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Redwood Falls, Minn. —
When Nick Bucholz graduated from RVHS in 2007, he opted to take a year off to raise money.
The money was not for college, but it would be used to gain an experience that impacted the rest of his life.
While other high school graduates were in school, Bucholz was helping others as part of a mission to Mexico through his church.
Bucholz, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, spent two years in Chihuahua, Mexico going to three different communities sharing what he believes with those he met.
“My dad went on a trip back in the 80s,” said Bucholz, adding he was encouraged to do it, too.
While Bucholz said he did not receive any formal training in advance of his trip, he said what he has learned over a lifetime of education at his church helped prepare him for this experience.
Bucholz earned no money during the two years he was in Mexico, but used the $10,000 he raised to not only cover some of his expenses but also to serve the people of Chihuahua, Madera and Juarez.
Bucholz said he would have gone anywhere, but said it was the apostles and prophets of the church who revealed to him where he would go.
Bucholz left life in Minnesota behind in Novem-ber 2008 and did not return until two days before this past Thanksgiving.
“We worked in the whole state (Chihuahua),” said Bucholz. “There were about 200 of us.”
Every six months new faces appear and others depart. As one becomes more experienced during the mission, the role not only includes serving but also helping to train the newer participants, said Bucholz.
Bucholz said the group would travel in each community to homes knocking on doors asking if there were things they could do for the people, and then had the chance to share what they believe with them.
“The people of Mexico are very focused on family,” said Bucholz, adding that is also a very important element of what he believes.
Bucholz said during his time in Mexico he had little communication with others, not necessarily because he couldn’t, he was just busy.
A typical day, he said, would include early morning preparation for the day followed by the majority of the day getting out and meeting with the people.
“Mostly we did smaller stuff,” said Bucholz. “We didn’t really do any major projects like building things, it was more about helping the people with what they needed right away.”
When Nick Bucholz graduated from RVHS in 2007, he opted to take a year off to raise money.
The money was not for college, but it would be used to gain an experience that impacted the rest of his life.
While other high school graduates were in school, Bucholz was helping others as part of a mission to Mexico through his church.
Bucholz, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, spent two years in Chihuahua, Mexico going to three different communities sharing what he believes with those he met.
“My dad went on a trip back in the 80s,” said Bucholz, adding he was encouraged to do it, too.
While Bucholz said he did not receive any formal training in advance of his trip, he said what he has learned over a lifetime of education at his church helped prepare him for this experience.
Bucholz earned no money during the two years he was in Mexico, but used the $10,000 he raised to not only cover some of his expenses but also to serve the people of Chihuahua, Madera and Juarez.
Bucholz said he would have gone anywhere, but said it was the apostles and prophets of the church who revealed to him where he would go.
Bucholz left life in Minnesota behind in Novem-ber 2008 and did not return until two days before this past Thanksgiving.
“We worked in the whole state (Chihuahua),” said Bucholz. “There were about 200 of us.”
Every six months new faces appear and others depart. As one becomes more experienced during the mission, the role not only includes serving but also helping to train the newer participants, said Bucholz.
Bucholz said the group would travel in each community to homes knocking on doors asking if there were things they could do for the people, and then had the chance to share what they believe with them.
“The people of Mexico are very focused on family,” said Bucholz, adding that is also a very important element of what he believes.
Bucholz said during his time in Mexico he had little communication with others, not necessarily because he couldn’t, he was just busy.
A typical day, he said, would include early morning preparation for the day followed by the majority of the day getting out and meeting with the people.
“Mostly we did smaller stuff,” said Bucholz. “We didn’t really do any major projects like building things, it was more about helping the people with what they needed right away.”
That might mean just helping do some painting or doing minor maintenance.
While Bucholz said he had many opportunities to share what he believes, he said the people there are hesitant to let in outsiders.
“Some people there feel if you let them in they are going to get hurt,” Bucholz explained, adding after they get to know you and why you are there they take you in.
Bucholz said Juarez in particular is a difficult place right now, as the drug cartels are causing problems.
“Last year in Juarez was a record year for killings,” said Bucholz, adding through October of this year the number of murders in 2009 had already been exceeded.
Despite the violence going on around him, Bucholz said he never really felt he was in danger.
“If you keep your distance they won’t bother you,” he said, adding it is in the family setting where the people of Mexico feel that sense of protection.
The homes people live in are often very simple and crude, said Bucholz, who said in one house he had to duck down just to get inside. Some of the homes had dirt floors, and he said few if any had carpeting.
Being away from home for two years, Bucholz did not have a lot of contact with family, as he said he was allowed to call home twice each year.
He was also given the chance on occasion to send e-mails.
Going into Mexico, Bucholz said he felt pretty confident having had some Spanish language education in the local school district.
Yet, he added, once you actually get in the country and hear it spoken it is an entirely different story.
“They talked so fast,” he said, adding it was being in Mexico and hearing the language spoken every day that allowed him to become a much more fluent Spanish speaker.
Bucholz said the message he and his fellow missionaries shared was how to find joy in life, and he said family is something that helps people find that.
“It’s nice to help people realize that,” he said, adding in a world that is crazy it is good for everyone to know they have at least one place where they can feel safe and loved.
Bucholz said while in Mexico he and those he lived and worked with rented houses and paid their own bills.
“We didn’t have a car,” he said. “We walked or we rode the bus to the places we were going to.”
Bucholz said he loved the experience he had in Mexico.
“It is the best experience I have ever had,” he said.
The two-year mission Bucholz did is a one-time event in the life of a young member of the Latter Day Saints, but he said there are always plenty of other opportunities for service. He plans in the future to take advantage of them, too.
Now that Bucholz is back home with his family, including mom and dad, William and Lori Bucholz, he plans on preparing to go to college. While he has education ahead, Bucholz can say he has a learning experience which is going to impact the rest of his life whatever career path he chooses.
