Mikhaila Roth traveled with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) to Belize with their missions outreach. learn more here.

If I had to describe my mission trip to Belize in one word it would be encounter. Jesus taught me there is so much more to life than material things, appearances, money, and constantly being busy. The only thing that matters is to love of Jesus and to love of one another. is how you help other people grow and strive for holiness, but it also teaches yourself about those things. In Belize, we did not build a house, paint a school, or clean the streets. Instead, we built their knowledge and love for the Lord, painted the map that leads to the cross through evangelization, and cleaned their hearts of the lies the devil there. Encounter means giving your heart and story to other people in order to draw their hearts closer to heaven. The Lord opened my eyes to the community and culture of Belize, but He also reminded me of one thing that stays constant throughout the whole world, we are all searching for one thing: to be fully known and fully loved by our savior. No matter where you go, or what you do, encountering others and being a witness of the faith is the way we can change the world. Belize will forever be in my heart. In one week the people taught me so much about the Church, the Lord, and about myself. “Encounter others and let them encounter you in order to change the world one relationship at a time.”

-Mikhaila Roth