Working vacations: While most high school age students are spending the summer perfecting their hand-eye coordination for video games or earning money to expand their CD collections, nearly 50 students at Wheaton Academy are using their vacation time to do mission work in such countries as Peru, Bolivia and New Guinea.
“These kids are giving up going to camps, or earning money, and sometimes doing very laborious missionary work,” said David Roth, headmaster at the academy in West Chicago.
Melissa Betts, 16, of West Chicago said she considers her trip to Reynosa, Mexico, this summer, where she’s teaching Vacation Bible School, a privilege.
“I don’t consider it a sacrifice, but an incredible experience, to learn about different cultures,” she said. “Last year we went to Mississippi and learned so much. I see it as a great opportunity.”
