A mission trip taken in January has sparked an interest in building more houses in Costa Rica for Regis High School students.
“This mission trip changed the lives of not only those in Costa Rica, but also for the families and students who were there to help,” said Steffanie Piccirilli, the director of advancement at Regis St. Mary who participated on the trip. “It is with great excitement that the school will support students going annually by creating a partnership with Mercy Homes Ministries to build more houses in the future and to continue their mission to ‘learn, lead and serve.’”
Piccirilli said Regis St. Mary Catholic School prides itself on its mission statement of “Developing Disciples of Christ who Learn, Lead and Serve.”
“On Jan. 1, one needy Costa Rican family of four received a new home for the very first time,” she said. “Local families and students partnered with Mercy Homes Ministries to organize a week of work to help build the home.”
Regis students Cameron Diacetis, Izak Schmidlkofer and Jackson Reynolds, along with alumni Eric and Tina Reynolds and RSM staff members, Michelle Heuberger, Mike Bauer, Piccirilli, and Bruce Schmidklofer with wife Maria and son Luke went on the mission trip. The group built the 164th house in Costa Rica for a family that was living is extremely difficult living conditions, Piccirilli said.
“Many places in Costa Rica have the poorest of the poor and families living with no running water, no electricity, dirt floors and no hope for better housing,” she added. “Regis students spent the better part of last year fundraising enough funds to sponsor a new home and stay for a week while the building took place.”
Each day of building had its own set of projects, including pouring foundation, building wall panels, painting, securing the structure, nailing panels into concrete, roofing, wiring and plumbing.
“Students and families learned skills they never knew they had!” Piccirilli said.
Each 20-foot by 20-foot house contained two rooms with concrete floors. The interior walls showed the studs, and the roof was made of corrugated metal.
“For the first time, the family will have running water, electricity and a small bathroom,” Piccirilli said. “It is as simple as possible but is a dream house for many families. For most of us, our dream house would look far different.
“This mission trip changed everyone’s understanding of wealth and necessities,” she added. “It was a bold reminder of the poverty in which much of the world lives.”
Business teacher Mike Bauer called the trip “an amazing experience for all concerned.”
“Not only did we build a complete house in four days, but the interaction with the family that received the house had a profound impact on the students and parents participating in the build,” Bauer said. “In addition, the backdrop of one of Central America’s most progressive countries gave everyone cultural, culinary, and plenty of beautiful scenery to put in the memory banks. I am hoping to be a part of more mission trips in the future.”
Student Jackson Reynolds called going to Costa Rica “a wonderful experience.”
“The culture was so different from our own but so welcoming,” Reynolds said. “The people were so lively despite their impoverished conditions they seemed to be generally happier people than people I know in the United States.
“I think that if anyone is given the opportunity to experience a culture other than their own and to help people that they should do it without a question.”
For more information, message Piccirilli at [email protected].
