Sisters graduates turn hands to humanitarian work

Perhaps Niesje Schilperoort should have been voted the Class of 2008's Most Likely to be a Humanitarian Globe-trotter. As part of Youth With A Mission's (YWAM) leadership training program she has led numerous missionary teams to countries in need all around the world since high school.

From her home base at YWAM's Brisbane, Australia training center, she has constantly put her training into practice leading teams on two-month assignments to places like northern India and South Africa to work among the poor.

At Sisters High School, Schilperoort was active in choir and drama. Now, when she's not on assignment, you'll find her in training at YWAM's music, art and dance school; some of her art pieces were recently featured in a Brisbane gallery show. She also leads musical worship and does some acting for productions of their film school.

This month, Schilperoort's back on the road leading a team of students around Australia, and next she'll depart for a two-month outreach in Germany and the Czech Republic.

Jonny Hillis, Rachael Tenneson and Emery Meyer have all recently returned from Haiti, where they added their willing hands and hearts to the hard work of rebuilding the devastated island nation.

Hillis and Tenneson worked together at Foursquare Haiti's base camp - running a water purifier, teaching English, art, and music to school children and English as a Second Language to adult Haitians, distributing relief supplies to villages.

Says Hillis, "When I left high school I had lots of friends who went off to college, having a direction to their life. In recent conversations with them, they've struggled with the purpose part of their life."

By contrast, he's inspired by the sense of purpose many Haitians exude now.

"There are still people in a survival mindset, people who have lost their entire families and people who don't eat everyday. But I have seen a people who have hope."  

Both Hillis and Tenneson are returning to live in the Medford area. She'll work and attend Rogue Community College, moving toward a teaching degree. He'll return to his job at a coffee house to learn more about the business, hopeful that he can take that experience back to Haiti one day, to help expand their coffee industry.

Emery Meyer's experience, helping with relief efforts in Haiti through YWAM, gave his life a new and profound sense of purpose and direction. Now he's focused on returning in April for a five-month assignment.

"I have gained a broader perspective of this world," says Meyer. "As well, a much larger love for a foreign nation than I ever anticipated."