flying down to Mexico City with Austin Ashcraft and seven adventurous staff members from the past summer. We will spend five days in Mexico City working with the Missionaries of Charity which was started by Mother Teresa. After this we will make our way East to spend five days climbing Pico De Orizaba. 
These 10 days will be filled with opportunities to expand outside of our comfort zones.
When I was asked this morning what I am most excited about, I realized that it was the chance to share this experience with our staff. Each summer, we are fortunate to have staff members who take the leap into an environment where everyone is invited to grow spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Staff jump into each summer with a contagiously fun and energetic attitude.
This trip offers a great continuation of that invitation. The first five days in Mexico City will give us the opportunity to spend time with the Missionaries of Charity as they work with impoverished and disabled individuals with truly challenging lives. Working with the nuns in the Missionaries of Charity homes is a powerful reminder of how impactful it can be to live and work beside someone living a life of joy and fulfillment. It is difficult to not gravitate towards people who are constantly giving of themselves.
We are all inclined to become more like the people we surround ourselves with, and I hope we all grow to be more selfless and compassionate over this next week.
For the second half of our trip, we will stop in the town of Puebla to visit some of our fellow staff members who fly up to work with us each summer. After this, we will drive to the town of Tlachichuca, where a serious physical and mental challenge awaits.
Pico de Orizaba is a volcano that towers over the surrounding landscape, peaking at just over 18,500 feet high, making it the third highest peak in North America.
The amount of teamwork, planning, and mental fortitude required to tackle this mountain make it a perfect opportunity for our staff to expand their horizons, push themselves, and support each other.
Elias Longenecker
Staffing Director