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Kalsey finds rewards from mission trip

By Jim Downey, For The Greene County Messenger 3 min read
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Joan Kalsey always wanted to take part in a mission trip to an area of the world that needed assistance.

When the opportunity presented itself, she asked her granddaughters, Marissa and Hannah Kalsey, to join her, which both happily agreed to do.

Marissa Kalsey, a six-time All-America pole vaulter at Westminster College, and Hannah Kalsey, a junior at Waynesburg Central, accompanied their grandmother with their church youth group on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic.

“I kept in touch with the youth leader at our church, the First Presbyterian Church. The youth group was taking a mission trip and Mimi asked us if we wanted to go,” explained Kalsey. “It was right after the first semester ended.

“We were excited to go since then.”

Kalsey had participated in other youth group missions, but closer to home. She and others participated in the Pittsburgh Project, a Christian nonprofit community development organization that serves the city’s most vulnerable residents and develops leaders, mainly in home construction.

The mission trip to the Dominican Republic was based at MGM, Meeting God in Missions, with the group’s focus on Village 50. The ministries included construction, youth missions and sports clinics.

Not surprisingly, Kalsey, an elementary education major at Westminster, worked with the young people, worked clinics and other youth-based activities.

“A lot of it was unplanned,” said Kalsey. “We went for seven days and spent four days in the village.”

Baseball is closely associated with the Dominican Republic, but that’s not all that goes on.

“(The children) taught us so many games,” said Kalsey.

The mission was to assist the local village, but, according to Kalsey, the group also benefitted from the interaction.

“I learned so much,” said Kalsey. “I would’ve stayed longer. They have nothing, but they are so thankful and happy.”

Kalsey related a story of the Dominicans generosity and outlook on life.

“The water truck came early in the week and ran out of water. (The village) wouldn’t get water until Saturday, but a little girl offered me her little bag of water,” said Kalsey. “It almost wants me to live my life like they do. They live in the moment. They’re so joyful and happy. It was so amazing.”

Kalsey has one more year of vaulting remaining at Westminster and hopes to qualify for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials. She’ll have a new perspective on the runway after her experience in the Dominican Republic.

“My faith has grown so much since I’ve been there,” said Kalsey. “I get so stressed, so nervous, so disappointed and frustrated. I’m going to work hard and do my best. There are worse things that can happen.”

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