Asher and Jesuit Classmates Give Back on Weeklong Mission Trip
A small rural town and Tampa’s Jesuit High School have a special summertime connection through their dedication to faith and service. During the summer of 2021, Asher and 23 students from Jesuit spent more than a week (July 13-21) on a mission trip to Jasper, Ga., helping those in the community in need.
Asher and his classmates were connected with locals most in need by members of the local Catholic Church, Our Lady of Mountains, and its Knights of Columbus chapter. The students completed more than 30 unique jobs and 800 hours of service over the course of the week.
Jobs included painting, mowing/weeding acres of grass, and clearing invasive vines. They even built a pedestrian bridge leading to a family’s porch, demolishing and hauling more than two tons of unwanted waste from a property, and re-leveling massive marble steps that were a danger and an eyesore in front of a home.
In October, Asher spoke to the student body at Jesuit’s Convocation about the tremendous impact the service immersion mission had on him. “…Even if it is something small, anything done in generosity is making an impact for someone who could use the help more than you. Remember, if you can’t feed 100 people, just feed 1. I’m so happy that I made a choice to go on the Jasper (Ga.) trip.”
Asher will graduate Jesuit High School in May and we can’t wait to see what his future holds. “I encourage all of you to go out and make a difference through your generosity,” Asher said. “Whether it’s going out of your way to put your peers’ needs above your own, donating unneeded items to your charity of choice, or even signing up for a mission trip like the one to Jasper when the opportunity is given. Helping others is truly one of the best things that you could do.”
