SOP Director Marj Evans-de-Carpio, a Dominican grandmother and Zona Hairgrove serve solar-cooked food.

Director Marj Evans-de-Carpio is searching for “influencers.”  Solar Oven Partners (SOP) wants people who can translate personal experiences of transformation into compelling invitations. Black Hills State University sophomore Zona Hairgrove is one of those “influencers" along with others that traveled with from Spearfish United Methodist Church.  After a 2017 trip to the Dominican Republic with Solar Oven Partners, Zona came home with stories about children and elders and what solar cooking could do.

Zona invited three college friends to join her on a Dominican adventure in 2018.  “I show them pictures and tell them my stories. I try to emphasize that I could speak all day about all the things I learned but they will never understand until they experience it for themselves,” Zona writes.

Black Hills State University students Zona Hairgrove, Reno, NV; Emily Warns, Madison, SD; Rachel Buxcel, Murdo, SD and Kathryn Mah, Mitchell, SD, experience a welcome break at a Dominican beach.

But it was hearing gritty side of Zona’s experience and her personal transformation that influenced professional journalist Deb Holland, Sturgis UMC, to volunteer. Deb’s story and pictures are featured in the May SOP newsletter and on Facebook.  She designed the Mothers Day bulletin insert to promote student scholarships.

Marj says Zona’s story “about being hot, tired and hungry and coming to the hotel with no showers because the city was in a blackout and the water couldn’t be pumped, so we went dirty and hot to get some food at a restaurant, and they were not serving because of no electricity to cook” made an impression on Deb Holland because it spoke of transformation.

Zona writes, “Woke up at 7, ate breakfast and got to our site—no water, shade or other resources. It was in the middle of August and extremely hot. We were short ovens and our crew took the bus back into town to get some more and accidentally took the water with them so we were stuck in the heat with no water.” Persevering, volunteers got ovens delivered in spite of obstacles.

Zona’s minor in teaching English as a second language and Spanish comes in handy with lively conversation with young Dominicans.

To arrive back in town in a blackout tipped Zona’s characteristic optimism, however. “I began to become upset with God. It was then I realized my heart was not in the proper place to be doing his work. This is what Dominicans go through every day and I just got a tiny glimpse. That experience changed the way I view the world.” She’s become an “influencer.”

Some “influencers” like Zona Hairgrove and Deb Holland share stories that inspire others to support SOP financially. Some recruit volunteers at fabrication workshops in Raymond, SD, or Zeeland, ND.

Some provide scholarships for those whose financial resources are limited by downloading a flier telling how to give a gift that keeps giving in honor or memory of mothers or other nurturing women.

Zona Hairgrove cuddles a tiny Dominican baby while fellow Black Hills State Volunteer in Mission Rachel Buxcel waits her turn.

Zona’s experience has influenced her own life direction as a special education major.  “A God moment for me was just seeing how the people’s relationship was with God. Something Dominicans say a lot is ‘see you tomorrow if God permits.’ I think it is so cool how they just give their entire life to God. My dream would be to spread awareness of disabilities and be a teacher for people with special needs in [under developed] countries.” 

“Are you an ‘influencer’?” Marj asks. “Who do you think would go to the Dominican Republic or Sierra Leone with a servant’s heart to be transformed through the experience of loving God and neighbor in this way?”

Invite Marj or ask her to suggest a Volunteer in Mission “influencer” who will visit your church, UMW, college or community group. “Thank you for spreading the word so that others can also know the revitalization of faith that comes through service.”

For more information about 2018 mission trips: Dominican Republic—July 24 to August 3; Sierra Leone, West Africa—November 25-December 7, contact Marj via email  sopdir@swiftel.net or call (605)692-3391.

Check for weekly posts on Facebook or visit the SOP website for details on bringing local teams to workshops at Raymond, SD and Zeeland, ND.