From Harvard to the Pacific, Mormon Young Adult Finds Time to Serve Others

Harvard University graduate and returned missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Alisa Baumgartner, recently completed three tours of humanitarian service in Tonga, Fiji, and Peru.

As a missionary serving a Spanish-speaking mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arizona, USA, Ms Baumgartner learned the great rewards that come from serving others. 

“My mission opened my eyes to a myriad of ways in which the gospel can affect the lives of members and people not of our faith around the world,” she said. 

“As we serve others we not only increase our understanding of the gospel, but those whom we serve recognize the light that only comes in and through the Saviour. As we turn our hearts to Christ, we help them turn to Him. Nothing brings more joy than acting on the principles in which you believe.”

Since returning from her Latter-day Saint mission, Alisa has been providing service to others through her involvement in a program called Humanitarian Experience for Youth. This non-profit service organization provides young people an opportunity to build faith by serving others around the world.

In her position as program manager with Humanitarian Experience for Youth, Alisa has accompanied, taught, and helped supervise youth as they built a kindergarten classroom, village toilets and septic tank in Fiji; a home for a Tongan family who lost theirs in a fire; and constructed a community medical post and community soup kitchen in Peru. 

In each country local residents were hired to teach, and then assist the young people in the building of the projects. 

“Many youth in and outside of the Church,” Alisa says, “are confused as to their role in society, and many are finding it difficult to combat temptations of the world.  Service provides a safe environment for gospel learning and helps LDS youth build their faith.”

“As a returned missionary, it is a blessing to watch these youth who are placed in situations far outside their comfort zone rise to the challenge and prepare for future missionary service. They have an opportunity to experience first-hand what missionary service will be like.” 

“I have found,” she continues, “that as we focus our time and energies in serving our brothers and sisters, we are blessed with a closeness to the Lord that cannot be found anywhere else.”

Alisa says she is hopeful the young people with whom she interacts “will learn that no matter what language we speak or the colour of our skin, we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is universal. It transcends all barriers.”

Living a life of service is a principle taught to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from an early age.  They believe missionary work is a way to show a person’s willingness to follow the Saviour’s example. 

There are currently over 85,000 missionaries serving worldwide.