In the last three years, senior Claire Williams has gone above and beyond doing volunteer work out of the country, and is expecting to go on her fourth mission trip this year in March.

By Emily Stotts

“I like getting out of my comfort zone and helping people,” Williams said.

For most teens, their comfort zone is sitting on the couch in front of the TV, as it would be for Williams. However, Williams has spent time planning and saving for these trips instead of spending it in a less productive way.

Since Williams was able to do something out of her normal element, it allowed her to see and understand situations that she never really recognized before.

“I got to see how people live in other countries, who don’t have the same advantages as us, and because of their living conditions, I was able to see the peoples’ reactions as the volunteers and I built houses for them to live in,” Williams said. “They were so grateful for something that I was able to help do for them.”

With the time Williams has spent on mission trips she has helped to build houses and painting an orphanage. Together, Williams and many other volunteers from Northside Christian Church built a shelter for families living with very little.

Not only did Williams do physical labor while on her mission trips, she also created a special bond with some of the residents of the country she visited.

“Being able to create a relationship with the people in the community was something I will never forget,” Williams said “Not only were they grateful for what we were building or repairing for them, but they were grateful to have someone there showing how much they care for them, laughing with them, and showing Christ’s love to them.”

Williams says she made friends with many children that she may never see again. Not only will she always remember those friends, she will also remember so many things she learned while being on her mission trips that she will never forget.

“I came back cleaned out my room,” Williams said “I threw out things I didn’t need. Why did I have eighteen pairs of flip-flops when I can get by with two? I realized how much worldly materials don’t matter and I became much more grateful for what I had.”

Mission work is something that Williams says she wants to continue for the rest of her life. Never regretting any of her trips, Williams says they have changed her life for the best. Spending a week in Guatemala this spring, Williams is overjoyed talking about the upcoming trip and all the memories that will be made.