For my third and final video in this reflection series, I use pictures of

me and my team working in Nicaragua to show the kind of service work

we did: interacting with children, staffing makeshift pharmacies, taking
patient vitals, and doing construction work. I use these pictures because
the asset-based community development model made me think seriously
about the work we did in Nicaragua. The interesting thing is that many of
us did not know how to do any of the work before we got to Nicaragua. A
few of us knew how to take vitals and taught those of us who didnt know.
Our translators taught us how to ask questions to take patient histories or
how to instruct patients with the correct dosages for their medication.
None of us knew how to mix concrete or lay bricks, so all of us learned
these things from the construction experts Global Brigades hired from the
communities. In short, I find that I was not gifted with any particular set of
skills to help me take part in community development. The people from
Nicaragua, hired by Global Brigades, were the true assets in helping my
teams accomplish anything in Nicaragua.
Yet, what I did have, and still do have, is a willingness to learn and a
desire to form relationships. I think that is how Global Brigades works.
This organization partners students from the United States, who want to
understand global problems better, with people from the countries it
operates, who can help these students understand and teach them how to
do a little of the work they know how to do. We were not the main agents
of change. The agents of change were the people of Nicaragua, who live in
the communities we entered. They know what needs to be fixed and they
have the skill and knowledge to do it. They even have the manpower. But,
I think what they want is what I wanted: to be connected to a global
community and to try my best to right inequality. So, with the help of
Global Brigades, the people of Nciaragua invited us to come be with them
and help them in the small ways we could. That was the Way that we
found. That was how we helped develop a global community.

Script for Video

When I came to serve in Nicaragua, I become a part of two
associations. Two groups of people in powerful relationship, working for a
change. First, my teams, my peers from Loyola. On both my trips, these
were people I had never met before. But, these Loyola students and myself
spent time together and worked together in a way that profoundly changed
all of us. Our student leaders did an excellent job at identifying o our gifts
and putting us in places to use them best. Some could speak more Spanish
than others, so they were sent to jobs where Spanish understanding was
necessary. Some were stronger than others, and thus did more of the heavy
lifting during construction.
The second association was the association between our team, Global
Brigades, and the people of Nicaragua. In fact, I cant divide Global
brigades and the people of Nicaragua because for my trips, they were one
and the same. The staff of Global Brigades were people from Nicaragua
people who had lived there for years, grown up there, and knew the
country and its needs well. The doctors and pharmacists, who worked with
us, translators, bus drivers, staff who prepared our meals, construction
workers who helped us do public health workall of these people came
from Nicaragua. Some of them even came from the very communities we
worked in. As an organization, Global Brigades found these people,
identified them as assets to the mission of the organization, and brought
them in contact with my teams. Without them, we could not have done any
service in Nicaragua. We would not have known what the problems truly
were. These people were assets to their community and their country.
Im reminded specifically of my time spent shadowing one of the
doctors. I spent all day watching Dr. Marin work.. I learned so much from
her interactions with patients. She exuded confidence and poise, and took
time to explain things in detail to me. She even allowed me to take part in
her work-use her stethoscope to listen to a asthma patients lungs or
handing out parasite medication to every patients and explain the dosage.
As she helped me take part in her work, I felt valued by her.
Somehow, I felt like an asset, which honestly surprises me. I came to help
fix the inequalities I saw in Nicaragua. I recognized that communities in
Nicaragua lack what I take for granted: clean water, plumbing, easy access
to medication. I got off the bus to help fix these problems, but the more I

look back on it, the more I realize how small a role I actually played in
fixing anything. The people I saw doing the most good were the
Nicaraguan doctors, pharmacists, and construction workers who held my
hand every step of the way as I stumbled about, trying to make a
difference. I had no idea how to give correct dosages in Spanish or lay
bricks. I was taught these things by the people of Nicaragua.
The more I think about it, the more I think my gift, my asset, was my
willingness to learn. I wanted to learn about Nicaragua, look closely, see the
problems the people face, help them, and ultimately be with them. This
was my association with the people of Nicaragua. We made connections
beyond our borders, beyond the window, as they showed me their country,
taught me how to help them, and allowed me to spend time with them.
That was our way. I look forward to returning again to reconnect with that
way.