7 ETHIOPIA 8 I believe Guerin Catholic prepared me to open my heart and do God’s work. Once He put this on my heart, there was a fire in me like I never felt before. As an alumnus of Guerin Catholic, I can’t say enough about how the school shaped me and continues to shape me. Guerin Catholic is special because it provided me with a community and support to pursue God and let Him ultimately shape me. I learned that being a leader means being a servant. I learned that having plans means seeking God’s plans for me. I watched teachers do their job so humbly every day. I learned from a hilarious priest who loves God and knows how to connect with kids. And, I learned from the greatest group of peers, each of whom I can call a friend. I believe Guerin Catholic prepared me to open my heart and do God’s work. Last December, a good friend of mine, Kathy Craig, asked my girlfriend (Hannah Blachly) and I to meet her and she presented us with the opportunity of a lifetime. She invited us on a trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during the upcoming summer. Ethiopia is close to Kathy’s heart because she adopted a boy, Jesse Getiso, from there three years prior. We didn’t hesitate – we immediately said, “YES!” to the invitation. We spent the next months soaking in what saying “yes” really meant. I realized during this time how dumb it is that I make a lot of plans for my future, and recognized God’s plans are far greater than mine. During this preparation period, God gave me a “do something NOW” mindset in order to help these kids in Addis Ababa. Once he put this on my heart, there was a fire in me like I never felt before. Before going on the trip, we came up with the idea of starting a clothing line that would give back to the kids. We wanted to call it Jesse G. in honor of Kathy’s son, and to remind people that we’re helping kids with names. At the end of June into July, we went to Addis Ababa. We spent eight days hanging out with kids at a couple adoption homes, a community center (like a YMCA), and a rehabilitation center. The adoption homes were filled with children ranging from a few weeks old to eleven years old. Each one of these kids did two things: smiled as wide as he or she could, and ran at me with lifted hands, asking to be held and loved. I met some of the coolest kids with big dreams of becoming doctors, architects, and lawyers. The rehabilitation center hit home the most. Most of the kids in the center are “street kids” because they don’t have families or homes. Because of this, shoplifting food is a means of survival, leading to their stay in the rehab center for a period of time. The rehab center is supposed to be a place where the kids can have fun and grow through their mistake. But, they have zero opportunity to do so because they have zero supplies there. After the time in Ethiopia, we had a much better idea of how we would help the kids. We really wanted to help all of these locations we visited with their current needs. This led us to setting up two month “Projects”. Every two months, we have a different project in which a tangible item is donated through every purchase from Jesse G. Clothing. For example, our first Project was “The Food Project”, in which we donated three meals to the adoption homes every time a shirt was purchased. Through this project, we were able to give nearly 1,500 meals to kids. When we saw this number, and they sent us pictures of the kids eating meals provided by Jesse G., it made all of the hard work worth it. But more than anything, it humbled me. It reminded me that God is so great and big and can do amazing things. It humbled me because the number was not possible without all of the support from people buying clothes and spreading the word about Jesse G. I would not be where I am without Guerin Catholic, and Jesse G. Clothing wouldn’t be where it is either. " I realized... that I make a lot of plans for my future, and recognized God’s plans are far greater than mine." Do Something NOW! Riley Rapp Guerin Catholic Class of 2012
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTMyMjA=