2018
Trip Members: Joe Arguinchona, Zach Beavis, Luke Kiefer, Lauren Lo, Emily Via, & Mitch Waters
"People showed up at our hosts’ houses, even in our rooms late at night when we came back from a long night of screening. Their desperation simply overwhelmed our limitation. I recognize this is a given for any international service work, but I think our team felt this disparity to a fault. I wanted to go home during those first weeks, but kept reminding myself to “give until you have nothing left.” One day, when we saw the face of a legally blind Mayan elder light up as he could finally see with his donated “OD -5.00 and OS +3.00” pair we had been carrying around in a duffel for 2 weeks, it all seemed worth it.
Three lessons I learned from our trip: keep giving until you have nothing left, being present and trying your best is all these communities ask, and always, always, bring more glasses.”
-Zack Beavis, California
GUATEMALA
Trip Members (L): Jordan Albrecht, Justin Brill, Jeff Bunsness, Charlie Oertli, Katherine Patee, Stephen Rowse, & Sierra Stippich
(R): Emily Allen, Ankita Anekal, Mike Ashley, Katie Bring, Joslyn Hoburg, Tommy Mroz, Emma Schnuckle, Michael Schulte, & Andre Wakim
"Charlie, Stephen, Justin and Jeff soon found themselves playing an intense game of cricket – highly unprepared of course. I, along with Kat and Sierra, was taken to the girls’ dormitory and given a makeover complete with nail polish, hair and eyeliner. These simple hours spent with the children were the best moments of the entire trip, something my group reflected on later that evening. Even after hiking the foothills of the Himalayas, seeing the Taj Mahal at dawn and watching a Cesarean section, it was these children that gave us the greatest joy. There were no barriers of culture, language or health, but rather we existed as a simple connection that transcended any differences. These children showed me how there is no limit when it comes to love and forgiveness. The happiness they radiated proved their strength and perseverance that will forever be something I treasure and strive to do myself for the rest of my life.”
-Jordan Albrecht, Colorado
"We live in a world that recognizes tangible things – how many children received well checks? How many glasses did you give out? But, there is no measure for genuine compassion... Imagine traveling across the world to travel and see the sights. Now imagine going across the world to discover people and serve. Each trip, perhaps even each person in this scenario, is entirely different… And as we walk through the forest that is our day to day grind of studying I think we owe it to ourselves to go back to the mountain top for some perspective. My encouragement is to revisit the why behind your purpose here at Creighton from time to time. Not for the satisfaction of others, but for the fullness of yourself."
-Katie Bring, Colorado
INDIA
Trip Members: Luke Aeilts, Sean Brown, Ann Heyer, Louay Kalamchi, Claire Magnussen, & Jon Zeitler
"I left Peru with a renewed spark for my education. After a whole year with my nose in all sorts of books and not having much contact with patients, I’d been given a reminder of what all the hard work is for – to hopefully be lucky enough to help someone someday. I left with the simple reminder to allow myself to be amazed by the material we learn in class and the patients we have the privilege of working with. And whether it is hearing a family member’s voice on the other end of a phone call, watching the sun rise red in the morning, or listening to beautiful music, I’ll be sure to appreciate the small blessings that bring me joy each day.”
- Ann Heyer, Minnesota
PERU
Trip Members: Lisa Huguchi, Josh Hunt, Jason Kuniyoshi, Kendra Reilly, Olivia Ochuba, Chris Pardo, Spencer Shearer, & Harrison VanDolah
"My days in Vietnam and Indonesia were some of the most blissful, educational, and rewarding days of my life thus far… It wasn’t until I returned and had these months to reflect that I realized what I needed most was an open mind… The places we went, the landscapes we saw, and the people we met will forever reside in my hippocampus… the long bus rides the eight of us spent playing Contact, talking about our lives, and deciding what we were going to eat next. The faces of these friends of ours will forever live in our memories, alongside concepts of cranial nerve examination and EKG interpretation. My eternal gratitude is with all those that make Project CURA possible. It is because of these human beings that I fully understand how ‘time flies when you’re having fun."
-Spencer Shearer, Missouri
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Trip Members: Lindsay Beard, Amir Begovic, Chris DeAngelo, Evan Graumann, Braden Olsen, Ryan Saliga, & Emily Sippel
"Of course, lack of resources was an issue, but I realized how presumptive it was of me to think that I, as an American, had the answers to solve the Ugandan healthcare issues. Dr. Joseph knew far more than I did about medicine and the social situations of his patients, and I realized my role was to observe and learn as much as I could from him and from this experience. One day I hope to apply the lessons I learned during my time in Uganda; I hope I can make a difference in my patients’ lives just as Dr. Joseph did. Ultimately, I desire to maintain a spirit of humility by appreciating the strengths of other cultures. I, as an American, do not have all the answers to solve the world’s problems. In fact, I don’t even know if the world needs me to “fix” their problems. Uganda was doing fine before I arrived, and I know they are doing fine in my absence. Through the Cura experience, I began to grasp the idea that each culture has its strengths, and I need to have the humility to recognize this and learn instead of thinking I possess all of the answers.”
- Lindsay Beard, Minnesota
UGANDA
Trip Members: Greg Berry, Chaitri Desai, Emily Dyer, Breanna Elger, John Gootee, Serenity McAndrews, Ben Merrill, Hannah Meissner, Cooper Nagaki, Haley Schuster, & Natasha Sioda
"It seems like we often have the mindset of “what is best for me?” and if we find ourselves in a bad situation, our first inclination is to get out of the situation and find one more conducive to our comfort and success. Those in Pine Ridge who returned or came inspired me with their mentality, not of “what’s best for me” but “what I can I give?” Their love for their community and willingness to sacrifice their own comfort and potential success elsewhere to come back to a less-than-ideal situation brought a palpable feeling of hope for the future in the schools. It was a wonderful reminder to me to strive to be a person, and eventually doctor, who has the mentality of “what can I give back?” rather than “what can I get?” and be willing to sacrifice to build something bigger than myself.”
- Ben Merrill, Utah
