English major Heather Buck ’24 spent two weeks leading the Spain Apotheca team in Santiago on a Global Engagement trip through the Office of Service and Discipleship this summer. In collaboration with One Collective, the team completed a variety of social tasks meant to make others feel seen and loved. They listened to people’s stories and learned to uphold each individual’s human dignity.
Why did you choose Spain for your Global Engagement trip?
I was assigned to Spain when I was offered the role to be a leader. I interviewed for the leader position spontaneously because I felt like God it was calling me to do so. For a while I’d been thinking about it, but couldn’t make up my mind about which trip to go on, wondering if we would even be in a country long enough to make an impact. God truly led me to this experience, and I learned that God can use even any amount of time to make a difference.
How did you serve on the trip?
The main portion of our trip was doing ministry through presence. Simply being somewhere is a ministry in and of itself. No one on the team, including myself, had ever done that type of service before, so we had our struggles. I was used to ministry that entailed actively doing something, such as teaching or working with people, but our trip was immensely different. For example, we partnered with an organization that created workshops for women who have experienced domestic violence. By spending time in community, enjoying coffee and cake together, then making soap, we gave them the space to support one another. Many hands-on activities help clear the mind, so it was great to witness the women’s enjoyment. Our team also went to a local farm and listened to the farmers share their story. Small farms are becoming more rare as corporations grow bigger, so recognizing their work was significant.
What were a few highlights of the trip?
Learning and being in such a historical city was incredible. A big highlight was when we got to help a pilgrim who our host knew. A lot of pilgrims travel to Santiago hoping to find a job and start a better life. If they get there and are unable to find work, they usually can’t afford to travel back to their home countries. The homeless pilgrim our host met felt hopeless, so we gave him some of the money we fundraised to buy him a bus ticket home as well as a care package. Seeing the joy on his face was something I’ll never forget.
What was the dynamic like on your team?
It took us a little while to get to know each other. I had two other team members and we were all a bit quiet at first, but once we began serving, the three of us opened up and loved spending time with each other. We played a lot of games and laughed together, making such great memories.
How did you see God move on the trip?
I saw God move in my heart, especially because I was the leader and it wasn’t always easy to make decisions. Even when I had to deal with those challenges, I learned to check myself. There were many moments where I had to step back and ask God for the guidance to peacefully take care of what we needed to. I could feel God telling me He was there with me, and the people we were surrounded by were His people, so we were an extension of His care to them.
How did you grow personally and spiritually?
I grew personally by becoming more patient and adept at seeing people. For example, whenever a teammate was struggling, I was able to empathize with their feelings, especially since our ministry wasn’t like anything we’d experienced before. God gave me the skills to read into situations, let go when I needed to, and simply be there for whatever He called me to do. I grew spiritually by realizing how dependent I am on God. I’ve been in leadership positions since I was 11, and I love it, but a lot of pride can come from it. God pushed back on that through this trip, showing me that any position I’m in is because of His grace. He spoke into my heart, telling me that I’m not here because I no longer need Him, but because I need Him even more.
Would you recommend Global Engagement trips to other students? What advice would you give them?
Yes, I would definitely recommend these trips to anybody interested in learning how to incorporate faith into their calling. My main advice would be to not get discouraged by the cost. Even though it’s not cheap, I’ve found that there are many people out there willing to help financially and support you. It may seem daunting, but God will provide, especially if He’s calling you to go on this trip.
Service is one of APU’s four cornerstones. What does service mean to you?
Service to me is a part of what we’re called to do. Our team’s Bible verse was Matthew 20:28, which states that Jesus did not come to be served but to serve others. His ministry shows that that’s what we’re meant to do. Service is a way of life.
All APU undergraduate students serve 120 hours over the course of four years. There
are many opportunities during the school year and during the summer to serve both
locally and globally. Learn more about Global Engagement trips here or by emailing osd@apu.edu .