Senior Amy Kondrat returned to JPII this fall with a deeper understanding of faith, service, and trusting God after a transformative mission trip to Vietnam with the Saint Michael Parish Vietnamese community. What began as a last-minute opportunity quickly became one of the most formative experiences of her high school years—largely because it required her to step far outside her comfort zone.
On October 15, 2024, Amy sent an urgent message to her parents: “My wonderful parents, one of my friends invited me to go on a 10-day trip over the summer to Vietnam… the deadline is today.” To her surprise, they said yes—despite her knowing only two people going, having little detail about the mission, and no knowledge of the Vietnamese language.
The months that followed were filled with preparation: passport applications, fundraisers, and weekly Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể (TNTT) youth meetings. Yet the social transition proved difficult. Coming from the familiar environment of JPII, where she felt secure and known, Amy suddenly found herself among peers who had grown up together, shared cultural references she did not, and spoke a language she could not understand. Stepping into this unfamiliar space forced her to confront her discomfort and grow.
In Vietnam, the challenges intensified. Nineteen-hour service days and 4:00 AM Masses disrupted her routines.
