Agnieszka Charymska
Salesian Lay Missioner
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Mission Site Don Bosco Training Centre Phnom Penh Cambodia Hometown Brooklyn NYPersonal Statement:
“I joined the SLM program to share my knowledge and experiences with young people. I believe that education is the solution to poverty alleviation because it creates means to sustainability. Considering the fact that education creates wealth not only to individual but also to the society where he/she lives, it brings prosperity to the whole country. I would like to bring to their lives not only education but also LOVE for God (values that arise from HIM).”
Marcos Cisneros
Kaitlin Darnell
Salesian Lay Missioner
Texas Tech Mission Site Don Bosco Skills Training Center Phnom Penh Cambodia Hometown Henrietta TX Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
Kaitlin Darnell, from Henrietta, Tex., is a member of Sacred Heart Church in Wichita Falls, as are her parents, Kevin and Jean Darnell. She is a senior at Texas Tech in Lubbock, majoring in exercise sport science and education, and planning to graduate this fall. At Lubbock she attends St. Elizabeth University Parish. She expects to depart just after Christmas for Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to serve with the Salesian Sisters at Don Bosco Skills Training Center, working with young girls. She says that she’s becoming an SLM “to serve, to share God’s love.”
Luke Ebener
Salesian Lay Missioner
St. Ambrose University Mission Site Don Bosco Juba Juba South Sudan Hometown Chatham IL Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
“I joined the SLM’s to help spread the good news to the children of the world and be a living example of the Gospel. I hope to bring light and hope to all I encounter in South Sudan.”
Maggie Fitch
Salesian Lay Missioner
UNC - Chapel Hill Other Hogar Sagrado Corazón Montero Bolivia Hometown Tryon NC Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
“I joined the SLMs in order to fulfill what seems to be my calling, to do mission work for an extended period of time caring for children. The joy and laughter of children is energizing and so contagious. I hope to be able to teach them to enjoy learning and pursue an active relationship with God.”
Daniel Glass
Salesian Lay Missioner
Georgia Institute of Technology Mission Site Don Bosco Wau Wau South Sudan Hometown Atlanta GAPersonal Statement:
“I chose to join the SLMs because I want to live as an example of the peace and love that Christ intended for all humans to encounter. I hope to bring a smile a child’s face who might not have been smiling before!”
Tom Kelly
Salesian Lay Missioner
Marquette University Mission Site Don Bosco Juba Juba South Sudan Hometown Milwaukee WI Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
“I joined SLM because I wanted to be a friend to children; especially those in most need, and share the love of Christ with them. Through the SLM mission, I hope bring others to the light of Christ, and in turn become stronger in my faith.”
Grace Loeffler
Salesian Lay Missioner
Franciscan University of Steubenville Mission Site Don Bosco Maridi Maridi South Sudan Hometown Perkasie PA Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
“I hope to offer the light of Christ to the poor, sick, and needy children of Africa. I know that I can do no great things, only small things with great love.”
Judy Mathias
Salesian Lay Missioner
George Fox University Mission Site Hogar San Francisco Cochabamba Bolivia Hometown Beaverton OR Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
Judy Mathias, 57, from Beaverton, Ore., belongs to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Aloha, Ore. She has taken a leave from her supervisory position with Legacy Health in order to serve at Hogar San Francisco, a girls orphanage in Cochabamba, Bolivia. She has done several short overseas mission trips in recent years. Judy says: “The Salesian spirituality touched my heart. I want to live out that spirituality of joy and service, working with youth with the support and prayers of the Salesian community.”
Marcy Mueller
Salesian Lay Missioner
St. Mary's University Mission Site Don Bosco Mekanessa Addis Ababa Ethiopia Hometown DeWitt IA Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
“I chose to join the SLMs because I want to bring Christ’s love to the youth of the world. I also want to help make the world a more peaceful and loving place; I plan to do this by teaching and working with young people.”
Christy Oberst
Salesian Lay Missioner
Townson University Mission Site Hogar María Auxiliadora Cochabamba Bolivia Hometown Nottingham MD Website: Visit WebsitePersonal Statement:
“I want to be an avenue to provide the Lord’s love to orphaned, abused, and abandoned children who otherwise have heartache or may have never felt true love. I hope to show them how much the Father loves them through care and unconditional acceptance. Children deserve to have a chance to be children, and I have an opportunity to help them to do so.”
Tania Ozbolt
Salesian Lay Missioner
The College of St. Mary Magdalen Mission Site Hogar Sagrado Corazón Montero Bolivia Hometown Warner NHPersonal Statement:
“I want to live out Christ’s gospel by serving others esp. by bringing love and care to His little children and the unfortunate.”
Eliana Pichardo
Salesian Lay Missioner
SUNY Rockland Mission Site Hogar María Auxiliadora Cochabamba Bolivia Hometown Pomona NY Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
“I want to work with the children in most need bringing the work and teachings of the Lord to hearts it hasn’t reached. Making a difference in a rewarding way and answering the call of Jesus to live out his love.”
Marie Prosser
Salesian Lay Missioner
University of Delaware Mission Site Don Bosco Mekanissa Addis Ababa Ethiopia Hometown Fawn Grove PA Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
Marie Prosser, 30, grew up in Fawn Grove, Pa., but now lives in Ellicott City, Md., where she worships with the Conventual Francisans at St. Anthony’s Shrine. Her parents, Jim and Camillus Prosser, belong to Our Lady of Grace Church in Parkton, Md., where Jim serves as a deacon. Marie, has already done a year of domestic volunteer service with the Capuchins. Marie earned a B.S. in chemical engineering at the University of Delaware and then an MAT in secondary science from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Influenced in part by participating in World Youth Day at Cologne in 2005, for some time she has wanted to teach in Africa. After a seven years’ teaching experience, including two at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore, she believes she’s ready now to teach overseas. Planning a January 2012 departure, she’ll teach English at Don Bosco Mekanessa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Marie says, “Don Bosco is awesome!”
Paula Rondon-Burgos
Salesian Lay Missioner
University of Virginia Mission Site Don Bosco Catholic School Soddo Ethiopia Hometown Charlottesville VA Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
“I have joined the SLM program in order to encounter Jesus Christ in young people.”
Michelle Ross
Salesian Lay Missioner
Gonzaga University Mission Site Hogar María Auxiliadora Cochabamba Bolivia Hometown Kirkland WA Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
“It has always been by dream to live and work in an orphanage and be a Catholic loving presence to the youth. There is no better group than the Salesians to work with in desiring to achieve these goals. I hope to see Christ in the face of every child, build trusting relationships with the girls, lead them closer to Christ, and make sure they know how much they are worth and loved!”
Lainie Sanker
Salesian Lay Missioner
Ohio State University Mission Site Hogar Sagrado Corazón Montero Bolivia Hometown Cincinnati OH Website: Visit WebsitePersonal Statement:
“To be apart of something bigger than myself.”
Stephanie Schaub
Salesian Lay Missioner
Saint Mary's University Mission Site Colegio San Francisco Xavier Okinawa Bolivia Hometown Winona MN Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
“I want to show everyone I meet the love that God has for them and to be an instrument of God by doing His work. I want to bring a smile to everyone I meet.”
Caitlin Seymour
Salesian Lay Missioner
Loyola University Maryland Mission Site Don Bosco Maridi Maridi South Sudan Hometown Rochelle Park NJ Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
“I joined the SLM’s to answer to a call in my heart to serve God’s children. I hope to be a vessel for God’s love and to make a positive impact on the world, one child at a time.”
Jenna Simonton
Salesian Lay Missioner
University of Northern Colorado Mission Site Don Bosco Catholic School Soddo Ethiopia Hometown Colorado Springs CO Blog: Visit BlogPersonal Statement:
“To shine God’s light to the world.”
Vivian Soul
Salesian Lay Missioner
Chabot Mission Site Centro Sagrado Corazón Montero Bolivia Hometown San Luis Obispo CAPersonal Statement:
“My hope is to be an instrument for God, mentoring by example. To do my best at showing compassion, kindness, and love to all the children, as well as young adults.”
Steve Widelski
Salesian Lay Missioner
Indiana University Mission Site Don Bosco Schools Tonj South Sudan Hometown Huntington INLorena Zamora
Personal Statement:
“I joined the SLM program because I wanted to share the love of Christ to others, especially children. Being raised Salesian, I experienced that love of Christ and the love of Don Bosco through other human beings. I was also taught to share it. Young people must know they are loved and doing this is just a small way of sharing what I was taught.”
