SEAN HOGAN - CHINA

Teaching in the city of Yanji really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The city itself rests between two cultures and languages those being Korean and Chinese. This city is also relatively small for a Chinese city and thus Dusty and I often experience both city life and country life.

Teaching the kids here at the school is a challenge, but a joyful challenge. When you come here you take on many roles. You are a teacher, an advisor, a friend, a window to America and the outside world, and a Catholic role model. We try to be all of these for our students and for those who we meet each day.

Living in the city is not easy. The food takes some getting used to and just the everyday how things work takes a lot of getting used to.

Although sometimes trying, the challenges are making Dusty and I much stronger people and I feel that God is really pushing us through this wonderful opportunity to more fully grow into the men we need to become.

Everything here is a work in progress and nothing ever seems to be done, but living in this environment seems to make life more realistic. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to take in all that I am able to everyday and I know, as many volunteers have said in the past, I will take with me much more than I am capable of giving.

There is much work to be done here and it is a great feeling knowing that we are apart of something small but great. This school has already made a different in the lives of many children, and I hope through our service we can do the same.