Fall 2014 LASP Newsletter

INTEGRATING FAITH, SERVICE, SCHOLARSHIP

LASP NEWS

LASP’s mission is to cultivate a Christ-centered community of critical thinking learner-scholars from multiple disciplines, that seeks to expand global awareness and integrate Kingdom values via experiential learning in the Latin American context, challenging students to respectfully engage our host cultures and strive for academic excellence.

A Biannual Newsletter

Fall 2014

Find us on Facebook Practicing Medicine, Current Perspectives Alumni Updates Sharing Hope Read about what LASP and Twitter Reflections on our curLASP alumnus Trina Hel- rent semester derman shares of her ex- P. 2-5 perience after completing LASP, all the way through medical school and into East Africa.

alumni are doing, where they are in the world, and where their passions lie.

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You can find us on Twitter at @LASP_tweets

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Looking Back

Practicing Medicine, Sharing Hope Trina Helderman Trina studied with LASP in the spring semester of 1999, from Taylor University

I had always wanted to be a doctor since I was really little. I would pull out my little doctor’s kit and work on any patient I could find including these two incessantly

crying dollies my grandmother had given to me and my sister for Christmas. As I moved into college life at Taylor, I still continued in that desire and planned out my schedule and classes accordingly. As it turns out, I also really wanted to learn Spanish – at least better than the very basic Spanish I had grown up with in a bicultural family – afraid to be different.

One day my good friend, Michelle, made a crazy suggestion that I go with her to Costa Rica for a semester to learn Spanish. I was a bit nervous about the idea, but Costa Rica seemed so exotic – and who wouldn’t want to study biology and ecology in a beautiful rainforest! I re-arranged my schedule, applied, and in the Spring of 1999 I joined LASP. I later went on to medical school, did an international medicine fellowship, studied public health and am now working for a Christian ...

Practicing Medicine, Sharing Hope

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Looking Back … humanitarian organization called Medair based in Switzerland where I serve as the health and nutrition specialist on the global emergency response team.

really is changed from short term missions – those you are serving or the missionary himself. All of these ideas run through my head regularly as I consider them in responding to humanitarian crisis.

Christians is HOPE. I honestly am not sure how non-Christians work within the humanitarian field seeing so much suffering and tragedy – how do they not just give up, what do they hope in? I have learned to recognize that the presence of Christ When I look back, I consider my time at brings hope – even to those who do not LASP a significant turning point for me in I appreciated the challenge to consider yet know him. It’s like shining a match in where I would go and who I wanted to be other cultures, other people, and how a dark room – a little light in a very dark when I “grew up.” Time in Nicaragua and God may be speaking to them differently place can make a huge difference. Isaiah Guatemala especially instilled a desire to – like the many facets of a diamond. says that we should provide for the wanserve the vulnerable and forgotten.

There were many challenges in my jourderer, heal the sick, and sit with the prisThough discussions about missions really ney and I find myself often analyzing how oners. Maybe it isn’t to change their situchallenged me to consider how to serve, we are doing our work. Are we really doation necessarily, but to be present, to be how to work with communities, how to ing what is best for the communities? I tangible, to embody hope to those who utilize strengths that exist in communities think one thing that I have learned, need it most. rather than coming in as an authoritative though, is that one significant thing we voice, and even more so to consider who can bring to places we visit or work as “Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.” - Paulo Freire

Current Perspectives Take a look at what is happening at LASP this semester.

Students have been taking advantage of a number of enriching activities this semester, such as cultural activities in San Jose on the weekends and viewing a powerful theater production about El Salvador’s archbishop, Oscar Romero.

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Practicing Medicine, Sharing Hope, Current Perspectives

Current Perspectives

Students have engaged in diverse academic themes throughout Core Seminar, including poverty and inequality in Latin America, the drug trade, economic systems, immigration, US/ Latin American relations, sustainable development and more!

They have simultaneously been improving their Spanish skills in their afternoon language classes. This is one of the important tools that equip students to connect with locals on a deep level in order to learn from their reality. Students have gained a lot so far this semester from our invited speakers, Costa Rican professionals and local movers-and-shakers. But some of their most valuable learning has taken place outside of the classroom, in their interactions with their host families and other Costa Ricans. Students unquestionably have had a lot of aspects of their formerly held worldview challenged, and their faith equally strengthened. We look forward to all of the opportunities that still lie ahead in the semester to learn and grow in community together!

LASP’s mission

is to cultivate a Christ-centered community of critical thinking learner-scholars from

multiple disciplines, that seeks to expand global awareness and integrate Kingdom values via experiential learning in the Latin American context, challenging students to respectfully engage our host cultures and strive for academic excellence.

Current Perspectives

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Current Perspectives

During our Limón trip, we traveled to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, engaging in the perplexing reality of a region of contradictions and juxtapositions. Along the way, we stopped at examples of mono-culture agriculture in coffee, banana, and pineapple plantations, as well as Puerto Limón where the fruits are exported, among other things. We visited the Kéköldi indig-

enous reservation to engage in challenging conversations about cultural oppression and conservation. We spent a wonderful afternoon at the beautiful Cahuita beach, enjoying the sun, waves, and a rousing game of soccer. Students completed interviews on the streets of Limón in order to get a better understanding of the socio-economic reality facing the region.

“There are men who struggle for a day, and they are good. There are others who struggle for a year, and they are better. There are some who struggle many years, and they are better still. But there are those who struggle all their lives, and these are the indispensible ones.” ― Bertolt Brecht.

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Current Perspectives

Current Perspectives

Students have taken advantage of the unique opportunities in Costa Rica to travel and experience exciting and scenic adventures!

We have also greatly enjoyed the opportunity to interact with Costa Rican English language learners on multiple occasions from the Universidad Metropolitana Castro Carazo. This cultural exchange greatly enriches our students’ experiences in Costa Rica!

Current Perspectives

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Alumni Relations Katelynn Soendlin, FA ‘13 “I'm sure every student says this after leaving an incredible program like LASP, but I have changed a lot since the Fall of 2013. Carrying the lessons I learned about human interaction and value during LASP, I embarked on another international study journey this summer. I had the privilege to participate in the International Business Institute, a program which allowed me to travel with 40 students from various Christian colleges across 13 nations in 10 weeks. The program was fast-paced, allowing me to complete four semester length courses during my time in Europe, India, and China. In each country, I spent time studying, visiting corporations of international interest, and taking in the sights. It was an amazing experience, but one thing the experienced lacked was cultural immersion. I thirsted to dive deeper into each culture, and to understand it better, but time constraints only allowed me to reach the surface level. Nonetheless, I can say I've had the best of both worlds when it comes to study abroad: a life-changing cultural immersion with LASP, and a fast-paced corporate trip with IBI. Both impacted me in valuable ways, and allowed me to see a little more of the big world we live in.

I am currently in my last year at Olivet Nazarene University, and piled high with projects and work in the community. It's crazy, but I love all that I'm doing. The Lord is showing me more and more with time how I can use my abilities in foreign language to serve His earthly kingdom. I am currently involved in several areas of the local community, translating documents for non-profits and interpreting conferences at local schools. It is the most rewarding work I've done in my four years in school, and the practical experience is exceptional. I've been happy being back in the U.S., but will forever have a heart for Costa Rica and Latin America as a whole. Whatever I decide to do in the future, it will involve Latin America somehow!”

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April Hayes, SP ’14 is a senior at Asbury University this year, planning to graduate on time. Her degrees will be in Spanish and Bible & Theology.

Elise Cranston, SP ‘14 has been learning how her experience at LASP has and will shape her. She says one thing is certain, she will never see the world the same. For now she is finishing her degrees in Spanish, Urban/Cross Cultural Ministry, and Teaching English as a Second Language at Greenville College. As for the the future... who knows!?

Amanda Cummings, FA ’13 is a senior at Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma City, graduating in May 2015. Busy with academics, an internship, and Student Government leadership position on campus, she says she is loving her senior year, but always missing her semester in Costa Rica.

a Nicaraguan family and is teaching English at an elementary school there. She says that as a teacher, surrounded almost exclusively by Spanish-speaking Nicaraguans, there are new challenges and adventures, as well as many new fulfilling moments of joy and beauty.

She was able to re-visit and catch up with her host family in Nicaragua from her time with LASP. Jenna Musgrove, SP ’13 graduated from Dallas Baptist University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Spanish. After much prayer and seeking the Lord's will for her future, she has recently accepted a position to teach with the nonprofit organization Makarios International located in the Dominican Republic. She will be moving there in the spring in hopes of nurturing, educating, and discipling local impoverished children.

Mary Ellen Milford, SP ‘12 married Landon Hankins, FA ’13 just started Dylan Arias Calderón on November his first year at Southern Methodist 1, 2013. They are living in South University's School of Law, in Dallas, Florida where Mary Ellen is a fullTexas! time care provider for her elderly Tucker Fahlen, FA ’13 got engaged grandmother. to his fiancé, Kara Klausing, at the end of August. He is currently a senior at Taylor University in Indiana where he is varsity captain of the golf team and set to graduate in May with a Business Management major and a minor in Spanish.

Katey VanderVeen, SP ’13 says that her time with LASP was one of the best times of her life thus far because it gave her a deep love for Central America. So when she grad- Lindsey Welch, SP ’11 graduated uated from college with a double with her BSN from Biola University, major in Spanish and Anthropology, and is now working as an RN. she moved to León, Nicaragua with

Alumni Relations

Alumni Relations Lindsey Schafer, SP ’11 is now a graduate clinician pursuing a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology with a bilingual/multicultural emphasis at The University of South Carolina.

Kristine Helsper (Tunnell) SP ‘11 is living in Littleton Colorado and has recently gone back to school to become an elementary school teacher. She is getting her Master’s through The University of Colorado at Denver in human development and is student teaching at a private school in Boulder Colorado. She says she is enjoying teaching her students about ecosystems and observing their Spanish lessons!

McCall (Adams) Calloway, FA ’10 lives in Phoenix, AZ with her husband, Carson!

She is working at the Arizona Community Action Association.

Anthony Waldrop, SP ’10 recently started a Master's program at The University of Maryland in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development.

Lindsay Mullett, SP '09 went back to visit her host families in 2012 before starting law school. She is currently in her 2nd year at Harvard Law and is considering a future career in immigration and refugee law. She is also going to be an aunt for the first time any day now!

ta Rica as a newlywed!

ers the needed supplies to the organizations and churches. She will be returning Kayla O'Doran, FA ’08 is serving as a high to Managua, Nicaragua in February, 2015. school counselor in Galveston, TX, and is getting married to a wonderful gringo Kyla Cofer, SP ’04 is marrying Chas Nichnext month. ols on October 18 and is excited about returning to the Caribbean for the first Kara Estep Bradley, FA ‘05 and her hustime since LASP for their honeymoon. She band are still living in Seattle and are exis currently employed as a Legal Secretarpecting a little boy this November. Kara is y/Office Manager for an attorney in the working in global health research.

Nashville, Tennessee area, using her soNaomi (Pier) Figueroa, FA ’04 currently cial work and administrative experience lives in Southeastern PA with her hus- to help people navigate their legal situaband (and their feline and canine friends). tions.

She’s been working in banking for a numMike Peterson, FA ’03 was married to ber of years but is now looking for opporStephanie Quernemoen on July 5th,2014 tunities to work with non-profits in the in Eden Prairie, MN. Mike and Stephanie areas of immigration or development reside in Eden Prairie, MN where Mike work in Latin America. She also blogs continues to work for Microsoft as Sr. about faith, justice, and life on the side: Marketing Manager. He and Stephanie (www.naomiliz.com). She recently rehope to return to Latin America soon! turned from a fantastic trip to Cuba with Witness for Peace (10 years after travel- Amaris Allan (nee Miller), FA ’03 weling there with LASP), and it was full of comed the birth of her first daughter, many more insights, challenges, and pro- Adelise Joy, with her husband Stuart on cessing groups!

9/15/14. She continues to work as a family doctor at a faith-based inner city clinic Josh Van der Ploeg, FA ’04 is still working in Philadelphia and enjoys speaking Spanas a lawyer for White & Case in London, ish about 75% of her work day. but is currently on a six-month secondment to the African Development Bank in Douglas Parton, FA ’03 lives in Rochester, Tunis, Tunisia. At the AfDB, he is in the NY. He and wife, Rachel, adopted their Finance Division of the General Counsel's first son from Ethiopia (Bonsa). Rachel is office, primarily working on the Bank's due with their second child on Oct 21. private sector funding transactions and Douglas is the Director of Human Rebilateral agreements with donor coun- sources at a marketing analytics firm in tries.

NY.

Alonna Donovan, SP ’09 graduated from The University of Cincinnati in May 2014 with a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and will be getting Naomi Evers, SP ’04 works in Nicaragua married to Ryan Makinson on May 24, with a non-profit organization called Pro2015. vider’s Servants, Inc. Provider’s Servants donates needed supplies and services to Chauncey Handy, FA ‘08 is currently finchurches and to non-profit organizations ishing his last year at Duke divinity school without offices in the United States. Naand pursuing ordination in the PC(USA). omi’s job is to meet with the organizaLaura (Frey) Reyes, FA ’08 is working at tions and churches in order to discuss LASP and was married on August 9th to potential projects, and to offer her volunIsrael Reyes. She is enjoying living in Cos- tary aid. Naomi also purchases and deliv-

Alumni Relations

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Alumni Relations Matt Carmany, SP '02 and Laura (Wenger), FA '04 welcomed their second son, Nathanael Elias, into the world on September 24th. They have also started their own small business, The Wholesome Hive, in which they make all natural body and home care products as well as keep bees and process and sell the raw honey.

Ryan V. Gagliardo (Pillis), FA ’01 is married with 4 children: 1 boy, 3 girls. For several years he worked for an attorney in collections and currently works for an NMR glassware manufacturer. He and his wife have explored organic gardening, sheep and dairy goats, home butchering, etc., with hopes of soon living more primitively off the land. They are also open to overseas outreach and service opportunities.

Chris Qualls, SP ’01 and Matt Chitwood, FA ’03 are working together in Beijing, China, leading their own outdoor experiential education company in China, Journey Wilderness Adventures (www.jwatrips.com). Inspired in part by LASP, but made in China (like most things), JWA provides meaningful experiences (and lots of processing!) for students and professionals in China's pristine wilderness environments. Thanks to LASP for the continued inspiration to challenge ourselves and our world!

Michelle (Corning) Wheeler, FA ’00 came to Costa Rica in 2000 a mere two days after getting engaged to the man whom she married and with whom she had five kids. She says they lived the dream and this past August would have marked their 13th wedding anniversary.

But it now marked the first year anniversary of his death at the age of 32 following a brief battle with cancer. She and her kids are doing well because GOD is

Alumni Relations

their ROCK through the storms. Michelle fore she attended LASP. They currently continues to teach high school English live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and have and Theatre Arts at a small Christian two children - Jacob (10) and Lucas (3). school in Maine.

Johanna (Thalacker) Voss, FA ‘96 lives in Doralyn (Stratton) Rush, SP ’00 lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Hank, and Cuba, New York (a small town south of their four children (ages 12 to 7). JohanBuffalo) and her husband works for na and Hank are missionaries with World Houghton College. Doralyn is a stay-at- Impact, and Johanna also works as a staff home mom for 5 and 7 year-olds and therapist at Emmada Psychology Center. loves it! Last year, she was able to use Naomi Lambertson Pusch, FA ’96 was some of the skills she learned in LASP to married in August 2010 to Michael Pusch go on an exploratory mission trip to the (from Germany). They are raising a bilinIsland of Cuba, although in the town of gual daughter, Klara Grace Pusch, born Cuba, where she lives, she has absolutely August 2011. Naomi hopes to eventually no opportunity to use Spanish. be able to teach her Spanish as well.

Kristen Main (Sommer), FA ’98 lives in They recently moved from their longGilbert Arizona with her husband of 11 time home in Portland, OR to Western years and their 2 children. Elise is 9 years Massachusetts, which allowed Naomi to old and Conner is 6. Kristen is currently a attend the Peoples Climate March in NYC Team Manager for Liberty Mutual Insur- a couple weekends ago. She is a partance Company in their Phoenix office. time mom and part-time instructional She has been with the company for 10 designer for the Center for Social Innovayears now and relocated from South tion (http://www.center4si.com). This Bend, Indiana down to Arizona 3 years marks her return to the non-profit secago. She is currently working on her tor, a move she welcomes. Even now, 18 MBA through Southern New Hampshire years later, she still considers her LASP University and is halfway done. She will semester as a life-changing event which graduate in July of next year. She recent- really helped mold who she is and her ly took on the bilingual team at work and ability to think critically. it has been a great opportunity for her to incorporate her Spanish-speaking skills as well as her understanding of the Latin culture.

Sara (Roberts) Wetzel, FA ’97 lives in Maple Valley, WA where she and her husband are busy raising and homeschooling their four kids.

Brenda (Heuker) Caballero, SP ’97 has been teaching ELL (English Language Learners) for 16 years. Her husband, Porfidio, is also a teacher. He teaches 1st grade in a transitional bilingual program.

They first met in Honduras the year be-

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Alumni Relations Erin (White) Fairbanks, FA ’94 taught English in Shanghai, China from 1998 to 2000, moved back to the states and earned her degree in International Development from The University of California San Diego's IR/PS school with a focus on Non-profit monitoring and evaluation and Latin America. She then moved to DC, worked at The World Bank for a short time, got married, produced 3 kids, is

now a commissioned portrait painter (dogs and people - so far) and political activist for local issues (Saving McMillan Park! And smarter DC development!) She says LASP changed the course of her life and altered the way she thinks and who she is on the whole.

school in Rutland, Vermont. Next Spring she will bring a group of students to Turrialba, Costa Rica called CISA (Christian Immersion Spanish Academy).

Leslie Frey (Miller), FA ’87 was happy to return to Guatemala this past February with her family. They spent 4 days with Suzanne Hoeldtke Wood, FA ’90 is now a Potter's House in the city, and then visitSpanish teacher at a small Christian ed Antigua, Panajachel and Chichi.

“Back when I was a college instructor, I was struck by how superficial many of our Christian answers are in light of the profound questions being asked. And ever since, I have wanted to help Christians have a deeper, more thoughtful faithand to help spiritual seekers get good answers to their probing questions to help them come to a faith that is honest, vibrant, and growing.” -Brian D. McLaren

LASP Staff

stay connected.

Anthony Chamberlain — Director Javier Arguedas — Faculty Jessica Sanchez — Administrative Coordinator Laura Frey — Program Assistant Britney Villhauer— Program Assistant

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As always, you can also connect with us on: Our Website: www.bestsemester.com/lasp Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/LatinAmericanStudiesProgram Twitter: @LASP_Tweets Blog: laspcostarica.blogspot.com

Alumni Relations