Volunteer Spotlight

“This experience has been a blessing.  It was great to use what I had learned in college for the betterment of others and it really helped to shape my views on how to live out my faith.  I feel very grateful to have had this opportunity and I encourage others to look into volunteer opportunities after school.  The ‘working world’ can wait.  Just go, volunteer and you will be amazed at what you can do and learn." 

Todd Trabert, Wacuco, Panama 2006-2008

Todd was welcomed home by the Capuchin family on April 19 with a party at St. Ben's. A Mechanical Engineer who graduated from Purdue University, Todd was stationed in Wacuco, Panama, working with Capuchin friar Wally Kasuboski, with water projects, road projects and rice production.

 

“It was a faith-affirming experience,” Todd explains.  “Each day I refocused, realizing that what I was doing was not “just” work.  It was important work and needed to be done, but what I was really doing was serving God and God’s people.  My faith has grown stronger.”

 

A typical day for Todd included rising from his rustic lodgings at 5:30 AM for Mass.  The Capuchin community would then join the nuns, who have a house across the rural dirt road, for prayer.  After breakfast, he would join the Panamanian workers for prayer and to plan the day’s work.  Todd would work until 4:30-5 PM and would visit with the neighbors in the evening (if he wasn’t too tired).

Todd’s work created a better life for the Panamanians who live in the rural Alto Bayano area.   The vast majority of the people in Alto Bayano live in poverty. The area is accessible via the Pan-American Highway, however a good number of communities are only accessible by horseback, river, or foot.

Todd’s work was very diverse.  “There are three separate water systems that Capuchin friar Wally Kasuboski has helped to build with the local communities.  These systems allow the delivery of fresh, clean water to thousands of people.  Without it, the Panamanians would need to go the streams and hand-carry the water and boil it before using it.  We would maintain and repair the water pipes that carry the water from the natural springs, located in the jungle. 

“Capuchin friar Wally also creates roads.  Roads are needed to help farmers to get their crops and cattle to market as well as to give a direct route to the nearest major town of Torti, which holds the centers of commerce for that area and transportation to the city.  This area had little or no infrastructure when the Capuchins arrived. 

“Wally has also created a rice industry in the area.  We plant, harvest, process and sell the rice locally, far below the market value, giving the poor an opportunity to save money on a food that is a staple in the Panamanian diet.  Many elderly would receive free rice and beans monthly to help them along.  Rice needs to be dried before processing it, but the dryers we had used kerosene which is extremely expensive and difficult to get.  So, we bought a furnace that uses the husks from the rice to dry the rice.  It is not only cheaper, but does not leave a carbon footprint that a fossil fuel would leave.

“This experience has been a blessing.  It was great to use what I had learned in college for the betterment of others and it really helped to shape my views on how to live out my faith.  I feel very grateful to have had this opportunity and I encourage others to look into volunteer opportunities after school.  The ‘working world’ can wait.  Just go, volunteer and you will be amazed at what you can do and learn." 

 

Above: Todd catches up with Brian Braun, ofmcap at the welcome home party at St. Ben's.