Shining moments: Passionate about people
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Before serving a mission, Andrew Ballard was passionate about climbing rocks.
"That's not my passion any more," he said. Since serving a mission among people with simple means, he is "now passionate about helping people."
Andrew figures he may have been taken out the setting of his Brazilian mission, but the mission cannot be taken out of him.
"When I returned home, I felt strongly about continuing to influence the world [for good]," he said.
Shortly after returning home in the fall of 2001 he assisted Wellington Lima, a native Brazilian and member of the Church, in establishing Bahia Vida, a non-profit organization aimed at providing temporary housing and food for Brazilians who are receiving medical attention at local hospitals. The organization delivers three meals a day and provides transportation to the hospital.
"The vision of helping others was Wellington's," Andrew said. "I said I'd help raise money for the project."
During his service in northern Brazil, Andrew was often touched by the poverty he saw. These experiences, as well as others, blended over time to create a desire to ease the challenges of the impoverished.
"The [Brazilians] who are involved are simple people," said President Fernando Silva of the Brazil Salvador Mission. "They are honest and hardworking people."
In September, Andrew and other students sponsored a car wash and a dinner, raising enough money to sustain the program for a month. He said that such fund-raising efforts are the only way to make the dream come true.
"A lot of people want to serve, but they don't know how," Andrew said. "I believe the key is to create our own opportunities."
"Andrew is an energetic young man who was noticed right away when he came into our ward a few months ago," said Bishop Mark Fullmer of the BYU 206th Ward. "He has been very helpful."
