Hi my name's Susie. I'm a year 10 student and I'm so excited to have this incredible opportunity

As a little girl I had the privilege of growing up in Mexico City for 6 years,where my family served as missionaries. My years there influenced and inspired me, things like music, language, the food of course, but most of all the generosity and kindness of the Mexican people. We moved back to the UK in the summer of 2018.

Since returning to the UK I have continued to have a passion for Latin America and ministry too.

This year at school we were offered the opportunity to take part in an amazing and unusual trip called 'World Challenge'.

Our school's previous world challenge trip was to Africa. I remember walking into the assembly hall quietly wishing that the trip would be to Latin America, as I didn’t feel quite the same pull to Africa as I do for Latin America. To my surprise *Ecuador* was the country written up in huge letters on the wall and I instantly knew it was for me!

After some discussion with my parents we took the leap of faith and signed up. The group traveling to Ecuador in 2027 consists of a of 10 people from a mix of year 10 and 11.

I am extremely excited to get to go as World Challenge gives students an experience of other cultures working alongside the people who live there and learning and investing into the country, whilst also developing ourselves.

Even before the trip, our first mission is fundraising for our tickets, all of our expenses and also a gift to give towards the projects we will support. Two of the projects we will be supporting are tree planting, alongside the Ecuadorian people, and supporting the local businesses in Quito. World Challenge trips are all about finding ways of shaping your futures and discovering what is your calling.

Fortunately, I have had some experience of living and serving in another culture and one day if at all possible, I would love to go to university in Mexico. I hope to study marine biology and later go on to be like my parents, helping the poor and ministering in a country I very much love.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my trip I really appreciate it! Any support, however big or small is so very much appreciated!