"I Cannot Do Everything, But I Can at Least do Something."

Kristi Braunlich, 24, wanted to put her skills as a nurse to good use and help those in need before starting medical school this month, so she contacted International Samaritan to volunteer at our medical center in Ocotillo, a garbage dump community in Honduras. Kristi spent nine days assisting the center's physician, Dr. Josue Lagos. The doctor was grateful to have her assistance; together they treated 80 and 100 people each day.

Last week, The Monroe Evening News featured Kristi in a front page article about her medical mission. In the article, she said, “I have always felt an obligation to help the underprivileged…I cannot do everything, but I can at least do something.”

If you are a medical professional who has felt called to utilize your skills serving the underprivileged, please contact International Samaritan at International Samaritan and tell us about yourself.

Click on the link to the The Monroe Evening News to view the article. Tomorrow, we will be posting a letter that Kristi wrote to us about her experience on an I.S. medical mission.

International Samaritan Featured in Yesterday's Toledo Magazine

A young boy crouches by an open sewer in a dump workers' ghetto.

Dump workers sort through materials in Guatemala City's Zone 3.

A woman carries her day's haul in the Guatemala city dump.

Photographs from Reporter David Yonke's trip with International Samaritan to the garbage dump community of Guatemala City were featured in yesterday's Toledo Magazine. The above photographs and captions by Yonke.

Toledo Blade's Yonke traveled with a group of student volunteers from St. John's Jesuit of Toledo to the garbage dump community of Guatemala City this summer. Yonke documented his travels with International Samaritan in a front-page series of articles.

Click here to view Yonke's incredible photo montage.

St. John's Jesuit Students Serve Children in Guatemala City Garbage Dump Community

Click here to read Toledo Blade article, St. John's Students Serve as Role Models, which is part of a series on International Samaritan service trips and programs.

Photos courtesy of Toledo Blade Reporter David Yonke. To view the Toledo Blade's entire photo gallery of the St. John's Jesuit service trip, click here.

Toledo Blade Series Highlights I.S. President's Work in Garbage Dump Communities

Fr. Don Vettese, S.J., Founder and President of International Samaritan, is pictured with a child who attends I.S.'s nursery in the garbage dump community of Guatemala City. The nursery provides a safe haven for the children of garbage dump workers. Photo by Reporter David Yonke of the Toledo Blade.

Homes built by International Samaritan. Photo courtesy Reporter David Yonke of the Toledo Blade.

Erica Maritz Chaj, 13, lives in a cement-block home built by International Samaritan. She is a sixth grade student at I.S.'s Franciso Coll School. Photo courtesy David Yonke of the Toledo Blade.

Toledo Blade Reporter David Yonke recently traveled with a group of student volunteers from St. John's Jesuit to the garbage dump community of Guatemala City. Yonke documented his travels with International Samaritan in a front-page series of articles.

Click here to read the second part in the Toledo Blade series on International Samaritan's service trips and programs.

Toledo Blade Reporter Travels with International Samaritan to Report on Programs and Service Trips

Toledo Blade Reporter David Yonke recently traveled with a group of student volunteers from St. John's Jesuit to the garbage dump community of Guatemala City. Yonke documented his travels with International Samaritan in a front-page series of articles.

Click here to read the first part in the Toledo Blade series on International Samaritan's service trips and programs.

St. Charles Prep Live Blog from Honduras - Day 2

During my junior year at St. Charles Preparatory School, I was given the opportunity to go on this mission trip. I decided to take up the opportunity for two reasons. One reason was for the experience of leaving the country and the other reason was a way to apply my Catholic education at St. Charles into helping other people.

One of the biggest things that I learned [at St. Charles Prep] was about how people are supposed to be treated. By learning about human dignity and equality, I was able to have a better understanding of how other people should be treated. Caring for those in need of help was an important teaching because that put me in the mindset to go on this mission trip to Honduras in order to give aid to the garbage dump communities that reside in Honduras.

Not only did my Catholic education help me understand other people by promoting me to go out and help them, but it also allowed me to break that social status barrier that would be between both parties, the helpers and those in the need of help. When the social status barrier is broken, we are able to see eye to eye and also experience their hardship. With this newly gained viewpoint, we are fueled to go help those in rough conditions.

By Jordan Krumpelman, St. Charles Class of '12

Look for more updates and photographs from the St. Charles Prep service trip at our Facebook Group.